“Apple Inc. is said to be testing a sleep monitor for a future version of its smartwatch, a feature that would bolster the company in the health- and fitness-tracking market,” Mark Gurman reports for Bloomberg. “The company has been using the sleep-tracking feature for several months with testers at secret sites around its Cupertino, California, headquarters, according to people familiar with the work. If the functionality is successful in the testing stages, the company plans to add it to the Apple Watch by 2020, according to one of the people. ”
“A new Apple Watch wouldn’t be the iPhone maker’s first foray into sleep-tracking hardware,” Gurman reports. “In May 2017, Apple acquired Finnish startup Beddit, which makes a sleep-tracking sensor strip. Apple sells the product on its website under the Beddit brand and launched an updated version at the end of last year.”
“One practical necessity for sleep tracking in a smartwatch is a battery that can last multiple days. Each Apple Watch model to date is advertised as being able to last a day with the need to charge it each night,” Gurman reports. “Some options may include Apple increasing the Watch’s battery life or creating a way to run sleep tracking overnight as part of a low-power mode. It could also just require a battery charge in the morning.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Bring it on!
Fitbit is the Palm of the twenty-tens. (And, BTW, we type that with Fitbits on our wrists. Apple should buy Fitbit just for the user base, merge Fitbit’s steps and other data into the Apple Watch, and be done with it. Then we could use our Apple Watches to compete with Fitbit-wearing friends and family who haven’t yet made the leap to Apple Watch and ditch these Fitbit Flex bracelets that we don’t want to wear, keep charged, etc. The only thing keeping Fitbit alive is their legacy user base and sequestering their step data.) — MacDailyNews, January 25, 2018
Yes, we’re still wearing our FitBits. Apple Watches on our left wrists and Fitbit Flex 2 bracelets on the right.
SEE ALSO:
Why is Apple going to sleep?< - January 24, 2019 Apple’s sleep tracking company Beddit releases new ‘3.5’ sleep monitor – December 7, 2018
Apple buys Beddit, a company with an Apple Watch sleep-tracking app – May 10, 2017
Apple reportedly working on sleep tracker for the Apple Watch – September 27, 2016
Apple to expand HealthKit from tracker to diagnosis tool; new Apple Watch apps for sleep tracking, fitness levels in pipeline – September 26, 2016
Apple files patent application for heart-monitoring wearable device – August 12, 2016
Apple working on all-new, advanced health-tracking hardware; years in the making – August 9, 2016
Tim Cook hints Apple might build a health device – November 10, 2015
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
Be nice if it could track oxygen levels while I sleep. With apnea, my levels drop. Plus it would be nice if it could listen to me snore and wake me up just enough to stop it.
At this point, I’ve accepted that Apple makes products for and by children at this point. If millennials actually require a ‘sleep tracker’, if you still need kindergarten ‘naptime’ in your 20s and 30s, there is something very, very wrong. I do thrice as much in a day as the average millie, you kids really are broken, and a new feature on your watch ain’t gonna fix it. This is beginning to get ludicrous, rather than just off-putting.
Self absorbed idiot who thinks the world revolves around him. The internet is your only friend. Continue to gaze into mirrors and screens all your waking hours.
Unless the Watch can fully charge while I’m showering every morning, this is a non-starter. There’s no way the battery can work all day and all night (even in low power mode) and then be ready to go the next day without significant charging.
Can’t wait to see how they solve this one!
I actually have no problem putting an Apple Watch charger in my car; I drive far enough to work that a during-the-shower charge that didn’t finish would certainly finish by the time I got to work.
I can see it now. Somehow Google will get this sleep tracking info, see that your sleeping like crap and then one morning Mike Lindell will be in your medicine cabinet trying to sell you a MyPillow.
Apple’s research into sleep is a real big boy project – not one to diss. Sleep apnea is a core issue for research at a national level, Some of the smarter states require truck drivers with OSA to use a cap, or they are not allowed to drive because of the safety risks.
If you do have an apnea issue there are several dozen options for care, generally starting at a cheaper price than the diagnostic test. I’m on an auto pap that can adjust pressure levels multiple times an hour.
Where Apple can provide vital information on PulseOx is in both identifying sleeping issues (apneas) and respiratory issues. The VA had me wear a PulseOx monitor (a small watch type device with a finger clip) and, based on that data has ordered overnight oxygen, which connects directly to my autopap.
For many people the Watch can identify a PulseOx issue that is not connected to sleep – like early congestive heart failure. That’s powerful.
Apple can buy FitBit and release a line of remote accessories for Apple Watch. Now your phone’s wrist remote can have its OWN wrist remote!
FitBit makes the right product for the right price. I don’t think Apple even speaks their language.