It’s been a dramatic few days for the Apple Watch, with the surprising revelation that the Apple Watch Sequence 9 and Apple Watch Extremely 2 might be completely banned from sale within the U.S. proper earlier than Christmas. Now, although, it’s emerged that Apple is desperately engaged on a software program patch to avert catastrophe – however will it’s sufficient?

That’s the query looming over the Cupertino firm proper now. In keeping with Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, Apple is engaged on “software program fixes and different potential workarounds” which may put a cease to the Apple Watch ban.

Particularly, Gurman says the corporate is “racing to make modifications to algorithms on the gadget that measure a person’s blood oxygen stage.” It is a function that litigant Masimo has argued infringed its patents, which is what led to the ban within the first place.

On this case, Apple is outwardly working to regulate “how the know-how determines oxygen saturation and presents the information to clients,” Gurman says. Whether or not it will likely be sufficient to allow Apple to proceed promoting its smartwatches on residence soil, although, stays anybody’s guess.

The Apple Watch ban defined

What’s the complete furore surrounding the Apple Watch? Nicely, as famous above, Masimo Corp. has accused Apple of infringing a few of its health-related patents. 

Crucially, the Worldwide Commerce Fee (ITC) has agreed, inserting a ban on any imports of the Apple Watch Sequence 9 and Apple Watch Extremely 2 to the U.S – very important because the Apple Watch is manufactured overseas. These bans will have an effect on Apple’s on-line retailer from December 21, with brick-and-mortar areas following go well with on December 24.

It appears that evidently Apple believes its software program tweaks can be sufficient to placate regulators. But apparently, Gurman notes that “the patents on the coronary heart of the dispute are principally associated to {hardware}.” Masimo Corp. itself has mentioned it doesn’t assume a software program repair can be sufficient.

If that proves to be the case, Apple might want to implement {hardware} modifications. That would take not less than three months, Gurman says, given the necessity to produce and ship the brand new fashions. Add within the time wanted for the U.S. customs company to approve the modifications and we might be a major delay.

If the ban goes forward, it gained’t be a complete blackout. The prohibition solely impacts Apple straight, so third-party shops like Walmart and Greatest Purchase can proceed promoting the Apple Watch. The White Home may additionally situation a last-minute veto. No matter occurs, it’ll make for fascinating viewing – we’ll replace you as quickly as something modifications.

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