Apple urged a U.S. appeals court on Friday to overturn a U.S. trade tribunal’s decision to ban imports of some Apple Watches in a patent dispute with medical-monitoring technology company Masimo.

Apple told the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that the U.S. International Trade Commission’s decision was based on a “series of substantively defective patent rulings,” and that Masimo failed to show it had invested in making competing U.S. products that would justify the order.

Representatives for Apple and Masimo did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the filing.

Irvine, California-based Masimo has accused Apple of hiring away its employees and stealing its pulse oximetry technology after discussing a potential collaboration. Apple first introduced pulse oximetry to its Series 6 Apple Watches in 2020.

Masimo convinced the ITC on Dec. 26 to block imports of Apple’s latest-edition Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches after finding that their technology for reading blood-oxygen levels infringed Masimo’s patents.

Apple temporarily resumed sales of the watches the next day after persuading the Federal Circuit to pause the ban. The appeals court reinstated the ban in January, leading Apple to remove pulse oximetry capabilities from watches sold during the appeal, which Apple has said could last at least a year.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection separately determined in January that redesigned versions of the watches did not violate Masimo’s rights and would not be not subject to the ban. Masimo said in a court filing that the watches “definitively do not contain pulse oximetry functionality.”

Apple told the Federal Circuit on Friday that the ban could not stand because a Masimo wearable covered by the patents was “purely hypothetical” when it filed its ITC complaint in 2021.

The tech giant also argued that Masimo’s patents were invalid and that its watches did not infringe them.

© Thomson Reuters 2024

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Samsung Galaxy Watch FE will be launched soon, according to a report. The South Korean tech conglomerate could soon introduce a ‘Fan Edition’ (FE) version of its Galaxy Watch smartwatch, which runs on Google’s Wear OS operating system. It is expected to arrive at a lower price than the company’s recent smartwatch models, and its specifications are said to be similar to an older Galaxy Watch model. The Galaxy Watch FE is likely to debut before July, when Samsung is tipped to launch the Galaxy Watch 7 series.

Android Headlines spotted three model numbers for the purported Galaxy Watch FE in what appears to be an IMEI database. The model number SM-R866F reportedly pertains to the global model, while the model numbers SM-R866U and SM-R866N refer to the US and South Korean markets, respectively. According to the publication, the Galaxy Watch FE will be introduced at a “budget-friendly price”.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 that was launched in August 2021 bears the model number SM-R860F, which is quite similar to the purported Galaxy Watch FE model. This suggests that it could arrive as an affordable smartwatch that runs on Wear OS, and is powered by the Exynos W920 chip.

Details of the purported Galaxy Watch FE are yet to surface online, including its hardware specifications and pricing. The smartwatch could debut as Samsung’s most affordable wearable running Wear OS and sporting the design of the Galaxy Watch 4. Apple’s Watch SE models follow a similar strategy, offering fewer features at a more affordable price.

There’s no word from Samsung on plans to launch a new Galaxy Watch FE model, but the company can be expected to launch the device — if it exists — in the coming weeks. As per previous reports, the South Korean firm is planning to launch three Galaxy Watch 7 models, it’s next generation smartwatches, alongside its next-generation foldable phones at its next Galaxy Unpacked event rumoured to take place in July.

The post Samsung Galaxy Watch FE Model Numbers Surface Online, Could Launch Soon: Report appeared first on Tech Independent.

The vanilla Nothing Ear will be the top-end variant among the two models confirmed to launch later this month, according to an Android Headlines report. They are tipped to be priced at EUR 150 (roughly Rs. 13,500) and are likely to be offered in black and white colour options. The report shared leaked images of the earphones which show that they retain the transparent design of its preceding model.

Further, the report added that the Nothing Ear are expected to support active noise cancellation (ANC) and dual connectivity. The earphones are likely to arrive with an IP54 rating for dust and splash resistance, while the case is likely to get an IPX2 rating.

The Nothing Ear are also tipped to offer a battery life of seven and a half hours with the ANC feature turned off and a total 33 hours of battery life with the charging case. The case is also said to include a fast charging feature, which is claimed to provide 10 hours of playback time from one 10-minute charge.

Meanwhile, the Nothing Ear A are tipped to be priced at EUR 100 (roughly Rs. 9,000). The report shared images of the earphones which are shown in black, white, and yellow colour options. The yellow variant is said to offer a more eco-friendly design. If this is true, the packaging of the earphones could also be eco-friendly, the report added.

Nothing Ear A leaked design renders in black, white and yellow colourways
Photo Credit: Android Headlines

According to the report, the only differences between the Nothing Ear and Nothing Ear A, based on what has been leaked, are an IP rating and battery life. The Nothing Ear A is also expected to support ANC, dual connectivity, and fast charging. However, these earphones are expected to offer a playback time of eight hours without ANC, and a total battery life of 38 hours with the charging case. While the Nothing Ear A earphones are said to carry an IP54 rating, the charging case is likely to get an IP55 rating. 

The post Nothing Ear, Nothing Ear A Price, Design, Key Specifications Leaked Ahead of April 18 Launch appeared first on Tech Independent.

Forbes India recently reported that a hacker with the username ShopifyGUY recent posted about 2GB of customer data from a data breach that contained 7.5 million entries. Posted to a hacking forum, the data includes customers’ PII including their name, phone number, address, email ID, and their customer ID — the publication said it verified the authenticity of the data with recent Boat customers. 

The hacker posted the allegedly leaked data to a hacking forum on April 5

According to the report, the data was available for eight credits — or EUR 2 (roughly Rs. 180), making it easily available to nefarious users. As a result, the customers whose information has been leaked could potentially be targeted with phishing attempts or scams, based on the PII that was exposed in the data breach.

The wearable maker responded to the allegations of the data breach on Monday, stating that it has begun a probe into the claims of a data breach at the firm. “Boat is aware of recent claims regarding a potential data leak involving customer information. We take these claims seriously and have immediately launched a comprehensive investigation. At Boat, safeguarding customer data is our top priority,” the company said in a prepared statement.

“Companies should start hiring in cybersecurity. Thousands of companies are currently holding millions of people’s databases in their servers without any security audit. Responsibility should be decided, and fines should be imposed on these types of companies,” independent security researcher Rajshekhar Rajaharia told Gadgets 360.

Boat (Imagine Marketing) continues to hold the biggest market share in the wearables sector in India. In February, IDC’s wearable device tracker indicated that the company’s market share in CY 2023 was 26 percent (down from 29.3 percent in CY 2022) and its market share in Q4 2023 was 19.2 percent (down from 23.9 percent in Q4 2022).

The company’s closest rivals Fire-Boltt and Noise (Nexxbase) currently occupy the third and second positions, respectively in terms of overall market share, and the gap appears to be closing — as per the IDC report, they are already the top two smartwatch companies in terms of market share in CY 2023 and Q4 2023.

The post Boat Investigating Data Breach That Reportedly Leaked Personal Information of 7.5 Million Customers appeared first on Tech Independent.

Samsung Galaxy Watch FE — the company’s purported cheaper Galaxy Watch model that is said to be in development — could debut with a different moniker, according to details that have surfaced online. According to previous reports, the South Korean technology firm is working on a ‘Fan Edition’ (FE) Galaxy Watch that will run on Wear OS. The wearable device could arrive with a different name, as a refreshed version of the Galaxy Watch 4, that was launched in 2021.

All About Samsung editor Max Jambor tipped the Galaxy Watch 4 (2024) moniker for Samsung’s upcoming smartwatch in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Jambor responded to X users who brought up the rumoured Galaxy Watch FE moniker, citing sources who have claimed the upcoming wearable will arrive as a refreshed version of Samsung’s original Galaxy Watch 4 model.

Jambor’s claim about the Galaxy Watch 4 (2024) name comes days after a Galaxy Watch FE model surfaced online. The listing mentioned three models for the rumoured wearable device, which is expected to debut in South Korea, the US, and in global markets.

While there’s no word from Samsung on plans to launch a more affordable Galaxy Watch, recent reports have suggested the rumoured device will sport the same design as the Galaxy Watch 4 and run on Wear OS, Google’s smartwatch operating system.

In August 2021, Samsung launched the Galaxy Watch 4 with a round display and an aluminium body. The wearable has a round dial and is available in Black, Green, and Silver colourways. Unlike its predecessor, the smartwatch runs on Wear OS and it is compatible Android smartphones.  

The company is also said to be working on the next generation of its smartwatch models — the Galaxy Watch 7 series, which reportedly comprises three models. We can expect the company to launch the purported Galaxy Watch FE or Galaxy Watch 4 (2024) in the coming days or weeks, before its next Galaxy Unpacked event where the 7th generation Galaxy Watch is likely to make its debut.

The post Samsung’s Purported Galaxy Watch FE Tipped to Arrive as Galaxy Watch 4 (2024) appeared first on Tech Independent.

Cult Shock X price in India

The Cult Shock X’s price in India was Rs. 2,999 when it launched earlier this year, but the fitness tracker is currently listed at Rs. 1,999 on Flipkart. It is sold in Black, Camo, Green, and Red colour options. The company sent me the wearable in a Black colourway for review. It arrived with a charging cable inside the box, along with a user manual and a QR code to download the companion app for iOS and Android phones.

Cult Shock X Review: Design

As far as fitness trackers go, the Shock X is a pretty large wearable, even on my wrist. The body is made of plastic, the straps are made of silicone, and the device didn’t feel too heavy when I put it on. You can also choose to swap out the straps easily, using ‘universal’ watch straps that feature the same connector.

On the right side, there are two buttons: one to wake up the screen and the other to pull up the sport/ fitness tracking menu. You can also rotate the crown, located between these two buttons, to quickly scroll through menu options and fitness modes.

Cult Shock X sports a 1.43-inch AMOLED screen

While it’s not the brightest screen on a wearable fitness tracker, the 1.43-inch AMOLED screen on the Shock X offers decent visibility in nearly all lighting conditions. I had no issues looking at the watch’s screen while I was outdoors in bright sunlight in the middle of the day. The edges of the watch form a 3mm bezel around the screen, while there’s a very thin black border around the display.

The Shock X has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, which means it’s more than capable of handling perspiration while working out or if you get caught in the rain. I couldn’t find a water resistance rating, but the watch does include surfing and snorkelling, among several other fitness tracking modes. After a few weeks of use, I also noticed a bit of discolouration at the bottom of the watch near the sensors.

Cult Shock X Review: Specifications and performance

According to Cult.sport, the Shock X has a 1.43-inch (466 x 466 pixels) AMOLED screen with a peak brightness of 850 nits. You’ll have to set the brightness level of the fitness tracker manually, and setting it to a higher level will reduce the battery life of the device.

The Watch X offers several health-tracking features, including blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), step counting, blood pressure, heart rate, and sleep tracking. It also offers features like a digital calculator and a BMI calculator. The Fitness tab inside the companion app also contains innumerable videos across several categories that can help you learn and try new workouts.

I wore the Shock X fitness tracker so that it would count all my steps over the course of a regular day, and I also used it to track workouts for a few weeks. I also took 100 steps (counted manually) with the Shock X and the Apple Watch SE 2 — the former counted 94 steps while the latter reported 98 steps. The fitness tracker also tracked calories burned on the elliptical machine, treadmill, and exercise cycle at my gym — I compared the readings from the equipment with the ones displayed on my wrist. 

The Cult Watch app works on iOS and Android smartphones

I compared the SpO2 and blood pressure measurements with a basic BPL pulse oximeter and an Omron automatic BP monitor and found that the readings were mostly consistent. That said, budget wearable fitness trackers aren’t meant to replace medical-grade devices, especially if you need to monitor specific parameters for your health. You can also set reminders to drink water and stand up (if you sit down for too long).

In addition to these health monitoring features, the Shock X fitness tracker can also receive incoming calls and dial phone numbers when connected to your smartphone over Bluetooth. It works just like a microphone-enabled Bluetooth speaker, and I could hear the other person clearly when I wasn’t in very noisy environments.

Other Bluetooth-enabled features were hit and miss, such as the remote camera feature and the “find phone” — the latter didn’t work unless the app was actively running on the phone, effectively rendering the device’s ability to remotely make my phone ring pointless.

The Cult Watch companion app for the Shock X is available for Android and iOS. I downloaded the app on a phone running on Android 13 and I was able to use all the features that the watch supported, with the exception of the one that helps you locate your phone.

The device packs a 420mAh battery that is claimed to deliver up to 10 days of battery life. This was mostly accurate during the period I spent testing the Shock X, and I only ended up charging it thrice over the last four weeks, using the included USB cable with a magnetic pogo pin connector. I was quite surprised when I didn’t wear the watch for two days and found the battery didn’t drop by even one percent.

The Cult Shock X delivered 10 days of battery life with moderate use

The Shock X runs on a basic, unspecified operating system, which sometimes displays choppy animations. Due to the lack of an advanced operating system like Wear OS, you can’t use third-party apps on the fitness tracker. The companion app lets you pick from several digital faces that you can download and sync to the wearable over Bluetooth. Turning the crown switches between these faces, and I ended up trying different ones on a regular basis.

Cult Shock X Review: Verdict

This fitness tracker competes against several wearables priced under Rs. 3,000. It’s no secret that the market is currently flooded with fitness trackers from companies like Noise, Fire-Boltt, Boat, Fastrack, and several other brands. These trackers offer very similar features across several models, with the external design being the only factor that sets them apart.

The Cult Shock X is one such device that does exactly what it says on the box. It tracks your fitness parameters, shows you your notifications, and lets you make and receive calls over a Bluetooth connection. Besides these features, the smartwatch itself does nothing to make it a compelling option compared to other models from competing firms. Access to the several workout training videos on the app is definitely a plus, in my opinion.

That said, the Shock X is currently listed at Rs. 1,999 on Flipkart, which is just over 33 percent lower than its original launch price and puts it on par with other devices from competing brands mentioned above. If you’re looking to purchase a fitness tracker that covers most of the basics and doesn’t want to splurge a lot of money on a smartwatch that offers support for Android apps, then it’s worth considering the Shock X alongside other competing devices that are priced similarly.

Ratings

Design and comfort: 7/10

Tracking accuracy: 8/10

Companion app: 8/10

Software and ecosystem: 7/10

Battery life: 9/10

Overall rating: 7/10

Pros: Comfortable, not too heavy on the wrist
Bright AMOLED screen
Mostly reliable fitness tracking
Long battery life
Companion app offers access to fitness content

Cons: Slightly bulky for users with small wrists
Built-in OS could have been more optimised
Doesn’t offer any standout features

The post Cult Shock X Review: An Average Budget Fitness Tracker That Gets the Job Done appeared first on Tech Independent.

Redmi is expected to introduce several new products to the Indian market. A recent leak has surfaced online which lists the expected items from the Xiaomi sub-brand. It is expected to include personal use products as well as home appliances. The company has not yet officially confirmed any of the rumoured products. It recently launched the Redmi A3 in the country with an octa-core MediaTek Helio G36 SoC, a 5,000mAh battery with 10W fast charging support, and an 8-megapixel dual rear camera unit. 

Tipster Abhishek Yadav (@yabhishekhd), in a post on X (formerly Twitter), shared that Redmi is likely to launch a new Redmi Pad model, new TWS earphones with active noise cancellation (ANC), and a self-cleaning vacuum cleaner. The tipster did not suggest any other details about any of these products. Readers are advised to take this information with a pinch of salt. 

Recently, the Redmi Buds 5 with 12.4mm dynamic drivers and 46dB ANC support were launched in India. The earphones alongside the charging case are claimed to offer up to 38 hours of total battery life from a single charge. Available in Fusion Black, Fusion Purple, and Fusion White colour options, they are priced at Rs. 2,999.

Notably, Redmi is scheduled to launch the Redmi Pad Pro in China on April 10. The tablet is teased to launch in three colour options – black, blue, and grey. It is confirmed to ship with Xiaomi’s HyperOS and feature a 12.1-inch 2.5K display and a 10,000mAh battery. Xiaomi open-back headphones have also been teased to launch alongside.

The upcoming Redmi Pad Pro will join the Redmi Pad, which was unveiled in India in October 2022. It is offered in Graphite Grey, Mint Green, and Moonlight Silver shades. The tablet was priced at Rs. 14,999 for the 3GB + 64GB option, while the 4GB + 128GB and 6GB + 128GB variants were listed at Rs. 17,999 and Rs. 19,999, respectively.

Redmi Pad comes with a MediaTek Helio G99 SoC, an 8,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging support, a 10.61-inch 90Hz (2,000×1,200 pixels) display, and 8-megapixel front and back cameras. It ships with Android 12-based MIUI 13.

The post Redmi Tablet, ANC Earphones, More Tipped to Launch in India Soon appeared first on Tech Independent.

Lava Prowatch will be launched in India later this month, according to the company. The homegrown smartphone brand has begun to tease some of the features of the upcoming smartwatch via its social media channels, ahead of its debut in the country. The company has hinted that the Lava Prowatch will support fitness tracking features and might arrive with support for interchangeable watch straps. It is also claimed to sport a durable display that could be resistant to scratches, along with a fast user interface.

In a media invite issued on Tuesday, the Noida-based smartphone maker announced that the Lava Prowatch will be launched in India on April 23. The launch event will take place at 11am, according to the company. The invite also suggests that the Prowatch will be equipped with a circular display, but additional details of the wearable device are yet to be revealed by the company.

Meanwhile, teasers shared by the company on X (formerly Twitter) shed some light on the Prowatch’s features. The latest post suggests that the device will sport a tough display that can withstand some external force, while it could also be scratch resistant. Another image shows the circular display housed in what appears to be a metal chassis with a button and a crown.

The company has also hinted at fitness tracking features like activity and heart rate monitoring, while claiming that it will offer more accurate tracking than other products. Another post suggests the watch will support interchangeable straps. It is currently unclear whether the device will run on Google’s Wear OS, allowing users to install apps on the wearable device.

The upcoming Lava Prowatch is expected to arrive as the second fitness tracker from Lava — the company launched the Lava BeFIT in January 2021 with support for SpO2 monitoring with support for fitness and sleep tracking, notification mirroring, and water resistance. More details about the Lava Prowatch are likely to be announced in the coming days, before it is launched in the country.

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Realme GT Neo 6 SE Launch Set for April 11, Teased to Get 1.5K 8T LTPO Display

The post Lava Prowatch India Launch Date Set for April 23; Features Teased Ahead of Debut appeared first on Tech Independent.

OnePlus devices will reportedly go off store shelves across the Southern and Western regions of India as per a new directive by the South Indian Organised Retailers Association (ORA). As per a report, the mobile retailers association that commands a large number of stores announced this development in a letter, which has yet to be made public. Starting 1 May, 2024, the ORA reportedly stated that it will discontinue the sales of OnePlus mobile devices across retailers under its network. The ORA commands big stores in the south like Poorvika, Sangeetha, Big C. The association cites ongoing issues with the Chinese brand and its products to be the reason behind this move.

A report by Money Control claims to have had access to this letter (reportedly directed to OnePlus India’s Director of Sales, Rajeet Singh) that describes ORA’s long-standing issues and challenges faced by its retailers when dealing with the popular Chinese smartphone brand. The association claims that its retailers have faced major obstacles when selling OnePlus products over the years, which still remain unresolved.

One of the more prominent issues are the consistently low-profit margins set by OnePlus, that according to the association makes it hard to sustain their businesses. The association also mentions the delays when it comes to processing warranty and service claims, which it states leaves customers dissatisfied.

Retailers also claim that they often have to bundle products and services with OnePlus devices, which according to ORA, limits their ability to cater their customer needs and also results in unsold inventory of devices.

OnePlus has yet to officially comment on the move by the South Indian Organised Retailers Association, but we have reached out to them on this topic.

OnePlus has been selling its smartphones via its website and other e-commerce platforms for several years, giving its customers a choice to purchase products directly from the brand, sans any middlemen. This is not just the case with OnePlus, but other Chinese smartphone brands like Xiaomi, Vivo and even bigger Korean brands like Samsung.

Over the years, the above brands have also focussed on opening their own experiential stores in India, where customers can try out and purchase products at the store itself, pushing mobile retailers further away from customers. After years of delays, Apple too opened two of its own Apple Stores in the country last year, with Samsung following up with a similarly designed store in Mumbai.

The post Several Mobile Retail Chains in India to Stop Selling OnePlus Smartphones, Tablet and Wearables: Report appeared first on Tech Independent.

Samsung Galaxy Book 4 was launched in India on Friday, March 22. This model joins the Galaxy Book 4 Pro, Galaxy Book 4 360, and Galaxy Book 4 Pro 360 that were introduced in the country in February this year. Unlike the previous models though, the new laptop is not powered by the Intel Core Ultra processors. However, the Galaxy Book 4 comes with its own set of AI-backed features that is said to help with several tasks like photo remastering or video editing. It is available for purchase in the country in two colour options and several CPU and RAM variants.

Samsung Galaxy Book 4 price in India, availability

The Samsung Galaxy Book 4 is listed on the Samsung India website with a starting price of Rs. 70,990 for the Intel Core 5 CPU and 8GB RAM option, while the 16GB RAM variant with the same processor is available at Rs. 75,990. 

The Intel Core 7 variant of the Galaxy Book 4 is only offered with 16GB of RAM and is priced at Rs. 85,990. All variants are offered in Grey and Silver colours and are currently available for purchase on the Samsung India website, leading online stores, and select retail stores. 

Samsung announced in a press note that customers buying the Galaxy Book 4 can avail of bank cashback offers worth Rs. 5,000 or get an upgrade bonus of up to Rs. 4,000. Students making a purchase will also be eligible for an additional 10 percent discount. Buyers can also opt for a no-cost EMI option of up to 24 months.

Samsung Galaxy Book 4 specifications, features

The Galaxy Book 4 sports a 15.6-inch full-HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) LED anti-glare screen. It comes with up to Intel Core 7 processor 150U CPU paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 512GB of NVMe SSD storage, which is expandable to up to 1TB. It comes pre-installed with Windows 11 Home.

The laptop features an AI-backed Photo Remaster tool, which allows users to restore old images or even revive low-quality images. It can be used to alter elements in an image like removing unwanted light and shade. The device also has an inbuilt Galaxy Video Editor.

Users can connect their Galaxy smartphones to experience better webcam quality with the Samsung Galaxy Book 4. The feature uses the camera sensor on a Samsung Galaxy smartphone as the webcam, instead of the 720p inbuilt camera. This feature was first announced by the company in January this year.

The Galaxy Book 4 is backed by a 54Wh battery with support for 45W charging via USB Type-C port. The laptop also supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity. For security, it has a fingerprint reader. It also packs one HDMI, two USB Type-C, and two USB 3.2 ports alongside one microSD card reader, one audio jack and one RJ45 (LAN) slot.

The body of the Galaxy Book 4 weighs 1.55kg and measures 35.66cm x 22.91cm x 1.54cm in size.

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