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A federal jury in San Diego ruled that Apple's Taptic Engine, used in iPhones and Apple Watches, infringed two haptics patents held by Taction Technology, awarding Taction more than $5.7 billion in damages. The jury found the infringement was not willful, and Apple has said it plans to appeal the verdict.
Bloomberg has reported that Apple is developing a screenless fitness tracker, described as a thin fabric band with a sensor-equipped computing module, similar in concept to WHOOP or Fitbit Air. The device is early in development and would not launch before 2028.
A US jury ruled Friday that Apple must pay Taction Technology $5.7 billion for infringing two patents covering haptic feedback vibration technology used in Apple's Taptic Engine. Taction sued Apple in 2021, arguing the Taptic Engine—used in the Apple Watch since 2014 and iPhones since 2015—infringed its patented vibration module design. Apple says it disagrees with the verdict and plans to appeal, maintaining its technology is fundamentally different from Taction's.
A week of hands-on use with the Apple Watch Series 12 highlights improvements in battery life and charging speed, attributed to the new S11 chip. The reviewer notes the watch now lasts through a full day and night of sleep tracking without needing a mid-day charge, and gains 12 hours of use from just 15 minutes of charging, per Apple. A new step-counter complication was also found exclusive to Series 12 despite step data being available on older models.
A federal jury in San Diego ruled Friday that Apple's Taptic Engine, used in iPhones and Apple Watches, infringed two haptics patents held by Taction Technology, awarding Taction more than $5.7 billion in damages. The case, filed in 2021, was initially dismissed in 2023 before the Federal Circuit revived it, leading to a trial that began September 14. Jurors deliberated two days and found the infringement was not willful.
A third-party app called Merge Watch lets users pair an Apple Watch with an Android device after initial setup with an iPhone. Users install the app on both the Apple Watch and an Android phone, grant Bluetooth, health, notification and battery permissions, then pair via a six-digit code. Health data syncs to Google Fit, though it can take time to appear after setup.
Engadget published a monthly review roundup covering Apple products released after Labor Day, alongside the return of Sonos. The lineup includes the iPhone 18 Pro with upgraded cameras, the Apple Watch Series 12 with expanded health tracking and unreleased audio features, revamped AirPods 5 with active noise cancellation on both models, and updated Mac mini and Mac Studio units with new chips at higher prices.
Apple maintains a Dimensional Drawings section within the Accessories area of its developer website, offering precise technical schematics for 96 devices. The library covers current and recent hardware including iPhones, Apple Watch models, AirPods, MacBooks, the Siri Remote, AirTag, and Vision Pro accessories like its ZEISS Optical Inserts. Each drawing details exact measurements for buttons, cameras, sensors, speakers, connectors, and keepout zones where certain materials must be avoided.
In episode 83 of the Overtime podcast, hosts Fernando Silva and Jeff Benjamin discuss Apple's rumored screenless fitness tracker and why it appeals to them. Silva also recounts hands-on impressions of the iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Series 12, and Apple Watch Ultra 4, while the pair note disappointing findings on aftermarket SSD upgrades for the M6 Mac mini.
Apple's watchOS 27 update expands the Modular watch face with 13 new color choices, including Olive, Burgundy, Magenta and Navy Blue, accessible via the Color screen when customizing the face. The update also brings new complications for Daily Steps, Heart Rate, and Readiness, though these are exclusive to Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Series 12.
Apple's WatchOS 27 update introduces a dynamic app view that surfaces a user's six most-used or recent apps when the digital crown is pressed, rather than displaying the full grid of dozens of installed apps. A separate bubble at the bottom of the screen still leads to the complete home screen of apps.
Engineers are developing thermoelectric generators designed to capture heat naturally radiating from human skin and convert it into electricity for small wearable devices. The technology targets low-power, screenless gadgets rather than power-hungry devices like the Apple Watch, which would still require conventional charging.