These iPhone, Apple Watch models will support CarKey

One of the newest features of iOS 14 turns your iPhone (or Apple Watch) into a car key. This CarKey feature is coming to iOS 14 and even iOS 13 users, allowing you to lock, unlock, and start compatible cars. But just because your device runs on iOS 14 or watchOS 7 doesn't mean it can support it.

CarKey makes use of NFC technology to communicate with the car. During the initial process, the iPhone or Apple Watch needs to be placed on top of the NFC reader in the car. It'll be accessible via the Wallet app. Once set up, CarKey should work without having to unlock your device or open any app. But that means your device needs Background Tag Reading tech, which is only available on the iPhone XR and later. And so this feature will only work with the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, and iPhone SE (2nd-gen).

Click to read more ...

Apple Watch might be able to detect your blood oxygen levels

Aside from being able to detect irregular heartbeats, the Apple Watch might be able to monitor your blood oxygen levels, too. Tipsters talking to 9to5Mac discovered this feature by looking at iOS 14 code snippets. The wearable could let you know if your blood's oxygen saturation falls below the threshold. 

Blood oxygen levels between 95% and 100% are considered healthy. If you hit below 80%, you might suffer from compromised heart and brain functionality. There's a risk of respiratory or cardiac arrest after continued low blood oxygen saturation.

Click to read more ...

Apple Watch patent shows possible addition of Touch ID

A recently discovered patent application hints at Apple Watch possibly getting in-display Touch ID for an additional level of security. The patent refers to "a touch sensing device, force-sensing device, temperature-sensing device, and/or fingerprint sensor" that can be placed behind the screen. It doesn't seem like a far off idea given that the Apple Watch already supports Apple Pay.

The patent describes having the wireless antennas on the watch moved to the strap so there will be room for more components under the screen. There is a caveat there, though. Moving components like Wi-Fi, cellular, and Bluetooth to the strap might affect its uses, given the wear and tear as well as the customizability Apple offers. But this is just a patent, so perhaps it might not see the light of day.

Source: TechRadar

Roku's remote control app adds Apple Watch support

Roku's remote control app gets a new update that will let you navigate and control what you want to watch on the Apple TV app right from your Apple Watch. The feature works similarly with Apple's Remote app that controls the Apple TV. The options are the same as what you'd find on the mobile app, but it's "sized for your wrist." You can also launch channels right from the Watch's screen, with channels appear in the order of most recently launched. Voice search is also available. You can issue commands such as "Launch Netflix" or "Search for Comedies." And if you're the type who loses the remote of your Roku device, the app has a "Remote finder" that will make it play an audible chime. This update, as well as the remote finder feature, will work for select Roku devices and Roku TV models.

Source: 9to5Mac