Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Apple Special Event [video]

apple.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–60 of 512 posts

Re: Apple Special Event [video]

#51

Post by joshuakcockrell »

xkr wrote: post #15

It might be a dummy question, but what does FDA clearance mean exactly? Does it make the watch a medical-grade device and I can do ECG using the watch instead of going to the hospital?

With FDA clearance you're allowed to brand and advertise your product as a "medical device". Also, without FDA approval, you have to be very careful about certain terms you use to describe your product's features. For example, without FDA approval, you cannot say your device "monitors" falls. You can only say it "tracks" falls. There are several other limitations because the FDA doesn't want you making these types of medical promises to customers unless the FDA has approved it.

Source: I worked on a fall detection app for the Apple Watch last year.

Re: Apple Special Event [video]

#52

Post by admiralEyebrows »

mereel wrote: post #27
xkr wrote: post #15

It might be a dummy question, but what does FDA clearance mean exactly? Does it make the watch a medical-grade device and I can do ECG using the watch instead of going to the hospital?

I missed the part in the stream about FDA clearance, but my guess is yes, it would be some sort of medical device. However comparing the ECG functionality available for an apple to watch to even a standard portable 12-lead ECG is like comparing a slide rule to a modern GPU. It is definitely _not_ a replacement for going to the hospital, but it is a novelty and might be a good way to tell someone when they should go t…

One of the points they made was that people who go to the hospital reporting symptoms are not necessarily experiencing those symptoms during the visit, and collecting ECG data when people are going about their daily lives allows doctors to better diagnose heart conditions (Apple Watch ECG data is stored in PDF format in Health app).

An incredible novelty, one that I'm sure many concerned family members will pay $399 for.

Re: Apple Special Event [video]

#53

Post by joshuakcockrell »

wintorez wrote: post #13
vedtopkar wrote: post #7

FDA approval to market the new Apple Watch as a medical device is a huge deal.

May I ask why is it a huge deal?

With FDA clearance you're allowed to brand and advertise your product as a "medical device". Also, without FDA approval, you have to be very careful about certain terms you use to describe your product's features. For example, without FDA approval, you cannot say your device "monitors" falls. You can only say it "tracks" falls. There are several other limitations because the FDA doesn't want you making these types of medical claims to customers unless the FDA has approved them.

Source: I worked on a fall detection app for the Apple Watch last year.

Re: Apple Special Event [video]

#55

Post by gnicholas »

hinkley wrote: post #43
gnicholas wrote: post #19

The "super retina" designation doesn't refer to PPI, right? Seems like 458 isn't that much higher than past models, if at all. Is "super" just a reference to the increased color gamut and true tone functionality?

In laser printers it was a big deal when they hit 200, 300, 400 and 600 dpi. Going from >300ppi to >400ppi probably warrants a special mention.

It looks like the last-generation iPhone X also had 458 PPI. I got the impression from the presentation that the super retina display was new to this year. My mistake.

EDIT: Also, if Jobs' original theory about retina displays was that the human eye can't see individual pixels at this threshold (300 PPI), then going above and beyond that is perhaps not that important.

Re: Apple Special Event [video]

#56

Post by gnicholas »

It's now possible to change the depth of field after taking the photo. I wasn't paying close enough attention to know if this will also be possible on older iPhones.

EDIT: sounds like it's just the new iPhones. But it includes the less expensive Xr.

Re: Apple Special Event [video]

#57

Post by slg »

stcredzero wrote: post #37
lanestp wrote: post #6

I can't believe they named a phone X[s]. How can they not see everyone calling it "iPhone excess?"

How can they not see everyone calling it "iPhone excess?" Is that necessarily bad? Up to a point, the more meme-ing and acrimony around your brand, the better. "There's no such thing as bad publicity."

Calling your $1100+ phone the iPhone Excess Max is a great way to get every talk show to discuss an update that appears to be little more than an incremental speed bump.

Re: Apple Special Event [video]

#59

Post by badloginagain »

sho wrote: post #40
mereel wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I missed the part in the stream about FDA clearance, but my guess is yes, it would be some sort of medical device. However comparing the ECG functionality available for an apple to watch to even a standard portable 12-lead ECG is like comparing a slide rule to a modern GPU. It is definitely _not_ a replacement for going to the hospital, but it is a novelty and might be a good way to tell someone when they should go t…

> it is a novelty I'm sure those millions of people who have hospital-grade ECG machines at home have no need for this toy, but for those few who don't, it sounds like an absolute game-changer that could really save lives. The best medical device, like the best camera, is the one you actually have with you when you need it - and as someone who has occasionally worried about what feels like a weird heartbeat, I'll be…

I would expect seniors to be a sizable portion of Apple Watches. Being FDA approved for tracking health would be a huge draw for this audience.

Watch Apple implement a subscription service to call emergency contacts in the event of a health event detected by the Watch.

Re: Apple Special Event [video]

#60

Post by masklinn »

johnnyfaehell wrote: post #36
mandeepj wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is not easy to get any FDA approval. Companies go bankrupt after spending millions and still don't get approved.

When you have more money than the government that’s no so much of a problem.

Technically Apple has more money than some governments, it's nowhere near the US Government's: Apple's entire assets could pay for under 18 months of net interest on the public debt (263bn in 2017).
Post reply on HN