Apple has been accused of exposing users to cancer in a new lawsuit filed in the US that claims that the tech giant’s Watch bands contain high levels of toxic chemicals. According to Daily Mail, the lawsuit claims that Apple’s “Ocean,” “Nike Sport,” and regular “Sport” Watch bands contain high levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals,” which have been linked to a range of health problems. PFAS chemicals are known for their ability to persist in the human body and environment, earning them their nickname. 

According to the Daily Mail, the lawsuit stems from a recent study on 22 watch bands from various companies in the US. The research found that 15 of the 22 contained harmful PFAS chemicals; among these watches, some were made by Apple. 

The lawsuit, filed in California on Tuesday, specifically alleges that the Sport Band, the Ocean Band and the Nike Sport Band that ships with Nike-branded Apple Watches contain high levels of PFAS. It also alleges that Apple knowingly and willfully did not inform consumers which products contain harmful PFAS, even though the Apple Watch is marketed as a health-promoting device. 

“Instead, in respect of watches, (Apple) continues to hide the existence of PFAS at the point of purchase and otherwise,” the lawsuit states. “(Apple) could have avoided the unreasonable safety and environmental hazard with available manufacturing alternatives, and its failure to do so while continuing to promise consumers health, wellness, and sustainability is unlawful, unfair, and fraudulent under consumer protection laws,” it continues.

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The lawsuit seeks class certification, which is like a mini-trial in which the allegations are examined and argued by each side’s attorneys. It also seeks an injunction to halt the sale of the alleged PFAS-containing watch bands and monetary penalties, the outlet reported. 

Meanwhile, in a statement to Daily Mail, Apple claimed that its Watch bands are safe for users to wear. “In addition to our own testing, we also work with independent laboratories to conduct rigorous testing and analysis of the materials used in our products, including Apple Watch bands,” the tech giant said. 

Apple has also long claimed that its Watch bands are made from fluoroelastomer, a synthetic rubber that contains fluorine but not harmful PFAS chemicals. The company asserts that fluoroelastomer is safe and thoroughly tested to meet health standards.

A doctor based out of Gurugram has said his Apple Watch was stolen during a security check at Delhi airport. Dr Tushar Mehta has narrated the shocking sequence of events and how he got his watch back. In response, Delhi airport has assured a thorough probe and necessary action to prevent such incidents in the future.

In his long post on X, Dr Mehta said he put his Apple Watch in the tray during the security check. “The moment I crossed security, I started putting things back into my laptop bag. I could feel that something is missing & I realised I don’t have my watch. I asked the CISF guy standing there. He asked me to look again in my bag, pocket etc which I had already done,” he said.

“I turned around curiously & saw someone looking back at me while walking away. I didn’t care about what CISF guy was about to do or say & started walking for that guy. Few steps ahead I saw him standing at the @titanwatches Helios store on the left,” Dr Mehta said in his post.

Something strange & shocking happened today. I was at @DelhiAirport T3 a while ago at the security. I had put my Apple Watch in the tray for security check. The moment I crossed security, I started putting things back into my laptop bag. I could feel that something is missing & I…

— Dr Tushar Mehta (@dr_tushar_mehta) January 25, 2025

“I confronted him & forcibly put my hand over his trouser pocket and I could feel the watch. The sales guy standing at Helios came over towards me & behaved weirdly as it had nothing to do with him. Forcefully I took out my watch (I am glad I could and I did). The guy who took my watch & the Helios guy tried to confront me which made me realise that they knew each other from before. The Helios guy looped me in & meanwhile the other guy left the shop & escaped,” he said.

The orthopaedic surgeon added that he left the shop after an argument because he was getting late for the flight. “Meanwhile on the way to gate, a CISF guy came with the Helios guy & started asking me for my rude behaviour & asked to apologise,” he said.

The doctor then called a senior CISF official he treated in the past. “I took out my phone called a senior official who’s been a patient for few years & put the phone on speaker. The CISF official spoke to him very briefly & immediately left saying ‘theek hai sir, aap jao’. He went back accompanying the Helios Guy,” he said.

Dr Mehta said he was posting about his harrowing experience to spread awareness. “Please take care of your belongings at the security once you clear it.” He has named the two people he suspects to be involved in the theft as Shoaib and Md Saqib.

Dear Dr Tushar,
We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused. The theft of your Apple Watch and the subsequent events are being taken very seriously.
We assure you that we will take this matter up strongly with all relevant parties, including CISF and the concessionaire.(1/2)

— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) January 25, 2025

Delhi Airport’s official handle said it regrets the inconvenience Dr Mehta faced. “The theft of your Apple Watch and the subsequent events are being taken very seriously. We assure you that we will take this matter up strongly with all relevant parties, including CISF and the concessionaire. Please be assured that the safety and security of our passengers are our top priority. We will investigate this incident thoroughly and take necessary actions to prevent such incidents in the future. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.”

The CISF’s airport security wing, too, has responded to the post and requested Dr Mehta to share his PNR and contact number so that they can probe the matter.

Los Angeles, California:

Apple Inc.’s most important event of the year takes place Monday, when the company will roll out its latest iPhones and set the stage for a new artificial intelligence platform.

The event kicks off from Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, on Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. local time. Apple doesn’t typically hold this event on a Monday, but the earlier timing lets the company get out ahead of an eventful Tuesday: There’s a US presidential debate that day, and the European Commission is slated to announce a decision on whether Apple has to pay $14 billion in taxes stemming from a longstanding agreement with Ireland.

The most significant product announcement will be the iPhone 16 line, but the company is also preparing major updates to both the Apple Watch and AirPods. Apple Intelligence – a new suite of AI tools that includes an updated Siri digital assistant – also will feature prominently. The theme of the event, “It’s Glowtime,” is a reference to Siri’s new interface.

The stakes are high for Apple, which looks to prove to both consumers and Wall Street that it’s now a major player in generative artificial intelligence. But the company’s AI technology is still a work in progress. Apple Intelligence has faced numerous delays, and many key features won’t arrive until next year. For now, the technology is focused on summarizing messages and notifications, rather than matching the dazzling interactivity of rival systems.

Even so, Monday’s updates will breathe new life into products that sit at the heart of the Apple device lineup and generate roughly 60% of the company’s annual revenue. They also drive consumer spending on services, an increasingly vital source of sales. Apple’s finances could use the boost. The company has only just begun to emerge from its longest sales slump in decades.

Here’s everything that’s expected to be announced at Monday’s presentation:

iPHONE

In line with the past several years, Apple will introduce four new iPhone models: the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max.

Like in 2023, the changes to the non-Pro iPhones will be minor. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will look like last year’s versions, including 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screen sizes and aluminum cases. They’ll gain faster processors and include a total of 8 gigabytes of memory (up from 6). That memory will help support Apple Intelligence and other features.

Those lower-end phones will get the same Action button currently featured on the Pro models, as well as vertically stacked rear cameras that support spatial video recording – the 3D clips that can be viewed with Apple’s Vision Pro headsets.

The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, meanwhile, will retain the iPhone 15 Pro line design save for one noticeable change: the displays. The screen sizes are increasing to 6.3 inches on the smaller model (up from from 6.1 inches) and going to 6.9 inches from 6.7 inches on the Max version. While the changes represent an increase of less than 5% on both models, the shift will come with bezels that are now about a third slimmer. That should make for a sleeker overall look.

Like the iPhone 15 Pro line, the 16 Pro models will support Apple Intelligence with the inclusion of 8 gigabytes of memory. They’ll also get speedier chips with an enhanced neural engine that Apple will say is optimized for AI.

Both of the iPhone 16 Pro models will get camera upgrades as well, including a move to a 48-megapixel lens from a 12-megapixel one for the ultrawide-angle camera. That will match the megapixels of the standard, wide-angle camera on last year’s model. The smaller iPhone 16 Pro will also gain 5x optical zoom on the telephoto lens, up from 3x, to match the Max version.

The most significant camera enhancement coming to both models: a dedicated, touch-sensitive button on the right side of the phone for taking photos and video. This button will be the biggest selling point for the new iPhones, other than AI. It will work similarly to a shutter button on a DSLR camera, allowing a user to lightly press it to focus on a subject and then press harder to take a picture. It will also be capacitive, allowing a user to swipe across it to move between still and video modes and zoom in and out.

While the phones will all look mostly the same as last year, Apple is shaking up its color palette. The Pro models will now come in a gold titanium to replace blue titanium, while the black, white and natural options will still be available. The non-Pro versions will trade in yellow for white and get new shades of green, pink and blue.

AIRPODS

Apple is preparing two new AirPods models to replace the entry-level, second-generation earbuds and mid-tier, third-generation model. Both new versions will look similar to the AirPods Pro and include a new case, USB-C charging and improved audio quality.

Apple will distinguish the two models by giving the new mid-tier version a higher-end case with a speaker – making it easier to locate with Apple’s Find My feature – as well as noise cancellation to match the AirPods Pro.

A few weeks ago, Apple discovered a bug in the upcoming AirPods that made the earbuds quickly drain battery life. This issue was determined to be software-related and resolved prior to factories shipping out the products.

One major new feature is a bigger push into hearing health. Apple has been working to turn the AirPods into a replacement for hearing aids as well as a device for conducting hearing tests. The company is preparing to announce the enhancements – codenamed Yodel – but they’ve suffered some delays and may not be available until later.

A new version of the AirPods Pro remains in the works, including an upgraded design and improved noise cancellation. It’s due as early as next year.

And Apple has been working on updated AirPods Max headphones that will come in new colors and switch the Lightning connector to USB-C to comply with the latest laws from the European Union. But there’s still plenty of current AirPods Max inventory on hand, suggesting that the update could be coming later.

APPLE WATCH

For the first time in two years, the company is preparing to update all of its Apple Watch models at once. There will be a new low-end Apple Watch SE, a mid-level Series 10 model and an Ultra 3.

The Apple Watch Ultra will only get minor tweaks, focusing on internal upgrades rather than outside changes.

The biggest upgrade to the Apple Watch line will be with the Series 10 model, which marks the decade anniversary of the product’s introduction in 2014. For the first time since the Series 7, the flagship Apple Watch model will get an updated look.

The overall design will be similar to the Apple Watch Series 9, but the company will now offer slightly larger screen-size options and the watch case itself will be noticeably thinner.

Though new AI features are coming to the iPhone, iPad and Mac, don’t expect the watches to get major Apple Intelligence capabilities. Any AI technology will probably be tied specifically to a future health coach service.

At the start of the year, Apple was forced to remove blood-oxygen sensing from new watches due to a lawsuit with Masimo Corp. over patents. There’s been no evidence that the feature is returning in time for the latest models, and that may affect whether users want to upgrade their existing watches to versions that won’t have the function.

A major new health feature is coming, though: sleep apnea detection, which will build on the existing sleep tracking. This feature will attempt to determine if a wearer has sleep apnea and then suggest further testing with a medical professional. While Apple has been preparing to announce it, the enhancement may not be available on day one of the new model going on sale.

On the other hand, while Apple aimed to bring hypertension – or high blood pressure – detection to the Apple Watch this year, signs point to that feature being delayed and no longer in the cards for an immediate release.

OTHER PRODUCTS

Apple is working on transitioning its entire Mac line to M4 chips, starting with the MacBook Pro, Mac mini and iMac. But any Mac upgrades are likely to come at a follow-up launch – no earlier than October – rather than at the September event.

While the company has been working on an update to the Apple TV set-top box for as early as this year, no new model has come to fruition and stable inventory of the device suggests a new version isn’t on the immediate horizon.

A new iPhone SE with an OLED display, edge-to-edge screen and no home button is in advanced testing, but a release isn’t planned until next year. A fresh AirTag is also in development, though Apple isn’t planning a release until next year either.

There are also new iPads in the works, including an upgraded mini version. They’re on deck for Apple’s October event alongside the M4 Macs.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

An Apple watch has saved the life of a 35-year-old woman from Delhi. The woman suffered from Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) – a rapid and abnormal heart rhythm.

Speaking to news agency IANS, Sneha Saha, a policy researcher, said that late in the evening on April 9, she started experiencing a rapid heart rate.

She assumed it to be a panic attack due to stress. She started doing deep breathing exercises and drinking water, but had no respite as the problem persisted.

When the heart palpitations didn’t stop, she wore her Apple watch, to assess her condition. The watch advised her to visit a doctor.

She chose to ignore that too, but around midnight, the Apple watch alerted Sneha to visit a doctor immediately due to extremely high heart rate (230 bpm) and onset of AFib.

Sneha, who lives in Munirka, was then rushed to the Emergency at the nearby Fortis Hospital in Vasant Kunj, where doctors could not read her pulse.

Assessing her condition further, they had to administer three delivery of direct current (DC) shocks (50 50 100 joules) to revive her heart’s sinus rhythm. Subsequently, she was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

“Had the Apple Watch not alerted me of the serious condition around midnight, I would not have gone to the hospital and would have lost my life,” Sneha told IANS, noting that the watch has now become her “constant companion.”

“I would not have measured my heart rate, had the watch not been there. Whatever I had to say to the doctors was based on Apple Watch readings,” added Sneha, who is on her way to recovery.

The doctors diagnosed her condition to be a type of Tachycardia — an increased heart rate for any reason — which can get triggered by exercise or stress.

After returning home, she wrote to Apple CEO Tim Cook on April 23, thanking him and the Apple team “for making such an advanced and precise recording ECG app.”

Within a few hours, he responded: “I am glad you sought the medical attention and treatment you needed. Thanks so much for sharing your story with us.”

“After the harrowing experience, I realised it is very important for us to understand our health, our sleep patterns, our heart rates as we all deal with stress,” Sneha said.

“Smartwatches are a very good way of keeping track of your daily activities, your heart rate,” added the Ph.D. degree holder in Science Policy Studies from the Jawaharlal Nehru University.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Apple’s first-generation Apple Watch is no longer available for repair or upgrade as the company declared the product as “obsolete”. This includes the premium 18-karat gold version, which adheres to Apple’s seven-year warranty policy. The watch was released in 2015 with a price range of $10,000 to $17,000 and was only available for one year before Apple replaced it with less luxurious watch variations, as per a report in The Verge.

The obsolete tag not only means the end of software updates but also the end of hardware support. The company will no longer provide parts, repairs or replacement services for the watch at Apple Stores and Apple Authorised Service Provider locations. It is to be noted that the original Apple Watch, referred to as Series 0, was never updated beyond watchOS 4.3.2 in 2018.

As per Apple’s website, when a product has been out of production for more than seven years, the company considers it to be technologically outdated. The first-generation devices just surpassed that seven-year milestone since the original Apple Watch was discontinued in September 2016 in favour of the Series 2 and Series 1 versions.

The solid-gold Apple Watch Edition was a pet project for Jony Ive, who served as Apple’s previous head designer. Celebrities were spotted wearing it when it first debuted, including German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld and singer Beyonce, who paired it with a gold link bracelet that was never made available to the general public.

Not only this, all other Hermes-branded 38mm and 42mm aluminium and stainless steel models of the original Apple Watch are also regarded as outdated. The ceramic Apple Watch Edition, which could be purchased for up to $1,299, was later replaced by the solid-gold Apple Watch in 2016.

Meanwhile, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 were launched on September 12 at the company’s Wonderlust event. The wearable smartwatches come with considerable upgrades over their preceding models. The Apple Watch Series 9 is offered in Midnight, Pink, (Product) Red, Starlight, and Silver colour options and is priced at Rs. 41,900 whereas the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is priced at Rs. 89,900. It comes with Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, and Ocean band options.