4 ms·

This is the 2nd or 3rd story I've heard like this about the Apple Watch's new ECG feature. I wasn't interested in smartwatches before, but now I am considering

This is the 2nd or 3rd story I've heard like this about the Apple Watch's new ECG feature. I wasn't interested in smartwatches before, but now I am considering getting an Apple Watch, even if it's just for my parents.

ajeet_dhaliwal 8y ago
First time I’m interested too. I hate wearing watches and stuck to an iPhone and MacBook only until now but I’m at a high risk for heart disease. My dad died when he was only 43 from clogged arteries. I have familial high cholesterol, but statins have helped me lower to normal levels. My dad died in 1992 before statins. With statins and ecg on a watch we are all very fortunate to live in the time we do.
haukilup 8y ago
Edit: Still not in Canada, though it seems to be in more countries. Very frustrating! Original: I don't think they enable the ECG feature for anyone outside the US. It's locked based on the point of sale last I checked. Very frustrating to buy something so expensive to find out it's been region-locked!
- peteretep 8y ago
  > The watchOS 5.2 update expands the availability of the ECG app to Hong Kong and 19 European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK
- mr_toad 8y ago
  It counts as a medical device, which means it has to go through extensive certification. Different countries have different procedures.
  - haukilup 8y ago
    Correct! The frustrating part (for me) is Apple’s lack of transparency in the extended delay in the release of this feature. It was heavily promoted, yet to find out that the ECG feature wasn’t available prior to purchase you had to dig through their support documents to find the list of countries it is available in - which at the time of my purchase, was between 1-4. But I only found that out after spending 3 days income on the device - because who would expect that a heavily promoted feature WASN’T available? I understand Apple’s choices of communication from their perspective as a for-profit business, which only makes me unhappier.

ajeet_dhaliwal 8y ago

First time I’m interested too. I hate wearing watches and stuck to an iPhone and MacBook only until now but I’m at a high risk for heart disease. My dad died when he was only 43 from clogged arteries. I have familial high cholesterol, but statins have helped me lower to normal levels. My dad died in 1992 before statins. With statins and ecg on a watch we are all very fortunate to live in the time we do.

haukilup 8y ago

Edit: Still not in Canada, though it seems to be in more countries. Very frustrating! Original: I don't think they enable the ECG feature for anyone outside the US. It's locked based on the point of sale last I checked. Very frustrating to buy something so expensive to find out it's been region-locked!

peteretep 8y ago
> The watchOS 5.2 update expands the availability of the ECG app to Hong Kong and 19 European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK
mr_toad 8y ago
It counts as a medical device, which means it has to go through extensive certification. Different countries have different procedures.
- haukilup 8y ago
  Correct! The frustrating part (for me) is Apple’s lack of transparency in the extended delay in the release of this feature. It was heavily promoted, yet to find out that the ECG feature wasn’t available prior to purchase you had to dig through their support documents to find the list of countries it is available in - which at the time of my purchase, was between 1-4. But I only found that out after spending 3 days income on the device - because who would expect that a heavily promoted feature WASN’T available? I understand Apple’s choices of communication from their perspective as a for-profit business, which only makes me unhappier.