Apple Stock News: Apple Ring to Compete Against Samsung Galaxy Ring
Apple Stock News: Apple is fast-tracking the development of a smart ring to monitor users’ health, aligning with Samsung’s upcoming ring launch. The Electronic Times reports Apple’s serious consideration of this wearable as an alternative to watches, evident in its patent applications for a finger-worn device. Meanwhile, Samsung is set to unveil its Galaxy Ring with various health features at the Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event. The smart ring market, currently led by Oura Ring, may see a shift with Apple’s potential entry.
Apple Boosts Advertised Battery Life for iPhone 15
Apple announced that after retesting, the batteries in all iPhone 15 models meet higher standards. In an updated support document, Apple stated that these batteries are designed to retain 80% of their original capacity after 1,000 complete charge cycles under ideal conditions, a significant improvement over older models. Though specifics of the testing process weren’t disclosed, Apple emphasized ongoing enhancements to battery components and power management systems. This suggests that iPhone 15 models may maintain maximum battery capacity longer. However, Apple is still investigating the battery lifespans of older models. Users can monitor battery health in Settings, under Battery Health & Charging, with the latest iOS 17.4 beta simplifying the process on iPhone 15 models.
U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Hear VirnetX Patent Case
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision not to hear the VirnetX vs. Apple patent case ends a 14-year legal battle and saves Apple $502.8 million. This stems from a 2023 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, following a successful jury trial won by VirnetX in 2020. Apple was found to have infringed VirnetX patents with its iPhone VPN on-demand feature. Despite VirnetX’s attempt to appeal to the Supreme Court, it was denied. VirnetX, often labeled as a “patent troll,” generates revenue through patent licensing and litigation rather than offering products or services. While Apple avoids the $503 million payment from this case, it previously paid $440 million in 2019 for infringing VirnetX patents related to FaceTime and iMessage communications security.
