Category Archives: health

Episode 155, Apple honors and supports American Veterans with their programs and products



In this episode, I will tell you about how Apple honors and celebrates American Veterans.  I will do this from information provided from Apple and with the perspective of having nearly 40 years of service, both civilian and as an active duty service member.  This is how Apple has made a difference to me since their very early beginnings.  This episode is dedicated to honoring and helping fellow Veterans and their family members who use or have access to Apple products.

On Apple Fitness+, a new episode of Time to Walk features Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., chief of staff of the US Air Force and the first African American to lead a branch of the armed forces.
This Veterans Day, special activations across Apple’s products and services honor veterans throughout the US by sharing their stories and legacies.
Apple Watch users across the US can participate in the Veterans Day Challenge on November 11 to earn a limited edition Activity award and animated stickers for messages.

Episode 153, Apple celebrates Veteran’s Day with Fitness; Activity Awards creates your achievements into beautiful magnets



In this episode we will discuss Apple celebrating Veteran’s Day in the United States by earning a beautiful Apple Activity Challenge Fitness award on Thursday, November 11.  We will tell you how you can participate in this noteworthy effort. In the second half of the podcast we will talk about the Activity Awards company that offers physical representations of the digital fitness awards that Apple provides when AppleWatch owners meet their goals. Happy Veteran’s Day from the Mac Minutes Podcast!

Apple is planning to offer its next Apple Watch Activity Challenge on Thursday, November 11 in honor of the upcoming Veterans Day holiday. The photo in the far right is the physical Veteran’s Award that is obtainable from https://activityawards.com
This display is my shadow box with my earned Apple Activity Awards.

Episode 148, Apple Watch Series 7 preview; preorder Friday with availability starting Friday, Oct. 15



In this episode we will preview the Apple Watch Series 7 features a larger and more advanced display, enhanced durability, faster charging, new aluminum case colors, and watchOS 8.  Apple announced this week Apple Watch Series 7, featuring the largest and most advanced Apple Watch display ever — and a reengineered Always-On Retina display with significantly more screen area and thinner borders — will be available to order beginning Friday, October 8, at 5 am PDT, and arriving, along with availability in stores starting Friday, October 15.

Apple Watch Series 7 features a larger and more advanced display, enhanced durability, faster charging, new aluminum case colors, and watchOS 8. Apple Watch Series 7, featuring a larger, more advanced display, is available for order starting Friday, October 8.
Apple Watch Series 7 is available in five brand new aluminum case colors, including midnight, starlight, green, and a new blue and Product Red.  

Episode 144, Apple’s Sept. 14 Keynote announced; RECCO, ‘twICEme’ iPhone App uses technology to bring bike helmets to a digital level of safety



In this episode, we will bypass the speculation nonsense, other than making sure you know about the Tuesday, September 14 Apple Keynote.  It’s at 10 am PDT streaming live, and will be available later.   We are expecting to see several new models of the iPhone, an AppleWatch and other hardware and software announcements.  There are plenty of stories already out there, but I’d rather spend the time on a topic more meaningful.   We will save that coverage for a Tuesday evening special Mac Minutes Podcast when we know the facts.  I’d encourage you to tune into the keynote and come back for our analysis.  This week I want to talk about a major step forward for biking safety, especially for those of us who venture out alone. I purchased this new bike helmet which came out this year, specifically the POC Kortal Race MIPS Bike Helmet. It has tons of structural safety features but the technology is what sold me.

The RECCO Search and Rescue (SAR ) detector can overlarge areas fast. From a height of 100 meters covering a search area of approx. 100 meters wide, the SAR enables rescuers to search 1 square kilometer within 6 minutes.
Mountain-biking wearing the POC Kortal MIPS Race helmet.
Photo of the Kortal Race MIPS helmet equipped with RECCO rescue reflector. The helmet retails for $250.  a 10% discount is available on their website
twICEme is the digital application on the Apple App Store that integrates vital ICE information into equipment, such as an equipped bike helmet.

Episode 142, Apple celebrates National Parks, offering fitness award; Activity Awards creates your achievements into beautiful magnets



In this episode we will discuss Apple celebrating National Parks in the United States by raising funds and an opportunity to earn a beautiful Apple Activity Challenge Fitness award and stickers this Saturday, August 28.  We will tell you how to participate in this noteworthy effort.  In the second half of the podcast we will talk about the Activity Awards company that offers physical representations of the digital fitness awards that Apple provides when Apple Watch owners meet their goals.

The 2021 National Parks Challenge Fitness Award available to those who participate on Saturday, Aug. 28.

Mac Minutes Podcast, Episode 141, UV Light sterilization explained; Review of the versatile Ampere Cell to clean your tech devices



In this episode we will continue our emphasis on health with a review of the versatile Ampere Cell, which uses UV light to clean your tech devices.  We will also explain how UV light appears to kill the deadly COVID virus and other harmful organisms.

When you’re not sanitizing your smartphone, power it up. Ampere Cell’s charging surface contains two 15W wireless charging coils to fast-charge any Qi-enabled device. More information is at their website ampere.shop

Episode 136, AliveCor Kardia receives FDA clearance for personal ECG device for measurement of QTc Interval, a critical marker for heart safety



In this episode we will discuss AliveCor announced Thursday, July 8 it received 510(k) clearance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for healthcare professionals to use the KardiaMobile 6L device to calculate patients’ QTc interval.  We will talk about the Kardia device and explain why this new announcement is important to those who have an interest in their heart health. More info on the device is at https://alivecor.com.

Six leads, six times the heart data of its competitors. Record an EKG anytime, anywhere. KardiaMobile 6L is portable and works wherever you are and get results in just 30 seconds. It is FDA-cleared and doctor recommended. The clinically validated 6-lead personal EKG, FDA-cleared to detect AFib, Bradycardia, and Tachycardia. Save your EKGs on your phone or send them to your doctor for review remotely. Compatible with most Android and iOS smartphones and tablets.  

Episode 135, Colorful Apple Watch International Collection bands and watch faces show patriotism for upcoming Olympic Games; Apple launches public OS Beta program



In this episode, we will discuss the Apple’s launching this week of New Sport Loop bands and matching downloadable watch faces feature bold designs that represent 22 nations around the world. These bands are just in time to show your support for your summer Olympic teams taking place July 23 through August 8. Additionally, we will briefly talk about Apple launching the public beta operating systems.

Australia, Belgium, and Brazil International Collection Sport Loop bands and matching Stripes watch faces
The US International Collection Sport Loop and Stripes watch face.

Episode 134, Using Spatial Audio on Apple Music; Apple Fitness+ releases new episodes of ‘Time to Walk’ starting Monday, June 28



In this episode, we will discuss the Apple Music launching industry-leading sound quality to subscribers with the addition of spatial audio from some of your favorite artists with support for Dolby Atmos.  Additionally, new episodes of ‘Time to Walk’ are available for Fitness+ users on Apple Watch starting on Monday, June 28, with a whole new group of guests covering a wide spectrum of interesting topics.

New episodes of ‘Time to Walk’ are available for Fitness+ users on Apple Watch starting June 28, with guests including Randall Park, Michaela Jaé “MJ” Rodriguez, Anthony Joshua, and more.
Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos and Lossless Audio has arrived for Apple Music subscribers. First there was mono, then stereo, and now there’s Spatial Audio. Spatial is an immersive experience with sound moving around you in different directions.

Episode 133, Apple advances personal health by introducing secure sharing and new insights



In this episode, we will discuss the announcement during the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2021) that with iOS 15, iPhone and Apple Watch users will now have the ability to share health data with loved ones or a care network, view Trends, and measure their Walking Steadiness.

iOS 15 brings secure sharing and new insights for users within the Health application.
Users can choose to share their health and wellness data with loved ones or caregivers for more meaningful conversations and support, even from afar.
Users have granular control over which health data types they choose to share and with whom.