Watch that tackles sleep apnea, extra tech information you need to use

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Whereas it wasn't as busy every week within the tech world in comparison with, say, politics — you recognize, that little US election factor occurring south of the border — there have been some fascinating new tech-related bulletins. and product launches value highlighting.

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From a brand new online game console (simply in time for the colder climate) to an AI procuring assistant that can assist you with vacation procuring to a smartwatch that detects sleep apnea, listed here are some “brief bytes” of tech information you need to use.

IT'S ALL IN THE WRIST

Do you personal an Apple Watch?

Well being Canada has now accepted and offered a medical gadget license for Apple's sleep apnea notification function.

Works with one of many latest Apple Watch merchandise: Apple Watch Collection 9, Apple Watch Extremely 2 and Apple Watch Collection 10 (beginning at $549).

Whereas sporting an Apple Watch in mattress, it could actually now assist establish indicators of reasonable to extreme sleep apnea, a doubtlessly critical (however usually undiagnosed) situation by which respiratory stops repeatedly throughout sleep.

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If left untreated, sleep apnea can have main well being penalties, together with an elevated threat of hypertension, sort 2 diabetes, and coronary heart issues.

Beneath the hood, the Apple Watch makes use of its built-in accelerometer to observe small actions which might be related to disruptions to regular respiratory patterns (as measured by a brand new Apple Watch metric referred to as Respiration Disturbances). The following day, Apple Watch customers can see their Evening Respiration Issues within the Well being app on iPhone and iPad, the place the information is categorized as “elevated” or “not elevated” and may be seen over a month, six months. , or interval of 1 yr.

Apple says its sleep apnea notification algorithm was developed utilizing superior synthetic intelligence (particularly, machine studying), adopted by an intensive set of clinical-grade sleep apnea take a look at information, after which validated in a scientific trial .

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HAND FOR THE NEW PLAYSTATION

Gamers, rejoice!

In case you're planning on enjoyable in entrance of the TV throughout the winter months (which can embody a “staycation” this yr), Sony is again with a considerably up to date PlayStation 5 Professional console.

The PS5 Professional ($959.99, or $100 extra for the disc model) affords improved video high quality, together with applied sciences equivalent to PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Tremendous Decision) for super-sharp, AI-powered readability; help for as much as 120 frames per second with quick 120 Hz refresh charges (even with 4K output); and superior ray tracing expertise for practical lighting, reflections and shadows.

In plain English, it's noticeably quicker, video games look nicer and run so much smoother.

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For storage, the PS5 Professional comes with 2 terabytes (2TB) of strong state storage, so that you gained't must delete the video games you continue to need to play to make room for brand new titles. As well as, PS5 Professional helps backward compatibility to play over eight,500 PS4 video games – now enhanced with “Recreation Enhance” for quicker and smoother body charges.

Different options embody help for 8K TVs, quicker Wi-Fi and superior 3D audio for extra immersive sound.

Worldwide, Sony has already bought greater than 56 million PlayStation 5 consoles (and the slimmer PS5 Slim, beginning at $579) as of the tip of April 2024, and is now including the PS5 Professional to its lineup for extra demanding avid gamers (with deeper pockets). ).

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SHOPPING IS COMING TO CANADA

Amazon has introduced that its procuring assistant “Rufus” is now in beta (pre-release software program) for some Canadian clients.

It's primarily an AI chatbot constructed into Amazon Canada — the cell app, for starters — designed to boost the procuring expertise by serving to you discover what you're searching for.

Simply faucet the little orange and blue menu icon and kind one thing.

Particularly, Rufus can reply questions you ask about your procuring wants, merchandise, substances and comparisons. It might enable you slender down your choices and make suggestions. Inform Rufus about your hobbies or upcoming journeys and get professional recommendation on what you may want. Or ask about your present orders and call customer support everytime you want.

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Like different generative AI (“gen AI”) instruments, it's meant to be very human and conversational.

Rufus shall be rolling out to further Amazon clients in Canada within the coming weeks.

SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES

If procuring native is extra your factor, you're not alone.

Fixed Contact – a number one digital advertising and automation firm for small and medium-sized companies (SMBs) – discovered that 75% of Canadians plan to purchase from a small enterprise that’s new to them this vacation season.

That's excellent news for small companies, after all, regardless that the identical Small Enterprise Now report discovered that budgets are tighter this yr.

Fixed Contact says that making small enhancements to advertising plans and techniques pays massive dividends for SMBs trying to drive visitors (and hopefully income) whereas competing with the “massive boys.” Including a vacation promotion to an already deliberate marketing campaign is a simple and cost-effective approach to activate vacation customers.

Final yr, SMBs cited making an attempt to do an excessive amount of directly as the most important mistake of their vacation advertising, so specializing in e-mail and social media advertising might have the most important impression on attaining year-end objectives.

— Marc Saltzman is the host of the Tech It Out podcast and the creator of Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional For Dummies (Wiley).

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