Apple and Stanford University use the Apple Watch to study irregular heart rhythms

Apple, together with Stanford University, has just launched an app designed to collect irregular heart rhythm using the Apple Watch’s heart rate sensor. It’s part of the company’s Heart Study initiative the company announced back in September when it launched watchOS 4. The app, called Apple Heart Study, can detect irregular heart rates using existing Apple Watch tech. It makes use of green LED lights that flash hundreds of times per second as well as photodiodes that detect how much blood is flowing through the wrists. If it senses irregularities, it’ll send notifications to the user telling them they might be suffering from atrial fibrillation (AFib).

Launched in the US, those who choose to participate in the study are provided a free consultation with a study doctor and an electrocardiogram (EKG) patch for further observation. Apple is opening the study to users who are 22 years old or older with an Apple Watch Series 1 or later.

Source: The Verge

Windows 10 is now installed on 600 million devices

Microsoft's Windows 10 OS has reportedly been installed in 600 million devices worldwide. Windows 10, which was launched back in 2015 and geared towards PC's 2-in-1's, xBox and mobile phones has predominantly been available for free on older devices and offered as a free upgrade. Microsoft's bailing out on their mobile platform has somewhat impacted the company's initial target of seeing Windows 10 on 1 billion devices.

Windows 7 is still the dominant operating system in use with a 46% market share while Winows 10 is climbing up the rungs with 27% market share.

Netflix renews ‘Stranger Things’ for season 3

Netflix

In a move that surprises no one, Netflix has announced in a couple of tweets that the sci-fi thriller is coming back for another season. The end of the second season left room for another season to happen. Plus, the showrunners, the Duffer brothers, have been upfront about still having storylines to work on for at least two seasons. Aside from announcing the new season, there is no word yet on when this will happen but if the two seasons are anything to go by, we might see the next season before the end of 2018.

Source: GameSpot

Netflix orders a new show based on ‘Sabrina the Teenage Witch’

Those who grew up in the ‘90s are well-acquainted with Sabrina The Teenage Witch, I personally watched the show as often as I could. And now, those from my generation will get to see a new side to Sabrina as Netflix just ordered two 10-episode seasons of the show based on the Archie Comics graphic novel The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. The show was originally in development at The CW as a companion show for Riverdale. But it seems the popularity of Riverdale on Netflix has prompted the streaming service to get it for itself. It isn’t clear though if the two shows will exist in the same universe.

While we don’t have a set release date yet, the new series will be a “dark coming-of-age story that traffics in horror, the occult, and witchcraft.” Sabrina Spellman having to deal with being a normal half-human/half-witch teenager while she battles evil forces. The show’s pilot will be written by Riverdale’s creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Lee Toland Krieger will be directing, similar to what the two did to the aforementioned show. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and Jon Goldwater–all executive producers on Riverdale–will also executive produce the show.

Source: Variety