Prior to the Watch OS 1.0.1 update, the Apple Watch measured a user’s heart rate every 10 minutes. Since the update, users have found that this no longer happens and that the Watch only takes a measurement when specifically asked.
A thread on the Apple support forums now has over 200 replies from users experiencing the same “issue,” prompting Apple to update its support website. To the frustration of users, the response isn’t exactly what people had been expecting, as V3 reports.
The post to the forums quite clearly indicates that the change is intentional and here to stay. It reads: “You can check your heart rate any time using the Heart Rate Glance. […] In addition, Apple Watch attempts to measure your heart rate every 10 minutes, but won’t record it when you’re in motion or your arm is moving. Apple Watch stores all your heart rate measurements in the Health app.”
The post adds that the heart rate is still measured continually during workouts in the Health app but seems quite clear that the previous behaviour of always updating heart beat every 10 minutes is gone.
Some people have wondered why Apple has been led to make this annoying change but speculation is rife that it may be to counter one of the most serious aspects of Apple Watch criticism: battery life. By limiting heart beat measurements, battery life can be increased, goes the theory.
This has only served to further anger users though, many of whom claim that battery life was adequate before and that in any case the update has not improved things. Instead, it seems to have removed a key function so that Apple can continue to dodge negative criticism where possible.
