Unexpectedly, Apple and Masimo, a relatively unknown health technology startup, are embroiled in a patent dispute over a blood oxygen monitors. Apple has decided to stop selling its most recent smartwatches, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, at physical and online retailers in the United States due to this legal dispute.
According to an October decision by the International Trade Commission, these recently launched Apple Watch models violated patents held by Masimo that deal with blood oxygen monitoring technologies. Joe Kiani, the CEO and creator of Masimo, discussed the situation and made it clear that Apple’s use of the technology was a purposeful violation of Masimo’s intellectual property rather than an accident.
Despite this victory, Creative struggled to compete with giants like Apple, losing ground in the PC audio market to integrated sound cards. Sim’s entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to innovation, however, continued to guide the company.
Sim’s sudden demise has prompted Creative to make key appointments to ensure the company’s smooth operation. Lee Kheng Nam, the lead independent non-executive director, assumes the role of acting chairman, and Ng Kai Wa, an independent non-executive director, as acting vice-chairman. Song Siow Hui, president of Creative Labs, steps in as interim CEO.
In the wake of Sim’s passing, industry leaders and colleagues have expressed their sorrow and admiration. Former foreign affairs minister George Yeo, an independent non-executive director at Creative, reminisced about Sim’s creativity and ceaseless flow of ideas. Tan Min-Liang, CEO of Razer, described Sim as a legend, highlighting their frequent discussions on audio technology and design.
As the technology world mourns the loss of a visionary, Creative’s share price surged, a testament to the enduring impact of Sim Wong Hoo’s contributions to the industry.