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  • Apple and Alibaba join forces for AI in China

    Apple and Alibaba join forces for AI in China

    Apple has decided to team up with Alibaba to introduce AI features on iPhones in China, ending a period of guesswork about how Apple would handle AI in the Chinese market.

    iPhone 16 Apple intelligence

    Joe Tsai, Alibaba’s chairman, shared this news at the World Government Summit in Dubai. He said, “Apple looked at several companies in China. In the end, they decided to work with us. They want our AI to enhance their phones. We are thrilled to collaborate with a company like Apple.”

    Following this announcement, Alibaba’s shares jumped by as much as 8.6%. This was after a report from The Information confirmed that Apple was indeed teaming up with Alibaba to launch AI features in China. Due to local laws, Apple has not yet introduced all its AI capabilities in China without a local partner.

    Outside China, Apple devices utilize a mix of Apple’s own AI tech and OpenAI’s ChatGPT for their AI functions. Both companies have reportedly sent the necessary paperwork to Chinese authorities for the go-ahead.

    This partnership announcement comes after news that Apple had initially considered another Chinese AI firm, DeepSeek, but chose not to proceed. It was also revealed that Apple had looked at Baidu last year, but found their AI technology lacking for Apple’s standards.

    This move is significant for Apple, especially after facing a tough year in China in 2024 when it lost its spot as the leading smartphone seller. According to Canalys, Apple saw a 17% drop in shipments in China, allowing local brand Vivo to take the top spot. This partnership with Alibaba could be a strategic move to regain ground in this important market.

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  • Apple updates Safari test browser with fixes and better performance

    Apple updates Safari test browser with fixes and better performance

    Apple has just released an update for its experimental browser, known as Safari Technology Preview, which first came out in March 2016. The purpose of this browser is to let people try out new features that might be added to regular Safari in the future.

    The latest version, Safari Technology Preview 213, brings several updates and fixes for different parts of the browser like CSS, editing tools, forms, HTML, JavaScript, media handling, networking, PDF viewing, rendering, storage, SVG images, tables, text, web animations, web APIs, extensions, the inspector tool, and WebRTC communication.

    This update works on computers with macOS Sonoma or macOS Sequoia, which is the latest macOS version.

    You can get this update through the Software Update in your System Preferences or System Settings if you’ve already downloaded the browser from Apple’s site. For more details on what’s new, check out the release notes on the Safari Technology Preview page.

    Apple’s goal with this preview browser is to get feedback from both developers and everyday users to help improve the Safari browser. You can use this test version alongside the standard Safari without needing a developer account, making it accessible for anyone interested in trying out new web technologies.

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  • Apple starts ads on X again

    Apple starts ads on X again

    Apple has begun advertising on X once again after a long break. They stopped advertising on the social media site back in November 2023 because of some controversial comments made by its owner, Elon Musk.

    For instance, the @Apple account is now promoting the privacy features of Safari with a new ad. This was first noticed by Aaron Perris, who writes for MacRumors. Also, the @AppleTV account has been posting ads about the TV show “Severance” from Apple TV+.

    Last month, there were talks that Apple might start advertising on X again, and it looks like they’ve made that decision, at least for the time being.

    Apple isn’t alone; other big companies like Disney, Coca-Cola, Sony, IBM, and Comcast have also taken breaks from advertising on X. However, like Apple, many of these companies have started to advertise on X again, though they’re doing so carefully.

    Elon Musk bought Twitter in 2022 and changed its name to X the next year. Since he took over, there’s been less strict control over what people can post, leading to more extreme opinions being shared. Recently, the rapper Kanye West, who’s been in the news for the wrong reasons, posted some offensive content before he left the platform.

    Despite all this, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook and other top executives like Greg Joswiak, who handles marketing, have stayed active on X. However, Phil Schiller, who used to be in charge of marketing for Apple, has chosen to leave X for other social media sites like Mastodon and Bluesky.

  • Apple now sells used M4 Macs at lower prices

    Apple now sells used M4 Macs at lower prices

    Apple has recently started selling refurbished MacBook Pro and Mac mini models with M4 chips in several countries including the United States, Canada, the UK, and Ireland. This is the first time these models have been available in Apple’s refurbished store since they were released in October 2024.

    M4 Mac mini with a Blue Light

    In addition, you can find some refurbished MacBook Pro models with M4 chips in Europe, in countries like Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and a few others. These refurbished Macs are cheaper, about 15% less than buying them new from Apple’s website. However, the stock changes a lot, and sometimes you might see the “buy” button isn’t working for certain models in some places. If you want a specific model, you’ll need to check back regularly.

    Apple hasn’t started selling refurbished iMacs with M4 chips yet in any country. Every refurbished Mac comes with all the usual stuff in the box. For the MacBook Pro, you get a USB-C charger and a USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable. The Mac mini includes its power cord. Apple claims they test each refurbished Mac completely, clean it thoroughly, and check it carefully. They also come with Apple’s one-year warranty, and you can buy extra protection with AppleCare+.

    From what we’ve seen, these refurbished Macs from Apple look and work almost the same as new ones, offering a great chance to save money while still buying from Apple. However, if you’re looking for even bigger savings, checking out sellers like Amazon might give you better deals on Macs.

  • Apple launches new study on health with iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods

    Apple launches new study on health with iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods

    Apple has just started a new health study that you can join using the Apple Research app. If you’re in the U.S. and old enough, you can sign up by agreeing to the study’s terms.

    The Apple Health Study

    This study wants to see how gadgets like the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods can help improve our physical and mental health, as well as our overall well-being. It’s going to look at how different parts of health are connected. For example, it will check if your mental state affects your heart rate or how your sleep might change how much you exercise.

    This project is the biggest health study Apple has done so far. It will check how tech affects lots of health areas like how active we are, aging, heart health, blood flow, thinking, hearing, women’s health, mental health, how our body uses food, how we move, brain health, breathing, and sleep.

    Building on Past Studies

    This new study follows on from other Apple studies like the one on women’s health, hearing, and heart and movement. Apple is working with Brigham and Women’s Hospital, which is connected to Harvard Medical School, to run this study. The Apple Research app, where you can join the study, is available on the App Store for iPhone and Apple Watch. The app got an update today to include this new health study.

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  • Trump picks Apple exec for road safety chief

    Trump picks Apple exec for road safety chief

    President Trump has chosen an executive from Apple to lead the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Jonathan Morrison, who is not the well-known tech YouTuber, was previously the chief legal advisor for the NHTSA during Trump’s first term. He has been working at Apple since 2021.

    According to the Senate:

    Jonathan Morrison, from California, has been nominated to become the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, replacing Steven Scott Cliff who stepped down. The nomination was announced just yesterday and will be reviewed by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

    Although Morrison’s LinkedIn doesn’t reveal much about his specific role at Apple, it’s likely he was involved in policy matters linked to Apple’s now-abandoned self-driving car project. Before joining Apple, Morrison worked as a lobbyist for car dealerships, where he was instrumental in advancing automotive policy changes.

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  • When will Apple’s new Robots hit the market?

    When will Apple’s new Robots hit the market?

    Apple is working on new types of robots for homes, according to an expert who studies Apple’s supply chain, Ming-Chi Kuo. These robots include both human-shaped and non-human-shaped designs. However, Kuo suggests we might have to wait a while for these robots to actually be made in large numbers, if they ever are.

    Right now, Apple’s robot projects are just at the early stages where they test if ideas can work. If Apple decides to go ahead, Kuo thinks they might not start making these robots in big amounts until 2028 or even later.

    This news follows after a group of Apple’s robotics experts created a robot that looks like a lamp but moves like a living thing. Last year, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman shared that Apple was also working on a smaller robot with a screen like an iPad on a movable arm. He thought this robot might be announced in 2026 or 2027, but Kuo now believes it could be 2028 or beyond.

    Gurman explains that this smaller robot would be controlled by Siri and Apple’s smart tech. It could move its screen to look at you if you say “look at me,” especially handy during video calls. It would also know who’s talking to it by recognizing different voices.

    This robot might be a premium version of Apple’s upcoming smart home controller, which is expected to come out this year. Gurman guesses it might cost around $1,000, but this could change as plans develop.

  • Apple’s plan for super thin glass in new folding gadget

    Apple’s plan for super thin glass in new folding gadget

    Apple seems to be getting serious about making its first gadget that can fold. They’re looking at companies that can make very thin glass for this new device. Lens Technology, a company from China, is going to be the main maker of this ultra-thin glass (UTG) for Apple’s new projects, according to reports from The Elec and DigiTimes. They’re expected to get about 70% of the orders, while Corning from the US will probably supply the materials.

    Lens Technology is really good at making this glass because they have the right tools and money to do it. They’re especially skilled at making the glass strong and avoiding cracks when it’s cut. They also know how to etch glass well.

    They plan to increase how much UTG they can produce in 2025, right before Apple might show off its foldable device in late 2026. Apple wants the middle part of the glass to be very thin, but the rest of it can be a bit thicker to make it last longer.

    There are also two companies from South Korea, Dowoo Insys and UTI, who might help make this glass too. Interestingly, Dowoo Insys got patents in October 2024 for making the middle part of the glass thinner, which sounds a lot like what Apple patented around that time.

    Samsung Display might be the only one making the folding screens for this new Apple product, which could be a folding iPhone. Experts like Ming-Chi Kuo, Jeff Pu, and sources from The Information and The Wall Street Journal think we might see this new device towards the end of 2026 or the start of 2027.

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  • Could Apple fix the biggest issue with its most exciting product soon?

    Could Apple fix the biggest issue with its most exciting product soon?

    With whispers of new Apple product reveals just around the corner, I’ve been thinking about what could be coming up this Friday. According to Mark Gurman, Apple is set to give the media an update on the Apple Vision Pro this Friday.

    Here are some guesses I had before:

    • New M5 Chip – No M5 products have been announced yet, but they’re apparently in production. Maybe Vision Pro will be the first to get it, like how the M4 came with the iPad Pro.
    • Apple Intelligence Support – Vision Pro has enough RAM for this, but maybe all the memory is already being used. They might increase the RAM.
    • PSVR Controller Support – Gurman says it’s happening, but it won’t shake things up much.

    Now, I’m thinking about another big change: a price cut. It would be a great piece of news to share on a Friday evening.

    Apple has always defended the $3,500 price tag by saying you’re buying into the future. But Susan Prescott’s recent statement – “for now, the price is what the price is” – hints that this might not be the final word.

    Apple doesn’t usually lower prices before new models come out, but the cost of Vision Pro has been its biggest barrier. There’s history here; they reduced the price of the first iPhone by $200 shortly after it came out.

    Would a price drop on the Vision Pro, which starts at $3,499, make a big impact? Maybe not a huge one, but any reduction helps. They could also offer more storage for the same price. However, since there’s no shortage of stock, even this seems up in the air. Still, my bet is that we’ll see some kind of price adjustment for the Apple Vision Pro this Friday. It’s speculative, but it’s something to think about.

  • What’s next for Apple’s AirPods after the Powerbeats Pro 2?

    What’s next for Apple’s AirPods after the Powerbeats Pro 2?

    Apple and Beats recently introduced the eagerly awaited Powerbeats Pro 2 wireless earbuds. This new model brings features not yet seen in Apple’s AirPods. But what does this mean for the future of AirPods?

    Rumors About Upcoming AirPods

    One standout feature of the Powerbeats Pro 2 is its heart rate sensor. This marks the first time Apple has included such a health-focused tool in a product other than the Apple Watch. It suggests that future devices might also focus more on health monitoring. Although Powerbeats are designed for workouts, it’s notable that Apple chose to debut this technology in a Beats product.

    What About AirPods?

    Will AirPods follow suit with a heart rate sensor? It seems likely, as various sources confirm Apple is indeed developing AirPods with health sensors. The next big update, expected in the AirPods Pro 3, will likely include this sensor. Although we don’t have a specific release date, considering the AirPods Pro 2 came out in 2022, we might see the next version soon, perhaps even this year.

    Mark Gurman from Bloomberg mentioned last year that Apple is looking into sensors that could measure body temperature through the ear canal. There’s also talk about integrating camera sensors into AirPods, but these innovations won’t make it into the AirPods Pro 3.

    AirPods Pro 3 Expectations

    For the AirPods Pro 3, expect a new design, though details are scarce. The basic AirPods model got a recent update with a fresh look and Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), so don’t expect another update soon. As for the AirPods Max, after last year’s update to include USB-C, there are no significant updates planned shortly.

    This glimpse into Apple’s strategy shows a clear direction toward enhancing personal health monitoring through their audio products, promising exciting developments for AirPods users.

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