Search results for: “features”

  • Exciting new features coming to iPhone and Apple TV

    Exciting new features coming to iPhone and Apple TV

    Apple is working on some exciting new features for its upcoming iPhone 17 and Apple TV. According to recent reports, these devices will share a common feature that will make it easier for users to enjoy their favorite content.

    One of the most anticipated features is the ability to use the iPhone’s camera to control the Apple TV. This means you’ll be able to use your iPhone to navigate through menus, play games, and more on your Apple TV.

    Additionally, Apple is also working on some design tweaks for iOS 19. The new operating system is expected to include some fresh design elements, including updated icons and a new notification system.

    These new features are expected to be announced by Apple in the coming months. As always, Apple is keeping quiet about its upcoming plans, but these rumors give us a glimpse into what’s in store for iPhone and Apple TV users.

  • Why Apple’s basic iPad missed out on AI features

    Why Apple’s basic iPad missed out on AI features

    Apple recently shared some big updates, but the simplest iPad didn’t get any new artificial intelligence (AI) tricks. A chart from the company shows why: it’s all about power. The basic iPad uses an older chip, the A14 Bionic, which isn’t strong enough to handle fancy AI tasks.

    Meanwhile, newer devices like the iPad Air and iPad Pro have faster chips, such as the M1 or M2, which can run AI smoothly. This means only the more powerful gadgets get the cool AI upgrades, leaving the entry-level iPad behind.

    The chart makes it clear—AI needs a lot of speed and muscle. The A14 is fine for everyday stuff like browsing or watching videos, but it can’t keep up with the heavy lifting AI requires. Apple seems to be saving the high-tech features for its pricier models.

    So, if you want AI on your iPad, you’ll need to spend more on a stronger device. In other news, Apple also announced that WWDC 2025 will happen in person at Apple Park on June 9. This event is a big deal for developers who build apps for iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

    It’s a chance to see new tools and ideas straight from Apple. After going online-only for a while, WWDC is back live, and everyone’s excited to gather again. Mark your calendars—it’s going to be a fun week!

  • New features for AirPods Pro 2 and Apple Watch Ultra 3

    New features for AirPods Pro 2 and Apple Watch Ultra 3

    Apple is bringing exciting updates to its popular devices! Starting today, March 26, 2025, AirPods Pro 2 users in four more countries—Australia, Brazil, Colombia, and Saudi Arabia—can enjoy new hearing health tools. These features, first launched last year, need approval from health officials, so they’re rolling out slowly.

    With the Hearing Test, you can check your hearing in just five minutes using your AirPods and an iPhone or iPad with iOS 18. After the test, you’ll get a simple report about your hearing levels and tips for improvement. For those with mild to moderate hearing loss, the Hearing Aid mode turns the AirPods into a high-quality hearing aid by adjusting sounds based on your test results. This helps you hear conversations and your surroundings better.

    Meanwhile, rumors suggest the Apple Watch Ultra 3, expected later this year, will get big connectivity upgrades. It might be the first Apple Watch to send messages via satellite when you’re out of cell range—perfect for hikers or adventurers. Plus, it could support faster 5G, making it a strong rival to watches like Garmin. These changes show Apple’s focus on blending health and tech to improve daily life. Stay tuned for more updates as these products evolve!

  • Apple shifts Siri leadership as smart features face delays

    Apple shifts Siri leadership as smart features face delays

    Apple is making big changes to how it manages Siri, its voice assistant. The company recently put a new person in charge, someone who helped create the Vision Pro, a high-tech headset. This shake-up comes as Apple struggles to roll out its new “Apple Intelligence” features, which were meant to make Siri smarter and more helpful.

    Back in June 2024, Apple announced plans to upgrade Siri with advanced abilities, like better understanding of conversations and integration with apps. These improvements were tied to Apple Intelligence, a system designed to bring more artificial intelligence into iPhones, iPads, and Macs. But things haven’t gone smoothly. The rollout has been slower than expected, and some features are still missing or not working as hoped. This has left many users and fans disappointed.

    The new leader stepping in is a familiar face at Apple. He played a key role in building the Vision Pro, a device that mixes virtual and real worlds. Now, his job is to fix Siri and get Apple Intelligence back on track. Insiders say he’s known for solving tough problems and pushing teams to think creatively. Apple hopes his skills will help turn things around.

    For now, Apple is testing parts of Apple Intelligence with a small group of users. The company wants to make sure everything works well before releasing it to everyone. Some reports suggest the full launch might not happen until later in 2025 or even 2026. That’s a delay from what Apple originally promised, and it’s caused frustration among people eager for a smarter Siri.

    This leadership switch shows Apple is serious about fixing the issues. Siri has lagged behind competitors like Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa in recent years, and Apple knows it needs to catch up. With a fresh face leading the charge, the company is betting on a turnaround. Fans are now waiting to see if these changes will finally make Siri the helpful assistant they’ve been hoping for.

  • Apple knows its smart features aren’t wowing iPhone fans

    Apple knows its smart features aren’t wowing iPhone fans

    Apple’s new smart features, called Apple Intelligence, rolled out with iOS 18, but they’re not convincing people to buy new iPhones. That’s what analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said recently. He also thinks Siri’s recent flops will hurt iPhone sales in 2025, and the market is starting to agree.

    Back in July, Kuo warned that hopes for Apple Intelligence boosting iPhone upgrades were too high. By January, he was even blunter, saying the excitement around these features had dropped a lot. Why? There was a big gap between Apple showing them off in June and their launch starting in October.

    Kuo still feels the same, especially after Apple delayed some key Siri upgrades tied to Apple Intelligence. These were promised for iOS 18 but got pushed back. According to Kuo, Apple already knows these smart tools aren’t impressing anyone. Because of this, the company gave its suppliers cautious shipment numbers for iPhones.

    Lately, people in the market are growing unsure about iPhone sales and Apple Intelligence, especially Siri. This matches Kuo’s earlier guesses. He says Apple’s low shipment predictions to suppliers earlier this year show they saw the weak response coming.

    The delays with Siri are also turning people off. This could hurt sales of the iPhone 16 and even the iPhone 17 soon. Last week, Apple admitted that some Siri features, like understanding personal details and working better with apps, won’t arrive until next year. The company didn’t expect fans and tech experts to be so upset about it.

    For example, John Gruber, a well-known Apple writer, recently shared a detailed piece pointing out Siri’s problems. Many agree with him, feeling Apple has struggled to make Siri better for a long time. Others have chimed in too, upset about the big promises Apple made last year about its smart Siri features—followed by delays that make people doubt Apple can keep up with rivals like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic.

  • Apple updates website with note about delayed Siri features

    Apple updates website with note about delayed Siri features

    Apple is still dealing with the news from last week that some exciting Siri updates tied to Apple Intelligence won’t arrive as soon as hoped. These features have been pushed back with no set release date. Over the weekend, Apple even removed a YouTube ad showing off one of these features—personal context—on the iPhone 16.

    Now, the company has added a short note on its website wherever these upcoming Siri tools are mentioned, especially on pages promoting the iPhone. These Siri upgrades were meant to make life easier. They’d help users dig up details from chats with friends or family—like flight info or book suggestions—by searching through Messages, Mail, and other apps. Another perk, called on-screen awareness, would let Siri act on whatever you’re looking at, like asking it to “spruce up this picture” while viewing a photo.

    Last Friday, Apple confirmed the delay with a brief statement. It said, “We need more time than expected to get these features ready, and they’ll roll out sometime next year.”

    The note now on Apple’s website is simpler but still unclear. It says:

    Siri’s ability to understand personal context, work with what’s on your screen, and handle tasks in apps is still being built. These will come in a future update.

    You’ll spot this same message on pages for the iPhone 16e, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, iPad, and more—anywhere these features were hyped up before without a hint that they weren’t ready. Apple hasn’t shared an exact timeline, but we’re guessing this “future update” might tie in with iOS 19. The first test version of iOS 19 should show up at WWDC in June 2025. Still, an update to iOS 19 could land anytime between fall 2025 and summer 2026. So, don’t hold your breath waiting for it!

  • iPhone 17 Air: Seven cool features to look forward to this year

    iPhone 17 Air: Seven cool features to look forward to this year

    This fall, Apple is shaking things up with a new phone: the iPhone 17 Air. Instead of keeping the Plus model, they’re rolling out something fresh that might even catch the eye of Pro fans. Here are seven exciting things coming with the iPhone 17 Air.

    Super Slim Design

    The iPhone 17 Air will be incredibly thin, taking inspiration from Apple’s slim M4 iPad Pro. Experts guess it could be as thin as 5.5mm in most spots, except for the camera area. That’s a big drop from the iPhone 16 Pro (8.25mm) and the regular 16 (7.8mm). Even the super-thin iPhone 6 was 6.9mm!

    A New 6.6-Inch Screen

    The 17 Air will have a 6.6-inch display, sitting right between the 6.3-inch 17 Pro and the 6.9-inch Pro Max. Its slim body makes it feel compact for Pro users but roomy enough for those who love bigger screens.

    Always-On Screen and Smooth Scrolling

    For years, only Pro iPhones had an Always-On display and a fast 120Hz refresh rate. Now, the 17 Air (and base 17) will get these too! There’s talk of a 90Hz option instead of 120Hz, but either way, it’ll feel smooth and handy.

    A19 Chip Power

    The 17 Air will run on Apple’s new A19 chip, shared with the base 17 model. The Pro versions get an A19 Pro, but the A19 is still great for gaming, AI, and everyday use. It’s just a tiny bit less powerful than the Pro chip.

    One Big 48MP Camera

    Unlike the Pro’s three cameras or the base model’s two, the 17 Air will have just one 48MP rear camera in a cool “bar” design. Details are hush-hush, but it might surprise us with what it can do.

    Better 24MP Selfie Camera

    The front camera jumps from 12MP to 24MP across all iPhone 17 models, including the Air. It won’t match the back camera, but your selfies will look a lot sharper.

    Apple’s Own C1 Modem

    The 17 Air gets a special C1 modem, made by Apple, for better connectivity. It’s a feature only it and the iPhone 16e have so far.

    The iPhone 17 Air could be Apple’s most thrilling fourth model yet, blending style and tech in a way that hints at what’s next for iPhones. Get ready for an awesome launch this fall!

  • Apple pushes new Siri features to iOS 19 after delay

    Apple pushes new Siri features to iOS 19 after delay

    Apple recently shared some news that has left fans waiting longer for exciting Siri upgrades. The company said it needs more time to finish some cool new features for Siri, part of its Apple Intelligence plans. It now looks like these updates won’t arrive until iOS 19, instead of the current iOS 18.

    In a short statement, Apple explained that Siri has already improved a lot in the last six months. It can chat better, answer questions about products, and even connect with ChatGPT. But the bigger changes—like making Siri smarter about your stuff and helping with tasks across apps—are taking longer to get right. Apple hinted these might roll out “in the coming year,” which could mean anytime in the next 12 months or as late as 2026.

    This vague timeline has sparked guesses. Some think “the coming year” ties to Apple’s big WWDC event in mid-2025, pointing to an iOS 19 launch in September 2025 with new iPhones. Others, including tech writer John Gruber, agree this sounds like a shift to iOS 19. News outlets like Reuters and CNBC even reported a 2026 delay, and Apple hasn’t corrected them, making the iOS 19 theory stronger.

    These delayed features were first shown at WWDC 2024, with hopes they’d hit iOS 18—maybe in updates like iOS 18.4. Now, it seems they’re set for iOS 19, or perhaps a later tweak like iOS 19.2. The upgrades promise a Siri that remembers your emails, photos, and more, plus better app control.

    Apple also pulled an ad for the iPhone 16 that showed off this unreleased Siri skill. In it, actor Bella Ramsey asked Siri to recall a name from a past meeting, and Siri nailed it fast. But with the delay confirmed, Apple quietly removed the ad from YouTube. Two other ads about email and photo features are still up, though.

    The wait might stretch further. Some insiders, like Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, say these Siri tools could slip to 2026 or even get reworked entirely. For now, Apple’s keeping things flexible, but fans are eager for a smarter Siri—whenever it arrives.

  • Apple pushes back new Siri features to 2026

    Apple pushes back new Siri features to 2026

    Apple has decided to hold off on releasing some exciting Siri upgrades planned for iOS 18, according to a company spokesperson speaking to Daring Fireball. These changes, part of Apple Intelligence, will now come out later than planned.

    What’s New with Siri?

    Apple shared that making Siri more personal and helpful is taking extra time. They expect to launch these updates “sometime next year.”

    “Siri already makes life easier by finding info and finishing tasks fast,” the spokesperson said. “In the last six months, we’ve made Siri chattier, added options like typing to Siri, taught it about our products, and linked it with ChatGPT. Now, we’re working on a Siri that knows you better and can do more with your apps. It’s a big job, so it’ll take longer than we hoped.”

    These new Siri tricks were shown off at WWDC when iOS 18 was announced. They were supposed to arrive in an iOS 18 update, but now they’re delayed. Here’s what’s coming:

    Knowing You Better

    Siri will soon remember details from your emails, texts, files, and photos. This will help it assist you with things like:

    • “Show me the files Sarah sent last week.”
    • “Find the text where Sarah talked about hiking.”
    • “What’s the movie Sarah suggested?”
    • “Where’s that cookie recipe from, Sarah?”

    Seeing Your Screen

    Siri will also understand what’s on your screen and act on it. For example, if a friend texts you an address, you can say, “Add this to their contact.” Or if you’re viewing a picture, just tell Siri, “Send this to Mom.”

    Working Across Apps

    Siri will handle bigger tasks in and between apps. Think moving files, editing a photo and sending it, or even saying, “Get me home and tell Sarah when I’ll arrive.”

    When Will It Happen?

    Rumors hinted that these features might hit in iOS 18.4, but they weren’t ready for the early betas. Apple’s next update, iOS 18.5, might bring them, though it could stretch into 2026. For now, “next year” means sometime in the next 12 months. Siri’s already gotten a makeover with typing support, a fresh design, and better conversations in Apple Intelligence. More goodies are still on the way!

  • SwitchBot introduces budget-friendly smart roller shades with Apple Home features

    SwitchBot introduces budget-friendly smart roller shades with Apple Home features

    SwitchBot, the company behind my go-to Find My wallet tracker, has just released an exciting new product: the SwitchBot Roller Shade. These smart blinds bring affordable and flexible window solutions to your home.

    The Roller Shade stands out as one of the lower-cost smart blinds you can buy. Plus, it comes with an adjustable bar that fits window widths from 22.8 to 72.8 inches. While you’ll need to trim the fabric, the shade’s box slides in and out for a perfect fit—no need to stress about exact measurements before buying.

    Want to refresh your room’s look? You can swap out the shade fabric easily to match your style. You might even reuse your existing curtains and just add the motor part to turn them into smart blinds.

    If you own a SwitchBot Hub 2, these shades connect to the Apple Home app through Matter support. (Note: The hub is a must—they don’t work with Matter on their own.) Once linked, you can use the Apple Home app or Siri on your iPhone, HomePod, or other Apple devices to control them. A handy slider lets you set how far the shade rolls down, and you can add them to automations—like raising them at sunrise or lowering them at night.

    The shades come with a built-in battery that lasts up to eight months per charge, making them fully wireless. Or, for a hands-off option, attach a solar panel to keep them powered without ever plugging in. Visit SwitchBot’s website for more details. Priced at $199, these shades are a steal in the smart home world, especially with a discount of over $70 available online right now. It’s a simple, budget-friendly way to upgrade your windows with smart tech!