Search results for: “headset”

  • Apple hires new leader to boost Siri and AI

    Apple hires new leader to boost Siri and AI

    Apple is shaking things up inside its company to make Siri and its AI better, according to Bloomberg. They’ve brought in Kim Vorrath, who has been with Apple for 37 years, to lead the AI team under John Giannandrea, who is in charge of AI at Apple.

    Vorrath has a knack for managing big software projects and keeping everything on track. She’s known as Apple’s “bug fixer” and has been a big influence in the company. Before this new role, she was part of the team working on Apple’s AR/VR headset, the Vision Pro.

    This change comes right after lots of talk about how Siri didn’t do well when asked about Super Bowl scores. For a while now, Siri hasn’t been as good as other voice helpers, especially when compared to new AI chatbots.

    Apple has also been dealing with complaints about how its Apple Intelligence summarizes news, sometimes getting things wrong and confusing people. To tackle this, they’re planning to stop these summaries for news and entertainment apps in the next update, iOS 18.3, which should come out soon.

    Despite trying to make Siri better by adding ChatGPT from OpenAI, there are still issues. But Apple is working on it, with plans for more Siri improvements in the iOS 18.4 update and even bigger changes in iOS 19, where they might make Siri like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.

    Moving Vorrath to the AI team shows that Apple thinks AI is more crucial than their work on Vision Pro. She’s good at organizing tech teams and making their work better. In a note about the change, Giannandrea mentioned that they want to focus on making Siri work better and improving Apple’s own AI systems.

  • How Samsung Galaxy S25 borrowed from Apple’s playbook

    How Samsung Galaxy S25 borrowed from Apple’s playbook

    Fans of both Apple and Samsung often argue about who copied whom. While Apple has faced legal challenges over design, Samsung has been quite open about taking inspiration from Apple, especially with the launch of the Galaxy S25.

    Smart Features Borrowed

    We all know Apple has been slow with its AI developments. While Samsung’s phones are packed with smart AI tools, Apple’s AI features are just starting to roll out and are pretty basic. Still, Samsung couldn’t help but notice Apple’s AI offerings.

    Apple’s AI system can work with ChatGPT and is planning to integrate with Google Gemini. Samsung followed suit, making its AI system work with external chatbots, starting with Google Gemini instead of its own Bixby.

    When you use Samsung’s Gemini, you see a text box with a bright border, much like Siri. It handles both text and voice inputs, and when you highlight text, it shows options very similar to Apple’s text editing tools, allowing you to check spelling or format as a table.

    Samsung also introduced call recording, transcription, and summarization in its phone app, features already familiar to iPhone users with iOS 18. Galaxy S25 users can now search for photos by describing them, summarize web articles, and even turn photos into drawings, much like Apple’s Image Playground.

    For privacy, Samsung’s AI can work offline, similar to Apple’s approach to limit cloud usage.

    User Interface Echoes

    During the Galaxy S25 reveal, Samsung introduced One UI 7. It features the Now Bar, which shows live updates like sports scores or timers, much like Apple’s Live Activities.

    Samsung’s camera updates mimic some iPhone features from months ago, including the ability to record in log format and tweak audio focus. They’ve also adopted a version of Apple’s Photographic Styles, giving users control over image filters and tones.

    Design Similarities

    The Galaxy S25 Ultra looks strikingly similar to the iPhone 16 Pro with its flat edges and rounded corners, moving away from Samsung’s previous curved designs. The top models now use titanium, while cheaper models stick with aluminum.

    Samsung jumped the gun on Apple’s rumored slim iPhone 17 Air with their Galaxy S25 Edge, choosing style over some features like a third camera. The protective cases for the Galaxy are almost identical to Apple’s transparent MagSafe cases.

    Moreover, Samsung’s upcoming VR headset, Project Moohan, seems inspired by Apple’s Vision Pro, even in its interface design.

    Innovation or Imitation?

    While some might see this as copying, Samsung does bring its own twist to these features. Their version of Photographic Styles, for example, allows for more creative control over image composition. However, in the tech world, where both iOS and Android offer similar functionalities, it’s clear that each company builds upon the other’s ideas to enhance user experience.

    Still, perhaps Samsung could aim for a bit more originality next time around.

  • Apple Vision Pro gaming could grow big soon, say game makers

    Apple Vision Pro gaming could grow big soon, say game makers

    A recent survey shows that game developers are very interested in making games for the Apple Vision Pro. Here’s what we know:

    Game Developers Are Planning New Games for Vision Pro

    According to GamesBeat, a survey at the Game Developers Conference looked at how developers feel about Apple’s new spatial computing platform.

    The survey results suggest big growth is on the way:

    • Right now, only 8% of developers who make VR or AR games are working on games for Apple’s visionOS. There aren’t many games available yet for Vision Pro, so this number is quite promising.
    • About 18% of the developers said their next project will be on Vision Pro. This means we might see a lot more games soon.
    • A quarter of the developers are very interested in Apple’s VR headset. This interest is even higher than for PlayStation VR2, which is at 25%.

    The survey included responses from over 3,000 game developers, giving us a good idea of what’s happening in the gaming world. It looks like Apple Vision Pro might become a big name in gaming soon.

  • The Future of iPhone Photography: Exploring the potential of iOS 19’s camera revolution

    The Future of iPhone Photography: Exploring the potential of iOS 19’s camera revolution

    The world of mobile photography is constantly evolving, with each new iteration of smartphone operating systems bringing fresh features and design tweaks. Whispers and rumors surrounding Apple’s upcoming iOS 19 have sparked considerable excitement, particularly concerning a potential overhaul of the Camera app.

    These rumors suggest a significant redesign inspired by the immersive interface of visionOS, Apple’s operating system for the Vision Pro headset. This potential shift promises a more intuitive and visually engaging photography experience on the iPhone.

    While official confirmation from Apple remains elusive, insights from reliable sources, like tech commentator Jon Prosser, offer a glimpse into what might be in store. Prosser, known for his track record of revealing accurate information about upcoming Apple products, recently shared details about the alleged redesign. Choosing to protect his sources, Prosser opted to create rendered images based on the information he obtained, offering a visual representation of the rumored changes.

    These rendered images paint a picture of a Camera app transformed. One of the most striking changes is the introduction of translucent menus for various camera controls. This design choice draws heavily from the aesthetic of visionOS, creating a seamless and modern look.

    The translucent menus not only look visually appealing but also offer a practical advantage, allowing users to see more of the viewfinder while adjusting settings. This enhanced visibility could significantly improve the composition process, enabling photographers to frame their shots more accurately.

    The rumored redesign also appears to bring a more organized approach to camera controls. The controls are reportedly divided into clear categories for photo and video, making it easier for users to find the specific settings they need. Among the features highlighted are options for recording spatial video, a feature that aligns with the immersive capabilities of visionOS. The inclusion of a timer for photos is also mentioned, a standard feature but one that benefits from a more accessible placement within the redesigned interface.

    Further enhancing the user experience, controls for video resolution and frame rate are designed to appear dynamically at the top of the screen when needed. This contextual approach keeps the interface clean and uncluttered, preventing information overload and allowing users to focus on capturing the perfect moment.

    Overall, the rumored redesign emphasizes a cleaner aesthetic, maximizing the visible area of the viewfinder compared to the current iOS 18 Camera app. This focus on maximizing screen real estate for the viewfinder is a welcome change for photographers who value precision and visual clarity.

    Interestingly, previous rumors suggested a similar visionOS-inspired redesign for iOS 18. While those rumors ultimately didn’t materialize, it’s possible that Apple was indeed working on these changes but opted to hold them back for iOS 19. A leaked screenshot that surfaced after the initial iOS 18 rumors, showcasing translucent menus, further fueled speculation but was later deemed inauthentic. Perhaps this was an early glimpse of the development process, with Apple refining the design for a later release.

    The potential influence of visionOS on iOS 19 might not be limited to the Camera app. Speculation suggests that these design changes could extend to other iOS interfaces and built-in apps. Imagine the Home Screen widgets adopting a similar translucent design, creating a cohesive and visually harmonious user experience across the entire operating system. While this remains purely speculative, it highlights the potential for a broader shift in Apple’s design language.

    If these rumors hold true, the redesigned Camera app in iOS 19 could represent a significant leap forward in mobile photography. The combination of a cleaner interface, enhanced visibility, and visionOS-inspired aesthetics promises a more intuitive and immersive experience for iPhone users.

    While we await official confirmation from Apple, the anticipation surrounding iOS 19 and its potential camera revolution continues to build. The official unveiling of iOS 19 is expected at WWDC 2025 in June, with a public release anticipated in September of the same year. Until then, the world of mobile photography eagerly awaits the next chapter in Apple’s innovation.