Search results for: “upgrade”

  • Apple Smart Home device delayed, staff testing it at home

    Apple Smart Home device delayed, staff testing it at home

    Mark Gurman from Bloomberg says Apple has started a special testing program for its new smart home gadget, which some call the HomePad. It was supposed to launch in March, but that’s not happening anymore. The delay is because Apple is still working on making Siri smarter, which is taking longer than planned.

    Why the Delay?

    Even without the Siri troubles, the smart home device was unlikely to hit its March target. It needs new Siri features, called App Intent, that were meant to come with iOS 18.4 in April. But now, Apple has admitted those upgrades are running late. In a message to Daring Fireball, they said:

    “We’re building a Siri that knows more about you and can do tasks in your apps. It’s taking more time than we expected, and we’ll roll it out next year.”

    Rumors hinted at these Siri updates arriving with iOS 18.5 or later, but Apple’s “next year” comment suggests bigger delays. Gurman even thinks Apple might need to rethink its whole plan for Siri and Apple Intelligence. Since the smart home gadget depends on these Siri improvements, its launch has been pushed back, too.

    Testing at Home

    Even though the public won’t see it soon, Apple isn’t sitting still. Gurman reports they’ve kicked off a testing program for employees. Some staff get to bring the device home, try it out, and tell Apple what works or doesn’t. This helps fix problems before the gadget goes on sale.

    What’s This Device Like?

    Here’s a quick look at what people say the new smart home hub might offer:

    • A 7-inch square screen with a thick edge
    • A camera up top
    • A battery you can recharge
    • A new system called homeOS
    • Great for video calls like FaceTime
    • Works with lots of Apple apps
    • A handy dashboard like StandBy
    • Simple controls for your smart home
    • Support for Apple Intelligence

    The delay is a bummer, but it’s smart to wait until everything’s ready. For now, Apple’s team is testing it to make it better.

  • Apple delays “Smart Siri” for iPhone 16 and removes promo video

    Apple delays “Smart Siri” for iPhone 16 and removes promo video

    Apple’s plan to bring a smart AI helper to the iPhone 16 and other gadgets is hitting rough patches. The Apple Intelligence features that are out now aren’t working great, and more upgrades keep getting postponed. Recently, Apple shared news of another delay for its “Smart Siri” and even took down the YouTube video that showed it off.

    This isn’t new for Apple. A while back, I saw them pull the “Hello Apple Vision Pro” video, too. Back then, I wasn’t sure why, but this time, it’s obvious why the Smart Siri clip disappeared. Apple Intelligence has turned into a big headache for the company. Top leaders, like software boss Craig Federighi, are worried about how things are going.

    With the coolest AI feature delayed again, it’s no shock they yanked the video. Keeping it online would’ve just stirred up more complaints, with people pointing to it and asking where the promised tech is. Plus, why hype something that’s nowhere near ready?

    There might be another reason behind this move. Word is, some at Apple are talking about ditching the whole Apple Intelligence idea and starting over. If that happens, the new Siri could look different from what the video showed. It’d be silly to keep an old ad up for something that might never happen.

    Smart Siri was meant to be a real buddy for Apple users. It’d organize your day, let you grab info from your phone fast, and help you remember what you like to do. It was also supposed to work with apps on the iPhone 16, allowing users to do tasks without lifting a finger. But with all these setbacks, folks who got the iPhone 16 won’t see what they were promised. Honestly, I wouldn’t be shocked if the Siri update drags on past the iPhone 17 launch. Whatever Apple chooses to do next, let’s hope they can keep their word and bring something awesome to the table.

  • Apple’s AI delays spark worry among leaders

    Apple’s AI delays spark worry among leaders

    Apple made big promises about its new AI features, called Apple Intelligence, when it launched the iPhone 16. However, those tools didn’t show up as planned. Months have passed, and the company keeps pushing back the release. Now, Apple’s top leaders, including Craig Federighi, are growing anxious.

    Recently, Apple shared that its upgraded Siri and other AI features won’t arrive until at least 2026—long after the iPhone 17 hits stores. This means the iPhone 16 won’t have the full experience Apple hyped up. Some tools, like summarizing notifications and editing photos, did launch, but they’re clunky and underwhelming. It seems Apple rushed them out to keep up with the AI trend, and the results have grabbed attention for all the wrong reasons.

    The company’s bosses aren’t happy. Craig Federighi, who leads Apple’s software team, and other executives are speaking up after the latest delay news. This mess has turned into a huge headache for Apple’s image. Fans and the media are frustrated—even loyal Apple users complain online, saying the iPhone 16 feels unfinished.

    Apple Intelligence was meant to transform how people use their iPhones and other devices. It promised to fetch info fast and organize your day like a smart buddy. Instead, users are stuck with weak tools that don’t stack up to competitors. Rumors are swirling that Apple might ditch its current AI plans and start over. If that’s true, the 2026 goal could slip even further.

    This isn’t just about broken promises—it’s about timing. By the time Apple gets its AI ready, other companies might be miles ahead. For now, iPhone 16 buyers are left waiting for features they expected while Apple scrambles to fix its AI stumble.

  • Two new Apple gadgets coming this spring

    Two new Apple gadgets coming this spring

    Apple just finished a busy week of showing off new stuff, but it’s not done yet! Two exciting products are set to arrive this spring. Let’s take a look at what’s on the way.

    AirTag 2: The Next Step for Apple’s Tracker

    The first AirTag came out nearly four years ago, back in early 2021. Over time, Apple has added better privacy features and small updates through software. But now, it’s time for a real upgrade with new hardware.

    The word is that AirTag 2 will show up around May or June. People say it’ll have three big improvements:

    • A stronger signal to find it from farther away
    • A fresh wireless chip
    • Better privacy protection

    We don’t know all the details yet, but one privacy boost stands out: Apple plans to make the speaker tougher to take out. This should stop people from using it in sneaky ways, like tracking someone without permission.

    ‘HomePad’: A Cool New Smart Screen for Your Home

    The product I’m most excited about in 2025 is Apple’s ‘HomePad’—a brand-new smart display. It was supposed to come out in March, but now it’s looking more like April or later. HomePad will fit right in with Apple TV 4K and HomePod, kicking off a fresh category for Apple’s home gadgets.

    It’ll run on a new system called homeOS, blending handy tools like widgets, home controls, and apps such as Photos, Music, and Notes. You’ll have everything you need right at your fingertips around the house. There were big plans for Siri upgrades with HomePad, but Apple says those might wait. So, they could launch it first and add the fancy Siri stuff later.

    Wrapping Up Apple’s Spring Plans

    Apple’s already had a big year with the iPhone 16e, M4 MacBook Air, Mac Studio, M3 iPad Air, and A16 iPad. Now, AirTag 2 and HomePad will keep the excitement going this spring. After that, Apple’s fall lineup—like the iPhone 17 Air, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and AirPods Pro 3—will take center stage. It’s shaping up to be a packed year!

  • 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!

  • What new Apple gadgets to look forward to this summer

    What new Apple gadgets to look forward to this summer

    Apple recently shared news about its budget-friendly iPhone 16e, along with fresh MacBook Air and Mac Studio models powered by M4 and M3 Ultra chips. With those out of the way, let’s take a peek at what else might pop up from Apple this summer.

    Apple’s Summer 2025 Highlights

    We’re crossing our fingers for updates in at least three product areas before summer ends. Nothing’s set in stone, but here’s what’s on our radar.

    Smart Home Hub

    Apple’s cooking up a new gadget to control your smart home, kind of like a central command station. Picture an iPad-style device that could hit shelves as early as 2025, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. That said, he’s hinted that delays might push it later into the year, tied to updates in iOS 18.4 or iOS 19. Another expert, Kuo, predicts a release between April and September 2025. Gurman added in February that it’s still a few months off.

    Mac Pro

    The Mac Pro is due for a summer 2025 refresh, per Gurman. Originally, folks thought it’d get the shiny new M4 Ultra chip, but the recent M3 Ultra launch in the Mac Studio has people second-guessing. Apple’s M4 Max chip doesn’t support a beefier Ultra version down the road, so the next Mac Pro might stick with the M3 Ultra—Apple’s fastest chip yet, they say.

    AirTag 2

    Apple’s planning a new AirTag for mid-2025, Gurman reports, though another source bets on May or June. This upgraded tracker will boast a better chip for pinpointing locations, possibly the second-gen Ultra Wideband chip from the iPhone 15. To tackle stalking concerns, the speaker will be harder to yank out. The look won’t change much, but its range might stretch further for sharper tracking.

    iOS 19

    Apple will show off iOS 19 at its June 2025 developer event, with a full rollout in September alongside the iPhone 17. The word is that iOS 18 work is slowing iOS 19 down, so new features might trickle out like they did this year. One rumor hints at a Camera app redo with a visionOS-inspired style—think see-through buttons and a focus on content. A smarter Siri is in the works, too, but it might not arrive until iOS 20, says Gurman.

  • New MacBook Air boasts huge speed boost over Intel model, but check the details

    New MacBook Air boasts huge speed boost over Intel model, but check the details

    Apple is making a bold statement about its latest MacBook Air, powered by the M4 chip. They claim it’s up to 23 times faster than the older Intel-based version. Sounds amazing, right? But there’s more to the story, so let’s break it down.

    First, Apple tested a 2025 MacBook Air with a 10-core M4 chip and 32GB of memory against a 2020 model with a 4-core Intel Core i7 and 16GB of memory. Both had top-notch 2TB storage. This means they compared the new laptop to the best Intel MacBook Air ever made, which makes sense for a fair test.

    Next, the huge 23x speed jump comes from one specific task: using a feature called Super Resolution in Pixelmator Pro, an app Apple now owns. This tool uses smart tech to make a 4.4MB image sharper and clearer. So, that impressive speed claim is tied to this one job, not everything you might do on a laptop.

    Apple’s detailed note says they ran this test in January 2025 on pre-release 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Airs with the M4 chip, comparing them to the Intel model. The results show how the new MacBook Air performs in this unique situation.

    What about everyday tasks? Apple shared more examples:

    • Crunching numbers in Excel is up to 4.7x faster than the top Intel model and 1.6x faster than the M1 MacBook Air.
    • Editing videos in iMovie is up to 8x quicker than the Intel version and 2x faster than the M1.
    • Fixing photos in Photoshop is up to 3.6x speedier than Intel and 2x faster than M1.
    • Browsing the web is up to 60% quicker than a similar Intel PC, with tougher tasks up to 2x faster.

    These numbers feel more practical for most people. While the 23x claim might sound like a stretch, it’s clear that any MacBook Air with an M1 chip or newer leaves Intel models in the dust. If you’ve been waiting to upgrade, this could be your moment. You can order the new MacBook Air now on Apple’s website, with deliveries starting March 12.

  • Why the iPhone 16e could be a gamble for Apple, according to a survey

    Why the iPhone 16e could be a gamble for Apple, according to a survey

    Apple’s iPhone 16e is fresh on the scene, but it’s not what many fans hoped for. It’s not called an iPhone SE, and its price isn’t budget-friendly either. A new survey about how Apple customers—and especially iPhone SE fans—shop for phones shows why this new model might be a tricky move for Apple.

    The survey from CIRP digs into what iPhone SE owners owned before their current phone. It turns out these folks don’t usually jump to fancy, high-end iPhones. This could make it tough for Apple to sell them on the iPhone 16e.

    Experts Michael Levin and Josh Lowitz point out that SE buyers tend to stick with simple, low-cost phones. They don’t often upgrade to pricier models. 26% of SE owners had an older SE before buying a new one. They didn’t see a need to get anything fancier—just the latest SE. Meanwhile, only 3% of people buying other iPhones came from an SE. Even more surprising? About 45% of SE buyers used to have a regular “number” iPhone (like an iPhone 12 or 14) but chose to switch to the cheaper SE instead.

    This shows that price matters a lot to SE fans. With the iPhone 16e starting at $599, way up from the SE’s $429, these shoppers might look elsewhere—like at Androids or used iPhones. Here’s the problem for SE owners ready for a new phone: They can either spend more on the 16e or hunt for a cheaper option.

    Apple’s betting they’ll pick the 16e, and phone company deals might sweeten the price. But SE fans often use smaller, budget carriers that don’t offer big discounts, making the jump to $599 feel steep. Dropping a true budget phone is a bold choice for Apple. It’s a risk that could push some loyal fans away, and only time will tell if it pays off.

  • Why Apple’s latest Macs skip Wi-Fi 7 unlike iPhone 16

    Why Apple’s latest Macs skip Wi-Fi 7 unlike iPhone 16

    Apple just rolled out new MacBook Air and Mac Studio models, packed with speedy M4 and M3 Ultra chips. They also tossed in extras like Thunderbolt 5 ports for the Mac Studio. But one thing they didn’t upgrade? Wi-Fi. These new Macs stick with Wi-Fi 6E instead of jumping to the newer, faster Wi-Fi 7.

    Wi-Fi 6E is solid—it taps into the 6GHz band for smoother connections on compatible routers. But Wi-Fi 7 (also called IEEE 802.11be) is a step ahead. It promises speeds up to four times quicker, less lag, and better handling of lots of devices at once. Its coolest trick, Multi-Link Operation (MLO), mixes different frequencies into one strong connection for improved speed and reliability.

    So why didn’t Apple go for Wi-Fi 7? It’s not a total shock—last year’s M4 MacBook Pros also skipped it. Still, it’s a bit weird when you see all iPhone 16 models from September rocking Wi-Fi 7 chips from Broadcom. The Macs, though, stay a step behind.

    That said, Wi-Fi 7 isn’t a big deal yet. Even on the iPhone 16, Apple caps it at a 160 MHz bandwidth instead of the full 320 MHz Wi-Fi 7 can handle, so the phones aren’t using its full power anyway. Plus, not many people have Wi-Fi 7 routers at home yet. The Wi-Fi 6E in these Macs already uses the 6GHz band, which is less crowded and works great for most needs.

    Sure, Wi-Fi 7 could make the Macs more future-ready, but its real perks won’t shine until more folks upgrade their setups. For now, Wi-Fi 6E does the job well enough for things like video calls, cloud gaming, and streaming in high quality. Bottom line? If you’re eyeing an M4 Mac, don’t sweat the missing Wi-Fi 7. The tech’s still new, and Wi-Fi 6E keeps things running smoothly for everyday use. You’re not missing out on much—yet!