We’re about to find out if Apple’s big bet is going to pay off
Macworld Apple Intelligence is about to hit the mainstream. Within the next couple of weeks, Apple is likely to ship iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, all bringing the first in the suite of features that Apple has been talking about since June. If you have any doubt, just go watch a TV show with ads and I guarantee in 15 minutes or less you’ll see Snoop Dogg hawking it as a selling point of the new iPhone 16. Apple isn’t usually the first to enter a brand new market, but it does have a reputation for helping usher technologies into the mainstream, and for setting the bar for its rivals, including being often imitated. With millions of Apple Intelligence-capable devices already in customers’ hands, it’s sure to make a big splash. But as Apple is prepared to embark upon this new venture, it might be worth zooming out a little bit and looking at the company’s overall strategy. That includes both how it’s rolling out these features, as well as where the company is ultimately aiming. Round 1: The table stakes Despite being Apple’s opening bid in the generative AI feature department, the upcoming point-one releases aren’t likely to blow anybody’s hair back. The main Apple Intelligence features include rewriting tools, summarizations, and the ability to remove unwanted elements from photos—all tasks that other products, including those from Apple’s competitors, already do and often do well. The first set of Apple Intelligence features are helpful but aren’t unique or novel. The first set of Apple Intelligence features are helpful but aren’t unique or novel.Apple The first set of Apple Intelligence features are helpful but aren’t unique or novel.Apple Apple But more to the point, very few, if any of them, have a particularly Apple feel. Could “only Apple” summarize web pages or emails? Making these tools pervasive throughout the entire operating system is certainly something that only a limited number of companies can do, but there’s not much that’s unique or novel about most of these features. That’s likely a byproduct of the fact that Apple came late to the generative AI game. This first round of features are the ones that were probably easiest to get out of the door, in order to let Apple to plant its flag about being serious in this market. They might not break any new ground–the exception being, perhaps, notification integrations–=but they provide just enough for Apple to point to them as examples of how the company is all in on Apple Intelligence and this is just the beginning. Overall, though, these are tools, not destinations. Because they’re focused on dealing with existing material (emails you’ve written, for example, or web pages, or texts you’ve received) they aren’t exactly features where users are likely to be showing off what they can do (except in the all too common case where they go wrong). For that, we’ll need to wait a bit longer. Round 2: Raising the stakes The second round of Apple Intelligence features will likely surface by the end of the year, including Genmoji, Image Playground, and Siri integration with ChatGPT. All of these are more whiz-bang applications that will offer much more visible and prominent results of Apple Intelligence: custom-generated emoji, AI-generated imagery, answers from ChatGPT about what Apple has dubbed “world knowledge.” The second phase of Apple Intelligence will let Apple know what kind of demand there is for AI features. The second phase of Apple Intelligence will let Apple know what kind of demand there is for AI features.Apple The second phase of Apple Intelligence will let Apple know what kind of demand there is for AI features.Apple Apple These features are closer in line with the elements of generative AI that have already captured the public’s attention. But they also present some of the largest risks for Apple: what happens, for example, when somebody gets Image Playground to generate something unpleasant or offensive? Apple’s already trying to cover itself a bit; the company has been very clear that users will be prompted to have Siri send queries to ChatGPT, and that no identifiable information will be sent to OpenAI or stored. This, I think, is the tipping point of Apple Intelligence, because it will be the moment when it becomes clear whether or not users really want these features. I remain worried about Image Playground because it’s one place where I think the risk is greater than the reward: the chance that people will misuse these features exceeds the dopamine hit you get from making generic-looking images of Craig Federighi’s dog. Round 3: The payoff Ultimately, the end goal here is–and probably always has been–Siri. The third round of Apple Intelligence features are all about Apple’s virtual assistant getting a significant upgrade to be exactly what it should always have been: a time-saving tool that actually understands you. There’s a reason that Apple’s started advertising this even though the Siri-related features won’t ship for months: they’re legitimately compelling. Who hasn’t wanted a tool that can remind them where they met that person? These Siri upgrades are also the Apple Intelligence features that feel the most like, well, Apple. While many of us might use voice assistants already, we’ve basically had to train ourselves to adapt to them—learn which words to use, in what order to say them, and what they can or can’t do. Apple’s promise of a context-aware Siri that can carry out tasks in other your apps feels not just like a dream, but specifically like a dream that Apple has always tried to sell: that the computer is a bicycle for your mind. Over 14 years after its release, Siri could finally be having its moment. Over 14 years after its release, Siri could finally be having its moment.Apple Over 14 years after its release, Siri could finally be having its moment.Apple Apple But these features are also undoubtedly the most tricky of the ones that Apple has promised, which is one reason they’ll be among the last to arrive. And even once they do, they’ll be subjected to a lot of scrutiny: we’ve seen a lot of promises about improving Siri over the last many years, and they don’t always bear out. But if they do, they could make a huge difference in users’ lives. And on and on? The question is: what then? It’s hard to imagine that Apple will be done once it rolls out these initial features. After all, you don’t create a whole brand and marketing plan around something like this if you’re not planning on capitalizing on it. Moroever, there are hints that Apple is cagey about the future of generative AI. Take, for example, a soon-to-be-published paper by Apple researchers who showed that AI algorithms don’t actually reason; that it’s fairly easy to trip them up by changing small details that wouldn’t affect human reasoning (names, quantities), or by adding extraneous information that the models then misinterpret. To me, this feels like stage-setting. It’s not to say that Apple won’t continue to play in generative AI, because it knows the market wants it to, but it also seems very aware that this tendency to sprinkle AI into anything and everything is a bubble that will probably burst at some point, no less than the dot-coms, cryptocurrency, and NFTs. There are limits to what AI can do and what it’s good at, and while Apple may want to push those limits as far as they can go, the company also seems to be well aware that there’s a brink it doesn’t want to careen over. Meanwhile, the rest of will be waiting with bated breath to see if they manage to hit the brakes in time.

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Get 28 months of Surfshark VPN for less than $60/£50 in this early Black Friday sale
Macworld If you’re looking to get started with a VPN, you can’t go wrong with Surfshark, which is one of our top picks for its easy-to-use interface and speedy connection. And now it’s super-cheap too: Surfshark has kicked off its Black Friday sale a month early and is offering a 28-month subscription for just $1.99/£1.49 a month (that’s a total cost of $55.72/£41.58 for two years and two months). The small catch is that you’ll be charged the full price plus tax up front and then the renewal price of $12.95 a month will kick in 28 months later. The deal is for the basic Surfshark Starter plan with the VPN and an ad blocker. If you want more features, SurfShark One, which adds real-time breach alerts, personal data security reports, antivirus, and other malware protection, is currently $2.49/£1.89 a month ($69.72/£52.87 plus tax). In our four-star review, we praised Surfshark as “a remarkably privacy-focused, secure VPN that’s easily capable of getting around geo-blocked content.” And with this deal, it’s a fantastic bargain too. For more VPN options, check out our roundup of the best VPN apps for the Mac. For more VPN deals take a look at our monthly round-up of the Best VPN deals. Also read: Do I need a VPN on my Mac/iPhone?

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Rumor: iPhone 18 to incorporate 2-nanometer fabrication and packaging process, offer 12GB of RAM
It may be a ways down the road, but Apple’s 2026 model iPhones are rumored to use TSMC’s next-generation 2-nanometer fabrication process in combination with a new packaging method that will integrate 12GB of RAM In a Weibo post on Tuesday, Chinese-language user “Phone Chip Expert” said Apple’s A20 chip in iPhone 18 models will […] Source

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Apple announces 2024 iPad mini, offers moderate feature updates, Apple Intelligence support with new tablet
After 37 months of waiting, Apple has unveiled its seventh-generation iPad mini tablet. The announcement was made today in a press release as opposed to a media event, and the modest changes to the new iPad mini include the following: The new iPad mini still arrives in space gray, starlight, and purple color options, but […] Source

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Save on every new iPad mini 7 with coupon, on top of discounts on AppleCare
Despite just being announced on October 15, Apple's brand-new iPad mini 7 is eligible for an exclusive coupon discount on top of bonus savings on AppleCare.Save on every new iPad mini 7. [Image credit: Apple/AppleInsider]To save on every model, ranging from the entry 128GB Wi-Fi model to the top-of-the-line 512GB Wi-Fi + Cellular spec, enter promo code APINSIDER during Step 4 of checkout at Apple Authorized Reseller Adorama. The reseller, which has been in business since 1974, is taking $20 to $25 off each iPad mini 7 on top of knocking $10 off AppleCare for added peace of mind. Detailed step-by-step activation instructions can be found further down this post. Continue Reading on AppleInsider

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How to use the new Attachments Browser in Notes for macOS
Apple has added a few new features to the macOS Notes app for adding elements to text. Here's how to use the Notes Attachments Browser.The Notes app in macOS 15 Sequoia adds some new features, and one of those is a new Notes Attachments Browser.Notes has long allowed users to add attachments to text notes - namely media such as images, movies, files, maps, and web links.When you add an attachment to a note in Notes in macOS it shows up as a large thumbnail in the individual Note pane. It's on the right side of the main window in the app. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Bluetti Handsfree Backpack with portable power station is a photographer's dream
The Bluetti Handsfree 1 and Handsfree 2 backpacks are built with hikers, photographers, and other digital nomads in mind, featuring a removable app-controlled portable power station for days off-grid.Bluetti Handsfree Backpack with portable power station [Bluetti]If you're planning a long hike, extended photoshoot, or just time away camping, packing your backpack is a crucial operation. Ensure you've got plenty of space for all of your equipment and hours of battery available to keep everything operational with Bluetti's new Handsfree Backpack.Buy the Handsfree 1 Continue Reading on AppleInsider

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The iPad Mini 6 Wi-Fi 64GB is Still on Sale
The sixth-generation iPad mini still holds excellent value for money for those who need a small tablet. Today, the iPad mini 6 Wi-Fi 64GB model is down to just $349.99 from its original price of $500 on Amazon. Boasting a bigger screen than that of a smartphone and yet still compact and portable, the iPad […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Digital car keys arriving to Audi, Polestar, and Volvo
Apple will soon be rolling out digital car keys support for automotive manufacturers Audi, Polestar, and Volvo. Code changes were discovered in the backend of Apple Wallet, pertaining to the Cupertino-based company gearing up to add more manufacturers for its digital car keys. With it, users can unlock or start their vehicles using their Apple […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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New limited edition Beats Studio Pro debuts at Best Buy
Retail giant Best Buy debuted a new and exclusive Beats Studio Pro model after Amazon had a Matte White version last month. A new Beats Studio Pro in black and gold is exclusive only for Best Buy customers. The two-tone model is similar to the standard black color, except with gold trim inside the headband […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple TV+ shares ‘Silo’ season 2 trailer
Apple TV+ recently showed a new trailer video for the upcoming season of ‘Silo’ ahead of its release. ‘Silo’ is an Apple TV+ sci-fi series that tells the story of a dystopian future where the surface of the Earth is uninhabitable. It’s based on ‘Wool’ a novel by Hugh Howey. The second season is expected […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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The Magic Keyboard Case for 13-inch iPad Pro is $49 Off
Get your 13-inch iPad Pro a worthy companion and unlock your productivity to new heights. Today, the Magic Keyboard for the 13-inch M4 iPad Pro is down to just $299.99 from its original price of $350 on Amazon. The Magic Keyboard case offers an excellent typing experience without compromising on quality or function. It has […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple smart glasses might debut in 2027
Apple’s smart glasses might debut to consumers in 2027 alongside an AirPods model with cameras. With the successor to the Vision Pro years away, there have been rumors circulating about smart glasses. Bloomberg, in their latest newsletter, said that Apple’s Vision Project is currently developing such a device with a launch date of somewhere in […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Lower-Cost Vision headset rumored to arrive in 2026
A new report said that the lower-cost Vision headset device will be arriving in two years’ time. The successor to the Vision Pro will have a $2,000 price tag, which is more consumer-friendly compared to the Pro’s $3499 tag. The main difference between the two is lower-resolution screens and a less powerful chip to bring […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple Wallet features now on ticketmaster
Ticketmaster recently announced a full integration of the Apple Wallet features for its platform. As the first ticketing firm to have Apple Wallet key event information, customers can view rewards balances and get an ‘enhanced experience’, including a venue map, weather forecasts, location sharing access, and parking details. The first game will be at the […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Sysadmins Rage Over Apple's 'Nightmarish' SSL/TLS Cert Lifespan Cuts
The Register's Jessica Lyons reports: Apple wants to shorten SSL/TLS security certificates' lifespans, down from 398 days now to just 45 days by 2027, and sysadmins have some very strong feelings about this "nightmarish" plan. As one of the hundreds that took to Reddit to lament the proposal said: "This will suck. My least favorite vendor manages something like 10 websites for us, and we have to provide the certs manually every time. Between live and test this is gonna suck." The Apple proposal, a draft ballot measure that will likely go up for a vote among Certification Authority Browser Forum (CA/B Forum) members in the upcoming months, was unveiled by the iThings maker during the Forum's fall meeting. If approved, it will affect all Safari certificates, which follows a similar push by Google, that plans to reduce the max-validity period on Chrome for these digital trust files down to 90 days. ... [W]hile it's generally agreed that shorter lifespans improve internet security overall -- longer certificate terms mean criminals have more time to exploit vulnerabilities and old website certificates -- the burden of managing these expired certs will fall squarely on the shoulders of systems administrators. [...] Even certificate provider Sectigo, which sponsored the Apple proposal, admitted that the shortened lifespans "will no doubt prove a headache for busy IT security teams, juggling with lots of certificates expiring at different times." While automation is often touted as the solution to this problem, sysadmins were quick to point out that some SSL certs can't be automated. "This is somewhat nightmarish," said one sysadmin. "I have about 20 appliance like services that have no support for automation. Almost everything in my environment is automated to the extent that is practical. SSL renewal is the lone achilles heel that I have to deal with once every 365 days." Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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50% of Apple users can't manage AppleCare on device thanks to temporary outage
A handful of Apple services are experiencing issues, including an outright outage affecting AppleCare on devices that impact 50% of users.AppleCare management on devices is downStarting at 6:21 p.m. Tuesday, Apple Business Essentials, Apple Business Manager, and Apple School Manager started experiencing issues that may impact users. These services had already experienced an issue earlier Thursday from 9:12 a.m. to 10:33 a.m.AppleCare on Device is experiencing an outage starting 7:00 p.m. Tuesday that affects 50% of users. This system is used to show users if AppleCare is available, provides a method to purchase AppleCare for some time after buying a device, or to cancel an existing AppleCare plan. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Photomator update makes it easier to organize photos with flags and star ratings
Photomator, a popular photo editor for iOS and macOS, announced on Tuesday an update that will make it easier for users to organize their photo library using flags and star ratings. Read on as we detail all the new features coming with Photomator 3.4. more…

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Lexar Professional Go Portable SSD with Hub review: an iPhone video dream
The Lexar Professional Go Portable SSD with Hub could be the external recording solution that content creators have been looking for.Lexar Professional Go Portable SSD with HubWhen Apple introduced the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, it became possible for consumers and content creators to take advantage of external recording of video to USB-C. Under the right settings, you could record ProRes video to an external drive.If you wanted 4K ProRes video at 60fpos, you had no choice but to use an external SSD for recording, as you couldn't save it to the internal storage. For the iPhone 16 Pro, this is also true for 4K ProRes at 120fps. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Infuse video player updated with new design and Vision Pro app
Infuse, a popular video player available for Apple devices, is getting a big update today. With the launch of Infuse 8, the app now features a new design, as well as a version for Apple Vision Pro. Read on as we detail everything that’s new with Infuse 8. more…

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