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- Tuesday April 16
- 32 mins agoTim Cook meets with Vietnamese officials, developers, and students
Apple CEO Tim Cook has spent a second day in Vietnam, discussing investment with the country's prime minister, as well as being shown developers working on Apple Vision Pro apps.Tim Cook visits a school in VietnamOn the second of his two-day visit to Hanoi, Tim Cook once again met with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. They discussed Apple increasing its investment in the country, and the government creating a working group to help with the company's expansion efforts."There is no place like Vietnam, a vibrant and beautiful country," said Tim Cook in an announcement on Apple's Vietnamese site. "I am extremely excited to come here to connect with students, creators and customers, understand more about the diversity in the way they use our products to do extraordinary things." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums44 mins agoApple can learn a valuable lesson from the Humane AI pin disaster
Macworld Son, your mother and I want to talk to you about AI. No, don’t get up. Look, we don’t want you to learn about it on the streets. Because it’s an ugly business. The Macalope probably doesn’t have to detail the many problems with AI. First of all, it’s a misnomer. Calling today’s large language models “artificial intelligence” is like calling the first combustion engine a warp drive. Second, much like a coal furnace, all these various constructs have to be fed a corpus of content in order to be able to generate anything at all. Where does all the come from? Uh, blurgle frangle blooble hammer, we, uh, just found it lying around! No, actually, you didn’t, you used a whole bunch of other people’s work and you didn’t pay a damn thing for it. Then, of course, the results you’ll get from your model will vary based on the inputs. If you only 4chan comments, I wouldn’t go asking it for any medical advice. Part of which is why the result are spotty or often just really bad and verging into dangerous. Other than these problems, though, it’s great and this is why Apple needs to have AI right now! Look, if even Jony Ive is jumping off a well-chamfered bridge, don’t you want too as well, Apple? “Jony Ive AI device could get $1B funding from Laurene Powell Jobs” And what is this device, exactly? Well, we don’t know and, while it’s possible that Ive and collaborator Sam Altman have a rock-solid idea of what it should be, we have a very real example of people being given a mess of money before they really knew what they were doing and also shipping before they knew what they were doing. That is the Humane AI pin. And how did that work out? Well, Marques Brownlee called it “the worst product I’ve ever reviewed” is how that worked out, thank you for asking. The Macalope would like to talk to a market purist about this because this is not an efficient distribution of capital. It is rich people who know each other throwing big piles of money at one another and hoping something comes of it. It doesn’t have to be this way. The Macalope’s been hard on Humane mostly because his instincts are activated by the smell of flop sweat. He doesn’t know anything about the funding behind the Limitless pendant, but it doesn’t have that. The horny one doesn’t know if it’ll be successful, but it is at least a thing that knows what it wants to be: a device that helps you keep track of things. That’s not to say that it doesn’t come without its own concerns–privacy and consent being at the top of the list–but Limitless addresses those issues head-on. It remains to be seen if their technology works like advertised or offers the protections they claim, but it’s nice to hear someone talking about it. IDG IDG IDG It also costs just $99 and doesn’t have a recurring subscription (which they announced by cleverly jabbing Humane’s price). Not only is the AI realm woefully short on discussions of its problems, but a lot of its proponents seem to be saying “Please don’t talk about its problems (such as licensing) because if we do then we can’t have AI and we really want it.” AI is the hot new thing right now, so Apple has to be in the game, or at least appear to be in the game. Or just say it’s about to be in the game as the case may be. Is it surprising that our quarterly-results-driven financial community wants results on AI now no matter what the consequences? Ha, no. The Macalope’s kind of surprised Wall Street hasn’t demanded someone make the Torment Nexus already. Apple is not immune to such pressure, but it still does things its own way. On the licensing front, at least Apple seems to be paying for access to works that it uses to feed the hungry maw of its AI efforts. “Apple struck deal with Shutterstock to license millions of images for AI training” Which is good because, like it or not, it seems that AI is coming to its products. “The M4 chip is coming sooner than we thought–and it’ll be packed with AI tech” “Some iOS 18 AI features might be limited to the iPhone 16 Pro models”“ Limitless notes the inherent difficulties in doing everything on-device and says its Confidential Cloud technology will keep your data safe, even from the prying eyes and ears of the government. They even say they’ll be HIPAA compliant. Great! Because we’ve certainly never gotten a notice from a company in the healthcare industry saying “Oopsies! Data breach!” have we? Ha-ha! Uhnnnnnnnn. The Macalope doesn’t even know why someone would want his medical records. They’re disgusting. It’s 99 percent “Is this mole cancerous?” “No, this is a deer tick.” In this furry observer’s opinion, on-device might be slower, but maybe slower is better here. Paying for content might be more expensive, but it’s the right thing to do. iOS59 mins agoSeveral possible iPhone 4 technical specifications leaked
Several of the technical specifications of Apple’s upcoming iPhone SE 4 may have just been leaked to the public. The leaks largely focus on AI-based camera features and how the handset may resemble the iPhone 13 more than the iPhone 14. The leaker, Nguyen Phi Hung, who has no Apple-related track record, has stated that […] Source1 hour agoApple opens fourth Developer Academy in Indonesia
Apple has announced a new Apple Developer Academy for Bali, which will have a nine-month program teaching coding, marketing and all the skills to create apps.Members of the Apple Developer Academies in IndonesiaIn 2018, Apple opened its first Apple Developer Academy in Indonesia, and since expanded it from Jakarta to Surabaya and Batam. Over 2,000 students have attended and Apple says that 90% of its graduates have gone on to what it calls meaningful employment."We've seen many times over that a line of code can change the world," said Tim Cook in a statement, "and in Indonesia, we're investing in the creativity and skills of people determined to prove it." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums1 hour agoGet 15 months of Microsoft 365 for the family for an extra 20% off
Macworld Microsoft 365 puts all the most useful apps you and your family need in the cloud, so you can tap into them anywhere. This Microsoft 365 Family subscription gives you 15 months of access for six people, with an extra 20% off with code ENJOY20 through April 21. Microsoft 365 gives you access to the full-featured versions of Word, PowerPoint, Excel, PowerPoint, and more, offering productivity apps in use by companies across the world. You also get other tools like the video editing suite Clipchamp, Teams for virtual calls, Outlook for seamless email management, and OneNote for real-time collaboration. It also provides access to Microsoft’s OneDrive storage platform, with 1TB of space for each of the six users who can tap into this Microsoft 365 subscription. Microsoft Defender is also available to prevent identity theft and protect your devices. This family Microsoft 365 license is compatible with Mac and Windows, though PC users will gain two extra productivity apps, Publisher and Access. Updates and improvements are also included in this plan to ensure you can work with the latest innovations. Improve your and your family’s productivity with 15 months of Microsoft 365 with 6TB of cloud storage, now just $89.59 with code ENJOY20 through April 21 at 11:59 PM Pacific. Microsoft 365 Family: 15-Month Subscription Only $89.59 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change. Accessories1 hour agoApple @ Work Podcast: Configuration Profile surgery
Apple @ Work is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates in a single professional-grade platform all the solutions necessary to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage & protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple. Apple @ Work is brought to you by Kolide by 1Password, the device trust solution that ensures that if a device isn’t secure, it can’t access your apps. Close the Zero Trust access gap for Okta. Learn more or watch the demo. In this episode of Apple @ Work, I talk with Ari Leviatan from iMazing about their suite of tools designed to give hands-on power to an iOS and macOS admin. more…1 hour agoApple Sports ap updated, now includes data from the NBA and NHL playoffs
You’re about to get additional sports data with your Sports app for iOS. Apple on Monday updated the app on Monday to include data from the NBA and NHL playoffs, which both began this weekend. Apple says users will be able to “follow every matchup with added details on each series and more.” The first […] Source08:00 amFind more affordable airfare with help from Matt’s Flights, now only $80
Macworld Everyone deserves a little R&R. Unfortunately, planning a vacation or any other trip can prove to be costly, especially when you consider airfare alone. However, you can make travel planning more affordable with Matt’s Flights. Through April 21, a this lifetime subscription to the Matt’s Flights Premium Plan is on sale for only $79.97 (reg. $1800). This platform scours the web for the best-priced flights for your desired destination, making it more feasible than ever to travel. Raved about by The New York Times and Thrillist, Matt’s Flights is a travel-planning service that sends great airfare deals directly to your inbox. All you need to do is enter your travel destination and home city or airport and let Matt himself find your cheapest flight yet. You can add an unlimited amount of search requests as well. Your Premium Plan also includes access to one-on-one consultations with Matt. Here, you can enjoy guidance through any travel questions or uncertainties. Explore the world more affordably with a lifetime subscription to Matt’s Flights Premium Plan, now just $79.97 through April 21 at 11:59 PM Pacific. Matt’s Flights Premium Plan (Lifetime Subscription) Only $79.97 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change. Accessories04:49 amiPhone 16 Pro design leaked: Larger screen, new button, improved camera
Apple is set to release the iPhone 16 series later this year at its September ‘Special Event’. The design of the iPhone has not largely changed since iPhone 12, continuing through the current iPhone 15. The minor changes over the years have been the introduction of the shrinking of the notch and the introduction of […] The post appeared first on iLounge.02:57 amRCS messaging integration is coming to the iPhone: Google
Google has updated the Google Messages page on Android website to highlight that the iPhone will support RCS messaging platform starting fall 2024. The page describes that Apple has announced its plan to adopt the latest messaging technology – rich communication services (RCS). The Android maker marks this move as “it will mean a better […] The post appeared first on iLounge.02:45 amHow to add a Quick Link for locations in Apple Maps in macOS
Apple Maps on macOS allows you to add Quick Links to locations in the sidebar for easier access. Here's how to add the shortcuts.Apple MapsRecent improvements in Apple Maps on macOS provide a host of new features. One of the recent improvements in Apple Maps is the ability to click some points of interest and then add them to the Maps sidebar as shortcuts, which Apple calls Quick Links.When you add a Quick Link to the sidebar in Apple Maps, you can later single-click it and zoom quickly to that point, and you'll have the point's info popover appear instantly on your screen. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums01:53 amElon Musk confirms intentions to charge new X users a temporary fee to let them post
A report last year revealed that Elon Musk had plans to introduce a new charge for users who have just registered on X (formerly Twitter) on the grounds that this would be the only way to make the platform free of bots. Now Musk himself has confirmed his intentions and revealed more details about this potential fee. more…01:27 amSpotify listeners may finally get lossless audio — but at a cost
Spotify is preparing to unveil its long-rumored lossless audio feature, but the company won't be taking Apple Music's approach.Lossless audio & AirPods optimization coming to SpotifyThe concept of Spotify offering lossless audio isn't new. Initially dubbed "Spotify HiFi," the idea was first teased in 2021, hinting at a premium subscription model named "Supremium." However, it seems Spotify has revised its strategy, opting for an add-on model instead.The new feature, "Music Pro," isn't a replacement for the existing Spotify Premium service but a powerful enhancement, according to a Reddit user discovered by The Verge. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums01:22 amDeals: get a free $40 gift card with a Costco membership
For a limited time, score a free Costco Shop Card valued at $40 with a 1-year Gold Star Costco membership.Get a free Costco gift card with membership.The best Costco membership deal we've seen is back, delivering a free $40 digital Shop Card with a 1-year $60 Gold Star membership. This offer is hosted by StackCommerce and is valid for new members only (or members whose memberships have been expired for more than 18 months) located in the U.S. or Puerto Rico.Grab the deal Continue Reading on AppleInsider12:21 amSpotify planning to launch more expensive ‘Music Pro’ subscription with lossless songs
A recent report revealed that Spotify is planning to raise the price of its subscription soon, at least in some countries. And for those who think that paying $10.99 a month for a music streaming platform is already too much, the company may soon introduce an even more expensive “Music Pro” subscription that will enable lossless audio and some other extra features. more…Monday April 1511:40 pmApple's iOS 18 AI will be on-device preserving privacy, and not server-side
Apple's AI push in iOS 18 is rumored to focus on privacy with processing done directly on the iPhone, that won't connect to cloud services.Siri is expected to get a big upgrade with iOS 18Over the past few months, we've heard a lot about Apple's endeavors in Artificial Intelligence and the features it aims to introduce later this year with iOS 18 and macOS 15. Various sources have all claimed that Apple would introduce AI-related enhancements.It looks like the initial batch of features will function without the need for an internet connection. Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums09:45 pmJapan to seek up to 20% fine for monopolistic practices by Apple
Japan is poised to dramatically increase the penalties for tech giants accused of monopolistic practices like Apple.New Japanese laws could slap Apple with up to 20% sales penaltyIn an extensive global effort to limit the power of major technology companies, the Japanese government plans to revise its antitrust regulations. The strategy could lead to fines for anti-competitive activities such as unfairly restricting access to app markets, potentially increasing to 20% of pertinent sales.Similar actions have been undertaken in other regions, including the European Union. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums09:22 pmApple removes the first iOS Game Boy emulator released under new App Store rules
Developer Mattia La Spina launched iGBA as one of the first retro game emulators legitimately available on the iOS App Store following… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.09:18 pmLet AI write your perfect resume with this $35 job-hunting tool
This application tool could be an essential weapon in your job-hunting arsenal. The AI Resume Builder is now on sale for only $34.97. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)08:54 pmThreads is finally rolling out real-time search results for some users
Threads, Meta’s microblogging platform, has come a long way since its launch almost a year ago. However, Threads still lacks some important features – such as an option to show real-time search results. After Meta said it had no plans to make this a reality, the company is finally letting some Threads users see recent search results. more…