Siri And AI To Join The iPhone 18 Pro’s Camera

Every smartphone is expected to advance camera technology each year, including Apple's. Apple is also expected to bring its new AI features to Siri at some point following the WWDC 2024 announcements. Recent details reported by Bloomberg show one upgrade that brings both together: Siri being built into the Camera app to offer more visibility to AI on the iPhone:

"Like the current Visual Intelligence feature, the new mode will let users point the camera at an object and tap into services such as ChatGPT to ask questions about the object or scene. Users can also run a Google reverse image search to pull up more information… In its upcoming operating systems, Apple is redesigning the experience with a new shutter button styled after the Apple Intelligence logo. That replaces the traditional white capture button used in today’s Visual Intelligence."

Then The AI Came For My New Mac

Apple has confirmed it is facing supply issues across the Mac product line. The Mac Mini and Mac Studio have been specifically called out by outgoing CEO Tim Cook, with the roots lying in the increased demand for silicon fabrication plants trying to meet the AI demand. Benjamin Mayo reports on the news from the earnings Call:

"Cook specifically said the availability of advanced nodes on which the Apple Silicon chips are produced is the primary constraint. He explained the company under-estimated how much it should make and there are significant lead times to meeting higher demand levels. As a result, it will take several months for the company to reach supply-demand balance on these machines. The company also expects component memory pricing to continue to rise over the foreseeable future, and Apple is exploring “several options” to mitigate that impact."

Annual App Subscription Payments Tweaked

Developers have a new choice when selling their apps on the App Store. The Apple Developer website has confirmed that a yearly subscription can now be paid monthly to spread the cost. This differs from the monthly cost; the annual subscription can be set to offer a discount, so this tweak can be seen as a monthly subscription with a commitment to 12 months. From the announcement:

"Today, we’re introducing a new way that people can pay for your auto-renewable subscriptions on the App Store: monthly subscriptions with a 12-month commitment. This new payment option allows you to offer subscribers more affordable options. People can cancel their subscription at any time, which will prevent the subscription from renewing after they’ve completed their agreed-to payments to fulfill their commitment."

iPad Ultra No More?

While Apple is expected to launch three “Ultra” branded products this year (the overpowering MacBook Ultra, the foldable iPhone Ultra, and Visual Intelligence-enabled AirPods Ultra), the chances of a large format iPad Pro - potentially up to 20 inches - are reducing. Citing poor iPad Sales year on year, MacRumors sums up the Ultra options:

"Apple already applies the "Ultra" moniker to Apple Watch Ultra, M-series Ultra chips, and CarPlay Ultra. An iPad Ultra might seem like a natural fit for a family of higher-end, more experimental hardware at the top of each lineup, but with the iPad Pro already struggling to find buyers at its current price point, the question of whether sufficient demand exists for an even more expensive iPad may be answering itself."

"Be curious, not judgmental," Is Back

With the launch of a short teaser trailer, Apple has confirmed the release date of Ted Lasso’s fourth season. The weekly episodes start on Aug. 5 and run through to Oct. 7, and will see our 'cheerful no matter what’ lead take on a new footballing challenge. Variety reports on what to expect:

"Season 4 will see Ted returning to Richmond to coach a second division women’s soccer team. In a new trailer, Sudeikis can be seen trying to coach his young hopefuls while in another scene he is berated for “coaching a bunch of girls – you wanker!” “Throughout the course of the season, Ted and the team learn to leap before they look, taking chances they never thought they would."

Apple Expands Age ID Certification In The UK

Following demands by the UK Government to introduce age verification for certain online activities, Apple left a large portion of the population uncovered: it accepted driver's licenses but not passports. Non-drivers were excluded. This issue has now been addressed, although there are still blind spots, as David Phelan explains:

"Of course, there are millions of people in the U.K. who don’t have a passport — it’s thought to be about one in eight people — but it’s a big step forward. Apple has also updated its official guidance to include a wider range of options. “You can confirm your age with a credit card that belongs to you, or by scanning your passport, driver's license, or one of the following PASS-accredited Proof of Age cards: CitizenCard, My ID Card, TOTUM ID card, or Young Scot National Entitlement Card. Debit cards and gift cards aren't supported,” Apple said in its updated advice in an updated support document."

And Finally...

Happy fifth birthday to the Air Tag! Apple’s geo-location tile was announced on April 30 2021 (alongside the M1-powered iMac). Hartley Charlton looks at the history of the $29 tag and the second-generation AirTag that was announced in January this year:

"The updated model features a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip with Precision Finding working from up to 50% farther away, an upgraded Bluetooth chip, and a speaker 50% louder than the original.

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