The Chicago Journal

Apple reportedly plans to bring changes to Siri

Edward Anderson Edward Anderson on November 28, 2022

Apple has made a lot of innovations in 2022 so far, and they’re about to make another change with the Siri feature.

The tech giant is reportedly planning to ditch “Hey.”

The report

Apple is allegedly training Siri, its voice assistant, to take commands without saying the first half of the phrase “Hey Siri.”

The activation phase launches Siri on Apple products like the iPhone, iPad, HomePod, and Apple Watch.

According to Bloomberg, the move could take place in 2023 or 2024.

Read also: Apple to see iPhone 14 models shipment setback

Changes

While the update is minor, experts believe it is a sign that more changes are underway and that in-depth training in artificial intelligence will be required.

Lian Jye Su, research director at ABI Research, said the system recognizes requests more accurately from two keywords.

The transition to using a word would rely on a more advanced artificial intelligence system.

“During the recognition phase, the system compares the voice command to the user-trained model,” explained Su.

“‘Siri’ is much shorter than ‘Hey Siri,’ giving the system potentially less comparison points and higher error rate in an echo-y, large room and noisy environments.”

The move

Apple’s change would allow them to catch up with Amazon’s “Alexa” prompt, which doesn’t require an initial voice assistant activation word.

In 2018, Microsoft moved away from “Hey Cortana” so that users need only say “Cortana” on smart speakers.

However, for product inquiries from Google, users must still use the phrase “OK Google.”

The “Hey Siri” change comes at a time when Apple, Amazon and Google are working together on the Matter automation standard.

The Matter automation standard allows automation and Internet of Things devices from different vendors to collaborate.

James Sanders, the chief analyst at market research firm CCS Insight, says Apple’s priority is likely to redouble efforts to improve Siri functionality.

Read also: Apple continues positive streak amid inflation

Siri

Apple’s voice assistant has been active since February 2010, over twelve years ago.

It started as a standalone app on Apple’s App Store before the tech giant bought it two months later.

Apple then integrated Siri into the iPhone 4S.

It introduced the ability to say “Hey Siri” without using the home button in 2014.

Over the years, Siri has gotten smarter by integrating third-party developers like carpooling and payment apps.

It also supports follow-up questions, multiple languages, and other access.

Despite the improvements, Siri still has problems, including user misunderstandings and wrong answers.

“While the ‘Hey Siri’ change requires a considerable amount of work, it would be surprising if Apple announced only this change to Siri,” said Sanders.

“Considering the rumored timing, I would anticipate this change to be bundled with other new or improved functionality for Siri, perhaps alongside a new model of HomePod and integrations with other smart home products via Matter, as a reintroduction to Apple’s voice assistant.”

Reference:

Why Apple may be working on a ‘hey Siri’ change

Apple to see iPhone 14 models shipment setback

Claire Peterson Claire Peterson on November 10, 2022

Apple is struggling with the same crisis as the rest of the industry and the company is set to take another blow to its operations.

According to the tech giant, shipments of iPhone 14 models will be “temporarily affected” by Covid restrictions in China.

Last week, China’s largest iPhone assembling site faced a Covid outbreak that caused a problem for the tech giant.

Statement

On Sunday, Apple issued a statement to shed light on the situation.

The company says that its Zhengzhou assembly plant is operating at reduced capacity due to Covid restrictions.

“We continue to see strong demand for iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models,” Apple’s statement reads.

Despite the positive news, the company still expects fewer deliveries than expected for the Pro models.

They also point out that customers will have to wait longer to receive their new iPhones.

Read also: Apple continues positive streak amid inflation

Outbreak and lockdown

The Zhengzhou factory is one of the tech giant’s largest suppliers.

Foxconn, Apple’s largest supplier, operates the Zhengzhou factory.

Since mid-October, the facility has been fighting a Covid epidemic causing panic among migrant workers.

Last week, authorities ordered a seven-day shutdown of the factory site.

The lockdown, while necessary, is putting pressure on Foxconn and Apple, especially as the holiday season begins soon.

It also highlights the impact of China’s strict zero Covid policy, which is hurting domestic and international businesses.

China’s approach

Recently, global and Chinese companies across various industries have been facing severe business disruptions.

The disruption comes from China, which is stepping up its zero-covid approach.

While things are unlikely to improve anytime soon, China’s State Council reiterated its unwavering commitment to zero-covid policy at a press conference on Saturday.

The pledge statement comes after rumors were circulating that the Chinese government was easing restrictions on the pandemic and reducing quarantine days.

Read also: Flash report: EU looking to phase out Apple’s Lightning connector in favor of USB-C

Other notes

While the tech giant is the latest victim of China’s zero Covid policy, Apple is doing better than its compatriots in the tech industry despite the global economic downturn.

In October, Apple beat Wall Street analysts’ sales and earnings expectations for the September quarter.

Reference:

Apple expects iPhone 14 shipments to be hit by China’s Covid curbs

Apple continues positive streak amid inflation

Nicholas Alexander Nicholas Alexander on November 7, 2022

Apple beat Wall Street analysts’ sales and earnings forecasts for the September quarter despite a tough earnings season.

September quarter revenue overcame fears that demand for the latest iPhone series was weaker than anticipated.

Sales

Apple posted revenue of more than $90 billion in the fourth fiscal quarter, up 8% from the same period last year.

In addition, revenue reached $20.7 billion, a gain of less than 1% from the same quarter in the year before.

Apple CFO Luca Maestri also released a statement:

“Our record September quarter results continue to demonstrate our ability to execute effectively in spite of a challenging and volatile macroeconomic backdrop.”

Following the report, the company’s shares fell more than 1% after hours.

Read also: Workers at an Apple store in Oklahoma vote to unionize

Apple products

Sales of the company’s products increased 9% year-over-year to nearly $71 billion.

The growth shows a decrease in the growth rate compared to the previous year, but it was already expected.

Consumers are currently grappling with fears of a possible recession amid high inflation.

Meanwhile, the significant dollar value still raises doubts about Apple’s success in convincing international users to upgrade their devices.

Apple CEO Tim Cook says the company set an iPhone sales record on an analyst call in September.

Services segment

Apple’s service segments posted revenue of $19.2 billion, up 5% from the quarter a year ago and a year-over-year decline.

The Services segment includes paid subscriptions, such as Apple TV+ and Apple Music.

It is a powerhouse for Apple and compensates for the slow growth of Apple’s hardware business.

According to Maestri, subscriptions to paid services are more than 900 million.

Last year, there were only 155 million paid subscriptions.

Read also: Flash report: EU looking to phase out Apple’s Lightning connector in favor of USB-C

Raised prices

The company raised the prices of its music and TV streaming services this week to boost sales.

Investing.com analyst Jesse Cohen issued a bullish statement, saying:

“Like other major tech companies, even Apple is suffering from the negative impact of a worsening macro backdrop and ongoing supply chain woes.”

“Though, it has done a better job of navigating through the challenging environment,” Cohen added.

According to Luca Maestri, Apple expects revenue growth to slow in the December quarter from a year earlier.

He cites the strength of the US dollar and continued macroeconomic weakness as factors behind the slowdown in growth.

Reference:

Apple is weathering the economic downturn better than fellow tech giants

iPhone 14 reveals new model and new features for the Pro models

Leah Cooper Leah Cooper on September 19, 2022

The wait is over and now Apple enthusiasts, pundits and potential iPhone buyers can finally put the speculation to rest.

The iPhone 14 line has finally unveiled the latest edition of Apple’s bestsellers at the Apple Event on September 7.

Here we take a look at Apple’s latest mobile devices.

iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus

After a year of speculation, Apple has moved on with the removal of the mini iPhone devices.

Instead, it’s replaced by the exact opposite of its size – the iPhone Plus, formerly iPhone 14 Max.

The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus have the same physical characteristics as the iPhone 13 model.

The main difference between the two is size, as the latest model measures 6.7 inches compared to the entry-level 6.1 inches.

Camera

The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus feature an impressive camera system with new rear and front TrueDepth cameras.

The phones also feature an updated ultra-wide camera with up to 2x TrueDepth.

The devices use a photonics engine, an enhanced image pipeline to improve the quality of captured images.

In addition, the camera includes a new action mode that allows users to record videos with greater stability, especially while running.

Emergency features

The additions of Crash Detection and Emergency SOS are two of the most important features of the iPhone 14 line.

Like the new Apple Watches, iPhones feature a dual-core accelerometer capable of taking G-force readings of up to 256G with a new high dynamic range gyroscope.

The feature can detect if the user has been involved in a serious car accident and automatically call emergency services if the user is unconscious or unable to reach their iPhone.

Meanwhile, Emergency SOS combines custom components built into software that allows antennas to lock onto a satellite.

It can be used out of reach of cell phones or Wi-Fi, texting emergency services in seconds or minutes.

The SOS service will be available in November in the United States and Canada, where it will be free for two years.

iOS 16

After running the beta earlier this year, iPhone 14 and 14 Plus will have iOS16 ready for use.

Users are finally getting the Always On Display (AOD), which allows them to see the clock and notifications on the lock screen.

iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max

The Pro series is the hottest topic in the tech space.

Many suggested this workout to get rid of the front notch instead of a pill and a pinhole, but Apple put one over the top when they revealed a single front camera.

Apple, also known as “Dynamic Island”, has gone a step further by including interactive functionality for notifications and activities.

The dynamic island shrinks the camera to make more room for the viewing area.

Users can access controls with a long press where apps such as maps, music or timer are visible and interactive.

The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max also offer an improved camera system that incorporates the new 48-megapixel main camera.

The Pro models also have emergency SOS and collision detection functions.

Compared to the lower models, the iPhone Pros have the A16 Bionic, which gives them the best performance on mobile devices.

Reference:

Apple debuts iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max

Apple launch event next week set to finally unveil the new iPhone 14 lineup

Leah Cooper Leah Cooper on September 5, 2022

September is right around the corner, which means Apple fans are excited to see if their iPhone 14 speculations are correct. 

Apple is hosting an event on September 7 at its headquarters in Cupertino, California. 

The event 

Since 2020, COVID-19 restrictions have prompted Apple to use pre-recorded videos for its launch events. 

This year is the first in-person event since 2019. The event will also be streamed on Apple’s website and YouTube. 

The Apple event usually attracts millions of viewers on YouTube and attracts the attention of millions of people around the world.

For the 2022 edition, the event will use the slogan “far out,” which could allude to new features like night sky photography. 

The iPhone 14, Apple Watch, and iOS 16 are expected to be unveiled at the Apple event. 

Whether the iPad and Mac will be ready to launch remains to be seen as the software is incomplete. 

iPhone 14 

The iPhone is Apple’s bestseller and has been the subject of speculation for a year. 

The iPhone 13 line will be the last to add the Mini to its lineup, as Apple will add a larger model instead.

Several media outlets and analysts also expect the Pro models to receive further updates, with the notch being replaced with a pill-shaped cutout. 

The Pro models will also feature the new A16 Bionic chip, while the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max will continue to use the 2021 A15 chipset. 

The biggest news for the iPhone 14 is its price, which many expect to see a $100 increase. 

Read also: Apple Revenue Reports Show iPhone Still the Bestsellers, Other Products Have Declined in Sales

The Apple Watch 

In 2022, Apple will bring major updates to its Watch, adding more features and reducing the price. 

The Wall Street Journal reported that the company was evaluating a body temperature sensor in the new Apple Watch to monitor fertility and sleep. The Apple Watch Series 8 could also add a “Pro” model with a larger screen and a more durable finish. 

The company has previously released watches with expensive case materials such as gold, ceramic, and titanium. 

The new “Pro” model could pave the way for the first high-end Apple Watches with extra features that cheaper models lack. 

Apple is also expected to launch an updated version of the Apple Watch SE as an entry-level model. 

Read also: Quick tech report: Apple tipped to put up more ads

iOS 16 

Earlier this year, the beta of iOS 16 caused a stir and provided a number of important new features.

The software update includes the ability to customize the iPhone lock screen and change the clock font on the lock screen. 

iOS 16 also allows users to cancel or edit iMessages within minutes of sending them. 

It introduces short-term credit from Apple called Apple Pay Later, which lets you buy things online with Apple Pay. 

The problem is that they would have to pay for the item in four interest-free installments. 

With iOS 16, users can turn their iPhone into an HD webcam for a Mac laptop or desktop.

The software is available for other iPhone models, but it remains to be seen who will be able to update their system.

Reference:

Expect Apple to show four new iPhones and an updated Apple Watch next week