Apple is using AI to make Siri smarter

Apple may have started the digital assistant craze with Siri, but it’s largely been playing catch-up lately. Specifically, to Google and Mountain View’s own Assistant. Now Apple’s app has more expressive voices (both male and female, English and British) and in-app translation features. More than that, Siri can act as a task manager of sorts, offering access to banking in the Citi Mobile app, or, for whatever reason, a QR code in WeChat.

And going deeper into Apple’s low-key focus on AI, Siri’s on-device artificial intelligence and contextual learning will offer up a GPS pin when you’re messaging about where you’re located. The learning will sync across your different devices, and like iMessage itself, will be encrypted end to end.

Apple has mentioned AI in a few different ways, not drawing a ton of attention to it in the way Google did last month, but if you were worried Cupertino wasn’t worried about the latest zeitgeist, you can rest easy.

Get all the latest news from WWDC 2017 here!

Apple is using AI to make Siri smarter

Apple may have started the digital assistant craze with Siri, but it’s largely been playing catch-up lately. Specifically, to Google and Mountain View’s own Assistant. Now Apple’s app has more expressive voices (both male and female, English and British) and in-app translation features. More than that, Siri can act as a task manager of sorts, offering access to banking in the Citi Mobile app, or, for whatever reason, a QR code in WeChat.

And going deeper into Apple’s low-key focus on AI, Siri’s on-device artificial intelligence and contextual learning will offer up a GPS pin when you’re messaging about where you’re located. The learning will sync across your different devices, and like iMessage itself, will be encrypted end to end.

Apple has mentioned AI in a few different ways, not drawing a ton of attention to it in the way Google did last month, but if you were worried Cupertino wasn’t worried about the latest zeitgeist, you can rest easy.

Get all the latest news from WWDC 2017 here!

iOS 11’s Photos app uses AI to make your shots better

Apple’s iOS 11 promises to be a big upgrade for shutterbugs. It’s improving both the Camera and Photos apps to take some of the headaches out of snapshots and photos. For instance, the Photos app’s Memories section can make use of machine learning to automatically reorient images when you change your phone’s orientation — it knows what to focus on. Live Photos also make use of this AI-like technology for effects. And Live Photos should be decidedly liverly with new visual tricks, including a long exposure blur effect, the ability to pick a key photo, video looping and a Boomerang-style “bounce” effect.

Also, Apple is making some improvements that will help you capture more photos and videos. It’s switching to HEVC (aka H.265) encoding for videos, which is twice as efficient as the H.264 format used today. For still shots, meanwhile, Apple is moving to HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) to achieve similar space-saving. In theory, you won’t have to worry quite so much about running out of storage when you’re capturing every moment of your next vacation. We have questions about exporting images (how easy will it be to share JPEGs with everyone?), but this could be very helpful in a world where 4K video and large photos are becoming commonplace.

Get all the latest news from WWDC 2017 here!

iOS 11’s Photos app uses AI to make your shots better

Apple’s iOS 11 promises to be a big upgrade for shutterbugs. It’s improving both the Camera and Photos apps to take some of the headaches out of snapshots and photos. For instance, the Photos app’s Memories section can make use of machine learning to automatically reorient images when you change your phone’s orientation — it knows what to focus on. Live Photos also make use of this AI-like technology for effects. And Live Photos should be decidedly liverly with new visual tricks, including a long exposure blur effect, the ability to pick a key photo, video looping and a Boomerang-style “bounce” effect.

Also, Apple is making some improvements that will help you capture more photos and videos. It’s switching to HEVC (aka H.265) encoding for videos, which is twice as efficient as the H.264 format used today. For still shots, meanwhile, Apple is moving to HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) to achieve similar space-saving. In theory, you won’t have to worry quite so much about running out of storage when you’re capturing every moment of your next vacation. We have questions about exporting images (how easy will it be to share JPEGs with everyone?), but this could be very helpful in a world where 4K video and large photos are becoming commonplace.

Get all the latest news from WWDC 2017 here!

Apple Music will keep tabs on your friends’ listening habits

Thanks to a Bloomberg interview with Apple Music head Jimmy Iovine back in April, we thought WWDC updates for the app could focus on video. During today’s keynote, the company gave us a brief rundown of a couple changes we can expect for the service. The big update wasn’t video-focused though, it’s primarily the ability to see what your friends are listening to inside Apple Music.

Apple will show you what you’re friends are listening to right in the app — similar to what Spotify and other apps do already. In the “For You” tab inside the app, you’ll see a scrolling list of what your pals are streaming. Album artwork is displayed there with tiny avatars to indicate which of your friends have been listening to that particular selection.

The company also mentioned that 27 million people are subscribing to the service. That’s still a few million less than Spotify’s 50 million paying customers. What’s more, Apple announced Apple Music API Kit to help developers integrate their apps with the streaming service. We’re talking about things like Nike+ Run Club, Anchor and Shazam for now, but there are sure to be many more options in the near future. There’s also multiroom audio support for a number of speaker brands coming to HomeKit through AirPlay 2.

This is the second year in a row Apple revealed new features for Apple Music at WWDC. Last June, the company switched up the interface to make it easier to find the music you want quickly. That revamp also put less attention on the social features of the service that were a key focus leading up to the initial launch. A new version of iOS is a convenient time to take the wraps off new enhancements for the music streaming service as well, so we could be in for annual updates during the developer event.

Apple already tipped its hand with a load of videos we can expect on the service — a number of which are set to debut soon. A documentary on Bad Boy’s hip hop legacy debuts at the end of the month while the new take on James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke is scheduled to arrive in early August (after a delay). There are a number of other documentaries and series as well, and with labels pressuring Apple to offer fewer exclusive album releases, the company could leverage its video library in an attempt to lure users from the competition.

Get all the latest news from WWDC 2017 here!

Apple Music will keep tabs on your friends’ listening habits

Thanks to a Bloomberg interview with Apple Music head Jimmy Iovine back in April, we thought WWDC updates for the app could focus on video. During today’s keynote, the company gave us a brief rundown of a couple changes we can expect for the service. The big update wasn’t video-focused though, it’s primarily the ability to see what your friends are listening to inside Apple Music.

Apple will show you what you’re friends are listening to right in the app — similar to what Spotify and other apps do already. In the “For You” tab inside the app, you’ll see a scrolling list of what your pals are streaming. Album artwork is displayed there with tiny avatars to indicate which of your friends have been listening to that particular selection.

The company also mentioned that 27 million people are subscribing to the service. That’s still a few million less than Spotify’s 50 million paying customers. What’s more, Apple announced Apple Music API Kit to help developers integrate their apps with the streaming service. We’re talking about things like Nike+ Run Club, Anchor and Shazam for now, but there are sure to be many more options in the near future. There’s also multiroom audio support for a number of speaker brands coming to HomeKit through AirPlay 2.

This is the second year in a row Apple revealed new features for Apple Music at WWDC. Last June, the company switched up the interface to make it easier to find the music you want quickly. That revamp also put less attention on the social features of the service that were a key focus leading up to the initial launch. A new version of iOS is a convenient time to take the wraps off new enhancements for the music streaming service as well, so we could be in for annual updates during the developer event.

Apple already tipped its hand with a load of videos we can expect on the service — a number of which are set to debut soon. A documentary on Bad Boy’s hip hop legacy debuts at the end of the month while the new take on James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke is scheduled to arrive in early August (after a delay). There are a number of other documentaries and series as well, and with labels pressuring Apple to offer fewer exclusive album releases, the company could leverage its video library in an attempt to lure users from the competition.

Get all the latest news from WWDC 2017 here!

Apple is redesigning the App Store

Every year, more developers flood onto the App Store in the hope of finding an audience and some lucrative revenue. The sheer volume of apps means it’s hard to get noticed, however, and on the flip-side it’s difficult for users to find genuinely useful software. So Apple is finally redesigning the App Store. It has a similar look to Apple Music and News, with large, bubble-like cards displayed in a visual feed. You’ll start on the Today tab, which has a curated and personalised selection of apps to browse. Swipe across and you’ll hit Games, followed by (your) Apps, Updates and Search.

Apple kicked off the reveal with a “world premiere” of Monument Valley 2, a successor to the M.C Escher-inspired game by UsTwo. Scrolling through each feed, it’s clear that less information will be visible on your screen at any one time — Apple is banking on that being a boon, rather than a drawback, however. The company wants to avoid “information overload” by focusing on smaller, specialized app lists instead. There will be an App of the Day, a Game of the Day and even Store-specific blog posts and lists — one example Apple showed was called “5 Tips to Get More out of VSCO.”

When you find an app, you’ll notice that in-app purchases are now available on the same page. That means you can buy photo filters, or sign up for a monthly video streaming subscription without digging through the app itself. Description pages are also being reworked so that developers can write longer, creative notes, rather like a blogging platform. All told, it’s a huge revamp for the App Store. The renewed focus on curation is intriguing — it will, in theory, improve app discovery, boosting revenue and competition. If Apple’s efforts fail, however, it could exasperate the store’s existing issues, making it harder than ever for developers to earn a living.

Get all the latest news from WWDC 2017 here!

Source: Apple (PR)

Apple is redesigning the App Store

Every year, more developers flood onto the App Store in the hope of finding an audience and some lucrative revenue. The sheer volume of apps means it’s hard to get noticed, however, and on the flip-side it’s difficult for users to find genuinely useful software. So Apple is finally redesigning the App Store. It has a similar look to Apple Music and News, with large, bubble-like cards displayed in a visual feed. You’ll start on the Today tab, which has a curated and personalised selection of apps to browse. Swipe across and you’ll hit Games, followed by (your) Apps, Updates and Search.

Apple kicked off the reveal with a “world premiere” of Monument Valley 2, a successor to the M.C Escher-inspired game by UsTwo. Scrolling through each feed, it’s clear that less information will be visible on your screen at any one time — Apple is banking on that being a boon, rather than a drawback, however. The company wants to avoid “information overload” by focusing on smaller, specialized app lists instead. There will be an App of the Day, a Game of the Day and even Store-specific blog posts and lists — one example Apple showed was called “5 Tips to Get More out of VSCO.”

When you find an app, you’ll notice that in-app purchases are now available on the same page. That means you can buy photo filters, or sign up for a monthly video streaming subscription without digging through the app itself. Description pages are also being reworked so that developers can write longer, creative notes, rather like a blogging platform. All told, it’s a huge revamp for the App Store. The renewed focus on curation is intriguing — it will, in theory, improve app discovery, boosting revenue and competition. If Apple’s efforts fail, however, it could exasperate the store’s existing issues, making it harder than ever for developers to earn a living.

Get all the latest news from WWDC 2017 here!

Source: Apple (PR)

Apple focuses on safety behind the wheel with iOS 11

Using your phone while driving is incredibly dangerous. But for a lot of us, it’s tough to ignore all those notifications when we should be paying attention to the road. So Apple has created a new feature for the upcoming iOS 11, Do Not Disturb While Driving.

The feature does exactly what you expect, it keeps all those pesky alerts from appearing on your screen while you’re behind the wheel. It uses Bluetooth or WiFi doppler effect to determine how quickly you’re moving and will show you a blank screen.

After you’ve used the feature once, it’ll prompt you to launch DNDWD when it determines if you’re in a moving vehicle. You can dismiss the notice by saying you’re a passenger.

When enabled, the feature also auto-replies to texts with a message that you’re driving. There is the option to whitelist certain contacts and they’ll have the option to text back “urgent” to display their text regardless if Do Not Disturb While Driving is running.

The new option is Apple’s way of making the iPhone more car and safety friendly when the driver doesn’t have access to CarPlay.

Apple also updated its Maps app with lane guidance so drivers are alerted which lane they should be in for things like exiting the freeway. The company also added detailed indoor Mall and Airport maps so you can find your gate and the nearest Sbarro.

Get all the latest news from WWDC 2017 here!

Apple focuses on safety behind the wheel with iOS 11

Using your phone while driving is incredibly dangerous. But for a lot of us, it’s tough to ignore all those notifications when we should be paying attention to the road. So Apple has created a new feature for the upcoming iOS 11, Do Not Disturb While Driving.

The feature does exactly what you expect, it keeps all those pesky alerts from appearing on your screen while you’re behind the wheel. It uses Bluetooth or WiFi doppler effect to determine how quickly you’re moving and will show you a blank screen.

After you’ve used the feature once, it’ll prompt you to launch DNDWD when it determines if you’re in a moving vehicle. You can dismiss the notice by saying you’re a passenger.

When enabled, the feature also auto-replies to texts with a message that you’re driving. There is the option to whitelist certain contacts and they’ll have the option to text back “urgent” to display their text regardless if Do Not Disturb While Driving is running.

The new option is Apple’s way of making the iPhone more car and safety friendly when the driver doesn’t have access to CarPlay.

Apple also updated its Maps app with lane guidance so drivers are alerted which lane they should be in for things like exiting the freeway. The company also added detailed indoor Mall and Airport maps so you can find your gate and the nearest Sbarro.

Get all the latest news from WWDC 2017 here!