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Mint
14 minutes ago
- Mint
Google is beating Apple on smartphone AI
The race to develop the killer AI-powered phone is on. But Apple is getting lapped by its Android competitors. Apple teased a smarter Siri but it's MIA, and other Apple Intelligence offerings are meh. Meanwhile, Samsung is fusing Gemini into its Galaxy phones, and the new Google Pixels are chock-full of AI this and AI that. Tools we'd actually use. The coming Pixel 10, announced on Wednesday by Alphabet subsidiary Google and available Aug. 28, dressed me in an AI-generated blazer right in the camera app. A convincing clone of my voice fluently discussed lunch in German, which I don't speak. When I called United customer service, flight reservation information automatically appeared on screen. The Pixel holds just a fraction of the smartphone market—and that's unlikely to change, given how attached we are to our mobile devices—but it's leagues ahead of the iPhone in AI. In a recent ad, Google mocked Apple's smart-Siri delay, suggesting iPhone owners change to the new Pixel 10. Regardless of which side you're on, don't we all just want to know what AI can really do for us on a phone? After I checked out the Pixel 10, I have an answer: information that appears right when you need it, real-time translation in your own voice, a virtual photographer directing your shots, a personalized fitness coach and more. What can't it do? Turn those iPhone green text bubbles into blue ones. Google is introducing new devices, including the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro, that come with useful AI-powered software. Google Pixel phones have always been more about wow-inducing software than hardware—and that includes the new Pixel 10 ($799 and up) and Pixel 10 Pro ($999 and up). But you have to rely heavily on Google's own apps, like Gmail and Maps. For iPhone users including me, the most jealousy-inducing feature is Magic Cue. It rifles through your inbox, calendar and texts, then surfaces information when it thinks you need it. Say Mary texts: 'What's that coffee shop Ben recommended?" Magic Cue can surface the recommendation from your conversation with Ben. If Mary then asks whether you want to try it on Sunday, a shortcut to view your calendar will appear. Magic Cue rifles through your inbox, texts and more and surfaces information when it thinks it's relevant. One example: flight-reservation details when you call the airline. When you call a restaurant, the phone app can pull up reservation details from your email. When you open Google Maps just before the reservation, navigating to the restaurant takes only a quick tap. Voice Translate also ups the wow. This live language translator (with real-time voice clone) is similar to the Meet function I tested earlier this year. On the Pixel, it works right in the phone app, translating English, Spanish, German, Japanese, Italian, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Russian, Hindi and Indonesian. I tried it with a German speaker, choosing his preferred language. I spoke English and, after a slight delay, heard my own voice speaking German. A transcription of our conversation, in my native English, appeared on screen. The German-to-English translation wasn't perfect, but I always understood the gist. I could have used this tool when I lived in France, struggling with administrative tasks as a non-native speaker—like convincing my landlord the water heater was broken. The Pixel 10's photo experience is infused with AI. The Camera Coach is actually unsettling at first. A Google representative pointed the camera at me and hit the AI camera button. After about 10 seconds, it asked what we wanted in the photo: a full-body portrait, a close-up or some more novel plan. We tapped 'get inspired" and it generated a rough guide image of me, sitting more relaxed on the sofa. Then it gave the photographer some instructions: Have me sit down, place me on the left side of the frame, move to capture the scene lower and at an angle, use Portrait Mode, then take the shot from my waist up. The final photo looked pretty good. Maybe something I could use on LinkedIn. But did it convey the right seriousness? In editing mode, you can tap Ask Photos then type or say instructions. 'Make it look better" might touch up the photo, but I went with 'Make it look professional": It brightened the lighting and turned up the blur. It gave me four options in around 20 seconds. 'Send Nicole to outer space" changed the background to the Milky Way. 'Add a business suit" put me in a virtual blazer. Though some variations made me look a little ragged, one result was convincing. I was actually more into Google's other Gemini-powered coach, launching in October: personalized health and fitness insights for Fitbit trackers and Pixel Watches. The health coach can adjust workout plans based on real-time data, such as last night's sleep. Mention back pain during a check-in, and the coach will change its suggestions. The Apple Watch's coming Workout Buddy is less AI coach, and more AI hype person. It can tell you when you hit a personal best, but it can't craft a workout for you. Google says Pixel's advanced AI features can 'make magic happen." Samsung prominently labels its phones with 'Galaxy AI." Apple's website highlights 'AI-opening possibilities." People aren't demanding AI features in their phones just yet, says Sheng Win Chow, an analyst at Canalys, which tracks smartphone sales. But Google is betting they soon will. The race continues and for now, Apple has a lot of catching up to do. Write to Nicole Nguyen at
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Brio Italian Grille closes Crabtree Valley Mall location in Raleigh after 15 years
Brio Italian Grille has permanently closed its Crabtree Valley Mall restaurant in Raleigh after more than 15 years in business, according to reports from The News & Observer and Yahoo News . Yelp also lists the location as 'Permanently Closed.' National closures affect Brio Italian Grille locations The Raleigh closure is part of a broader contraction of the Brio Italian Grille brand. Over the past several years, the company has shuttered multiple locations across the country, many of which were situated in major shopping malls. Brio, which began expanding nationally in the early 2000s, was once a familiar presence in large suburban retail centers but has faced challenges maintaining that footprint. Industry reporting notes that dining patterns have shifted in recent years, with many traditional mall restaurants seeing declines in traffic. Also read: Over 30 Hooters restaurants suddenly closed: Here's the list and everything else we know about the shutdow Only one North Carolina Brio Italian Grille remains With the closure of the Raleigh restaurant, Brio Italian Grille now maintains only one location in North Carolina, inside Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort, according to the company's official directory. That location continues to operate under the brand, which is part of Orlando-based Earl Enterprises. Brio Italian Grille opened in Raleigh in 2009 The Crabtree Valley Mall restaurant opened in 2009 and operated for more than a decade as part of Brio's national chain of upscale Italian dining venues, comparable to concepts such as Macaroni Grill and Maggiano's. At its peak, Brio Italian Grille had dozens of locations across the United States, but the brand has steadily reduced its presence.
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
PlayStation prices rise as US tariffs bite
Sony on Wednesday said it is bumping up the price of PlayStation 5 video game consoles by $50 in the United States due to a "challenging economic environment." Tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump hike the cost of goods brought into the US, leaving companies like Japan's Sony to decide whether to pass that on to consumers. "Similar to many global businesses, we continue to navigate a challenging economic environment," Sony Interactive Entertainment vice president of global marketing Isabelle Tomatis said in a post. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like When the Camera Clicked at the Worst Possible Time Read More Undo After initially being threatened with a 25 percent hike, Japan negotiated a 15 percent tariff with the Trump administration. "As a result, we've made the difficult decision to increase the recommended retail price for PlayStation 5 consoles in the US." Live Events The new price for PS5 will be $550, with a "Digital Edition" priced at $500 and a Pro version for $750, according to Tomatis. In May, Sony warned it was considering tweaking prices in the US, estimating that tariffs could wind up costing the company about $680 million in the fiscal year. American companies are feeling the crunch, too. New York-based cosmetics giant Estee Lauder recently estimated the impact of the new tariffs at around $100 million for the 2026 financial year and plans to adjust its prices to offset the additional cost. US snack giant PepsiCo could increase prices of its soft drinks about 10 percent to mitigate effects of US tariffs, particularly those on imported aluminum used to make soda cans, according to trade magazine Beverage Digest. Meanwhile, California-based energy drink maker Monster Beverages is considering raising prices due to a "complex and dynamic customs landscape," according to chief executive Hilton Schlosberg. The Commerce Department this week said the US broadened its steel and aluminum tariffs, impacting hundreds more products that contain both metals such as child seats, tableware and heavy equipment. Since returning to the presidency, Trump has imposed tariffs on almost all US trading partners. Though the impact of Trump's tariffs on consumer prices has been limited so far, economists warn that their full effects are yet to be seen. Some businesses have coped by bringing forward purchases of products they expected will encounter tariffs. Others have passed on additional costs to their consumers, or absorbed a part of the fresh tariff burden.
