Latest news with #9To5Mac
Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Tom's Guide
iPhone 17 Pro Max just shown off in hands-on video — and there's a big design trade-off
Most of the rumors around the next iPhone models have focused on the thinner, lighter iPhone 17 Air. And that's logical — it's the shiny new toy. But let's get back to one of the traditional iPhone models, the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Apple isn't forgetting the top-of-the-line model, and you probably shouldn't either. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is rumored to feature a new rear camera design with a 48MP telephoto camera, a front 24MP camera and dual video recording in the camera app — so you'll be able to shoot with the front and rear cameras at the same time. The flagship may also get vapor chamber cooling for better sustained performance and 12GB of RAM. But it appears there's a trade-off for these new goodies. A new dummy unit leak from Majin Bu on X (via 9To5Mac) shows off a much thicker phone than we're used to from Apple, especially with the phones trending towards cutting the fat. iPhone 17 Pro is beautiful 28, 2025 According to a social media video, the dummy iPhone 17 Pro Max appears to be thicker than the popular iPhone 16 Pro Max. Here's the size of each device (though remember, this is a dummy unit and the dimensions could change when the phone launches): Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. That's about half a millimeter thicker. While it's not much in the grand scheme of things, it shows that Apple isn't only concerned about making the thinnest, lightest phone possible. People who buy the Pro Max models (myself included) tend to prioritize the largest screen and the best features, and size isn't a significant concern. Most likely, Apple wants to cram as much battery as possible into its high-end phone, and making it even less than a millimeter thicker should allow it to offer a little more capacity, which will directly translate to more extended periods between charges and could certainly cement its place as one of the best phones. While Bu has a decent track record of Apple leaks (he correctly predicted the iPhone 16e name change, for example), you should still take this leak with a grain of salt, as nothing has been confirmed by Apple yet. We likely won't hear anything official about the iPhone 17 series until September, when the company is expected to unveil its next iPhone upgrades.
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Business Standard
20-05-2025
- Business Standard
Apple working on AI version of Siri with ChatGPT-like capabilities: Report
Apple is reportedly testing its own AI chatbot, to catch up with the competition in artificial intelligence. According to a report by 9To5Mac citing Bloomberg, the company has noticed meaningful improvements in Apple's homegrown chatbot's development over the last six months. Some Apple executives now believe that the internal tool is 'on par with recent versions of ChatGPT.' Initially, Apple's AI chief John Giannandrea was said to be hesitant about transforming Siri into a ChatGPT-style assistant, expressing scepticism about the usefulness of such tools. However, the company's direction appears to have shifted, with executives now exploring ways to evolve Siri into a more capable, chatbot-like assistant. Siri to become smarter? The report indicates that Apple is considering major upgrades to Siri, including web access and the ability to generate responses from multiple sources—features that would significantly enhance its current capabilities. These potential additions mark a shift from Siri's traditional, rule-based functionality towards a more conversational and context-aware assistant. 'According to employees, the chatbot the company has been testing internally has made significant strides over the past six months, to the point that some executives see it as on par with recent versions of ChatGPT,' the report stated. While rivals such as OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft continue to release new large language models (LLMs) and public-facing AI features, Apple has yet to roll out a version of Siri backed by similar underlying technology. The company has also not introduced any chatbot-style product powered by its internal LLM research—at least not publicly. WWDC 2025: Will Siri take a backseat? Apple's upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), scheduled for June 9–13, is expected to focus heavily on iOS 19. While Siri was once expected to be a major part of the event, recent reports suggest its AI enhancements may be delayed. As showcased at last year's WWDC, Apple had originally planned to improve Siri using its Apple Intelligence platform, with features like on-screen awareness and personalised context understanding. However, the company has delayed these features, reportedly due to bugs encountered during internal testing. Those upgrades are still not ready for public release.
Mint
19-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Apple's WWDC to showcase AI, but Siri will be downplayed: Mark Gurman
Apple's much-anticipated leap into artificial intelligence appears to have stumbled even before fully taking off, according to a revealing new report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The tech giant, widely regarded for its meticulous approach to product development, has reportedly been caught flat-footed by the rapid rise of generative AI—a technology it initially downplayed. As reported by 9To5Mac, as per Gurman, internal accounts suggest that Apple's senior software leadership, particularly Craig Federighi, hesitated to prioritise AI. Federighi, who leads the company's software division, reportedly believed artificial intelligence lacked the clarity and defined outcomes that Apple typically demands before investing in a new technology. His reluctance, echoed by other top executives, meant Apple entered the AI race cautiously, even as competitors surged ahead. 'In AI, you don't know what the product looks like until you've invested significantly,' one longtime Apple executive is quoted as saying. 'But that's not the Apple way—we build with a defined endgame.' This internal mindset, deeply ingrained within Apple's corporate culture, may have hindered the company from capitalising on early AI breakthroughs. Adding to the complications, Apple's AI head John Giannandrea—hired with much fanfare from Google—allegedly faced repeated setbacks when attempting to scale Apple's AI infrastructure. Giannandrea reportedly concluded that the company's AI ambitions required substantially more investment than what was being allocated. Despite this, efforts to ramp up resources were frequently blocked or stalled. While Apple eventually announced its Apple Intelligence platform, the company is still playing catch-up. Gurman's report claims that Apple will downplay Siri during this year's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), even postponing upgrades that were first teased nearly a year ago. This strategic silence signals ongoing delays and perhaps internal uncertainty about Siri's future. Interestingly, the report indicates that Apple now plans to distance its Apple Intelligence branding from Siri entirely—an implicit acknowledgement that the voice assistant's legacy of underperformance could hinder the company's broader AI ambitions. The rebranding also suggests a deeper restructuring of the company's AI narrative, positioning Siri less as a flagship product and more as a supporting player. Looking ahead, Apple is reportedly preparing to introduce AI-powered enhancements across its software suite. These include a new battery optimisation feature, deeper integration of Apple Intelligence into core apps, and 'Project Mulberry'—a virtual wellness coach aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles.
Mint
16-05-2025
- Mint
Is Apple Pay down? Users report widespread payment failures
Apple's digital payment systems — including Apple Pay and Apple Cash — are currently facing a widespread outage, leaving many iPhone users unable to complete transactions. The disruption appears to have started around 11 a.m. Eastern Time (8:30 p.m. IST), according to reports from users and coverage by 9To5Mac. Across social media, users have been reporting failed transactions and delays when trying to make payments. Both Apple Pay, which is used for in-store and online purchases using linked debit and credit cards, and Apple Cash, which enables users to send money to others, are reportedly affected by the issue. As per the report, Apple Cash was found to be completely non-functional, with several attempts to send money ending in failure. Apple Pay has also shown signs of inconsistency. A transaction failed at around 9:20 p.m. IST after a long wait time, but succeeded when attempted again shortly after, added 9To5Mac. Despite this, many users continue to report that they are unable to use Apple Pay at all. Initially, Apple's system status page showed no signs of a problem, leading to confusion among users. However, at 10:06 p.m. IST, Apple officially updated the page to acknowledge ongoing issues with Apple Pay, Apple Cash, Apple Card, and the Wallet app. This confirmation came after hours of user reports and growing concern online. For those unfamiliar, Apple Pay allows iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch users to make secure purchases at retail stores and online. Apple Cash is a peer-to-peer payment feature that enables users to send and receive money from friends and family. Apple Card is Apple's own credit card offering, while the Wallet app acts as the central hub where users store their digital cards and payment methods. Apple has yet to release a statement explaining the cause of the outage or when the services are expected to return to normal. Until then, affected users may need to switch to alternative methods of payment as the company works to resolve the issue.
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Business Standard
13-05-2025
- Business Standard
Apple iOS 18.5 brings incremental upgrades to eligible iPhones: What's new
iOS 18.5 update comes just a month ahead of the expected release of iOS 19 at WWDC 2025, which is due next month iOS 18.5 New Delhi Apple has rolled out the stable version of iOS 18.5. The update introduces a number of improvements, including a new wallpaper, an upgrade to Screen Time, changes to the Mail app, and more. Notably, this update does not bring any major new features, which are likely to be unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) next month. Here are the changes that iOS 18.5 is bringing for iOS users. iOS 18.5: What is new Changes in Mail app iOS 18.5 brings subtle yet helpful UI improvements to the Mail app. The updated three-dot menu now lets users toggle Contact Photos and directly turn off the "Group by Sender" feature without needing to access the Settings app. New AppleCare management option iOS 18.5 adds a dedicated AppleCare section under Apple Account settings. Users will be able to check their device coverage and use the new 'Manage Plan' feature to renew it. These options appear when selecting a device from the Apple ID list in the Settings app. Parents will now receive a notification when the Screen Time passcode is used on a child's device. Pride Harmony wallpaper According to a 9To5Mac report, Apple said: 'The iPhone and iPad wallpaper features colours that change position as users move, lock, or unlock the device.' This new wallpaper reportedly corresponds to the new Pride Harmony face for Apple Watch, which is also now available as part of watchOS 10.5.
