All posts tagged: apple

Beyond Siri: Here are the practical AI features coming to your iPhone in iOS 27

Beyond Siri: Here are the practical AI features coming to your iPhone in iOS 27

Published by skeptic

Siri’s AI overhaul may have been the headline announcement at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this month, but Apple’s broader AI strategy is taking shape through a series of smaller features embedded across its software. Rather than asking consumers to adopt the new AI-powered version of Siri to get all the benefits that AI brings, the company is weaving AI into the apps and services people already use, with a focus on solving real-world problems. The result is that your iPhone will be able to split restaurant bills among friends, secure your passwords after data breaches, automate tasks, and organize information with less manual effort, among other things. Individually, these features may not be as dramatic as a Siri that finally understands your personal context and can take action on your behalf. But combined, they showcase a vision for AI that’s less about chatting with a bot and more about making Apple’s software itself feel smarter and more capable. Beyond Siri AI, here are the smaller AI features in iOS 27 that we’re most looking …

Apple Watch Series 12: Blood Pressure and AI Wellness Updates

Apple Watch Series 12: Blood Pressure and AI Wellness Updates

Published by skeptic

The Apple Watch Series 12, expected to debut in September 2026, is already sparking widespread anticipation with reports of significant advancements in wearable technology. While the external design may retain the familiar aesthetic of its predecessors, the internal upgrades could mark a pivotal moment for health monitoring and wellness management. Featuring the new S12 chip, enhanced health tracking capabilities, and AI-driven functionalities, this smartwatch is poised to elevate the standard for wearable devices. Advanced Health Tracking Features The Apple Watch Series 12 is rumored to introduce an innovative sensor system, incorporating an eight-sensor array designed to deliver unprecedented accuracy in health data collection. This innovation is expected to refine key functionalities, including: Heart Rate Monitoring: Enhanced precision could help you detect irregularities or trends more effectively, whether during exercise or rest. Sleep Tracking: Improved sensors may provide deeper insights into your sleep quality, recovery patterns, and overall restfulness. One of the most anticipated features is wrist-based blood pressure monitoring. If regulatory approvals are secured, this capability could enable you to track hypertension trends directly from …

Apple iPhone Fold, Google Pixel 11, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Other Phones Left to Launch in 2026

Apple iPhone Fold, Google Pixel 11, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Other Phones Left to Launch in 2026

Published by skeptic

2026 is shaping up to be the year of iterative phone upgrades. From the budget Google Pixel 10A to the flagship Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus, we’ve seen some of the most boring generation of phones. But on the other hand, phones like the Galaxy Z TriFold, Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Oppo Find N6 are keeping things interesting and making this year a strong follow-up to 2025, which saw Samsung reinvent the Galaxy Z Fold and Apple announce an all-new, slim and light iPhone Air. There should be room for a few more surprises later this year but the RAM shortage and increasing competition around generative AI are creating a larger challenge for phone-makers to overcome. And that puts more pressure on brands to release bold designs and add features that are as useful as they are innovative. The folding phone market is expected to attract more entrants. We could finally see Apple launch a folding iPhone and rumors say that Samsung might release a wide-screen foldable, similar to the Huawei Pura X. The bottom line? There are still a bunch of exciting smartphones to look forward to in 2026. …

Apple iOS 27 Beta: Hands-On With the New Siri AI

Apple iOS 27 Beta: Hands-On With the New Siri AI

Published by skeptic

Apple has unveiled a significantly updated version of Siri, aiming to address long-standing criticisms regarding its functionality and user experience. This revamped virtual assistant introduces enhanced contextual awareness, deeper integration with device data and apps, and a more robust understanding of real-world knowledge. These updates represent a substantial improvement, though certain limitations and regional restrictions persist. Currently available in the developer beta of iOS 27, the update is expected to reach a broader audience in the coming months, promising a more seamless and intuitive experience for users worldwide. The video below from Proper Honest Tech gives us more details on Apple’s new Siri. Key Improvements in Siri’s Contextual Awareness One of the most notable advancements in the updated Siri is its improved contextual awareness, which allows for more natural and fluid conversations. Users no longer need to repeat the subject of their queries during follow-up questions. For instance, if you ask Siri about your upcoming meetings, you can follow up with “What about next week?” without needing to restate the topic. This improvement makes interactions …

Buying a Used iPhone Makes More Sense Than Ever

Buying a Used iPhone Makes More Sense Than Ever

Published by skeptic

There were already plenty of good reasons to consider buying a used iPhone instead of constantly upgrading. It’s both more environmentally friendly and more cost-effective, an increasing rarity these days. But a few recent developments have converged that suddenly make buying used even more appealing. Starting this fall, older iPhones will last longer than ever. Some Apple products will be more expensive. And while buying used—or holding onto your own device an extra year or two—means you may miss out on certain features, for many people it’s simply the best option. “Buying used has never made more sense,” says Kyle Wiens, CEO of the repair advocate service iFixit. “The phones from the last few years are really good.” Apple Core If it feels like everything is getting more expensive lately, that’s probably because it is. Even big tech behemoths like Apple are feeling the financial squeeze. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal this week, outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook said that price increases for the company’s products would soon be “unavoidable.” He did …

Apple fixes a Beats Studio Buds flaw that let hackers listen to conversations

Apple fixes a Beats Studio Buds flaw that let hackers listen to conversations

Published by skeptic

In its most recent firmware update for Beats headphones, 1B211, Apple fixed a terrifying security flaw that allowed malicious actors to potentially eavesdrop on private conversations within Bluetooth range of the brand’s popular Studio Buds.  According to reporting by Sead Fadilpašić of TechRadar, it was actually the third-party security firm ERNW and its researchers, Dennis Heinze and Frieder Steinmetz, who first discovered the vulnerability, all the way back in 2025, when it was assigned an 8.8/10 severity score. In effect, it allowed hackers to impersonate a device that had previously been connected to the headphones, not only granting them access to the microphone and headphone audio but eventually even learning some devices’ call histories and contact lists. If you own a pair of Studio Buds, is it likely you’ve been targeted? Thankfully, no. The same researchers who discovered the exploit told TechRadar that the degree of coordination, complexity, and planning required to execute this hack would have made it worthwhile only for very high-value targets, and, as of now, there are no reports of anyone …

Apple Unveiled These Five New Apps Last Week

Apple Unveiled These Five New Apps Last Week

Published by skeptic

Apple last week unveiled five new apps, with four announced at WWDC 2026 alongside its upcoming fall software updates, one released in beta for developers, and one released independently by its subsidiary Claris. Siri AI App One of the biggest announcements of WWDC 2026 was Siri AI, a ground-up rebuild of Apple’s voice assistant that for the first time comes with a dedicated standalone app. Like other chatbots, Siri can search the web and access general world knowledge, evaluate documents, solve math problems, and take action in and across apps, such as getting detailed Maps directions with multiple stops, editing and sharing photos, or writing an email in the user’s own writing style. The app lets users type or talk to it like a chat thread, and syncs conversation history across all devices through iCloud. The ‌Siri‌ app is available in most of Apple’s next-generation operating systems, arriving this fall as part of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27. The operating systems are currently available to developers in beta, …

Every new iOS 27 feature that’s worth knowing about

Every new iOS 27 feature that’s worth knowing about

Published by skeptic

While Apple’s new Siri AI and Apple Intelligence announcements dominated the WWDC spotlight earlier this month, the tech giant also packed iOS 27 with a number of upgrades across its everyday apps and services, including smarter bill splitting in Apple Wallet, new ways to share locations in Find My, and improved Apple Maps features. Apple Maps Image Credits:Apple Apple introduced an improvement to “Flyover,” the feature that provides immersive 3D views of cities and landmarks. The feature has been refreshed with more detailed visuals and smoother navigation.  The company also launched “Local Lists,” a new way for users to discover and save recommendations for restaurants, attractions, and other spots within Maps by seeing what’s trending. This could be Apple’s way to entice users away from using third-party apps for local exploration, like Google Maps or even Instagram and TikTok. Find My Image Credits:Apple Find My is becoming more flexible with new location-sharing controls. Beginning this fall, users will be able to share their location for a custom amount of time, whether that’s a few minutes, …

Three Apple Stores in U.S. Are Permanently Closing Today

Three Apple Stores in U.S. Are Permanently Closing Today

Published by skeptic

As previously announced, Apple is moving forward with permanently closing three of its retail stores in the U.S. today, including a unionized location. The locations that are closing on the evening of Saturday, June 20: In April, Apple said it made the “difficult decision” to close the stores due to “declining conditions” at the shopping malls in which they are located. Notably, the staff at the Towson Town Center location became Apple’s first retail employees in the U.S. to unionize in 2022. They belong to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers’ Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (IAM CORE), and they signed a collective bargaining agreement with Apple in 2024. Apple Towson Town Center The union and the store’s employees have been protesting the planned closure, and some politicians in Maryland have voiced their support. The union is upset that Apple is allowing non-unionized employees at the Trumbull and North County stores to transfer to nearby locations, but not extending this offer to unionized employees at the Towson location. For its part, Apple said …

Siri AI Hands On: A Smart, Helpful Assistant

Siri AI Hands On: A Smart, Helpful Assistant

Published by skeptic

I quickly found that Siri AI’s bite-sized replies don’t drone on endlessly like many contemporary AI assistants, often sticking to a single paragraph. When I verbally asked for a nice beach hike route to see the sunrise near the Golden Gate Bridge, it succinctly recommended a popular trail in the Presidio neighborhood as well as an option in the Marin Headlands. Siri bolded key words in the text answer that appeared alongside the audible response for easy scanning. Since I wanted more info before heading out, I swiped down on the text answer to read additional details about each option. Apple’s partnership with Google is a core driver behind this Siri overhaul. Google’s Gemini now helps power the voice assistant’s underlying model, Apple Intelligence. Siri’s output with this new model felt more attuned to what I was looking for, rather than just suggesting a couple of website links for me to dig through. When I asked generic questions, like “What should I do today,” Siri combed through my recent messages and highlighted recent plans I …