Tag: Versatile

Siri in iOS 18 rumored to be ‘more conversational and versatile’ thanks to AI

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date May 12, 2024
No Comments on Siri in iOS 18 rumored to be ‘more conversational and versatile’ thanks to AI

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With Apple‘s WWDC 2024 event and the accompanying iOS 18 reveal fast approaching, speculation is mounting about what kind of AI features Apple might introduce – and a new report gives us a few more major clues.

This report comes from the New York Times (via MacRumors), and says that an upgraded version of Siri is going to be central to iOS 18. Efforts to make Siri a more competent competitor to ChatGPT have apparently been underway for more than a year.

The new and improved Siri is going to be “more conversational and versatile”, according to the NYT – and it’ll be better at keeping chats going, rather than replying to one question at a time. It’s said that Apple has shifted extra resources to Siri development, which was part of the reason the Apple Car was abandoned.

However, the report says Siri won’t compete with the ChatGPT chatbot directly: instead, it’ll get better at what it already does, including timers, calendar appointments, and lists. The digital assistant will also be able to summarize text messages (which we’ve heard hints about before).

AI ins and outs

This is the Apple AI strategy:A) On-device LLM (in house)B) Cloud-powered LLM (in house)C) Chatbot (OpenAI for sure, Google maybe). Apple isn’t building its own chatbot but knows the market wants it so it’s going elsewhere for it. It’s the same playbook as search. https://t.co/XQrv57jylYMay 12, 2024

It’s getting a little tricky to pick through all the different AI-related Apple rumors we’re hearing in the run up to the Worldwide Developers Conference. All we know for sure is that Apple is keen on AI, and has some significant announcements in store.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, one of the more reliable Apple tipsters, has posted on social media about how these upgrades will work: Apple is developing its own in-house LLMs (Large Language Models) for local, on-device work, and for cloud processing, Gurman says.

It’ll then integrate a third-party chatbot into its software: either ChatGPT from OpenAI or Google Gemini, as we’ve already heard. Gurman says “it’s the same playbook as search” – so while Siri can search the web, Apple has a partnership with Google for doing the actual searching work. Expect something similar with AI.

There’s quite a bit of overlap there, because if Apple is developing its own LLMs, it doesn’t necessarily need extra help from OpenAI or Google – so it’s not exactly certain where one service will start and another will end. Hopefully all will become clear at WWDC 2024, which gets underway on June 10.

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Tags conversational, iOS, rumored, Siri, Versatile

Featured

Nikon just launched the world’s most versatile zoom lens for its full-frame cameras

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date March 27, 2024
No Comments on Nikon just launched the world’s most versatile zoom lens for its full-frame cameras

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Nikon’s latest full-frame lens is its most versatile yet with a whopping 14.2x optical zoom that covers the 28-400mm focal length. That optical zoom range beats any other full-frame lens and smartphone today – not counting digital zooms like Samsung’s 30-100x Space Zoom.

Optically, the Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR is unlikely to be one of the best Nikon Z lenses – it’s not a ‘S’ lens after all (Nikon’s nomenclature for its professional lenses), but it certainly is the most versatile and could be the only lens you need to take traveling.

At its wide end, the 28-400mm is like the perspective of your phone’s main camera – ideal for everyday observations, but its 14.2x optical zoom goes way beyond any other on the market, extending up to 400mm. That’s plenty close enough for wildlife photos or capturing details of landmarks you simply can’t get close to.

You’ll need a steady hand when shooting at 400mm, so it’s handy that the 28-400mm is equipped with optical stabilization up to 5 stops, or 5.5 stops when used with a Nikon Z camera that features Synchro VR, such as the Nikon Z6 II, with current firmware (see below).

Nikon Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR lens attached to Z6 II camera on a white background

The Nikon Z 28-400mm attached to the Nikon Z6 II. (Image credit: Nikon)

The 28-400mm lens’ versatility stretches beyond its zoom capabilities: you also get excellent close-focusing down to 1.2m at the telephoto end and a max 0.35x reproduction ratio – that’s decent close-up photography skills.

A travel lens is nothing if it’s too heavy, and fortunately the 28-400mm is only 725g, and should balance nicely especially with one of Nikon’s DSLR-style mirrorless cameras like the Nikon Z5.

It also features rubber seals around the mount and lens barrel to prevent dust and water from entering the camera and lens. The design itself is pretty simple: a customizable control ring and a zoom ring with zoom lock to fix it securely in place when tucked away on the move.

The sales start date of the Nikon Z 28-400mm is April 2024, and the list price is £1,299 (we’ll add official US and Australia pricing when we get it, but that equates to around $1,640 / AU$2,510).

There are a few full-frame lenses with around 10x optical zoom and more for the APS-C format, but the Nikon 28-400mm goes a step further with 14x optical zoom. Such lenses with ultra-versatile zooms lack the quality of detail you get with a prime lens, but with today’s best AI image editors you can add a little sharpness and reduce noise, which only makes the appeal of the 28-400mm lens even stronger. If you don’t mind those compromises, it really could be the only Nikon lens you need.

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Tags cameras, fullframe, launched, lens, Nikon, Versatile, Worlds, Zoom

Featured

Prepared to save: The latest versatile portable power station from Anker is an undeniably good deal

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date March 25, 2024
No Comments on Prepared to save: The latest versatile portable power station from Anker is an undeniably good deal

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You may already be familiar with the brand Anker if you’ve purchased power banks or other battery-charging devices for your favorite electronics in recent years. Did you know that this popular brand for charging smart devices can also power your entire home? Anker’s SOLIX line of portable power stations and accessories are versatile and affordable while providing a higher cost-performance ratio than similar power stations from the competition.

Portable power stations can be useful for providing access to electrical connectivity during camping trips, help you reduce the cost of your utility bills by embracing solar power, or providing potentially life-saving battery backup in emergencies. Anker has a solution to fit your power output needs.

Going off-grid with Anker SOLIX

When we think of going off-grid, most of us think of rugged living in the woods, surviving off the land without modern utilities and amenities. While some of that is true for some off-grid folks, others prefer to keep amenities like hot showers and internet connectivity. Those things require an electrical current, though. The most common way to overcome the need for electricity without shelling out big bucks to join your neighborhood power grid is to utilize solar power.

The SOLIX F3800 power station — (Image credit: Anker)

With the Anker SOLIX F3800 portable power station, tapping into the natural resource of sunlight to power your home has never been easier or more affordable. Anker SOLIX portable power stations are designed to be a plug-and-play power solution for your home. When combined with Anker SOLIX portable solar panels, the portable power station is capable of 2400W of solar input, charging from 0 to 80% with as little as 1.5 hours of sunlight. Anker even offers an additional expansion battery, capable of pushing the SOLIX F3800 unit from its standard 3,840Wh up to an impressive 7,680Wh of power for your off-grid home.

Because the Anker SOLIX is portable, it’s also an excellent generation solution for camping trips and RVs. Traditional gas-powered generators are loud and unsafe to use near your campsite. They exhaust smoke and fumes and overall can lessen the enjoyment of a quiet retreat to nature. The SOLIX power station, on the other hand, is significantly quieter when in use, and provides clean, sustainable energy without fumes or reliance on fossil fuels.

Disaster preparedness with Anker SOLIX

Sometimes nature is a wonderful and relaxing escape from the daily grind, but some days nature has an ax to grind. When nature flares up, dangerous storms can cause troublesome power outages that can vary from inconvenient to life-threatening. You’ll want a powerful generator that can take over from the grid and continue to supply your home with the electricity you need to get through the storm. The SOLIX F3800 power station is strong enough to provide all the electricity you need for your entire home. Yes, that even includes your 240v electronics like stoves and dryers.

The SOLIX F3800 power station

(Image credit: Anker)

Anker utilizes advanced GaNPrime technology and pairs it with LiFePO4 batteries so that SOLIX F3800 power station is a reliable, long-lasting, and easy-to-use power supply solution when you find yourself in an emergency. With the SOLIX, you are in control and can choose to manually convert to your stored energy when the lights go out. Or, set it and forget it with the powerful and customizable app. The SOLIX F3800 can seamlessly transition between the power grid and backup power solutions during outages.

Buy now and save even more

The SOLIX F3800 power station

(Image credit: Anker)

Paired with expandable battery banks and solar power panels, the Anker SOLIX F3800 power station can save you money on your utility bills in the long term. You don’t have to wait to start saving with the SOLIX F3800, however. You can save an additional $100 on your new power backup system by using the code ASSF3800 when you purchase a SOLIX F3800 Portable Power Station from Anker. That makes the price for peace of mind and disaster preparedness security just $2999 with free shipping.

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Tags Anker, Deal, Good, Latest, portable, Power, Prepared, Save, station, undeniably, Versatile

Computers

Santa Cruz Skitch Review: A Light, Versatile, and Expensive Electric Bike

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date March 9, 2024
No Comments on Santa Cruz Skitch Review: A Light, Versatile, and Expensive Electric Bike

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I stopped monitoring the range after about 30 miles, but the battery indicator on the top tube said that I still had about 30 percent of the battery left. (I weigh 115 pounds, so your mileage may vary.) You can also select drop handlebars if you plan on doing more bike commuting, or add suspension to a setup with flat bars if you want to ride more rocks and bumps. My tester also had a dropper seat post, which lets me raise or drop the seat as I come to stoplights or go up hills. I am pretty sure every bike (commuter, mountain, everything) should have one.

Too Hot to Handle

Photograph: Will Matsuda

There is one major drawback to having a gorgeous, expensive bike that can go anywhere and do anything. When your bike is your primary mode of transportation, you do things like leaving it locked up in front of the Grocery Outlet (known locally as “the Gross Out”) to run errands. Even with all the best security measures, I really cannot make myself do that with a $7,000 bike. If you’re going to use it as a bike commuter, you are probably biking 12 miles to an office with a locked, indoor bike garage, then straight home to your own garage. You are not taking it as a car substitute to karaoke night at the dive bar.

I have also read on Reddit that people have concerns about the Fazua system, as it’s much less common here in the United States and harder to fix. You could go with a Bosch or a Shimano, but it won’t be as light. I have decided not to care about this. In general, you’re probably going to have to go directly to the manufacturer or dealer to get an electric bike fixed, anyway.

The app is just meh. It’s not pleasant to look at or navigate, and it’s always telling me to update, urgently, in a process that’s much less intuitive than Specialized’s Mission Control. Mission Control is also a little more useful, as it will automatically adjust the power output to help you make it home. However, the Skitch is light enough that it doesn’t really matter if you run out of battery. The app may also improve dramatically in the upcoming years, as Santa Cruz has direct and continuing input on the app’s development.

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Tags Bike, Cruz, Electric, expensive, light, Review, Santa, Skitch, Versatile