Tag: Year

Cheaper AirPods and the AirPods Max 2 could finally land later this year

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date April 2, 2024
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It’s been a bit quiet on the AirPods front in recent times – all we got in 2023 was a USB-C refresh for the AirPods Pro – but it looks like 2024 could be busier, with a new report suggesting 4th-gen AirPods and the AirPods Max 2 are on the way.

This comes from well-known Apple analyst Jeff Pu (via MacRumors), and the AirPods are being described as “lower-cost” earbuds. We’re not sure exactly what that means, but previous rumors have pointed to two versions of the AirPods 4 making an appearance, with one at an “entry-level” price and one at a “mid-tier” price.

Quite how those two price tiers are going to match up with the current (and rather confusing) line-up remains to be seen: Apple currently sells the AirPods 3 from 2022 for $179 / £169 / AU$279 and the AirPods 2 from 2019 for $129 / £129 / AU$219. It sounds as though both those models will be replaced.

We’re expecting a tweak to the design so that the AirPods fit better, and the switch to USB-C is a given. The mid-tier models are also rumored to be getting active noise cancellation as well, in what sounds like a pretty major upgrade.

To the Max

As for the AirPods Max 2, the leaks have been pointing towards a 2024 launch for some time – although we weren’t that impressed with the revelations last year that the 2nd-gen cans would switch to USB-C and get new colors… and that would be about it.

If Apple wants to keep up with the best headphones on the market, it might need to do a little more than that to tempt consumers into picking up the AirPods Max 2. The current AirPods Max retail for $549 / £499 / AU$899, which is on the expensive side.

This new leak doesn’t give us any more information about what’s coming with the AirPods 4 or the AirPods Max 2, only that production on these devices is due to ramp up in the last quarter of the year, pointing to a launch over the holiday season.

There’s plenty of time for more leaks between now and then. In the meantime, Apple is being tipped to launch new iPad Pro and iPad Air models next month, and it should be sharing a whole host of software update news at WWDC 2024 on June 10.

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Tags Airpods, Cheaper, finally, Land, Max, Year

News

Lower-Cost AirPods and New AirPods Max Said to Launch Later This Year

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 2, 2024
No Comments on Lower-Cost AirPods and New AirPods Max Said to Launch Later This Year

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Apple plans to release lower-cost AirPods later this year, according to Jeff Pu, an analyst who covers companies within Apple’s supply chain.

airpods 3 orange
In a research note today with investment firm Haitong International Securities, Pu said a Foxconn subsidiary will be one of the suppliers of the lower-cost AirPods. Pu said Foxconn will ramp up AirPods assembly at a factory in India in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman previously said Apple plans to release two fourth-generation AirPods models in September or October, including entry-level and mid-tier models. He said both models will feature a new design with better fit, improved sound quality, and an updated charging case with a USB-C port, while the mid-tier model will also feature active noise cancellation and a speaker for Find My location tracking. It is unclear if the lower-priced AirPods and the entry-level fourth-generation AirPods are the same product, but it seems plausible.

Pu also expects updated AirPods Max to be released in the fourth quarter of 2024. Gurman previously said a USB-C charging port will be the only new feature for the over-ear headphones, and new color options are also a possibility.

Google reveals RCS is coming to iPhones in fall this year

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date March 29, 2024
No Comments on Google reveals RCS is coming to iPhones in fall this year

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In November 2023, Apple announced that it would bring Rich Communications Service (RCS) to iPhones “later next year,” suggesting that the new messaging standard would arrive in iOS with iOS 18. However, the company hasn’t offered any update on the matter since then, and as such, there was no information available on the exact timeframe for the arrival of the new feature to iOS. Fortunately, that’s changing today.

While Apple hasn’t offered an update on the arrival of RCS in iOS, surprisingly, Google has. According to the landing page of Google Messages on the Android website, RCS is coming to iOS in the fall of 2024 (via 9To5Google). The website says “Apple has announced it will be adopting RCS in the fall of 2024. Once that happens, it will mean a better messaging experience for everyone.”

That means we are only 6-9 months away from seeing RCS on the iPhone. Once that happens, Android users will be able to chat with iPhone users using Google Messages or Samsung Messages and enjoy many features, including typing indicators, quote replies, and message reactions, without using a third-party application, which is currently available only between iPhone-to-iPhone and Android-to-Android chats.

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Tags coming, fall, Google, iPhones, RCS, reveals, Year

Bisnis Industri

Tim Cook confirms Vision Pro’s China launch later this year

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date March 24, 2024
No Comments on Tim Cook confirms Vision Pro’s China launch later this year

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Vision Pro on table — Customers in China should be able to get their hands on the Vision Pro later in 2024.
*Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac*

Apple’s CEO Tim Cook confirmed during his visit to China that Vision Pro will launch later this year in the country. Currently, the company’s $3500 mixed reality headset is only available in the US.

Apple opened preorders for the Vision Pro in mid-January 2024, following its announcement at WWDC 2023. The headset went on sale in the US in the first week of February.

Vision Pro debuting in China in 2024

Responding to a media question after the China Development Forum in Beijing, Cook confirmed the Vision Pro’s Chinese debut in 2024. He also reaffirmed Apple’s continuous investment in China in its supply chain, R&D, and stores.

Reports suggest Apple could launch the Vision Pro in nine countries outside the US this year. This includes China, Australia, Germany, France, UK and South Korea.

Given the complex retail launch and supply chain issues, the Vision Pro was rumored to remain US exclusive for a few months after its launch.

The headset’s international launch should boost its sales and allow more developers to get their hands on it. This should open up new use cases for the $3,499 mixed reality headset.

Tim Cook visits China as iPhone sales slowdown

Cook is on a visit to China amid a slowdown in iPhone sales. He also visited the opening of the “one-of-a-kind” Apple Jing’An store in Shanghai last week. The store in Shanghai is Apple’s second-largest in the world and 57th in the country.

Its opening and Cook’s visit to the country come at a time when iPhone sales have lagged behind other Chinese companies. This is the executive’s third visit to the country in less than a year.

Apple has diversified its supply-chain away from China in recent years, but the country remains an important market for the Cupertino giant. And so, the company cannot afford a dramatic drop in iPhone sales in one of its largest markets.

Source: Reuters

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Tags China, confirms, Cook, launch, Pros, Tim, vision, Year

News

Apple Vision Pro to Launch in China Later This Year

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date March 24, 2024
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Apple CEO Tim Cook today confirmed that the Vision Pro headset will go on sale in China later this year (via Reuters).

Vision Pro Person
Responding to a question from the press at the China Development Forum in Beijing, Cook confirmed that Apple’s first spatial computer will launch in the country in 2024. He added that Apple will continue to increase research and development investment in China. Earlier this week, Cook visited Apple’s new Jing’an store in Shanghai.

This is the first explicit confirmation of a specific country other than the United States that the Vision Pro will launch in this year. Apple says that the Vision Pro will launch in additional countries later in 2024, but the company has not provided a more specific timeframe or, until now, indicated exactly where the headset will become available. Last month, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said he believed the Vision Pro would launch internationally before Apple’s annual developers conference WWDC, which typically takes place in the first week of June.

YouTube TV for Android to get multi-view feature this year

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date March 21, 2024
No Comments on YouTube TV for Android to get multi-view feature this year

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Last updated: March 21st, 2024 at 09:36 UTC+01:00

YouTube TV, which promised to revolutionize the way we watch TV, has some advantages, like the ability to watch multiple channels simultaneously. This feature is called Multiview and went live on smart TVs last year. It will come to mobile devices this year.

YouTube TV to get multi-view feature on Android in the coming months

Google has announced that it has started rolling out the Multiview feature to iPhones and iPads. The feature will be rolled out to Android smartphones and tablets in the coming months. Well, this is a bit disappointing, as Google seems to prioritize Apple’s platforms over its own platforms, while Apple does the opposite. A Redditor showcased (via 9To5Google) how the feature looks on an iPhone.

This feature works from the home tab but only works with select sports channels. Hopefully, Google will add Multiview support for more channels so that people can watch their favorite sports matches alongside a movie or a TV show. Once the feature goes live on Android, you can use it on your Galaxy smartphone or tablet. The feature is already available on Samsung’s smart TVs.

YouTube TV recently introduced a revamped design for the video player UI, which shows sports scores alongside the video. It also introduced the last channel shortcut, similar to TVs, letting you switch between two channels. However, these new features are only available on TVs, not mobile devices.

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Tags Android, feature, multiview, Year, YouTube

News

Apple Posts Vision Pro Job Listings in Australia, China, and Japan Following UK Last Year

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date March 21, 2024
No Comments on Apple Posts Vision Pro Job Listings in Australia, China, and Japan Following UK Last Year

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Apple this week posted identical job listings related to the Vision Pro in Australia, China, and Japan, as international availability of the headset looms.

Apple Vision Pro with battery Feature Blue Magenta
Apple is looking to hire a so-called “Briefing Experience Specialist” in all three countries. This is a sales position that will involve demonstrating the Vision Pro’s capabilities to business/enterprise customers, according to the job listing.

“You will design and deliver demonstrations that present the capabilities of the product and its revolutionary new technology,” the job listing says. “You will also showcase solutions, representative use cases, and transformative user workflows that inspire customer investment in the technology, the visionOS platform, and the product itself.”

Apple posted the same job listing for the Vision Pro in the U.K. last year, but the headset remains available in the U.S. only following its February 2 launch.

On its website, Apple says the Vision Pro will launch in more countries later this year, but the company has not provided a more specific timeframe, or indicated exactly where the headset will become available next. Last month, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said he believed the Vision Pro would launch internationally before Apple’s annual developers conference WWDC, which typically takes place in the first week of June.

MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris recently obtained information that suggests Apple is preparing to expand the Vision Pro to Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the U.K. at a minimum, and the “Briefing Experience Specialist” job listings have now been posted in at least four of those countries.

Thanks, Alicia!

LG TV Lineup 2024: What to Look for This Year

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date March 20, 2024
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As the haul of sparkling new 2024 TVs prepares to arrive this spring, some TV brands have invited A/V fanatics like me to get a glimpse of their latest and greatest models before they hit the streets. LG’s event came in the form of a trip to the company’s impressive new US headquarters in NJ for its Annual TV Reviewer Workshop.

In a crowded room loaded with reviewers and YouTubers, LG put its best and brightest new 4K TVs on display, including this year’s G4 and C4 OLEDs, as well as its latest mini LED TV, the QNED90. We only had a few hours with the TVs in a very controlled environment, so first impressions are limited, but it’s clear that LG isn’t rocking the boat much for its prized models, offering much the same performance as last year with a few enhancements.

The biggest change for 2024 may be the latest webOS smart platform, which gets a total facelift this year with some much-appreciated usability features. From a Chatbot that can help you adjust your picture to an available always-on info screen, webOS looks better than ever, which LG hopes will help the brand’s best TVs stand out.

Incremental Updates

Even when shown side-by-side, it’s hard to see a big difference in LG’s latest G-Series and C-Series TVs over last year’s. That is to say, the new TVs looked stunning, with excellent colors, contrast, and detail, but not notably better. LG has no big updates to its MLA (Micro Lens Array) technology, which means the G4 will see only a minor brightness boost this year. LG did add the tech to its 83-inch G-Series models for the first time, but the step-down C-Series once again misses out, so it too will offer only minor upgrades over 2023.

The G4 has the new A11 processor designed to further enhance picture and audio, while the C4 steps up to the A9 gen 7. The most interesting upgrade was the G4’s new Professional Mode which lets picture purists control TV brightness with more granularity to get a bigger burst from HDR content without losing detail. As LG describes it, complaints that its flagship OLED doesn’t blaze quite as brightly as top competitors derive from purposely limiting its peak brightness to preserve detail and prevent “clipping” in bright scenes like a lightning bolt or an explosion.

With Professional Mode, you can fine-tune the brightness at a micro level for content mastered at 1,000 nits, as well as 4,000 and 10,000 nits, well above what current OLED TVs can reproduce. We got to see the feature in action with scenes from titles like Mad Max Fury Road and it was cool to see how perfectly you can adjust the screen, letting you push the brightness limit without blasting away finer details.

Widescreen television with a settings panel for color options open on the left. On screen is a person wearing goggles...

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Tags lineup, Year

Entertainment

Fitbit’s health chatbot will arrive later this year

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date March 19, 2024
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Like most other corners of the tech world, Google sees AI powering the next innovations in health technology. The company’s annual The Check Up event expanded on its plans to add a personal health chatbot to the Fitbit app, expand Google Lens for better skin condition searches and use a version of its Gemini chatbot in the medical field.

One of the more intriguing of Google’s announcements on Tuesday was more detail about an experimental AI feature for Fitbit users, briefly teased last year. Fitbit Labs will let owners draw correlations and “connect the dots” from health data tracked using their wearable devices. A chatbot in the mobile app will let you ask questions in natural language and create personalized charts to learn about your health.

The company hasn’t yet gone into great depth about the Fitbit chatbot, but an example it published Tuesday shows a user asking about potential connections between activity and sleep. The Fitbit assistant answered that the user’s days with higher activity scores correlated with better sleep (while cautioning not to assume that’s the only reason).

The Fitbit generative AI tool will arrive later this year. Google says it will (at least initially) only be available to Fitbit Premium subscribers with Android devices enrolled in the Fitbit Labs program.

Google screenshot of an upcoming Fitbit feature that answers personal health questions. The user's text box asks about connections between their activity and sleep, and the bot says that when they spend 58+ minutes in activity zones, their sleep score rose by nine points. — Google / Fitbit

The company sees Google Lens as filling some healthcare gaps where text-based searches fall short. It says a feature (introduced last year) that uses Lens to identify “visually similar matches from the web” for skin conditions is now available in over 150 countries. It can work even when you don’t know where to begin when describing a dermatological disorder.

In a similar light, Google has added new images and diagrams to its web results from reputable online sources to help you understand conditions like neck pain. Up next: The company sees the visual results powering its searches for more health conditions, including migraines, kidney stones and pneumonia. The visual search engine updates are expected to roll out over the next few months.

The company also mentioned that Fitbit and Google Research are partnering with health and wellness experts and other medical professionals to create a new AI model for health and wellness. The long-term goal is for the Gemini-powered large language model (LLM) to power its future AI features across Google’s various health offerings.

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Tags arrive, chatbot, Fitbits, Health, Year

Featured

Fitbit’s AI chatbot coming ‘later this year’ on Android – here’s how to get access

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date March 19, 2024
No Comments on Fitbit’s AI chatbot coming ‘later this year’ on Android – here’s how to get access

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During its recent Checkup 2024 event, Google offered an important update on Fitbit Labs giving us an idea when the highly-anticipated Fitbit AI-powered assistant will launch.

The tech giant was coy about the official launch of its Fitbit chatbot, merely stating it’ll come out later this. Additionally, it’ll see a limited release available only to the small group of Android users currently enrolled in the program on the Fitbit app.

Why are we so excited about this? The chatbot is a fitness assistant that’ll answer all of your burning questions about your personal Fitbit data in a casual way. It’s supposed to replicate what it’s like to talk to a personal trainer. Google’s tech is said to deliver “personalized insights” on how your fitness journey is going and coach you on things you can do to improve.

The Fitbit AI will also create charts and “help [people] understand [their] own data better.” As an example, chatbot responses are going to display Fitbit’s Active Zone Minutes alongside an average sleep score.

Google previews upcoming Fitbit chatbot

(Image credit: Google/Fitbit)

All of this information was hinted at during the AI’s initial reveal back in early October, but as we get closer to the launch, Google is filling in some of the gaps. There are still a lot of murky details. We reached out to the company asking if there are plans to include other types of charts to the chatbot and if it could give us an idea on when the AI will officially roll out. We’ll update this story if we get any new info.

If you’re interested in taking the chatbot out for a spin, you can join Fitbit Labs at any time; however, you will need a subscription to Fitbit Premium first.

Google’s Search upgrade

Besides the chatbot, Google also talked about upgrading its search engine to include detailed health information about certain conditions. “Images and diagrams from high quality [online] sources” will be present in search results allowing people to better understand the symptoms they may be feeling. The new visual resources will be rolling out globally to Google Search on mobile within the coming months. No word if a similar feature will arrive on desktop.

Be sure to check out TechRadar’s roundup of the best Fitbit devices for 2024 if you’re looking to upgrade.

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Tags Access, Android, chatbot, coming, Fitbits, Heres, Year

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