Mobile menu toggle

Search results for: wwdc

Apple is already manufacturing its Siri-powered speaker

By

The Amazon Echo may finally have competition from Apple.
The Amazon Echo may finally have competition from Apple.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple’s grand unveiling of its Siri-powered home speaker could come as soon as next week, according to a new report that claims production on the new device is already underway.

Whispers that Apple is working on a speaker to rival the Amazon Echo and Google Home have been swirling around the rumor mill for months. Even though Apple execs have downplayed the possibility of a Siri speaker in the past, but it looks like it’s about to become a reality. And it will boast some new tech its rivals don’t have.

Cult of Mac Magazine: Huge Memorial Day sale at Watch Store, macOS 10.13 update, Google Assistant vs. Siri, and more!

By

x

Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

In this week’s Cult of Mac Magazine, we give you our wish list for macOS 10.13, which will be introduced by Apple in two weeks at the WWDC.

Take advantage of our massive Memorial Day weekend sale at Watch Store, where we offer 20 percent off a large selection of Apple Watch bands an chargers from top name brands: JUUK, Clessant, Form Function Form, Just Mobile, Jack Foster and more. Sale starts today, so get shopping!

Here are this week’s top stories.

New MacBook Pro gives Apple a Q1 sales bump

By

MacBook
The new MacBook Pro has been great for Apple's bottom line.
Photo: Apple

Despite a slow global market, Apple’s notebook sales experienced year-over-year growth last quarter, according to a new report that reveals the new MacBook Pro provided the company with a considerable bump in sales.

Notebook shipments were up 6.1% worldwide for the first quarter of 2017 with total shipments hitting 37.81 million units. That’s great news for manufacturers, but TrendForces’ latest findings show that a cool down period could be on the way.

Will Siri ever be as good as the Google Assistant? [Friday Night Fights]

By

The gap is getting wider.
The gap is getting wider.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Google brought its Google Assistant to iOS this week, finally giving iPhone fans a taste of the best virtual assistant on the planet. But those on Android are in for so much more, with major improvements on the way, including impressive Google Lens integration.

Friday Night Fights bugThe changes make it harder than ever for Siri to catch up. Despite the improvements Apple made with iOS 10, it still feels like Siri is well behind its rivals. Is that gap now too big, or can Apple catch up? Will Siri ever be as good as the Google Assistant?

Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we wage war over virtual assistants.

Beautiful iOS 11 concept shows big changes iPad needs

By

They call it
They call it "The Shelf".
Photo: Federico Viticci

Apple hasn’t exactly given the iPad first priority when it comes to iOS updates, but that could change next month at WWDC where the company is expected to unveil iOS 11.

Most of the iOS 11 concepts we’ve seen have been all about the iPhone, but iPad power-user Federico Viticci and Sam Beckett created a beautiful concept that shows some big and simple changes that would transform the iPad from a fun tablet into a pro machine. Features like Finder, Drag and Drop between apps, multi-channel audio and more are on display in the fantastic mockup.

Apple, if you’re reading this, please steal these features:

Apple to ramp up production of 10.5-inch iPad Pro

By

x
The new iPad Pro may feature smaller bezels.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple is reportedly planning to increase production of the new 10.5-inch iPad Pro ahead of its official debut.

The device is said to have entered mass production back in March or April, with monthly shipments currently at around 500,000 units. However, in July, that figure will rise to 600,000.

Number of Siri-style AI assistants will overtake humans by 2021

By

unnamed
How Ovum thinks AI assistants will occupy the marketplace in 2021.
Photo: Ovum

The number of AI assistants by 2021 will outnumber the current world population, according to market research group Ovum’s new Digital Assistant and Voice AI–Capable Device Forecast.

The report highlights the growing popularity of Siri-style smart assistants, and also offers some intriguing predictions as to which AI assistants will become big, and which will be also-rans.

Apple rolls out new iOS, tvOS, watchOS and macOS betas

By

You'll need to be a registered developer to get them today.
You'll need to be a registered developer to get them today.
Photo: Apple

Apple today rolled out new betas for iOS, tvOS, watchOS, and macOS — just one day after releasing public updates.

The new releases are only available to registered developers for now, and they’re focused on improving stability and security.