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Everything new with Siri in iOS 11

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siri ios 11
Siri gets a lot of love in the latest iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra updates.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Siri often gets dinged for being stupid, but significant upgrades in iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra make Apple’s AI assistant smarter than ever. With advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence, Siri sounds slicker and understands you better on Apple’s updated platforms.

Siri also learned a lot of new tricks, and can now offer suggestions inside other apps. Here’s a brief look at everything new with Siri in iOS 11.

Apple’s new machine learning blog underlines its focus on AI

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Machine learning
Apple is in the blogging business.
Photo: Apple

For a long time, Apple segregated itself from the rest of the artificial intelligence community, refusing to attend conferences, or to let its researchers publish their work in existing journals.

Today, Apple got around this second problem in the most Apple way possible: by launching a machine learning journal of its own.

Animated avatar grooves alongside human in cool new ARKit demo

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AR
Tim Cook is hella excited about AR. We can't disagree with him!
Photo: Normal VR

Another day, another great showcase of Apple’s new ARKit augmented reality platform, as created by ingenious independent developers.

This time round, the work is by New York developer Normal VR. Devs at Normal used Apple’s augmented reality tech and graphics engine Unity to craft a cool demo showing a cartoon avatar matching the movements of a human user. Check it out below.

Indian App Accelerator is great news for devs and Apple alike

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Apple supplier is increasing its ability to build masses of iPhones in India
Seriously, why aren't these app development centers everywhere?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s brand new App Accelerator in Bengaluru, India has only been open since March this year — but already it’s paying off.

According to developers who signed up to the Accelerator, they’re finding themselves with a major advantage over other local app-makers in being shown how to incorporate Apple’s latest tech. And it’s working out pretty well for Apple, too!

Amazon’s next Echo will bring better sound to beat HomePod

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Apple's new HomePod smart speaker is ready to rock your house.
A look at Apple's upcoming HomePod.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s HomePod is hoping to gain the edge over other smart speakers with its superior sound quality. However, Amazon’s reportedly planning to fight back with its upcoming Echo standalone speaker refresh that will focus on a higher quality music experience.

iPhone 8 will pack lasers for improved AR and autofocus

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Siri AR concept
New iPhones will make augmented reality even greater.
Photo: Gabor Balogh

Apple will pack lasers into the iPhone 8 to deliver improved augmented reality and autofocus, according to a new report. One source says that the rear-facing sensor will provide better depth perception in ARKit apps, and sharper photos.

Spotify negotiates lower royalty rate with major music label

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Spotify
Spotify is currently leading the streaming music battle.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Spotfiy has managed to negotiate a reduced royalty rate with Sony Music Entertainment, and is also in talks with Warner Music Group, claims a new report.

In return, Spotify will reportedly hold back albums to paying subscribers for two weeks before making them available to customers on Spotify’s free tier. A similar multi-year deal was agreed with Vivendi’s Universal Music Group earlier this year.

Siri sheds users as AI assistants struggle to take over

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Sorry, Alexa: Siri still the most widespread AI assistant
Siri's popular, but getting less so.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Siri remains the most widely used virtual assistant but is losing popularity, according to a new report.

What does this mean for HomePod, Apple’s upcoming smart speaker? And what type of person is an AI assistant “superuser”? The study offers some surprising insights.

Apple seeds third betas for iOS 11, macOS High Sierra and more

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iOS 11 Control Center
In iOS 11, the Control Center becomes a remote control for your life.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The latest batch of beta builds from Apple is now available to developers this morning. Developers can download the third betas of iOS 11, macOS High Sierra, watchOS 4 and tvOS 11.

Apple’s new software comes with a slew of new bug fixes and performance enhancements for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV to go with the new features that were unveiled at WWDC 2017. iOS 11 beta 3 also packs a couple of big changes to Siri and Control Center.

Apple stakes a claim over smart headsets

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VR headset
Is Apple about to dive deeper into AR?
Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac

Apple has updated its iCloud trademark to cover “smartglasses” and headsets.

The company has been on a mission to add new devices to many of its filings in recent months, but its latest update is particularly interesting following the introduction of ARKit at WWDC.