Mobile menu toggle

Siri - page 16

Apple’s quick iOS 11.0.1 release is here to kill some bugs

By

iOS 11
The first iOS 11 update is here.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

iPhone and iPad users that upgraded to iOS 11 last week are already getting their first update even though Apple didn’t release any beta builds to developers yet.

The new iOS 11.0.1 update was pushed out to devices this morning exactly one week after the big release of iOS 11. It’s not clear if there are any major changes, but it looks like it may come with some important bug fixes.

iOS 11 lets you customize left and right AirPod double-tap shortcuts

By

AirPods
iOS 11 brings independent left/right controls to AirPods.
Photo: Cult of Mac

iOS 11 is full of small tweaks that have a big impact. Today’s tip is one of those. In iOS 10, you can customize the double-tap shortcuts on your Apple AirPods to perform various actions — invoke Siri, or play/pause, for example. But the same shortcut would apply to both AirPods. In iOS 11, you can customize each AirPod independently. So, your left ear could be set to call Siri, and your right ear set to play and pause. That’s double the options, with just a software update!

Apple ditches Bing for Google on Siri and Spotlight

By

Sorry, Alexa: Siri still the most widespread AI assistant
Siri is switching to Google.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple just gave Microsoft’s search engine Bing a huge blow today by replacing it with Google on iOS and macOS.

The company previously used Bing search results as the default when users made a search query via Siri on iPhones or from Spotlight on Macs. Bing will still be around in some capacity, but it appears that the company has given in and turned back to using Google.

Bose takes on AirPods and Beats by baking in Google

By

Bose
Bose's Quietcomfort 35 II wireless headphones are the start of a partnership with Google.
Photo: Bose

Apple’s AirPods and Beats headphones are getting some fresh competition from one of the biggest audio companies in the game. And they’re getting a little help from Apple’s rival, Google.

Bose unveiled two new products today. One is its first ever foray into the world of truly wireless earbuds. The other is a pair of brand new noise-canceling headphones that are also designed to work with Google Assistant.

iOS 11 makes Spotlight search super-powerful

By

spotlight search in iOS 11
Spotlight in iOS 11 is a power-users dream, letting you find anything -- whether on the web on on your device -- fast.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Spotlight search gets a big overhaul in iOS 11. The Spotlight updates in iOS 11 don’t seem quite as spectacular as the iPad’s new Dock, or drag-and-drop, but the small tweaks make the search tool a lot more useful.

Now you can search both your iPad and the web, similar to how you conduct a search in Safari. If you ever used Launchbar, Alfred or Quicksilver on the Mac, the new iOS 11 Spotlight will feel familiar.

Everything you need to know about iOS 11

By

iPhone 7 iOS 11
The new Control Center is just one of many great new iOS 11 features.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Over the past two months, Cult of Mac scoured the iOS 11 betas to collect tips and tricks for Apple’s latest mobile operating system. We’ve covered everything, from the iPad’s amazing new Dock and Drag-and-Drop to the iPhone’s new lifesaving Do Not Disturb While Driving.

We’ve created this iOS 11 guide, which we will update going forward, so you can easily find links to our best iOS 11 tips and how-tos. Read on for more on the radically improved Notes app, iOS 11’s powerful new camera features and more.

iOS 11 is now available for iPhone and iPad

By

The best gesture in iOS 11 isn't just for iPad.
iOS 11 Makes your devices feel brand new.
Photo: Apple

The long wait for Apple’s AR future is finally over.

iOS 11 has just been released to the public today after a record-breaking beta testing period and it’s packed with a host of new features that will make your iPhone and iPad feel like new.

Apple is looking for psychologist to improve Siri

By

Sorry, Alexa: Siri still the most widespread AI assistant
Siri could become a lot more empathetic.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s digital assistant Siri could soon become your new psychologist.

According to a new job listing posted by Apple, the company is searching for a software engineer that also has some previous experience in psychology or counseling. Why? Because people are starting to talk to Siri like its a human.

Apple seeds macOS High Sierra GM to devs and public testers

By

macOS update
A macOS update adds support for Messages in iCloud.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The final build of macOS High Sierra is finally ready for prime time.

This morning Apple released the GM build of its next big update for Macs allowing registered developers and members of the public beta testing to install the software ahead of its public launch.

Apple releases iOS 11 GM (the right way)

By

iOS 11 WWDC Hero
iOS 11 is ready for launch.
Photo: Apple

The final version of iOS 11 is finally ready for developers ahead of the public release later this month.

Developers received the iOS 11 GM version this afternoon following Apple’s keynote bringing a host of last minute bug fixes and performance improvements with it, along with new features specifically created for the iPhone X.

7 ways Apple surprised us at the iPhone X event

By

Tim Cook still hid a few surprises up his sleeve for the iPhone X event.
Tim Cook still hid a few surprises up his sleeve for the iPhone X event.
Photo: Apple

Today’s iPhone X event was the most-spoiled Apple event ever, but Tim Cook and Co. still managed to whip out a few awesome surprises for the faithful.

Here are the things we didn’t see coming or couldn’t guess, even after months of rumors and leaks.

Here’s when you can upgrade to macOS High Sierra

By

macOS update
A macOS update adds support for Messages in iCloud.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Following three months of beta testing, macOS High Sierra is almost ready to make its public debut.

There are a whole bunch of new features and improvements to look forward to in this update, including an overhauled Photos app, enhanced Siri, and the new Apple File System.

iOS 11 lands on iPhone and iPad on September 19 — here’s what’s new

By

Auto Brightness iOS 11
iOS 11 changes everything.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

In today’s Apple keynote, we got another look at the the new iOS 11 for iPhone and iPad. There are a lot of great new features for both devices — person-to-person Apple Pay, an all-new App Store, improved Siri, and a new kind of social network built around Apple Music. But the iPad is the real winner. iOS 11 brings multitasking features that unchain Apple’s “big iPhone,” and turn it into a computer to rival any Mac or PC.

Everything we expect Apple to unveil at its September 12 event

By

Tim Cook was short on surprises at the 'Hello Again' keynote.
What will Tim surprise us with this time?
Photo: Apple

The biggest Apple keynote of 2017 is just a few short hours away. And according to the rumors, its going to be one of the most memorable tech events in years.

When Tim Cook and Co. take the stage at the Steve Jobs Theater on September 12, we expect them to unveil not one, not two, but three new iPhones. A bunch of other new hardware and software is also on the docket, making this an Apple keynote not to be missed.

Here’s everything Apple will likely reveal.

New remote for Apple TV will pack haptic feedback

By

Apple TV remote
The Apple TV remote is getting a big upgrade.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The Apple TV is set to get some big upgrades during Apple’s huge keynote tomorrow, but one unexpected surprise could bring some big changes to the Siri remote.

After doing some digging into the code from the leaked iOS 11 GM, developer Guilherme Rambo found new references indicate the Siri remote will be upgraded as well. This time it could gain haptic feedback.

iPhone X rumor roundup: What to expect at Apple’s landmark event

By

iPhone color
Will this be the new iPhone color?
Photo: Ben Miller

The long wait for Apple’s big iPhone 8 upgrade is nearly over.

Apple is set to unveil its new lineup of iPhones during an event at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino on September 12. This year’s model has been hyped more than any in recent memory. Tons of new features are being packed into the 10th edition of the iPhone for what will likely be the most innovative smartphone Apple has released in years.

Here are all the details and new features we know are coming:

Some lucky folks already have their own HomePods

By

New HomePod
Yep, consider us jealous!
Photo: Themrlinc/Instagram CC

The HomePod won’t ship until later this year, but two posts on social media show that people working on the device are already testing them in their homes.

One Twitter user has shared an image taken in Menlo Park, CA, depicting a Control Center screen, complete with HomePod icon. Another user, this time on Instagram, posted a black and white photo of a HomePod in what looks like his or her kitchen in Shanghai, China.

How the movie Her inspired Apple to create a better Siri

By

The iPhone's home button could be going away.
Siri is set to get some big upgrades with iOS 11.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

For its next act with Siri, Apple is taking some cues from one of the tech world’s biggest sources of inspiration: Hollywood.

With the release of iOS 11 later this month, Siri is set to get some big upgrades. The most notable will be the AI helper’s silky-smooth voice. And according to one Apple exec, the movie Her played a big role in helping the company figure out the changes they should make.

Apple seeds 10th iOS 11 beta to developers

By

iPhone 7
A fresh new iOS 11 beta is available.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The development of iOS 11 seems to be nearly complete ahead of Apple’s big iPhone keynote next week.

Developers received the 10th beta build of iOS 11 this morning, coming just one week after Apple surprised developers by making the ninth beta build available for testing.

Siri helps save life of teen stranded in Hurricane Harvey flooding

By

Sorry, Alexa: Siri still the most widespread AI assistant
On this occasion, Siri was a real life lifesaver.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Siri is being credited as helping save the life of a critically-ill teenager in Texas, who was trapped on a roof with her family due to flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey.

After calls to 911 and pleas on Facebook and Instagram failed to yield results, the 14-year-old — who suffers from sickle cell anemia — asked Siri for help. Siri proceeded to place calls with the U.S. Coast Guard, which resulted in the family being rescued.

Here’s how you’ll activate Siri on the new iPhone

By

Sorry, Alexa: Siri still the most widespread AI assistant
Sorry, Alexa: Siri still the most widespread AI assistant
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

We might have a brand new way to activate Siri on Apple’s next-generation iPhones, according to one iOS developer.

References in Apple’s source code hint at a new gesture using the physical sleep/wake button, which will enable us to access the virtual assistant in situations where using the “Hey Siri” command isn’t ideal.

Siri gets a new boss

By

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

Apple’s digital assistant is under new management.

Along with updating its corporate leadership page to include its two newest VPs, Apple also revealed that it has replaced Eddy Cue as Siri’s boss and given the task over to software VP Craig Federighi.

Apple just won an Emmy award… for Siri?

By

FireWire lands Apple its first Emmy.
This is Apple's third Emmy award.
Photo: The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences/Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s original TV show efforts haven’t exactly set the world on fire, but that didn’t stop the company from being honored with an Emmy award this week.

Apple was among the tech companies who received technical Emmy awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, alongside Microsoft, YouTube, and others.

Sonos plans to take on Apple’s HomePod

By

The ultimate Sonos companion.
Should Apple be worried about Sonos?
Photo: Sonos

The smart speaker market is suddenly starting to look a lot more crowded.

Sonos has been making some of our favorite wireless speakers for years but it appears that the company is planning to challenge Apple, Amazon, Google and Samsung with its own smart speaker that will also be powered via voice.

New betas nudge iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra closer to launch

By

iPhone 7 iOS 11
Grab the new iOS 11 beta now!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Developers received a big batch of beta updates from Apple today, bringing iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra one step closer to public launch ahead of Apple’s huge keynote next month.

The seventh beta builds for iOS 11, macOS High Sierra, watchOS 4 and tvOS 11 were all seeded to developers. While previous betas have added a host of changes, the new builds focus mostly on bug fixes and under-the-hood improvements which could mean Apple’s nearly done fine-tuning the new software updates.