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Siri - page 17

Apple to build $1.3 billion data center in Iowa

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Apple's Iowa data center
An aerial view shows what Apple's Iowa data center will look like.
Image: Apple

The next great Apple data center powered by renewable energy is coming soon to Iowa.

Apple revealed today that it plans to invest $1.3 billion into a new data center in Waukee, Iowa, that will help create more than 550 construction and operations jobs in the city near Des Moines. Along with splurging on the data center, the company will also create a $100 million Public Improvement Fund to boost infrastructure in the Des Moines area.

tvOS 11 beta includes references to unannounced 4K Apple TV

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apple tv and siri remote
A new Apple TV is on the horizon.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

References to a new Apple TV device have been discovered in the latest beta for tvOS 11, which could indicate that the new set top box is close to a possible launch.

Developers have been combing through the files in tvOS 11 beta 7 after Apple released it this morning it alongside new iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra betas. While the beta doesn’t come with any major new features, one developer discovered it contains some hints about the long-rumored 4K Apple TV.

New iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra betas bring minor tweaks

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iPhone 7 iOS 11
Grab iOS 11 beta 7 while it's fresh!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Development of iOS 11 appears to be nearing the finish line, as Apple seeded a fresh new beta for its big update of the software that powers iPhones and iPads.

iOS 11 beta 7, along with new betas for macOS High Sierra and tvOS 11, are now available to registered developers. They bring a bunch of new bug fixes and performance improvements to the operating systems, which are expected to be released to the public later this fall.

Barclays customers can now make payments using Siri

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Barclays bank sign
Barclays just made Apple Pay even greater.
Photo: Barclays

Barclays is making it even easier for its customers to spend their hard-earned cash.

The latest update to its Mobile Banking app on iOS lets you use Siri to send money to any existing payee, but there is a limit to how much you can send with your voice.

The Rock is ready for more chaos in new iPhone 7 ads

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Dwayne Johnson
The Rock and Siri make an unlikely super team.
Photo: Apple

Apple and The Rock’s rampage of crazy ads continued today with two new commercials that pair the movie superstar with digital assistant Siri.

In the latest short ads, The Rock taps into his ability to speak Mandarin in order to showcase Siri’s support for more than 20 languages. The funny ads are a sequel of sorts to the short film Apple released last month starring the unlikely duo.

Check out both new ads below.

The Rock and Siri team up in new iPhone 7 ads

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siri in space
Siri can help you do everyday things. Like take a selfie in space.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s partnership with the Rock (aka Dwayne Johnson) has spawned three new ads for the iPhone 7 that showcase Siri’s talents at performing everyday tasks.

The Rock cooks up something smelly and takes his selfie talents to space in the colossal ads that are a follow up to the short film Apple released last month starring Johnson and Siri.

Check out all three sequel ads:

HomePod software reveals new details of Apple’s smart speaker

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Apple's new HomePod smart speaker is ready to rock your house.
HomePod will launch in December, but supplies will be constrained.
Photo: Apple

The launch of Apple’s new HomePod speaker isn’t slated until the very end of 2017, but after digging into the software that powers the new device, one developer has revealed a number of features fans can expect.

Notorious iOS sleuth Steve Troughton Smith has done some serious research into HomePod and discovered that it’s basically like another iOS device only it doesn’t have a big screen. That could open HomePod up to some exciting capabilities in the future.

Apple promises it won’t store or sell your HomePod data

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Phil Schiller gives the world a sneak peek at the HomePod during WWDC 2017.
We'd love to see Apple lavish some more attention on the HomePod.
Photo: Apple

Apple has confirmed that it won’t store or sell any data collected by its HomePod smart speaker.

HomePod won’t send anything to Apple’s servers until a user activates it with the “Hey Siri” command. Apple encrypts any information received after that point. The data gets encrypted and sent using an anonymous ID.

Apple seeds new public betas for iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra

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The best gesture in iOS 11 isn't just for iPad.
The best gesture in iOS 11 isn't just for iPad.
Photo: Apple

Members of Apple’s public beta software program can now test the latest builds of iOS 11, tvOS 11, and macOS High Sierra just one day after Apple dropped the last big batch of beta updates on developers.

The third public beta of iOS 11 contains all of the changes Apple seeded to developers yesterday with iOS 11 beta 4. Along with a number of new bug fixes, the new iOS 11 update brings some new UI improvements like new icons for some stock apps and some changes to the notification center.

iOS 11 review: Major refinements shine, especially on iPad

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iPhone 7
After a month of solid use, here's my thoughts on iOS 11.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Ever since Apple released the first iOS 11 beta to developers, I’ve run each version on my primary iPhone 7 and my 9.7-inch iPad Pro. While iOS 11 doesn’t bring a radical redesign, it’s been great, with several extremely useful new features (especially for iPad).

To get the full rundown on what I like, what I don’t like, and my general thoughts on iOS 11 after a month’s use, watch the video below.

Apple makes a Siri ‘movie’ with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson

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Siri movie
The Rock is the start of Apple's first Siri "movie."
Photo: Apple

Apple has teamed up with Dwayne Johnson, better known as The Rock, to make its first Siri “movie.”

It’s called The Rock x Siri: Dominate the Day, and it’s pretty hilarious. Johnson plays an exaggerated version of himself who uses Siri to fulfill crazy dreams. But it’s certainly not a movie.

How to ask Siri when a nearby store is open

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ask siri
Siri knows all about the opening times of local businesses.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Is it too late on a Saturday night to hit the hardware store for that essential dingus you need for Sunday’s DIY project? Has the local supermarket closed already, or do you still have time to buy some more beer? Does the Kanaan restaurant (“Best Humos in Berlin”) even open today? Just ask Siri.

You may be used to firing up Google Maps, searching for the store or restaurant you’re interested in, then tapping around in the app to get to the opening times. But did you know that Siri can also tell you if a local business is open, or when it will be?

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.

CarPlay will come standard on 2018 Honda Accord 2.0T

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2018 Honda Accord
CarPlay expands its reach.
Photo: Honda

Honda has confirmed that it will make CarPlay available as standard on all models of the 2018 Accord 2.0T.

Apple’s platform, which lets you use Siri and your favorite iOS apps behind the wheel, will be optional on 1.5T and Hybrid models.

Samsung’s Siri rival finally gets its voice in the U.S. next month

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Bixby
Bixby Voice is on its way.
Photo: Samsung

Bixby, Samsung’s latest competitor to Siri, will finally find its voice in the U.S. next month.

A leaked internal email reveals Bixby Voice will make its official debut before the end of August. Until now, the feature has only been available in Samsung’s home country of South Korea.

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.

How to use Siri Translate in iOS 11

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siri translate hero
Siri will answer you, no matter how stupid your question.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Siri translation seems like the most obvious thing in the world. You probably already asked him/her the meaning of a foreign word, or how to say an English phrase in another language. Under iOS 11, though, this will actually work.

All you have to do is to ask Siri how to say something, and s/he will respond with an answer. Even better, you can use Type to Siri to make the query, which may come in handy when you’re in a line at the market and you don’t want to start talking into your iPhone.

Now anyone can try macOS High Sierra

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Apple Beta Software Program
Get in on the new betas while they're hot.
Photo: Apple

Public testers can finally get their first taste of Apple’s new operating system for Mac starting today with the release of the first public beta of macOS High Sierra.

Apple’s new operating system was unveiled earlier this month at WWDC 2017 where the company showed off macOS High Sierra’s new features and improved design. Developers have been testing the new software since June 5th, but now anyone can get macOS High Sierra which is being billed as Apple’s best desktop operating system ever.

The evolution of iOS: From iPhone OS to iOS 11

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Original iPhone running iOS 1
A lot has change since 2007, when iPhone OS arrived on the original iPhone.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

iPhone turns 10 The operating system that powers the iPhone has undergone radical changes since Apple launched the device 10 years ago.

As part of Cult of Mac’s collaboration with Wired UK to mark the 10th anniversary of the iPhone, we took a look at the evolution of iOS, from a simple touchscreen operating system lacking key features into a true computing behemoth with more tools than any one user could possibly need.