mattinoz

araquen said:

Again, Apple is not selling AI as a product, and folks have got to just stop with this. Apple Intelligence is not Apple-branded ChatGPT.

Apple Intelligence is low level (I think that’s the term) functionality that is being deployed across devices (over time) intended to enhance the user experience of those devices. It is intended to enhance what Siri is supposed to be doing. It is intended, eventually, to enhance the algorithms for services Apple customers buy.

So really there is no “catching up” because no other AI service is running “headless” like this. Every other AI is a product to be sold in and of itself.

For instance, Midjourney steals art to generate art for people who type in a few prompts. Apple Intelligence will, say, randomize a brush stroke effect to help your existing photo composition look more like a painting, or help you frame a pleasing photo composition. Instead of AI creating music compositions, Apple intelligence may introduce realistic defects into your Garage Band or Logic Pro compositions giving them a feeling that actual musicians played the notes, or that the recording came from vinyl, or make recommendations based on common music theories.

I see Apple Intelligence enhancing, if not replacing, Genius in Apple Music.

When we think of Apple Intelligence, it should always be with a “yes and” mindset with the “and” being a product or service Apple offers. Apple Intelligence doing preliminary diagnostics in Disk First Aid to assist in tech triage, or parse console logs to help narrow down an issue. Apple Intelligence turning Siri into your own personal “JARVIS” instead of it being a passive entity. Apple Intelligence refining your Home automation. Apple Intelligence connecting disparate data points from your various health apps to provide holistic feedback on the state of your fitness. Apple Intelligence enhancing health trends, or automatically micro-adjusting goals based on your current fitness levels. We’ve actually seen these pitches in the last two keynote presentations. It’s always been how Apple intelligence is going to make an Apple hardware product more functional.

Apple is NOT a software company. They sell hardware. Their software and services are intended to make their hardware offerings look more appealing. Apple Intelligence is Apple’s “next step” in Apple setting their hardware apart. Apple’s goal with Apple intelligence is to put the “smart” in the smart device.

There is no other AI product I am aware of that has the goal of enhancing someone’s device. every other AI product is selling AI itself as the product to do creative things for people, instead of providing additional tools for creators.

djr12 said:

My Level Lock is easily the best smart lock I’ve owned. But I’m assuming that, as with most acquisitions, the new owners will ruin what made them good. 

mpantone said:

Xed said:

mpantone said:

While I haven't yet been in this venue I always hesitate about these Apple architectural projects.

As far as I can tell, there's a lot of -- how do I put this? -- outright dismissal/ignorance for decent acoustics.

A lot of Apple Stores have horrible acoustics and now I realize it's a major reason why I can't willingly stay in an Apple Store more than 10-15 minutes. Too many hard surfaces, too many sharp angles, almost no textiles. Visually a lot of these Apple spaces are striking but the acoustical properties in these locations are appalling.

Note that I feel the same way about a lot of non-Apple locations including some horrific places that were designed for performances. Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall -- home to the San Francisco Symphony -- debuted with heavily flawed acoustics. I'm not singling out Apple here, it's just that a lot of these sites with modern aesthetics are atrocious for sound. Davies Hall was notorious in that many of the symphony musicians couldn't hear some of their fellow musicians because of the terrible sound on stage.

After a couple of renovations, the acoustics at Davies Hall is now acceptable but it will never be a world-class venue for sound.

I've just been in too many buildings like Apple Stores or modern-ish performing arts centers that suck acoustically.

I agree with you. Visually they are great, but they are to be experienced in person, not in a photo/video, so a good designer should consider everything. It would be amazing if the could engineer a material or noise canceling technology that would allow the stores to be a more soothing experience.

There are noise abating materials for architectural spaces. They're called textiles: carpet/rugs, drapes, wallpaper, and other fabric hangings. You can also use architectural elements and building design to break up large flat surfaces so the building isn't reflecting sound off of large walls. Architects have known about these for centuries. The acoustical shortcomings of these modern spaces is a step (or leap) back.

I'm really sorry to say this but the best way to (acoustically) experience an Apple Store is to put on a pair of AirPods Pro and enable active noise cancellation before stepping through the front door.

I really feel pity for the Apple Store workers who have to endure that acoustic hell for 8 hours. At some point companies will have to come to grips that a healthy workplace environment also includes the acoustics (much like air quality or workplace harassment). Hopefully it will not take Apple 20 years and a grassroots movement to understand this.

slow n easy said:

This story is not correct. I ordered the Milanese Loop with my Series 10, so it's not true that it can only be ordered with the Ultra. Also, why would it add $199 to the cost of the Ultra when the band only costs $99. Also, it only added $50 to the cost of my Series 10. The base price of my Series 10 Titanium is $749. Ordering the Series 10 Titanium with the Milanese Loop, brings the total to $799, which is the base price for the Ultra. It's a trade-off. The titanium case and sapphire glass make it extra durable and scratch resistant, but it's also much thinner than the Ultra and even has a slightly larger screen.