In the race for new and improved virtual assistance services, Apple is once again, yet to take the lead through its acquisition of the Ontario-based machine learning startup – Inductiv. The brains behind Inductiv include professors from Stanford University, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Waterloo – in the persons of Christopher Ré, Theodoros Rekatsinas, and Ihab Ilyas. This band of Engineering professors is the latest supplement to Apple’s development team in addition to the company’s myriad of Engineers from Silicon Valley, slated to work on the Siri among other things. Apparently, this team of professors would be working on the AI, Machine learning, and data science section of the company – an important aspect of Apple’s deep learning strategy. In a statement provided by Apple’s spokesperson, the deal has been sealed and stamped. The representative further confirmed the deal with a rather unapologetic tune, asserting that it;

“buys smaller technology companies from time to time and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans.” 

The idea of virtual assistance is to make life a lot easier as these software agents make it easiest to navigate between the software and programs of an operating system. Inductiv has been focused on developing technologies that utilize machine learning to automate a hassle-free procedure of identifying and correcting erratic datasets in the past. Evidently, having authentic data is key to ensuring a seamless and robust AI functionality which is why AI and data science are essential to a machine learning ecosystem. Through deep Learning and AI, these virtual assistive technologies could be programmed to automate certain processes that would normally require human interaction. By this, you can make your assistant do your phone’s tasks for you – such as make your calls, send important emails, and even entertain you during your leisure time, while you just sit back and relax. 

Although, Apple’s senior vice president of Machine Learning and AI Strategy – John Giannandrea, has indicated the company’s interest to work on a few improvements with regards to Siri and other AI-powered products from the company. However, the iPhone maker has drastically slacked in the niche of virtual assistance in recent times. Giving way for other competitors such as Microsoft’s Cortana, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa. According to research conducted a couple of years ago by Forbes, Siri ranked number 4 on the top 10 list of virtual assisting technologies for mobile and still is at present.

Apparently, this comes as a huge blow on the overall image of Apple’s technological growth, given that Siri was the pioneer software in the sphere of voice-controlled assistive technology. Since it provided the prototype from which other virtual assisting apps borrowed their ideas. Little wonder why Apple has been acquiring a host of AI-related startup companies in most recent times including NextVR,  Xnor.ai, Deep Fusion, Tuplejump, Laserlike, Voysis, Turi, and Perceptio.

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During his visit to Apple’s MacBook Pro manufactory in Austin, Texas, President Donald Trump urged the tech giant to see to the provision of a 5G network in the U.S. This was revealed in the event of acknowledging Apple’s billion-dollar campus project – by the US President.

According to a tweet by Tim Cook – the CEO of Apple, this campus is said to have been in existence since 2013. However, it was officially launched on Wednesday with an expectation to accommodate over 5,000 employees, and the capacity to house 10,000 more in the near future. Also, this facility serving to be the primary production unit of Apple’s MacBook PCs demonstrates Apple’s loyalty to its home country. And Because Apple didn’t move its production of the desktop computers to China as earlier announced. Cook loftily asserts that;

“Building the Mac Pro, Apple’s most powerful device ever, in Austin is both a point of pride and a testament to the enduring power of American ingenuity.” and “With the construction of our new campus in Austin now underway, Apple is deepening our close bond with the city and the talented and diverse workforce that calls it home. Responsible for 2.4 million American jobs and counting, Apple is eager to write our next chapter here and to keep contributing to America’s innovation story.”

Evidently, Trump’s call on Apple for 5G tech comes as a bid for the US to be at the forefront of the US-China trade war. And as China continues to pioneer the 5G flag flawlessly. Subsequently places the US on detriment on the trade ban with these Chinese companies.

Although there has been recent news about other telecoms service providers as Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-mobile, making the 5G LTE network available in the US. However, the trend currently cuts across only a select few cities and not yet widespread in the US.

Hence Trump leveraged on Apple’s vast resources to call upon the companies’ involvement in the fifth generation of cellular network technology. Requesting Apple to provide 5G to the masses in the US, as it is currently in China.

Even though 5G technology does not fall under Apple’s niche, Trump nonetheless beseeched Cook with the question during this event. Although the official paper by the White House about the visit does not document any statement relating to 5G technology.

This was however confirmed following a tweet by the President on Thursday;

Tweet:

The fact that Trump requests for Apple’s involvement in 5G technology either bespeaks the President’s tech ineptness, which is understandable. Or probably an indication of the close tie that exists between the President and Apple’s CEO.

A fact that does not inspire with awe, as Trump had earlier considered excluding Apple from China tariffs at the said event. But what strikes a wonder is whether Apple would answer to this call or remain adamant towards its involvement with cellular network technology.

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Imagine a music app that allows you to play songs just by ‘calling out the song title’ from your playlist. Awesome right?

Well, that becomes the case with the new upgrade on the Spotify app on Apple’s IOS 13.1. Following the recently added features on Siri such as the ability to launch an app with the voice command, advanced guidance on the map, tuning in to a radio station among many others. On Friday, the digital music service providers disclosed that it would be incorporating ‘Siri Support’ specifically for its Users on IOS in the nearest future.

Eventually making Spotify the foremost third-party app that could be operated with ‘Siri’s Voice Assistant’. According to an interview conducted by Verge with a Spotify Associate who refused to comment in details but confirmed this development with a statement adding that;

“At Spotify, we routinely conduct a number of tests in an effort to improve our user experience, Some of those tests end up paving the path for our broader user experience and others serve only as an important learning. We aren’t going to comment on specific tests at this time.”

Evidently, the Siri support comes as part of the update on Apple’s IOS 13 and by means of the SiriKit API, Spotify developers were able to embed Siri’s functionality into the Spotify app. Consequently with this new added ‘Siri’ functionality, Users would be able to not only launch the Spotify app but also navigate through and play songs from playlists, albums, and podcasts on the app just by voice commands.

Although this feature was embedded extensive to work on all Apple devices having IOS 13.1 excluding the Apple Watch since IOS wearable devices does not fraught with a devoted Spotify app. Given that the Siri Support on Spotify is currently in its beta testing phase, this innovation would only be available on the latest beta version of Spotify and as such still ships in with a few bugs. Such as trying to play a podcast which always defaults to playing music.

This Siri on Spotify functionality would grants Users an advanced music experience on the go. Subsequently placing the Spotify music app on the same spot as the Apple Music in terms of competing for Siri’s Media player Support.

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Many people were anticipating the release of an iPhone 5G this year. However, reports suggest that the trailblazer will be launched in 2020.  Based on stories and information from Apple, the 2020 iPhone 5G could be the real deal. The phone supposedly can make a significant modification in its internal architectural design and for the first time, may take 5nm chips as the Cupertino firm improves its iOS platform.  

The benefits of the 5nm for Apple is quite obvious, primarily as the phone screens get bigger which makes the phone more energy-consuming therefore decreasing the feeding of energy is a key objective of the new smartphone. Simultaneously, as many now prefer slimmer phones, the room for a big battery size may get smaller.

Not much is being said about what Apple could incorporate into its 2020 models. Although reports on how the 5G will be possible are saying that, the company will make use of an Intel 10-nanometer 8161 modem, with an 8060 acting as a testbed. On the other hand, the company might include the use of MediaTek to reach these speeds.

The device is also said to incorporate more advance reality features as a recent report suggests that the company will add a depth sensor, which will be similar to the one in front used for face recognition and to know from the back the distance from objects.

Furthermore, Apple might go to a higher level from the previous reserved slight bezel around its phone edges to a much more improved feature in the 2020 iPhone 5G. The 2020 iPhone 5G is anticipated to have the Qi wireless charging for starters, just as seen from the introduction of the iPhone 8, 8+ and X in 2017 as well as the XS, XR and XS Max also had the feature.

The up and coming age of smartphones is probably not going to come cheap. While it seems unclear the pricing method of the 2020 iPhone 5G by Apple, yet, the high-value price of $1,099  the company placed on the iPhone XS Max suggest it the 2020 phone could cost so much higher.

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MacBook Pro lovers have lamented on the fact that Apple’s pro laptops have not evolved positively in recent times. However, the new MacBook Pro 2019 comes with a Thunderbolt 3 port which replaces all old ports.

The Thunderbolt 3 ports just like the controversial Touch Bar and the new keyboards on the 2016 models have divided fans, that is, some are not so much in love with it. According to Apple analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, 2019 might come with a renewed breeze. 2019 might bring the biggest MacBook Pro in term of size since 2012 addition to a new design.

As the years progressed, Apple has pretty much-developed 13-inch and 15-inch sizes for its MacBooks, similarly as it has before produced 9.7-inch iPads. In 2018, nevertheless, Apple showed openly the new sizes as well as old ones too, launching the 11-inch iPad Pro. Kuo says in his recent investor note that, this will be an exciting development to the MacBook Pro line.

Indeed, 16 inches MacBook Pro would not be the biggest ever in history. For some reason, Apple has have realized that 15 inches are not adequate any longer. As per Kuo, the new MacBook Pro model could have a 16-16.5-inch screen.

Inquisitively, he likewise refers to an all-new design for the lineup. He didn’t broadly explain. Therefore, we seem to wonder what other things Apple could change. Edge-to-edge screens may be a specific idea, and there are even bits of gossip about Face ID authentication. Some people might as well make do with only a less fragile keyboard.

Kuo goes big as he predicts that Apple will bring a 31.6-inch 6K screen, which will be an exciting new for big screen lovers if this comes true. Apart from that, the screen highlight may be made use of mini LED-like backlight. This will be an intriguing change for Apple as they were taken out of the monitor market back in 2016.

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Apple has Reportedly Acquired the PullString Startup based in
San Francisco that Powers Voice Recognition Apps. This could help Siri better compete with Amazon’s Alexa and Google Home Assistant.

Founded in 2011 by a group of Ex-Pixar executives, PullString was basically used to power interactive voice apps for toys like the Hello Barbie in 2015.
Pullstring later widened its path with the introduction of such IoT products as Google Assistant and Amazon Echo.

The Acquisition is said to be valued around $30 million and will give Apple a boost in the Voice Industry as well as making siri more advanced and rapidly adopted.

As Amazon and Google Continues to Improve and Invest heavily in the Voice Development Business, Apple also doesn’t seem to be relenting, Of which the company has been way behind both Google and Amazon.

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Apple Inc’s Friday release of the beta version of its latest OS update, iOS 12.2 for developers is loaded with indicators of the bagful of changes it would bring. One potential feature relates to Apple’s new magazines subscription service. Secondly, AirPods 2 will link-up to native voice assistant Siri.

App developers for the closed operating system are all over the internet predicting the load of features that Apple would eventually offer in its latest updated version. The paid-version of News on Apple appears to be the trend-winner thus far!

Subscription-based News

Digitized news content and its consumption has been evolving in the past couple of years, with smartphone apps becoming the default media for consumption.

Developers now tout iOS 12.2 as the decisive update which will push content-producing and publishing conglomerates such as Apple’s Apple News to offer all-in-one media subscription as it needs to be available and monetize all of the consumption patterns – from Apple Music, Apple TV shows to Apple Magazines and soon Apple News.

Bundled subscription appears to be the change needed to push news consumption into digitized version, even as offline newspaper and magazines are quickly biting the dust for being expensive over the low-cost e-versions.

Apple News subscription has been discussed repeatedly in hushed-tones ever since the big daddy of paid-services Apple acquired Texture. It is likely that it will be the flag-bearer for Apple to get its users to pay for the news they can read on their iOS devices. It would of course include content from variety of publishers.

For years now digital economy strides have touched nearly every commodity which can be digitized.

With many of traditional big corporate newspapers and media groups – WSJ, Forbes, Bloomberg offering e-version for insignificant costs the transition to platform-restricted publication was not to far. Facebook began to experiment with its paid-news feed services, where it published news by journalists for a fee. But this experiment was not as effective.

Soon, Facebook began its own news assembling, editing and over time monitoring news buzz for their fakeness, before it pushed forward to its billions of consumers across the world. However, the switch to news consumption from their smart devices is largely restricted to millennial while the senior generation prefers their news pages.

However, the age of newsprint is dying a slow death and it is a matter of a few years before consolidated services such as Apple News will come to rule news rooms.

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