Here's what to expect from Apple's September 13th iPhone 20 event - MobileSyrup | Canada News Media
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Here's what to expect from Apple's September 13th iPhone 20 event – MobileSyrup

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4 years ago

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In the wake of Apple’s somewhat disappointing ‘Time Flies‘ fall hardware event where the company showed off the iPad (2020), Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE, another keynote is set for October 13th at 10am PT/1pm ET.

During the tech giant’s ‘Hi, Speed’ streamed keynote, we’re almost certainly going to catch a glimpse of the iPhone 12 series, with devices like the over-ear AirPods Studio and AirTags also possibly making an appearance.

iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro

Regarding the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, rumours indicate the phones will feature 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays, respectively.

However, the display featured in Apple’s high-end smartphone won’t be capable of the same 120Hz ProMotion technology included in more recent iPad Pro models, according to often-reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Since most high-end Android devices now feature 120Hz displays, this is definitely a disappointing move by Apple.

The smartphone is expected to feature a triple rear-facing camera array similar to the iPhone 11 Pro’s, including a 12-megapixel wide, 12-megapixel ultra-wide and 12-megapixel telephoto lenses. New this year is the same LiDAR sensor that came to the iPad Pro (2020), giving the device better depth tracking functionality that could improve both augmented reality (AR) app capabilities and photography. Since Apple’s event invite featured an AR component, these rumours definitely seem to track.

Both XDA Developers’ Max Weinbach and DigiTimes have also reported Apple is ditching the excellent-looking ‘Midnight Green’ Pro colour in favour of a new ‘Dark Blue’ variant (seen above in a render).

Apple’s iPhone 12 models are tipped to feature 5.4-inch and 6.1-inch OLED displays. This would mark a shift from LCD to OLED for Apple’s non-pro iPhone models. Like last year, the main difference between the iPhone 12 and the 12 Pro is the lower-end smartphones will still only feature a 12-megapixel wide and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide shooter. There are also some rumours Apple will call its 5.4-inch smartphone the iPhone 12 mini.

Both the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro are expected to feature 5G capabilities, a more powerful A14 processor and a slightly smaller front-facing notch thanks to Apple shrinking its TrueDepth camera sensor.

Reports point to Apple’s entire 2020 iPhone line sharing the same design language as the more recent iPad Pro, including the tablet’s more squared-off edges, giving the devices an almost iPhone 4-like look.

Finally, there is speculation Apple will no longer include EarPods or a charger in the box of any of its 2020 iPhones, a choice that could prove controversial. Given both of these unfortunate rumours come from often-reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, they’re likely accurate. It’s worth noting Samsung didn’t include AKG earbuds in the recently released Note 20 Ultra, which sets a precedent for this shift.

Finally, leaks regarding iPhone 12 series pricing and colours also recently appeared courtesy of leaker Kang. For a full breakdown, follow this link.

AirPods Studio

Apple’s over-ear AirPods Studio have been rumoured for months at this point. They’re tipped to feature noise-cancelling, high-end build quality and, strangely, the ability to be worn backwards.

There are also some rumours indicating that the headphones are modular, allowing users to swap out ear pads and other design features.

Leaked images courtesy of Twitter user @choco_bit and renders from sometimes-reliable YouTuber Jon Prosser gave us a brief look at the headphones back in mid-September. They seem to feature a sleek design and will be available in several different colours.

AirTags

There’s also a possibility we could finally see Apple’s often-rumoured Tile-like AirTag Bluetooth tracking gadget, which has been rumoured for several months now. Back in April, Appleosphy reported the tech giant’s YouTube channel featured a brief mention of AirTags in an instructional video.

There’s also some speculation that the Apple logo in the centre of the invite to Apple’s September 13th event is in fact, actually an AirTag.

While AirTags can’t receive a signal, they’re able to broadcast their location to Apple’s iPhone 11 and later thanks to the smartphones’ U1 ultra-wideband (UWB) chip. The recently released Apple Watch Series 6 also features a UWB chip.

So far, the UWB chip has only been used for enhanced AirDrop functionality. AirTags will also likely be able to indicate its location based on Bluetooth low-energy signals.

Everything else

While Apple has revealed plans to eventually switch its entire Mac line to its own proprietary ARM-based processors over the next two years, it’s unlikely we’ll learn anything about the company’s future PC and laptop plans at this particular event. That said, recent rumours point to Apple’s first ARM-powered Mac being a new 12-inch MacBook.

Further, though we probably won’t see the set-top box on September 13th, there are rumours Apple plans to release a 4th-gen Apple TV, and its own video game controller. Given the Apple TV hasn’t received a significant design update since 2015, the streaming device is due for a refresh — especially its frustrating Siri Remote.

And finally, rumours are swirling that Apple could be preparing to release a HomePod mini. While the original HomePod features stellar audio quality, it lags behind its competitors in terms of smart features. It’s unclear what else could be featured in a smaller HomePod, but the device would likely be designed to compete with cheaper smart speakers like Google’s recently released Nest Audio and Amazon’s upcoming 4th-generation Echo.

Leaker Kang recently reported that the HomePod mini will cost $99 (roughly $130 CAD) and measure in at 3.3-inches tall. Further, the smart speaker will reportedly be powered by the same S5 processor included in the Apple Watch Series 5.

Be sure to follow along on MobileSyrup on October 13th at 1pm ET/10AM PT for all of the news from Apple’s streamed keynote.

Image credit: Max Weinbach

Source: EverythingApplePro, Max Weinbach, Bloomberg (2), DigiTimes, MacRumors (2) (3) (4), Appleosphy, @choco_bit, @jon_prosser, Kang

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Slack researcher discusses the fear, loathing and excitement surrounding AI in the workplace

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11 hours ago

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October 21, 2024

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Artificial intelligence‘s recent rise to the forefront of business has left most office workers wondering how often they should use the technology and whether a computer will eventually replace them.

Those were among the highlights of a recent study conducted by the workplace communications platform Slack. After conducting in-depth interviews with 5,000 desktop workers, Slack concluded there are five types of AI personalities in the workplace: “The Maximalist” who regularly uses AI on their jobs; “The Underground” who covertly uses AI; “The Rebel,” who abhors AI; “The Superfan” who is excited about AI but still hasn’t used it; and “The Observer” who is taking a wait-and-see approach.

Only 50% of the respondents fell under the Maximalist or Underground categories, posing a challenge for businesses that want their workers to embrace AI technology. The Associated Press recently discussed the excitement and tension surrounding AI at work with Christina Janzer, Slack’s senior vice president of research and analytics.

Q: What do you make about the wide range of perceptions about AI at work?

A: It shows people are experiencing AI in very different ways, so they have very different emotions about it. Understanding those emotions will help understand what is going to drive usage of AI. If people are feeling guilty or nervous about it, they are not going to use it. So we have to understand where people are, then point them toward learning to value this new technology.

Q: The Maximalist and The Underground both seem to be early adopters of AI at work, but what is different about their attitudes?

A: Maximalists are all in on AI. They are getting value out of it, they are excited about it, and they are actively sharing that they are using it, which is a really big driver for usage among others.

The Underground is the one that is really interesting to me because they are using it, but they are hiding it. There are different reasons for that. They are worried they are going to be seen as incompetent. They are worried that AI is going to be seen as cheating. And so with them, we have an opportunity to provide clear guidelines to help them know that AI usage is celebrated and encouraged. But right now they don’t have guidelines from their companies and they don’t feel particularly encouraged to use it.

Overall, there is more excitement about AI than not, so I think that’s great We just need to figure out how to harness that.

Q: What about the 19% of workers who fell under the Rebel description in Slack’s study?

A: Rebels tend to be women, which is really interesting. Three out of five rebels are women, which I obviously don’t like to see. Also, rebels tend to be older. At a high level, men are adopting the technology at higher rates than women.

Q: Why do you think more women than men are resisting AI?

A: Women are more likely to see AI as a threat, more likely to worry that AI is going to take over their jobs. To me, that points to women not feeling as trusted in the workplace as men do. If you feel trusted by your manager, you are more likely to experiment with AI. Women are reluctant to adopt a technology that might be seen as a replacement for them whereas men may have more confidence that isn’t going to happen because they feel more trusted.

Q: What are some of the things employers should be doing if they want their workers to embrace AI on the job?

A: We are seeing three out of five desk workers don’t even have clear guidelines with AI, because their companies just aren’t telling them anything, so that’s a huge opportunity.

Another opportunity to encourage AI usage in the open. If we can create a culture where it’s celebrated, where people can see the way people are using it, then they can know that it’s accepted and celebrated. Then they can be inspired.

The third thing is we have to create a culture of experimentation where people feel comfortable trying it out, testing it, getting comfortable with it because a lot of people just don’t know where to start. The reality is you can start small, you don’t have to completely change your job. Having AI write an email or summarize content is a great place to start so you can start to understand what this technology can do.

Q: Do you think the fears about people losing their jobs because of AI are warranted?

A: People with AI are going to replace people without AI.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Biden administration to provide $325 million for new Michigan semiconductor factory

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11 hours ago

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October 21, 2024

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration said Tuesday that it would provide up to $325 million to Hemlock Semiconductor for a new factory, a move that could help give Democrats a political edge in the swing state of Michigan ahead of election day.

The funding would support 180 manufacturing jobs in Saginaw County, where Republicans and Democrats were neck-in-neck for the past two presidential elections. There would also be construction jobs tied to the factory that would produce hyper-pure polysilicon, a building block for electronics and solar panels, among other technologies.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on a call with reporters that the funding came from the CHIPS and Science Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law in 2022. It’s part of a broader industrial strategy that the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, supports, while Republican nominee Donald Trump, the former president, sees tariff hikes and income tax cuts as better to support manufacturing.

“What we’ve been able to do with the CHIPS Act is not just build a few new factories, but fundamentally revitalize the semiconductor ecosystem in our country with American workers,” Raimondo said. “All of this is because of the vision of the Biden-Harris administration.”

A senior administration official said the timing of the announcement reflected the negotiating process for reaching terms on the grant, rather than any political considerations. The official insisted on anonymity to discuss the process.

After site work, Hemlock Semiconductor plans to begin construction in 2026 and then start production in 2028, the official said.

Running in 2016, Trump narrowly won Saginaw County and Michigan as a whole. But in 2020 against Biden, both Saginaw County and Michigan flipped to the Democrats.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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The Internet is Littered in ‘Educated Guesses’ Without the ‘Education’

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2 weeks ago

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October 8, 2024

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Although no one likes a know-it-all, they dominate the Internet.

The Internet began as a vast repository of information. It quickly became a breeding ground for self-proclaimed experts seeking what most people desire: recognition and money.

Today, anyone with an Internet connection and some typing skills can position themselves, regardless of their education or experience, as a subject matter expert (SME). From relationship advice, career coaching, and health and nutrition tips to citizen journalists practicing pseudo-journalism, the Internet is awash with individuals—Internet talking heads—sharing their “insights,” which are, in large part, essentially educated guesses without the education or experience.

The Internet has become a 24/7/365 sitcom where armchair experts think they’re the star.

Not long ago, years, sometimes decades, of dedicated work and acquiring education in one’s field was once required to be recognized as an expert. The knowledge and opinions of doctors, scientists, historians, et al. were respected due to their education and experience. Today, a social media account and a knack for hyperbole are all it takes to present oneself as an “expert” to achieve Internet fame that can be monetized.

On the Internet, nearly every piece of content is self-serving in some way.

The line between actual expertise and self-professed knowledge has become blurry as an out-of-focus selfie. Inadvertently, social media platforms have created an informal degree program where likes and shares are equivalent to degrees. After reading selective articles, they’ve found via and watching some TikTok videos, a person can post a video claiming they’re an herbal medicine expert. Their new “knowledge,” which their followers will absorb, claims that Panda dung tea—one of the most expensive teas in the world and isn’t what its name implies—cures everything from hypertension to existential crisis. Meanwhile, registered dietitians are shaking their heads, wondering how to compete against all the misinformation their clients are exposed to.

More disturbing are individuals obsessed with evangelizing their beliefs or conspiracy theories. These people write in-depth blog posts, such as Elvis Is Alive and the Moon Landings Were Staged, with links to obscure YouTube videos, websites, social media accounts, and blogs. Regardless of your beliefs, someone or a group on the Internet shares them, thus confirming your beliefs.

Misinformation is the Internet’s currency used to get likes, shares, and engagement; thus, it often spreads like a cosmic joke. Consider the prevalence of clickbait headlines:

  • You Won’t Believe What Taylor Swift Says About Climate Change!
  • This Bedtime Drink Melts Belly Fat While You Sleep!
  • In One Week, I Turned $10 Into $1 Million!

Titles that make outrageous claims are how the content creator gets reads and views, which generates revenue via affiliate marketing, product placement, and pay-per-click (PPC) ads. Clickbait headlines are how you end up watching a TikTok video by a purported nutrition expert adamantly asserting you can lose belly fat while you sleep by drinking, for 14 consecutive days, a concoction of raw eggs, cinnamon, and apple cider vinegar 15 minutes before going to bed.

Our constant search for answers that’ll explain our convoluted world and our desire for shortcuts to success is how Internet talking heads achieve influencer status. Because we tend to seek low-hanging fruits, we listen to those with little experience or knowledge of the topics they discuss yet are astute enough to know what most people want to hear.

There’s a trend, more disturbing than spreading misinformation, that needs to be called out: individuals who’ve never achieved significant wealth or traded stocks giving how-to-make-easy-money advice, the appeal of which is undeniable. Several people I know have lost substantial money by following the “advice” of Internet talking heads.

Anyone on social media claiming to have a foolproof money-making strategy is lying. They wouldn’t be peddling their money-making strategy if they could make easy money.

Successful people tend to be secretive.

Social media companies design their respective algorithms to serve their advertisers—their source of revenue—interest; hence, content from Internet talking heads appears most prominent in your feeds. When a video of a self-professed expert goes viral, likely because it pressed an emotional button, the more people see it, the more engagement it receives, such as likes, shares and comments, creating a cycle akin to a tornado.

Imagine scrolling through your TikTok feed and stumbling upon a “scientist” who claims they can predict the weather using only aluminum foil, copper wire, sea salt and baking soda. You chuckle, but you notice his video got over 7,000 likes, has been shared over 600 times and received over 400 comments. You think to yourself, “Maybe this guy is onto something.” What started as a quest to achieve Internet fame evolved into an Internet-wide belief that weather forecasting can be as easy as DIY crafts.

Since anyone can call themselves “an expert,” you must cultivate critical thinking skills to distinguish genuine expertise from self-professed experts’ self-promoting nonsense. While the absurdity of the Internet can be entertaining, misinformation has serious consequences. The next time you read a headline that sounds too good to be true, it’s probably an Internet talking head making an educated guess; without the education seeking Internet fame, they can monetize.

______________________________________________________________

 

Nick Kossovan, a self-described connoisseur of human psychology, writes about what’s

on his mind from Toronto. You can follow Nick on Twitter and Instagram @NKossovan.

 

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