Apple bets big on visual AI: Cameras coming to AirPods and beyond

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Despite a rocky start with Apple Intelligence, Apple is reportedly shifting its artificial intelligence focus towards "Visual Intelligence," planning to integrate cameras into its wearables, starting with AirPods and the Apple Watch by 2027, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

This strategy aims to allow users to interact with Siri by describing what they see, building on the iPhone 16's new Camera Control button that offers AI-powered visual analysis. Apple envisions this hands-free, screen-less interaction as a core feature of future devices.

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Apple CarPlay gets icon boost, EV charging upgrade in iOS 18.4

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Apple's recent iOS 18.4 update quietly introduced notable enhancements to CarPlay, offering users with larger infotainment screens an expanded icon layout and improved electric vehicle routing.

MacRumors discovered that iOS 18.4 now displays three rows of app icons on CarPlay for vehicles with larger displays, up from the standard two. This allows for quicker access to more apps, reducing driver distraction. However, this feature appears limited to cars with larger screens, such as the 14-inch display found in the Toyota Tundra and is not visible on smaller displays like the 9-inch screen in a Honda Civic.

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Apple unveils Metallica immersive concert experience for Vision Pro

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Apple is launching an immersive concert experience featuring Metallica, exclusively for the Apple Vision Pro, on Friday, March 14. This format, captured in Apple Immersive Video, places viewers directly within the band's sold-out Mexico City performance from their M72 World Tour. The experience features iconic Metallica tracks like Whiplash, One, and Enter Sandman, presented in ultra-high-resolution 180-degree video and Spatial Audio.

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Apple alters Ultra chip strategy, skipping M4 Ultra

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Apple has confirmed it will not release an M4 Ultra chip, deviating from its previous pattern of sequential Ultra chip upgrades. This decision, revealed after the launch of the M3 Ultra alongside the new M4 chip in the Mac Studio, signals a strategic shift in Apple's approach to high-performance computing. The company clarified that Ultra-tier chips will not be released for every Apple Silicon generation.

The M3 Ultra, built using Apple's UltraFusion architecture to connect two M3 Max chips, delivers significant performance gains over its predecessors. However, reports indicate the M4 Max lacks the necessary UltraFusion connectors, making an M4 Ultra impossible without a substantial redesign. Apple prioritized upgrading the Mac Studio with the M3 Ultra while simultaneously advancing its M4 lineup, suggesting a focus on strategic performance enhancements rather than automatic annual updates.

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