O'Grady's PowerPage

Category: iPad Pro

  • Analyst points out that Apple’s deal with Google could be short-term, allowing the company to buy itself development time in the AI marketplace

    Analyst points out that Apple’s deal with Google could be short-term, allowing the company to buy itself development time in the AI marketplace

    Following up on Apple’s announcement that the company will use Google’s Gemini AI for its next-generation version of Siri as well as handle a large amount of its Apple Intelligence tasks, noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has stated that this may be a short-term partnership intended to buy soe time.

    In a post on X, Kuo noted that Apple is preparing to mass-produce its own AI-focused server chips in the second half of 2026, and that the company is facing mounting short-term pressure in AI that’s shaping its current strategy.

    Kuo explained that Apple has encountered two immediate challenges in its in-house AI development that have effectively pushed it toward partnering with Google. The first is the need for a credible AI showing at WWDC later this year after previously announcing Apple Intelligence and significant Siri upgrades that have yet to materialize. The second is the rapid pace of improvement in cloud-based AI systems, which has raised expectations to a level where simply delivering on earlier promises may no longer be enough.

    Kuo argued that as AI capabilities have advanced, so have user perceptions of what constitutes a competitive assistant or system-level AI. As such, even a fully delivered version of Apple Intelligence, as it had been previously presented, would have a hard time standing out, particularly without access to more powerful large-scale models. This has apparently driven an urgent need for Apple to supplement its current approach with more capable AI models from other companies.

    Kuo went on to describe Apple’s AI deal with Google as a way to ease short-term pressure, rather than a long-term strategic shift. He said that while on-device AI is unlikely to drive hardware sales in the near term, the partnership with Google buys Apple time to manage expectations across its platform while continuing its own AI development. Kuo stated that AI is expected to become central to hardware differentiation, operating system design, and the overall user experience, making ownership of core AI technologies increasingly important.

    Kuo concluded that Apple’s in-house server chips are expected to enter mass production in the second half of 2026, and that Apple-operated data centers will coexist online in 2027, allowing for the company to service both on-device and hybrid AI workloads via its server-side computing and infrastructure.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and @mingchikuo

  • Apple confirms partnership with Google, will use Gemini to power next-generation of Siri and other Apple Intelligence functions later this year

    Apple confirms partnership with Google, will use Gemini to power next-generation of Siri and other Apple Intelligence functions later this year

    Apple will be going with Google’s Gemini engine for a fair portion of its AI functionality, including powering the next generation of Siri as well as a range of future Apple Intelligence features.

    In a statement shared with CNBC on Monday, Apple offered the following:

    “After careful evaluation, we determined that Google’s technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models and we’re excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for our users.”

    The report stated that Google Gemini will power Siri, which had been expected. This should allow the revamped version of Siri to be more capable and advanced than it has been as Gemini’s large language model is significantly larger than Apple’s own model.

    The next-generation version of Siri is expected to be introduced with iOS 26.4, which will likely be released to the general public in March or April.

    Apple first announced its goal of creating more personalized Siri features during its WWDC 2024 keynote, but as of 2025, the upgrade had been delayed. The new features should offer a better understanding of a user’s personal context, on-screen awareness, and deeper per-app controls.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and CNBC

  • Apple to announce Q1 2026 financial results on Thursday, January 29

    Apple to announce Q1 2026 financial results on Thursday, January 29

    For the finance nerds and people with a stake in Apple, the company has announced that it will announce its Q1 2026 numbers on Thursday, January 29, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

    As usual, the company will be holding its earnings call, complete with forward-looking statements and a question-and-answer segments with analysts at the end of the call.

    The fiscal Q1 is always the first full quarter of new iPhone sales, plus a new M5 Mac, iPad Pro, and Apple Vision Pro launched in the same period. Analysts were mostly bullish during the quarter thanks to Apple’s positive forward-looking statements.

    The report should include some interesting elements, such as how the company is being affected by tariffs, and how, despite the President’s exceptions, Apple paid $1.1 billion in Q4 and expects to pay $1.4 billion in Q1.

    All eyes are on Apple as it enters one of its most critical years yet. This may be Apple’s last chance to become relevant with Apple Intelligence, and there are several new products expected like a smart home hub and an iPhone Fold.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider and investor.apple.com

  • Apple resumes testing of its Background Security Improvement feature for upcoming iOS, iPadOS, and macOS updates

    Apple resumes testing of its Background Security Improvement feature for upcoming iOS, iPadOS, and macOS updates

    Apple has resumed testing its new Background Security Improvement feature, which first debuted with its release of the iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and macOS Tahoe 26.1 updates. Following a previous test earlier this week, developers and public beta testers who are running iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, or ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.3 can now install a second Background Security Improvement update for testing purposes.

    The company has stated that the feature offers additional security protections between software updates for its Safari, WebKit, and other system libraries.

    If you’re curious about trying them out, you can install them via the following steps, per MacRumors:

    “Background Security Improvements can be installed by going to the Privacy and Security section of the Settings app, scrolling down to Background Security Improvements, and selecting the “Install” option. If “Automatically Install” is toggled on, Background Security Improvements will be automatically installed when they come out with no need to manually install them.”

    Apple has also stated that users who choose not to install the Background Security Updates will receive the updates as part of standard software updates.

    Apple had previously used a Rapid Security Response update feature for delivering security improvements, although this wasn’t used often after its introduction in iOS 16. The feature was ultimately phased out in favor of the newer Background Security Improvements feature. At one point in 2023, there was a Rapid Security Response bug that prevented some websites from displaying properly.

    Finally, Apple has also warned that Background Security Updates can result in “rare instances of compatibility issues.” In these cases, the updates may be temporarily removed and enhanced in a subsequent software update.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and support.apple.com

  • Apple doubles 5GHz Wi-Fi 6E bandwidth for some devices via iPadOS 26.2, macOS Tahoe 26.2 updates

    Apple doubles 5GHz Wi-Fi 6E bandwidth for some devices via iPadOS 26.2, macOS Tahoe 26.2 updates

    This is pretty nifty.

    Apple apparently snuck a useful upgrade through with its iPadOS 26.2 and macOS Tahoe 26.2 updates, the new operating systems offering improved Wi-Fi speeds for select Macs and iPads that support Wi-Fi 6E.

    The M4 iPad Pro models, M3 iPad Air models, A17 Pro iPad mini, M2 to M5 MacBook Pro models, ‌M2‌, M3, and M4 MacBook Air models, and other Wi-Fi 6E Macs and iPads now support 160MHz maximum channel bandwidth when connected to 5GHz Wi-Fi networks, the same theoretical maximum throughput supported by 6GHz networks. Previously, these devices were limited to 80MHz.

    Under ideal conditions, the devices should see faster file transfers, quicker uploads, and smoother streaming. Wi-Fi 6E devices can take advantage of 6GHz networks, although 5GHz networks remain far more common. 6GHz networks require new router hardware, along with a machine that can take advantage of a 6GHz network.

    Through the upgrade, the devices can connect to 5GHz networks with a throughput approaching peak 6GHz speeds without having to connect to a 6GHz network. Users with a Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E network that supports 160MHz on 5GHz networks will be able to take advantage of the bandwidth improvement. Devices that have the updated 160MHz bandwidth limit will not see improvements when connected to 5GHz routers limited to 80MHz.

    While 5GHz bandwidth has improved on select Macs and iPads, 6GHz networks still offer less congestion and more spectrum to work with.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and support.apple.com