O'Grady's PowerPage

Tag: function

  • Apple states its commitment to deliver an updated, revamped Siri in 2026

    Apple states its commitment to deliver an updated, revamped Siri in 2026

    Apple has stuck to its previous promise that a smarter, more capable version of its Siri assistant will debut in 2026. Per MacRumors, the company stated this to CNBC on Thursday, only one day after Bloomberg reported Apple is having issues with the updated version of ‌Siri‌, leading to potential delays of the feature.

    While Apple didn’t offer a more specific timeline than “2026,” Bloomberg noted that the company was aiming to include a significant Siri update in iOS 26.4, with an update planned around spring 2026. Bloomberg’s latest report suggests the ‌Siri‌ functionality will not be ready in time to be included in iOS 26.4, so the new features could be pushed to iOS 26.5 or iOS 27.

    During the June 2024 WWDC, Apple previewed three new Siri features in the form of onscreen awareness, personal context, and the ability to do more in and between apps. The company also seems to have started working on additional ‌Siri‌ features like image generation and a tool for searching the web.

    During testing, Siri’s performance was hit or miss in processing queries properly, and the system could take too long to respond to requests. Where some features didn’t work as intended, new features began slowly rolling out via updates. There are still several iOS 26 updates planned for 2026, and iOS 27 will launch in September 2026.

    Apple provided CNBC with a statement because the company’s stock dropped five percent on Thursday, due to the ‌Siri‌ delay rumors and FTC scrutiny over Apple News.

    Apple is likely to release the first beta of iOS 26.4 later this month, which may offer additional insight as to where it stands with Siri.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and CNBC

  • Rumor: Apple is looking to add Starlink functionality to the iPhone 18 Pro, and is also in talks with SpaceX about a deal for the feature

    Rumor: Apple is looking to add Starlink functionality to the iPhone 18 Pro, and is also in talks with SpaceX about a deal for the feature

    Apple’s next-generation iPhone 18 Pro, which could see a hardware change, could feature satellite access, but it’s up in the air as to whether the satellite provider could be Starlink or SpaceX.

    Per Aaron Tilley and Wayne Ma of The Information, Apple may be planning to integrate Starlink functionality into the iPhone 18 Pro, even while the company is also in talks with SpaceX regarding the feature.

    SpaceX is reportedly supporting “the same radio spectrum Apple uses for the iPhone’s current satellite features” from Globalstar in new Starlink satellite designs. Apple currently relies on Globalstar satellites to power its Emergency SOS via satellite feature on iPhone 14 and newer, as well as Apple Watch Ultra 3. This feature offers contact with emergency services as well as location sharing when outside of a traditional cellular network.

    It’s also been reported that Globalstar chair James Monroe has discussed a desire to sell the firm for $10 billion. “Such a deal could signal that Globalstar and Apple are seeking more independence from each other,” the report suggests.

    Per The Information’s report, “Apple plans to add support in upcoming iPhones as early as next year for 5G networks that aren’t tethered to Earth’s surface, which includes satellites.” As of December, SpaceX struck a deal with EchoStar to acquire $17 billion worth of spectrum that can be used for direct-to-cell satellite connectivity.

    There are a lot of irons in the fire and deals being made, so stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via Reddit, The Information, and 9to5Mac

  • Rumor: Apple developing updated Magic Keyboard for entry-level iPad, iPad Air units

    Rumor: Apple developing updated Magic Keyboard for entry-level iPad, iPad Air units

    If you’re looking for an updated Magic Keyboard for your iPad, it’s being developed as we speak.

    According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple’s suppliers are said to be developing a new keyboard for the ‌iPad‌ that will launch next year. The accessory is said to be designed for the entry-level ‌iPad‌ or the iPad Air, rather than the iPad Pro. Although it will lack an aluminum top case like the new Magic Keyboard for the M4 ‌iPad Pro‌, it may feature a function row. The updated peripheral should be released by the middle of 2025.

    Earlier this year, Apple debuted a completely redesigned high-end Magic Keyboard accessory for the iPad Pro, complete with an aluminum top case, a function row, and a larger trackpad. Apple continues to sell the previous generation Magic Keyboard for the ‌iPad Air‌ and the Magic Keyboard Folio for the 10th-generation ‌iPad‌.

    Given that a keyboard tends to be the make-or-break accessory for an iPad, it’ll be interesting to see what comes of this.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Bloomberg

  • Some users report iOS 17 failure to activate alarms when scheduled

    Some users report iOS 17 failure to activate alarms when scheduled

    This is why they write software updates and patches.

    Per a thread on Reddit, Severally user complaints have pointed to iPhone alarms failing to go off as scheduled:

    Hijacking top comment. Check your battery settings and see if there is a gap during the night. Yesterday a lot of iPhones turned off for a few hours during the night. In my case the phone turned back on 1 minute before the alarm

    A number of users also reported having to put in their passcodes in the morning, which could indicate that the iPhone, restarted, or shut off during the middle of the night.

    You can tell if your ‌iPhone‌ turned off at night by opening up the Settings app, navigating to Battery, and checking the charging status over the past 24 hours. If there’s a gap, the ‌iPhone‌ was turned off for a period of time.

    The problem seems to affect not only iPhone, 15 models, but other devices, suggesting that the issue may be a bug within iOS 17. Not all users are experiencing the shutdown issues, nor does it appear to be happening every night.

    It is not yet clear what is going on, and Apple has not commented.

    Via MacRumors and Reddit

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  • Regulatory filings indicate Apple Watch Ultra battery could be 76 percent larger than Apple Watch Series 8 battery

    Regulatory filings indicate Apple Watch Ultra battery could be 76 percent larger than Apple Watch Series 8 battery

    A series of new regulatory filings show that the Apple Watch Ultra features a battery that is 76 percent larger than that found in the Apple Watch Series 8, and more than double the size of the small Apple Watch SE.

    According to Apple, the company claimed that the Apple Watch Ultra’s new battery could run for a maximum of 60 using a low power option. This consideration would also raise the Apple Watch Series 8 to a maximum of 36 hours.

    However, specific details of the battery capacity have now been listed on China’s 3C certification database. As first spotted by MySmartPrice, the Apple Watch Ultra contains a 542mAh battery.

    This compares to:

    Apple Watch SE (40mm): 245mAh
    Apple Watch SE (44mm): 296mAh
    Apple Watch Series 8 (41mm): 282mAh
    Apple Watch Series 8 (45mm): 308mAh

    This would indicate that the Apple Watch Ultra’s battery is 2.2 times larger than that in the 40mm version of the Apple Watch SE.

    It’s thought that the Apple Watch Ultra’s battery will be greater than that of any other Apple Watch, although additional features such as dual GPS will reduce battery time given the increased overhead the battery is working to cover.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider and MySmartPrice