Month: January 2024
Expect a big decline in the Apple iPhone 16 shipments this year
A prominent Apple analyst anticipates a considerable decrease in iPhone shipments this year. An analyst with Barclays stated in January
The post Expect a big decline in the Apple iPhone 16 shipments this year appeared first on ReadWrite.
A prominent Apple analyst anticipates a considerable decrease in iPhone shipments this year. An analyst with Barclays stated in January that nothing unique about the iPhone 16 series would help turn around the device’s falling demand. The analyst downgraded Apple to “Underweight” as a result, while Barclays informed clients in a research note that “we see no features or upgrades that are likely to make the iPhone 16 more compelling.” Some have said this comment has made a difference in the Apple outcome.
The Apple iPhone 16’s underwhelming features make it less compelling
In a blog post, TFI International Inc. (TFI) Ming-Chi Kuo wrote, “It is expected that Apple will not launch new iPhone models with significant design changes and the more comprehensive/differentiated GenAI ecosystem/applications until 2025 at the earliest. Until then, it will likely harm Apple’s iPhone shipment momentum and ecosystem growth.”
Although there are rumors that iOS 18 will include AI features, if Kuo is correct — Apple won’t fully adopt AI in the iPhone until the 2025 release of the iPhone 17 range. Additionally, Kuo predicts that the iPhone will not have a good few years ahead of it. According to Kuo, “shipments of essential semiconductor components” have already decreased by 15%, suggesting a drop in iPhone 15 deliveries to 200 million. Kuo adds, “Apple may have the most significant decline among the major global mobile phone brands in 2024.”
In addition, 8GB of RAM is anticipated for the non-Pro iPhone 16 models when they join the Pro lineup. While the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max get upgraded to the new Wi-Fi 7 from Wi-Fi 6E, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are reportedly bumped down to Wi-Fi 6E from Wi-Fi 6. Additionally, the new Capture button, which is expected to be utilized by iPhone 16 series customers to assist them in beginning to record films with the phone, will be available on all four 2024 iPhone models. There is a suggestion that this button be included to assist customers in taking spatial videos so they may view them in three dimensions when wearing the Vision Pro headset.
Featured Image Credit: Photo by Bruno Cervera; Pexels
The post Expect a big decline in the Apple iPhone 16 shipments this year appeared first on ReadWrite.
Starbucks is Launching Its Olive Oil-Infused Beverages Nationwide
Starbucks is taking its extra virgin olive oil-infused drinks — which some customers previously complained of sending them straight to the bathroom ï– nationwide beginning Tuesday. CNN: The lineup, called Oleato, launched in a few US cities last year before slowly expanding to more stores. Tuesday’s launch across its US and Canada locations signifies that the chain stands behind the beverage despite subpar reviews from customers and critics. On the Oleato menu are two drinks: An oat milk latte infused with the extra virgin olive oil; and a new toffeenut iced shaken espresso with golden foam, which is vanilla sweet cream infused with extra virgin olive oil into a cold foam. The drinks debuted in Italy in 2023, with a Starbucks executive previously telling CNN that it’s one of its “biggest launches we’ve had in decades.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Starbucks is taking its extra virgin olive oil-infused drinks — which some customers previously complained of sending them straight to the bathroom ï– nationwide beginning Tuesday. CNN: The lineup, called Oleato, launched in a few US cities last year before slowly expanding to more stores. Tuesday’s launch across its US and Canada locations signifies that the chain stands behind the beverage despite subpar reviews from customers and critics. On the Oleato menu are two drinks: An oat milk latte infused with the extra virgin olive oil; and a new toffeenut iced shaken espresso with golden foam, which is vanilla sweet cream infused with extra virgin olive oil into a cold foam. The drinks debuted in Italy in 2023, with a Starbucks executive previously telling CNN that it’s one of its “biggest launches we’ve had in decades.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Fintech Ramp acquires another AI-powered startup
Spend management startup Ramp has acquired AI-powered startup Venue as it expands its procurement offering. Venue was founded in 2022 by TK Kong, Young Kim, and Kevin Chan, and its aim was to “simplify how businesses review, approve, and manage the cost of vendors in use across their company.” The startup raised $1.2 million in
© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Spend management startup Ramp has acquired AI-powered startup Venue as it expands its procurement offering. Venue was founded in 2022 by TK Kong, Young Kim, and Kevin Chan, and its aim was to “simplify how businesses review, approve, and manage the cost of vendors in use across their company.” The startup raised $1.2 million in […]
© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Using A.I., Hollywood Agency and Tech Start-Up Aim to Protect Artists
WME said the partnership would help its clients get fake images of themselves removed or receive compensation for use of their likenesses.
WME said the partnership would help its clients get fake images of themselves removed or receive compensation for use of their likenesses.
This giant, 27-inch digital calendar is here to organize your family’s life
The Cal Max boasts a 1440p display and can connect to calendar services from the likes of Google and Apple
Smart frame brand Skylight is expanding beyond digital photo frames by launching a new 27-inch calendar monitor, aptly named the Calendar Max or Cal Max for short.
It functions similarly to the older 10-inch and 15-inch models with several key differences. The biggest change is its size, and with size comes a higher resolution. The Cal Max outputs a Quad HD resolution (2,560 x 1,440 pixel) image, making it easy to quickly glance at everyone’s schedules for the week. It can be placed horizontally on a wall, or if space is tight, vertically thanks to Portrait Mode. Additionally, the screen is covered in an anti-glare coating ensuring its viewability even under direct sunlight.
(Image credit: Skylight)
Design-wise, the Cal Max resembles the previous 10-inch model due to its rounded corners. This time, however, the frame surrounding the screen can be swapped out. Interested customers can choose between a plastic frame in either black or white and an aluminum Shadow Box frame. The latter is available in charcoal gray or a plain metallic finish. You can choose a frame at the Cal Max’s checkout page. However, there isn’t an option to buy the two borders at the same time or separately down the line.
Features
When it comes to features, Skylight’s new monitor has every single tool the older devices have on board. It can display scheduled events from multiple calendar services like Google Calendar and Outlook. Of course, you can always create your own directly on the Cal Max itself or via the official mobile app on Android and iOS. Once you’ve created an event, you can assign it to certain people in your household with the Color Coding tool.
The Cal Max also has specialized tools for specific use cases. The Chore Chart gamifies doing chores by rewarding users with accomplishments whenever one is completed. Customized Views lets you switch between certain views; be it daily, weekly, or monthly. Then there’s Sleep Mode, allowing users to set a schedule for the display so it turns off at night and turns back on in the morning.
Other notable features include 32GB of storage as well as two four-watt speakers for audio.
Availability
The Calendar Max monitor is currently available for pre-order in the US on the company’s website. Prices differ depending on which frame you choose. The plastic option sells for $599.99 while the aluminum one has a $629.99 price tag. Orders will begin shipping out this June. Supplies are limited, although you can reserve a Cal Max by paying a $100 deposit.
We reached out to the company asking for information on an international launch. It seems there aren’t any plans for a wider rollout. This story will be updated at a later time.
As alluded to earlier, Skylight cut its teeth in the tech industry by producing digital picture frames such as its flagship Skylight Frame device. They’re a niche tech great at displaying a slideshow of photographs from your recent vacation or a series of family portraits.
If you want to know more, check out TechRadar’s guide to the best digital photo frames for 2024.
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PlayStation ‘State of Play’: How to watch it
Here’s how to watch Sony’s Playstation State of Play livestream
Curious about how to watch the Playstation State of Play livestream? We’ve got the scoop. It’s launching on Jan. 31, just weeks after Xbox’s New Year showcase revealed the highly anticipated Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
In a possible effort to one-up the competition, PlayStation plans to showcase over 15 games that are due to be released in “2024 and beyond.”
Here’s how to watch so you don’t miss a thing, including first looks at Rise of Ronin, Stellar Blade, and Death Stranding 2.
How to watch PlayStation State of Play
Clocking in at around 40 minutes, the event will be live-streamed on YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch at 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET / 10 p.m. GMT.
The last State of Play showcase was last September and featured trailers for Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Along with the aforementioned games up top, it’s rumored that remakes of Sonic Generations and Silent Hill 2 are set to make appearances, including a lengthy look at Rebirth that’s set for a February release.
OM System’s OM-1 Mark II offers improved autofocus and stabilization
OM System (formerly Olympus) has unveiled the OM-1 Mark II with largely the same specs as its predecessor, but several significant upgrades. Those include improved autofocus, particularly on the AI side, along with other quality-of-life improvements to stabilization, handling and more.
The company has completed its OM System branding change, as there’s no trace of the Olympus logo as seen on the OM-1. That said, the cameras are much the same inside. As before, it comes with a 20-megapixel (MP) stacked Micro Four Thirds sensor and TruePix X processor that allows for very fast burst shooting up to 50fps with continuous autofocus.
Those speeds haven’t changed, but OM System boosted the camera’s onboard RAM, allowing for some new features. The autofocus can now has a “Human detection” option that goes beyond just faces and eyes as before. The company says AF is also faster and more accurate (with and without subject detection), making it better for sports, wildlife and more.
OM System
It also features a deeper buffer, meaning you can shoot 256 RAW frames at 50fps before it fills, around double the OM-1 — ideal for action shooting. And while the previous model allowed for blackout-free shooting at the highest frame rates, it now works at slower speeds as well (12.5fps and 16fps) for photographers who prefer to work that way.
The company has also used updated algorithms to boost in-body image stabilization up to 8.5 stops with supported lenses, better than any other camera on the market (Canon’s latest models boast 8 stops of stabilization). And it now supports 14-bit RAW for multishot high-res mode, both in the 80MP tripod and the 50MP handheld modes, to improve dynamic range.
One new function is called Graduated Neutral Density (GND) that builds on the previous model’s Live ND (LND) mode. The latter isn’t a true ND filter, but blends multiple short shots to simulate one. The graduated version lets you shoot a gradient exposure at any angle, while also controlling the mid-point and whether it has a soft, medium or hard edge.
Olympus
The body and control layout is much the same as before, but OM System has rubberized the command dials so they have a more tactile feel and work better when using gloves. That should be helpful, since the OM-1 is popular for bird and wildlife photography in all kinds of weather conditions.
Beyond that, specs and features are largely the same. You still shoot 4K video at up to 60 fps, in either 8-bit or 10-bit modes (1080p at 240 fps). And the OM-1 can output 12-bit Apple ProRes RAW video at up to 60 fps to an Atomos Ninja V or Ninja V+ external recorder without any pixel binning.
It comes with a 5.76-million dot 120Hz OLED viewfinder as before, along with a fully articulating display. There are dual SD UHS II card slots, but no CFexpress option. The battery delivers a solid 500 shots per charge, but that jumps to 1010 in “Quick Sleep” mode. Finally, you still get a small FL LM3 flash, designed mostly for fill or use with external flash units.
The OM-1 Mark II is arriving in late February for $2,400 (body only) and $3,000 in a kit with the OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 zoom lens (24-80mm full-frame equivalent).
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/om-systems-om-1-mark-ii-offers-improved-autofocus-and-stabilization-201810603.html?src=rss
OM System (formerly Olympus) has unveiled the OM-1 Mark II with largely the same specs as its predecessor, but several significant upgrades. Those include improved autofocus, particularly on the AI side, along with other quality-of-life improvements to stabilization, handling and more.
The company has completed its OM System branding change, as there’s no trace of the Olympus logo as seen on the OM-1. That said, the cameras are much the same inside. As before, it comes with a 20-megapixel (MP) stacked Micro Four Thirds sensor and TruePix X processor that allows for very fast burst shooting up to 50fps with continuous autofocus.
Those speeds haven’t changed, but OM System boosted the camera’s onboard RAM, allowing for some new features. The autofocus can now has a “Human detection” option that goes beyond just faces and eyes as before. The company says AF is also faster and more accurate (with and without subject detection), making it better for sports, wildlife and more.
It also features a deeper buffer, meaning you can shoot 256 RAW frames at 50fps before it fills, around double the OM-1 — ideal for action shooting. And while the previous model allowed for blackout-free shooting at the highest frame rates, it now works at slower speeds as well (12.5fps and 16fps) for photographers who prefer to work that way.
The company has also used updated algorithms to boost in-body image stabilization up to 8.5 stops with supported lenses, better than any other camera on the market (Canon’s latest models boast 8 stops of stabilization). And it now supports 14-bit RAW for multishot high-res mode, both in the 80MP tripod and the 50MP handheld modes, to improve dynamic range.
One new function is called Graduated Neutral Density (GND) that builds on the previous model’s Live ND (LND) mode. The latter isn’t a true ND filter, but blends multiple short shots to simulate one. The graduated version lets you shoot a gradient exposure at any angle, while also controlling the mid-point and whether it has a soft, medium or hard edge.
The body and control layout is much the same as before, but OM System has rubberized the command dials so they have a more tactile feel and work better when using gloves. That should be helpful, since the OM-1 is popular for bird and wildlife photography in all kinds of weather conditions.
Beyond that, specs and features are largely the same. You still shoot 4K video at up to 60 fps, in either 8-bit or 10-bit modes (1080p at 240 fps). And the OM-1 can output 12-bit Apple ProRes RAW video at up to 60 fps to an Atomos Ninja V or Ninja V+ external recorder without any pixel binning.
It comes with a 5.76-million dot 120Hz OLED viewfinder as before, along with a fully articulating display. There are dual SD UHS II card slots, but no CFexpress option. The battery delivers a solid 500 shots per charge, but that jumps to 1010 in “Quick Sleep” mode. Finally, you still get a small FL LM3 flash, designed mostly for fill or use with external flash units.
The OM-1 Mark II is arriving in late February for $2,400 (body only) and $3,000 in a kit with the OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 zoom lens (24-80mm full-frame equivalent).
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/om-systems-om-1-mark-ii-offers-improved-autofocus-and-stabilization-201810603.html?src=rss
Rhyming AI-powered clock sometimes lies about the time, makes up words
Poem/1 Kickstarter seeks $103K for fun ChatGPT-fed clock that may hallucinate the time.
Enlarge / A CAD render of the Poem/1 sitting on a bookshelf. (credit: Matt Webb)
On Tuesday, product developer Matt Webb launched a Kickstarter funding project for a whimsical e-paper clock called the “Poem/1” that tells the current time using AI and rhyming poetry. It’s powered by the ChatGPT API, and Webb says that sometimes ChatGPT will lie about the time or make up words to make the rhymes work.
“Hey so I made a clock. It tells the time with a brand new poem every minute, composed by ChatGPT. It’s sometimes profound, and sometimes weird, and occasionally it fibs about what the actual time is to make a rhyme work,” Webb writes on his Kickstarter page.
The $126 clock is the product of Webb’s Acts Not Facts, which he bills as “a new studio for technology and product invention via exploring and making.” Despite the net-connected service aspect of the clock, Webb says it will not require a subscription to function.
Why there’s no clear winning pricing strategy in B2B SaaS
New data from Maxio indicates that both consumption and subscription pricing have their advantages when it comes to growth, but not at the same time.
© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
New data from Maxio indicates that both consumption and subscription pricing have their advantages when it comes to growth, but not at the same time.
© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.