Lifestyle

Apple’s new artificial intelligence is on the horizon, with the first features due with the release of iOS 18 on September 16, and the rest expected to roll out incrementally over the following year. Apple’s AI-powered features are collectively called Apple Intelligence, and they promise to super-power Siri, generate images from text prompts, rewrite your emails in different tones, summarize web pages or emails, and much more. But these features rely on the neural engine hardware built into the phone, and only the very latest generations of iPhone will sport neural engines powerful enough to unlock Apple Intelligence. So, is it worth an upgrade?

Every single person on this planet has two things in common; we were all born, and we’re all going to die. Preparing for a new baby is full of excitement and anticipation. End-of life planning? Not so much. I can’t promise to make the process fun, but I can at least recommend some apps, websites, and books to make things a little more streamlined, and a bit less daunting.

I was one of few voices in the 1990s writing columns urging manufacturers to create a super-sized handheld. So, naturally I bought an iPad as soon as Apple introduced it in 2010 and have owned one ever since. Then in fall of 2022, my old laptop died. I wondered, should I stick with Windows, make the switch to a MacBook, or go for a budget-friendly Chromebook?

For better or worse, AI is here to change how you use your Apple devices. During its June 10 WWDC keynote, Apple unveiled Apple Intelligence, a new artificial intelligence system for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. This new technology is powered by on-device processing and new private Apple silicon servers, which Apple has dubbed, “Private Cloud Compute.” With Apple Intelligence, you’ll have access to AI tools that will help you improve your writing, create artwork, communicate more clearly with Siri, and so much more.

I got my first cellphone when I was around 14. It was my father's, actually; I just got to carry it when I went anywhere without my parents, and he didn't want it in the first place, so it became de facto mine. It was a Samsung SPH-N400—an old Samsung flip phone. In any case, what I had was a little blue block about two inches wide and four inches tall with a retractable antenna and a bright green screen whose pixels you could count on your fingers. It had the game Snake and it took me 30 minutes to draft a single text message—a capability I didn't even know the phone had for the first several months it was in my possession. I loved it dearly.

Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m an Apple head, but I wasn’t always this way. I’ve had a smartphone in my pocket ever since they became mainstream, and that smartphone has been an iPhone since 2019. The heated Android vs. iPhone debate has always interested me because of the almost fanatical passion on both sides. Let me tell you all the things that Android phones do better than iPhones and why I don’t see myself switching back to Android anytime soon.

It’s well known by now that the iPhone 15 ditched the Lightning connector for USB-C. However, what many people don’t know is that the new USB-C connection on the iPhone 15 can reverse charge. Find out how to take advantage of this handy new feature!

It’s been a weird couple of years, and as another holiday season approaches, it may still be a challenge to figure out how to bring everyone together to celebrate. With many jobs returning to in-person work, busy family schedules, and the still-looming risk of the COVID pandemic and other scary diseases, it may not be safe or possible to travel long distances. However, as we've learned over the past three years, there’s still plenty of cheer to spread virtually. We've all become experts at making the most of virtual gatherings and celebrations, and I’ve researched some virtual ways to give meaningful gifts, enjoy activities with family far away, and help those who need your support after these tough few years.