Amid the excitement and buzz around Apple’s upcoming AI system, analysts have predicted that the tech giant could charge users a subscription fee for its more advanced AI features. The iPhone maker could ask users to pay between $10-$20 in order to access its premium AI services, as per a report from CNBC based on analysts’ inputs.

They said the company could potentially bundle its Apple Intelligence features with Apple One, which enables users to subscribe to multiple services like Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple News, etc. with singular payments. Apple One monthly plans start from $19.95, with Family and premier subscriptions also available.

The company announced its AI features at its WWDC in June 2024. Some of the AI features that will be fused into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia are an AI-boosted Siri, gen AI writing tools, an image generator, and ‘Genmoji’ along with a ChatGPT integration.

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Why Would Apple Charge Users Extra For AI Features?

As per a report, the add-on subscription fee could give Apple’s lucrative services business a boost. In the June quarter, the company reported that its services division generated $24.2 billion in revenue. “Apple is one of the few connected devices companies that has successfully monetized the value-added services it offers,” said Ben Wood, chief of research at CCS Insight.

The cost could also be passed onto Apple customers because investment in AI is costly, Neil Shah, partner at Counterpoint Research, said. In return, the company users would get access to an AI system that learns from their behavior and offers a personalized experience on their devices.

“The beauty of AI is as you use [it] more and more, it learns about you, and you get locked into the model itself because you can’t bring your own model from Apple to Android,” Shah said. While it is said to be rolled out to all devices later this year, Apple Intelligence won’t be available for customers in Europe and China because of regulatory concerns.

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Apple Could Launch Its Smallest Mac Mini With M4 Chips

Apple seems to be gearing up to give its biggest overhaul to the Mac mini lineup. The tech giant is said to prepping a new version of the Mac mini, which will be its smallest desktop computer ever.

As per a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, this update will mark the first significant design change since Steve Jobs’ era in 2010 and will see the Mac mini shrink to a size comparable to an Apple TV set-top box.

The new Mac mini will be a part of a broader refresh of the company’s Mac lineup, all integrating the Ai-focused M4 processors. These chips, also set to back the upcoming iMac desktops, MacBook Pros, and potentially MacBook Airs, and Mac Pro models, showcase a major shift as the company standardizes its chip generation across all its Mac products for the first time.

Apple seems to have an updated iPhone SE in the works. The updated version will serve as a new low-end model and is also aiming to manufacture new iPad Air models, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The refreshed Apple products are said to be launched early next year, the report said.

This will be the first instance of the iPhone SE since 2022 when Apple added 5G and a faster A15 Bionic chip to the model. The model helps the company to better compete with industry leaders Samsung, Xiaomi, and others in the mid-range smartphone market. Apple is yet to respond to a Reuters request for comment.

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Apple HomePods To Come With iPad-Like Display And AI Features

Apple is said to launch two new HomePods with iPad-like screens and AI features. According to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the company is reportedly working on a new home accessory that will come with a touch-enabled display and Apple Intelligence features. This is said to be a tabletop device that is said to feature a robotic arm and iPad-like display.
 
 

The company is said to bring two versions of this device, one cheaper than the other. Notably, both devices are likely to operate on a newly developed operating system, potentially named homeOS.
 
 

The higher-end version, codenamed J595, is said to feature an iPad-like screen attached to a flexible robotic arm. This arm will enable the screen to be moved and repositioned, with actuators allowing tilting and full 36-degree rotation.
Previously, 9to5Mac reported that Apple is planning to launch a new device with an A18 chip for Apple INtelligence and a squarish display. This could be the lower-end version. It is believed that the device will come packed with a built-in camera, allowing compatibility with video conferencing apps like FaceTime.

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Apple Rolls Out macOS Sequoia Without Apple Intelligence

Apple officially released macOS Sequoia recently, bringing features such as the ability to wirelessly mirror their iPhone on their Mac, window-tilling tools, and much more. There are Apple Intelligence features on the way, too, but they aren’t available yet.

iPhone mirroring is by far the coolest new feature in macOS Sequoia, and it could change how users use their phone. When users open the phone mirroring app, their iPhone pops up, and they can navigate around it using their mouse and type things with their keyboard.

Users’ iPhone notifications can also show up on their Mac. And later this year, they will be able to drag and drop things between their iPhone and their Mac.

Google has finally expanded the availability of Gemini Live AI-powered feature to all Android smartphones with the Gemini app. The feature was previously exclusive to Pixel 9 series phones. The feature, which lets users engage in real-time voice conversations with an AI assistant, is rolling out in English and includes 10 different voices.

Gemini Live enables users to interact with the AI using natural language, making it feel like a human conversation. The assistant can respond to questions, help brainstorm ideas, discuss topics of interest, and upgrade user experience. This rollout brings the feature to a bigger audience, making it accessible to people using the Gemini app on Android for free.

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How Will Gemini Live For Android Users

As of October 1, Gemini Live is available for all Android users globally, without any cost. Users can simply update their Gemini app from the Google Play Store to access the new feature.

Gemini Live supports 10 new AI voices, including Nova, Ursa, Vega, Pegasus, Orbit, Lyra, Orion, Dipper, Eclipse, and Capella. To switch between voices, users can navigate to the app’s settings and select the preferred voice. The assistant operates conversationally, much like fictional AI assistants seen in movies.  

To access Gemini Live, users will have to update the Gemini app via the Google Play Store, then open the app, and tap of ‘Live’ button at the bottom right corner. Start interacting with the AI assistant by speaking naturally. This expansion comes after Google’s earlier announcement in September, stating its intention to make Gemini Live accessible to a bigger audience.

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Google’s Circle To Search Feature Coming To More Smartphones

Google’s visual lookup feature Circle to Search is being rolled out to more Android devices, according to a new leak. The AI feature that enables users to quickly run a web search on any visual element on the screen is currently only available on a few Samsung and Pixel smartphones. However, this could change as tipster claims that the Circle to Search feature is being added to the Tecno V Fold 2, launched recently.

The feature first made its debut with the Samsung Galaxy S24 series in January and was later expanded to older Galaxy smartphones and the Pixel smartphone series. Nine months later, the feature has not been released for any other brand of smartphones. However, tipster Mishaal Rahman claimed that Circle to Search is being added to the Tecno V Fold 2.

Sharing an image of the feature on the tecno foldable, Rahman claimed that the visual lookup feature will also be expanded to “more Android phones next month” finally ending the monopoly of Pixel and Samsung.

Apple has continued to bring new features to its second-gen AirPods Pro, with features related to hearing aids the most recently added to them. However, the third-generation model might be in development and it could bring significant upgrades.

Expected to launch in 2025, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 builds on the health-related features that the company recently introduced in the second-generation model. However, it could be Apple’s first audio product to incorporate Apple Intelligence.

The current-gen AirPods Pro comes with a similar design similar to the original AirPods Por, which launched in 2019. Despite this, the company is not expected to make any radical changes in terms of build and form factor, apart from minor refinements. However, with some anticipated hardware additions, Apple could modify the internals to accommodate new components.

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AirPods Pro 3 Under The Hood

Some of the anticipated additions to the hardware include a built-in camera on the AirPods Pro 3. Previously, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that the company is planning to equip the new version of AirPods Pro with built-in cameras, which would allow visual understanding of the environment for Apple Intelligence.

With built-in cameras and Apple Intelligence, the AirPods Pro 3 could offer real-time assistance regarding physical objects to the user. To power Apple Intelligence, the company might equip the AirPods Pro 3 with a new H3 chip, which could enable other advanced features, such as additional health functionalities.

The AirPods Pro 3 is likely to retain all the new hearing assistance features that Apple recently rolled out in the AirPods Pro 2. However, Apple might have more innovations in store for the next Pro model.

Bloomberg previously reported that the company could introduce a new temperature sensor in an AirPods model to offer more accurate body temperature measurements. This sensor might work alongside other health sensors in an Apple Watch to upgrade health tracking.

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Apple Brings Diwali Deals And Offers For Its Indian Consumers

With the festive season upon us, Apple has introduced some Diwali offers for its Indian consumers. The company is giving instant cashback on the purchase of iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and all other devices. Also, the company is giving free Beats Solo Buds for a limited time period on the purchase of an iPhone.

Buyers can avail of up to Rs 5000 instant cashback on iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16, and iPhone 16 Plus with eligible ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, and American Express cards. On iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, buyers will get instant cashback of Rs 3,000. For the iPhone SE, the cashback is Rs 2,000.

Customers who buy the iPhone 15 from Apple Store will get a pair of free Beats Solo Buds. Besides, there is special edition packaging, which is designed by Aaquib Wani. The offer is valid till October 4 only.

Lenovo-owned smartphone brand Motorola has announced the launch of its ThinkPhone 25. With a design similar to that of the Edge 50 Neo, this is the second offering from the brand under the ThinkPhone branding.

The smartphone comes with military-grade durability and boasts MIL-STD 810H certification, as well as an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The phone has a plastic frame and a back made of Aramid fiber. Priced at $499, the Motorola ThinkPhone 25 will come in a Carbon Black color and in a single configuration of 8GB RAM and 25GB storage.

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Motorola ThinkPhone 25 Under The Hood

The Motorola ThinkPhone 25 comes with a 6.36-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 3,000 nits peak brightness, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i. The phone is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset. It is backed by a 4,310mAh battery with 68W wired and 15W wireless charging support. The device runs on Android 14-based Hello UI, with the company providing five Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates until 2029.

As for the cameras, the smartphone comes with a triple rear camera setup, including a 50MP Sony LYT-700C primary camera, a 13MP ultrawide camera, and a 10MP 3x telephoto camera, which replaces the 2MP depth sensor found in the first gen ThinkPhone. A 32MP front camera is also fitted for selfies.

The ThinkPhone 25 can connect seamlessly with Lenovo laptops and Motorola tablets, providing automatic syncing, shared keyboard capabilities, and webcam features to enhance the overall ecosystem experience. Moreover, the Moto Device Manager offers remote control and management capabilities for devices. Motorola’s ThinkShield offers protection against malware, phishing, and various other threats.

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Motorola Launches Edge 50 Neo With Dimensity 7300 SoC

Motorola has expanded its flagship smartphone lineup in the Indian market with the launch of the Motorola Edge 50 Neo. The smartphone comes packed with impressive features including a 50MP Sony LYTIA-700X sensor, AI-powered camera upgrades, and long-term software support.

The smartphone is priced at Rs 23,999 in India, which is part of a special festive offer, as per the company. The phone comes in a single variant offering 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.

Buyers can pick from our Pantone-certified color options: Nautical Blue, Poinciana, Lattè, and Grisaille, and all of them feature a vegan leather back for added style. Besides, extra perks include a Rs 1,000 discount for certain bank card holders or an exchange bonus of Rs 1,000. Jio users can avail of bundled offers worth Rs 10,000, including Rs 2,000 cashback and further benefits worth up to Rs 8,000.

Meta’s WhatsApp has introduced exciting new features that would appeal more to the youth. Users will be able to personalize their video calls with custom backgrounds and filters and add creative and personal touch to both one-on-one and group calls.

In a post on his WhatsApp channel, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote, “Rolling out some new filters and backgrounds for video calls, so had to test them out,” while sharing some of the filter and background effects.

According to Meta, “Filters are designed to help you create a more playful atmosphere, whether that’s adding a splash of color or creating a more artistic feel for your video. With backgrounds, you can keep your surroundings private and transport yourself to a cozy coffee shop or comfortable living room for a cleaner and more polished look.”

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WhatsApp Adds New Features For Video Calls

The latest WhatsApp update adds 10 filters such as Warm, Cool, Black & White, Light Leak, Dreamy, Prism Light, Fisheye, Vintage TV, Frosted Glass, and Duo Tone. There are also 10 new background options, including Blur, Living Room, Office, Cafe, Pebbles, Foodie, Smoosh, Beach, Sunset, Celebration, and Forest.

Moreover, users can utilize touch-up and low-light filters to upgrade picture quality during calls, making video chats clearer. To use WhatsApp filters and backgrounds during a video, users will have to initiate a video call on WhatsApp and select the effect icon from the top right corner of users’ smartphone, where they can pick and choose the effects or backgrounds.

Currently being rolled out for both Android and iOS smartphone users. Make sure to download and install the latest version of WhatsApp to experience these new filters and stickers the next time users make a video call on WhatsApp.

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WhatsApp To Allow Users Public Figures For Meta AI Voice Mode

WhatsApp for Android is reportedly working on a new functionality to integrate a two-way voice chat feature for the in-app AI chatbot Meta AI. A new report suggests that the voice mode feature will also come with multiple voices of public figures, letting users customize their experience of interacting with the chatbot.

Additionally, other voices from the US and the UK are also said to be integrated into this feature. Notably, Meta AI voice mode will be able to hold conversations with the users in a human-like manner.

As per WABetaInfo, the information regarding the voices of public figures was spotted in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.24.19.32. As of now, the feature is not visible, and as a result, those who have signed up for the Google Beta Programme will not be able to see it.