Apple ‘iPhone 6s’ might come with always-on ‘Hey Siri’ functionality

Just ahead of the Apple Special Event, a source told Apple Insider that the upcoming phone from the company will come with always-on “Hey Siri” activation, much like “OK Google” service on Android. Siri can do that too but it must be connected to a power for voice activation to work. The current iOS 9 beta doesn’t support the unplugged “Hey Siri” feature making us speculate that they integrated it at the hardware level. Some Android phones have a specialized voice activation monitoring chip to support “OK Google” feature without it eating too much battery life. Well, we just have a few more hours to wait before we find out what Apple’s cooking in its kitchen.

Source: Apple Insider

The Apple Beat: Is Apple TV ready for primetime?

 

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

A new voice-control interface powered by Siri would be a killer feature, specially for an Apple TV priced in the US $149 range. But Apple will need to step up its game to make the device a true platform. So, aside from iTunes movies and TV shows on demand, we can expect the advent of iOS apps and games to come to Apple TV.

In a few days, we will know what Apple plans on revealing as it takes over the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. The September 9 event is guaranteed to involve the next generation iPhone as well as iOS 9 and possibly some considerable Apple Watch and watchOS 2.0 news, since it has been a year since we first saw Apple’s wearable.

Rumors are getting frenzied right now, as they always do before a huge Apple Event. Since, there haven’t been any significant leaks or spoilers as to what we will see (smartphone case prototypes don’t count), blogs and even established news agencies are scrambling by playing guessing games and giving time to any rumour that seems to make sense (like new colours for Apple Watch Sport straps... ).

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Apple confirms September 9 launch event in San Francisco

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Media invitations went out this morning from Apple for an invitation-only event to be held on September 9th at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in downtown San Francisco. The invitation has the Apple Logo as well as the Siri waveform graphics that appear on the Apple Watch with a "Hey Siri, give us a hint" text below. Siri is iOS's digital personal assistant which is native to the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch lines. Just out of curiosity, I queried Siri and asked her to give me a hint, I got the response below.

Traditionally an iOS and iPhone event, September events are held in the Yerba Buena Centre for the Arts in San Francisco, although last year's event was equally focused on the Apple Watch and was held at the Flint Centre in Cupertino. For this year, Apple is expected to update the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus lines and possibly add a lower cost model. Aside from the de rigueur OS and processor upgrades, we expect to see improved cameras, possible Force Touch functionality as well as the introduction of new colours. Seeing as Siri features in the invitation, we might get new and improved Siri functionality as well. Stay tuned for more development on this story.

Air Canada to use IBM apps on Apple mobile devices

Air Canada joins around 500 companies working with Apple and its enterprise partner IBM. This partnership was formed to help boost the stagnant sales of the iPad and to help make inroads in the enterprise market. Apple CFO Luca Maestri revealed details of this partnership during a call to discuss the company’s third-quarter earnings.

Maestri won’t divulge how many workers are using the apps. Although, for example, only a few Air Canada flight attendants could be using the Passenger+ app. This app lets them see passenger and flight information via an iPad. Other companies and even governments working with Apple and IBM include U.K. energy provider National Grid, Mexican bank Banorte, and American Eagle Outfitters. The companies are also working with the Japanese government for solutions to help care for its aging population. The partnership has yielded 35 apps and they still seem to be on track to meet the 100 apps they plan to release by the end of the year.

Source: ComputerWorld