House Robots are Apple’s NEXT big thing! (CultCast #641)
Apr 5, 2024
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Apple's potential venture into home robotics with mobile and tabletop devices discussed. iPhone 16 leaks revealed, including redesigned camera humps and material choices. Solar eclipse stories shared, along with photo tips for capturing celestial events.
Apple is focusing on personal home robots as their next big innovation.
The iPhone 16 will bring significant changes based on leaked 'dummy' units.
The upcoming M3 Ultra processor for Mac Studio promises a major performance boost.
Deep dives
Apple announces Spatial Personas for Vision Pro creating lifelike avatars
Apple introduced Spatial Personas in VisionOS 1.1 for Vision Pro, enhancing the Persona feature, allowing users to interact with customizable 3D digital avatars and virtual spaces. Spatial Personas create a lifelike enhancement, moving beyond traditional 2D avatars. Through advanced machine learning, avatars capture users' personality traits, speech patterns, and conversational mannerisms, becoming increasingly realistic representations over time.
Anticipation grows for upcoming iPad Pro models expected in May
Apple's overseas suppliers have increased production of the next iPad models, rumored to launch in early May. Delays were caused by manufacturing techniques for new screens in the upcoming iPad models. Anticipation rises for the iPad Pro models with expected launches planned for the near future.
Potential performance boost on the horizon with redesigned Apple M3 Ultra processor
Speculation suggests that the upcoming M3 Ultra processor for the Mac Studio could offer a significant performance increase due to redesigned silicon interconnect, potentially leading to enhanced core counts and improved efficiency over previous generations. Details from technical experts indicate a substantial upgrade in chip design for future Apple devices.
Enhanced Vision Pro feature allows for lifelike interaction with digital avatars
A new feature in VisionOS 1.1 for Vision Pro enables users to create and interact with lifelike 3D digital avatars and virtual spaces known as Spatial Personas. These avatars embody users' personality traits, speech patterns, and conversational style through advanced machine learning technology, creating a realistic and engaging digital representation for users to interact within virtual hangout spaces.
Preparing for a Solar Eclipse
The podcast episode discusses the upcoming total solar eclipse, providing tips on how to photograph the event safely. The host emphasizes the importance of using a tripod and a tripod mount to capture clear images without fumbling during the eclipse. Additionally, the need for solar filters to protect the phone's camera when photographing the sun is highlighted, offering a cost-effective solution using spare solar eclipse glasses or specially designed filters. The importance of having a zoom lens to enhance optical zoom capabilities for capturing detailed images during the eclipse and a camera app with manual controls to optimize photo quality are also emphasized.
Personal Experience at a Solar Eclipse
The episode also delves into the host's personal experience during a solar eclipse in 2017. Describing the event as rare and powerful, the host recalls the surreal moments of witnessing the eclipse's progression, including the eerie shadow cast by the moon and the changes in shadow shapes on the landscape. The atmosphere during totality is portrayed as tribal and hypnotic, with people exhibiting a collective altered state of being. The host reflects on the transformative nature of the experience, encouraging listeners to seize the opportunity to witness such celestial events firsthand for a lasting impact.
This week: Forget a car — Apple thinks personal home robots are their next big thing. Plus: iPhone 16 leaks, what comes next for the M3, a big new feature lands on Vision Pro, and our solar eclipse stories and photo tips!
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Teams in Cupertino are working on Apple personal home robotic devices, including a mobile robot and a table-top device with a moving display, according to a new report.
Images of iPhone 16 “dummy” units have been published by a tipster with an established record. They show the redesigned camera hump reportedly coming to the two non-Pro models and other changes.
No new iPad models came out in 2023 at all, and the tablet drought continues. That’s why there’s so much excitement about the upcoming Pro and Air models.
Apple's in the process of restructuring their Apple Silicon lineup. M3 Max no longer comes with the UltraFusion interconnect. This means that the M3 Ultra chip will be redesigned as its own standalone chip, no longer being made up of 2x Max dies.
Apple has made Spatial Personas, a more lifelike enhancement of the Persona feature for the Vision Pro mixed-reality headset, available in the visionOS 1.1 update which came Tuesday.