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iOS 18.2 had me thinking that Apple’s Magic Eraser competitor was better, until it didn’t.
Shortly after Apple released the third iOS 18.1 Developer Beta,I decided to seehow well the new “Clean Up” feature would stack up against Google’s Magic Eraser and Samsung’s Object Eraser. What I ended up with was a thing of nightmares when trying to remove the harness from my dog in a picture.
Samsung and Google both did a good job, but that didn’t come as much of a surprise, given that these tools have been availableon various phonesfor some time. Truthfully, I didn’t think Apple’s Clean Up would be a viable option and that it would just disappear into the night.
As it turns out, the complete opposite happened, as the stable build of iOS 18.2 arrived this week, packed with “Apple Intelligence” features. Hidden in the midst of the new AI features was an update to the Clean Up tool, which Apple has been apparently working hard to improve.
After being prodded a bit, the most obvious way to see if Clean Up is actually better was to try it on the same picture from before, using my iPhone 16 Pro Max. Much to my surprise, Apple didn’t try to mutilate my dog, and the entire process was a lot easier than I expected.
Because we’re working with smaller objects, there’s a lot of room for error when making selections. But after loading the picture and tapping the “Clean Up” option, it was as simple as just tracing a line along the harness. The tool then highlighted exactly what I wanted to have removed before automatically doing just that.
Leia is standing in the yard with a harness and lead before edits.
Apple Clean Up results using iPhone 16 Pro Max.
The results were more impressive than I thought they would be, so I figured I would try usingMagic Eraser in Google Photos. Seeing as it’s been a few months since the last time I tried this out, surely Google would still come out on top, right?
First, I tried using Google Photos on my iPhone since it has Magic Eraser. The results were less than stellar, and it took longer because I had to select the harness in sections. Eventually, I got there, but you can obviously see where the edits were made.
Then, I thought that I might get better results by using Magic Eraser on myPixel 9 Pro Fold. After transferring the full-resolution photo and opening it in Google Photos, somehow the results were worse. There’s some weird line along my dog’s back, and her ear is even more crooked than normal.
Magic Eraser results using iPhone 16 Pro Max
Magic Eraser results using Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Maybe it’s just a fluke or something to do with this picture specifically. So, I did the next logical thing, picking a different picture before using Clean Up and Magic Eraser. This time, I opted for something that would probably be more common — removing people from the background.
I’m not sure if it’s just something that I’m doing wrong or what. However, neither the iPhone’s Clean Up nor the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s Magic Eraser did a particularly great job. Both results lookfineuntil you start to zoom in and pixel-peep where the people were removed.
When I started writing this, I didn’t really have much more to add, hence the first half of the title. But then I went back into Clean Up to make sure that it actually recognized the entire harness at once and that I wasn’t just imagining things.
So I pulled up the picture of my dog again, confirmed that the harness was highlighted, and then was greeted with the following.
Imagine my confusion when Apple applied a “Safety Filter” to the picture when all I was trying to do was remove the harness. I tried it again, just to double-check, and again, the Safety Filter was applied.
I understand the idea and premise of such a feature — and yes, it’s a feature, not a bug — but this is the same picture that I had already been editing before, and it’s just my dog standing outside with her harness and lead attached. So, I’m not even sure of the logic taking place here.
On the one hand, I commend Apple for including the Safety Filter to begin with. On the other, why was it thatApple Intelligencewas able to properly edit the photo 10 minutes before, only to incorrectly apply the filter on thesame image? It’s left me genuinely perplexed, and all I can hope is that this isn’t a regular occurrence.
That being said, even with the aforementioned hiccup, it’s tough to argue with the results. In just a few months, Apple has made some pretty big improvements to its Clean Up feature. Now, I have to wonder whether Google will lean on Gemini to improve its own Magic Eraser or if Apple will end up surpassing it.
The Apple tvOS 18.2 has arrived with improvements for 2nd and 3rd generation Apple TVs. Enhancements include support for more cinematic aspect ratios for projectors and displays. Plus, there are new screensavers and a dialogue-enhancing tool for a connected HomePod (2nd generation).
The Apple tvOS 18.2 update is rolling out to users. (Image source: Li Lin via Unsplash)
Apple has released a new update for the Apple TV 4K and the Apple TV HD,tvOS 18.2. This follows the launch oftvOS 18in November, a major update adding new InSights, smart subtitles and a redesigned Apple Fitness+.
The tvOS 18.2 release brings support for 21:9 and a range of other cinematic aspect ratios to the Apple TV. This provides users with an enhanced viewing experience on a compatible projector or display. Plus, you can now get an ultra-widescreen view on a FaceTime call. It is worth noting that these improvements only affect theApple – TV 4K (3rd generation).
For 2nd generation models onwards, the update also brings new Snoopy and Woodstock screensavers, dynamically adapting based on the weather, day or current holidays. On top of this, the Enhance Dialogue tool now works with a connected HomePod (2nd generation). The feature makes it easier to hear speech over other background sounds, thanks to audio processing in real-time combined with machine learning. If you do not have automatic updates set up, you can manually download the tvOS 18.2 update on your Apple TV by going to Settings > System > Software Updates.
When you don’t have to go through every file, ask Gemini to do it.
What you need to know
Google highlighted the rollout of Gemini in Drive, which aims to help summarize a user’s folders, documents, spreadsheets, and more.
Users can write their query for a folder in Drive’s side panel or they can navigate to a folder and hit the “summarize folder” button.
Google recently updated Docs with additional Gemini help for crafting formatted documents while also unveiling Gemini 2.0.
Google is rolling out an update for Drive users that brings Gemini into its side panel with new tools.
The company highlighted the latest update in aWorkspace post, stating Gemini can now summarize documents in Drive. Google explains that Gemini in Drive can only answer questions about your “text documents, PDFs, spreadsheets, and presentations.”
More specifically, with Gemini entering Drive’s side panel, Google states users can write their queries about a folder before the “@” symbol and the name of the folder; i.e., “summarize the files in @batterymap.”
Additionally, Google gives the example of asking about the “theme of the content” within a folder.
Writing your prompt to Gemini isn’t the only avenue toward quick information as users will find a starry icon button in folders, too. Once you receive this update, navigating to a foldershoulddisplay a “Summarize this folder” button beneath the navigation bar. Clicking this will automatically inform Gemini of your request and produce the side panel with its generated information.
There will also be a “suggestions” option alongside the likely ability for users to expand on what they’d like Gemini to surface via the text field.
Alternatively, users can right-click on a document in their list and click “Ask Gemini” for information that way. The side panel expands its uses by letting users drag and drop documents into it instead of the “@” mention method.
The update started rolling out on December 11 for users under rapid and scheduled release domains. Workspace customers with Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, Education Premium, and Google One AI Premium add-ons will have access to Gemini in Drive’s side panel for summarization.
Moreover, the company states users need to have “smart features and personalization” enabled before this feature is usable. Admins can turn this on by default for users if need be.
Gemini’s capabilities across Workspace have consistently grown, especially through itsrecent update for Docs. The AI utilizes a prompt — “help me create” — which is reminiscent of its recentsmart home testfor Google Home. Regardless, the Google Doc version lets the AI help users create formatted documents from scratch. The AI can also easily grab files from your Drive and incorporate them into a new file for you.
Elsewhere, Gmail picked up extra Gemini help via “contextual smart replies.” The update to its AI-generated replies will take into account what’s been said in your current line of messagesbeforeoffering a quick suggestion. Additionally, Google unveiledGemini 2.0this week, which prepares to usher in a new “agentic era.”
Apple’s iWork suite is available for iOS/iPadOS devices and macOS.(Image credit: Apple)
Apple has updated its iWork suite of productivity tools to version 14.3
The new version brings support for Apple Intelligence on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
Users can use Writing Tools and Image Playground within Keynote, Pages, and Numbers
Applehas updated its iWork suite of productivity tools including Keynote, Pages, and Numbers to includeApple Intelligence, a major free AI update.
The 14.3 update brings AI benefits to Apple’s equivalent toMicrosoftOffice, including Writing Tools, which allows you to proofread, summarize, and compose text for your documents. Writing Tools has been available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac since September, but now you can easily access it via the Apple Intelligence button in iWork.
Writing Tools also lets you reword your writing with preset tones, as well as give prompts to nudge Apple Intelligence in a certain direction. For example, you could tell it ‘Make this text more exciting’ and Apple will work its magic.
Writing Tools isn’t the only new Apple Intelligence feature available for Keynote, Pages, and Numbers. Image Playground, Apple’s take on the best AI image generator, is also included, enabling you to quickly add images to your documents for a touch of color and creativity.
Apple Intelligence in iWork is compatible with all M-series Macs, M-series iPads, theA17 Pro iPad mini, iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 models.
Apple Intelligence in iWork isn’t the only big new AI update for your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Apple’s release ofiOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 is a huge step forward for the rollout of the company’s AI tools.
With new features like Genmoji,ChatGPTintegration in Siri, and Mail categorization, there’s plenty to help you improve your workflow alongside iWork’s new Writing Tools and Image Playground features.
Apple Intelligence is still not complete, however – we’ll need to wait until March or April 2025 to see Siri get personal context and on-screen awareness, which should help tie all of these AI tools together. As it stands, Apple hopes you’ll use Apple Intelligence when you need it, peppering AI features throughout theoperating system. This approach lets you use Apple Intelligence only if you choose to do so, which is a far less intrusive approach than is the case with some other AI products.
Whether or not Apple Intelligence can significantly improve your productivity will depend on how you use your Apple devices; but adding proofreading and image generation to iWork is a great place to start.
40 new templates and Gemini-powered creation coming to Google Docs
Creating smarter and better-looking documents onGoogle Docsis set to get a whole lot easier thanks to a host of new upgrades heading to the service.
Theword processortool has introduced new implementations withGoogleGemini which look to make creating stand-out work simpler than ever.
But theGoogle Workspacetool has also revealed a collection of 40 new high-quality, visually modern designs in Google Docs, giving users a selection of new options to make your documents really shine.
Google Docs and Gemini
(Image credit: Google Workspace)
The introduction of Gemini’s “help me create” tool followssimilar launches in Gmail, and will give Google Docs users the opportunity to craft an entire document with a single prompt.
The tool will then pull the necessary information from a user’s Google Drive files, creating, “a long-form document with cover images, in-line images, stylized text, tables, content from your Drive files, and more”, the company said in ablog postannouncing the news.
Users can click to create at the top of a new document, or go to File > New > Help me create, to start describing the document they want to create. You can also choose from a number of pre-set start prompts to make things quicker, with examples such as creating a meeting template for a daily catch-up, a checklist for planning an event, or a roadmap for a product launch.
“Help me create” in Google Docs is available for Google Workspace customers with Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, Education Premium, and Google One AI Premium add-ons, and only in English for the moment.
To make your documents look even better, Google Docs has also launched 40 new templates which include a number of useful new features to ensure your work stands out.
This includes document tabs to keep your documents organized, placeholder chips to make it easy for users and collaborators to add data, and building blocks, pre-set layouts and styles give your document a premium look and feel.
“Docs templates help users save time since they don’t have to build documents from scratch, create more uniform, high-quality, visually-appealing documents, and enable them to be more productive with the latest Docs features in their daily processes,” the company noted in ablog postannouncing the news.
A new Windows feature lets you share files between iPhones and PCs
It’s a lot like Apple’s AirDrop feature, but works across operating systems
It’s limited to Windows Insider Program users for now
Apple’s walled garden makes it incredibly easy to share files between your Apple devices quickly and easily, but things get a little trickier when you want to link up your iPhone and aWindows PC. That could be changing, though, as Microsoft has just given you a new way to share files across devices that mirrors one of Apple’s best features.
The update has come to the Phone Link app for Windows and the Link to Windows app for iPhone. In anew blog post,Microsoftrevealed that when you’re running the latest version of each app, you’ll be able to share files between your devices with just a few clicks. That’s similar to Apple’sAirDrop feature, which allows you to send files back and forth between your Apple devices without having to do anything clunky like attaching them to messages or emails.
To send a file from your iPhone to your Windows PC using Microsoft’s new method, find the file in question and select the share button in iOS, then tap Link to Windows and pick the device you want to send the file to. To do the reverse (that is, send something from a Windows PC to an iPhone), right-click the file in Windows and choose Share from the context menu, then select “My Phone.”
This is a far easier way to move files between your devices, even if they’re bound to different ecosystems. Previously, it was common to use a third-party app like Dropbox or Google Drive to share items, which often required you to manually upload and download files in a much more laborious manner. That means Microsoft’s latest feature is a welcome one, especially if you use devices made by both Microsoft and Apple.
We’ve seen something like this before. In August 2024, Microsoft introduced a similar feature forwhisking files between Windows and Android. It seems that Microsoft has been encouraged by that feature and has now expanded it to work with Apple devices.
Microsoft has laid down a few more requirements for this new feature to work. Aside from running Phone Link (version 1.24112.89.0) and Link to Windows (version 1.24112.73 or higher), you’ll need to have installed iOS 16 or later on your iPhone, be runningWindows 10orWindows 11on your PC, and be signed up for the Windows Insider Program.
With any luck, this feature will be rolled out to users who are not part of the Windows Insider Program over the next few weeks. Once that happens, it should make life a lot easier for anyone who uses both an iPhone and a Windows PC and wants to share files between them.
The Pixel 9 will be one of the first phones in line for the new feature
Android phones are getting a new Motion Cues feature
The feature should help combat motion sickness when reading in cars
iPhones recently got a similar feature in iOS 18
If you were paying attention to theiOS 18launch, you may have noticed a new Vehicle Motion Cues feature that promises to help to combat car sickness. There’s now an Android equivalent on the way – and we just got a better idea of how it’s going to work.
The folks over atAndroid Policedid some digging into theGoogle PlayServices code on Android, discovering that the featureGoogleis planning – called, apparently, Motion Cues – is almost ready to be rolled out.
With a few tweaks, the Android Police team was able to get the feature working: You get a simpleMotion Cuestoggle switch, plus anAuto-enable when Drivingoption that has the feature kick in whenever your phone thinks you’re in a car.
As on iOS, the feature puts small black dots at the edge of the screen, which then move to match the motion of the vehicle you’re in. The idea is to remove the disconnect between your body feeling movement and your eyes seeing something fixed and stationary.
The hidden screens enabled by Android Police(Image credit: Android Police)
Google hasn’t said anything officially yet, so we don’t know when this feature is going to be pushed out – we might not see it untilAndroid 16arrives around mid-2025, though it could also be part of an Android 15 update. The feature wasfirst spotted last month.
When it does turn up, you’ll be able to activate it through the Quick Settings panel, Android Police reports – so with a quick one-finger or two-finger swipe down from the top of the screen you can turn it on and try and ward off any nausea.
Here’s howApple describesits own feature: “With Vehicle Motion Cues, animated dots on the edges of the screen represent changes in vehicle motion to help reduce sensory conflict without interfering with the main content.”
That “sensory conflict” happens when there’s a disconnect between what you see and what you feel, and Motion Cues should help – not just in cars, but in other places where you might get motion sickness (on a boat, for example).
Apple Intelligence has released the most exciting update yet, iOS 18.2 will appear on the best iphones.
The new update brings a whole host of Apple Intelligence features, including toChatGPTintegration with Siri, Genmoji, Image Playground, and Visual Intelligence to the iPhone. It also adds language support for other regions such as the UK and Australia, officially launching Apple’s AI in those countries.
We’ve got a lot to talk about and a lot to think about as we take you through the biggest iOS launch of the year, where Apple Intelligence is taking a big step toward becoming the most important part of the iPhone user experience.
iOS 18.2: Everything you need to know at a glance
iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 arrive on eligible devices today: The next major Apple Intelligence update is here, bringing some of the most-anticipated Apple AI features to devices.
Genmoji: Apple’s AI-generated emojis are set to be one of the most popular new additions to the iPhone, allowing you to send any emoji you can think of to friends and family, at the tap of a button.
Image Playground: Apple’s AI image generator lets you create images in multiple styles simply from a text input. There is a new standalone app, as well as ways to access from within apps like Notes and Messages.
ChatGPT: You can now use ChatGPT directly from within Siri, allowing you to ask OpenAI’s chatbot difficult prompts that Apple’s voice assistant might not have the answer to.
Visual Intelligence: An iPhone 16-exclusive Apple Intelligence feature that lets you snap a photo of anything and searching for more information via Google or ChatGPT. This feature is tied to Camera Control.
Mail overhaul: The Mail app now has categories and uses Apple Intelligence to determine if an email is important enough to prioritize.
Apple Intelligence now in the UK: iOS 18.2 adds localized English support for Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK, giving even more users around the world powerful new ways to use their iPhone, iPad, and Mac
If you’ve updated and are wondering where you find the ChatGPT integration for Siri, you’ve come to the right place. After updating to iOS 18.2 on an iPhone, you’ll want to head over to Settings and then select “Apple Intelligence & Siri” if you’re using United States English on the device.
Apple packs a lot into this menu, but you’ll scroll down to Extensions and then select “ChatGPT” – it should be the only option. Within there, right at the top, you turn on “Use ChatGPT,” and further down, you will have the option to sign into your ChatGPT account if you have one, but this isn’t required.
You’ll find that when you ask Siri for something that the personal assistant deems best answered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, it will ask if you want to use ChatGPT. This is deafult and pretty transparent, it’s also a neat way to see what Siri’s new powers are. If you prefer not to confirm that each time, you can deselect the “Confirm ChatGPT Requests” option here, but know it’s on by default.
(Image credit: Apple)
2.12 December 2024 at 4:09 am
Greg Joswiak, Apple’s SVP of Marketing, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share one of his Image Playground creations. “The Joswiak pups look good all drawn up by Image Playground, don’t you think?” the post reads, and we’d concur that they look pretty darn cute.
If you’re curious where to find Image Playground, it’ll appear as a new app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac after you install iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia. It’s a unique icon, basically a furry white cat with a holographic purple hue for an icon. But much like other text-to-image generators, your ask is Image Playground’s command, and there are even some preset options.
Genmoji, more Writing Tools, Image Playground, ChatGPT integration, and Visual Intelligence for iPhone 16! New Apple Intelligence features are here! The Joswiak pups look good all drawn up by Image Playground, don’t you think? pic.twitter.com/obbX6QknizDecember 11, 2024
Apple’s CEO Tim Cook also celebrated the launch of Apple Intelligence’s next set of features on X, but didn’t share an Image Playground.
New Apple Intelligence features for iPhone, iPad, and Mac are here: Image Playground and Genmoji, more dynamic Writing Tools, integration to ChatGPT, and Visual Intelligence for iPhone 16! It’s personal, integrated, and built to protect user privacy at every step.December 11, 2024
3.12 December 2024 at 2:35 am
iOS 18.2 rollout is starting
(Image credit: Apple)
If you’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of iOS 18.2 – maybe to create custom emojis with Genmoji or to get a supercharged answer from Siri courtesy of ChatGPT – it’s beginning to hit eligible devices, at least on the East Coast of the United States here in New Jersey.
On an iPhone 16, the update comes in at 7.83 GB, which is pretty sizeable, especially for a dot software upgrade. As we’ve listed below, iOS 18.2 ushers in the next set of Apple Intelligence features, including Genmoji, Image Playground, ChatGPT integration, and enhanced writing tools.
Of course, the first step to getting any of these new features is to download and install the latest version, then opt in to Apple Intelligence. While there is no waitlist for these image generation tools, your Apple device will need to download the specific models for Genmoji and Image Playground. It’s best to be on Wi-Fi for that to be quicker, but once set, you can get to generating.
4.12 December 2024 at 12:38 am
(Image credit: Apple)
If you need a reminder on what devices are compatible with Apple Intelligence, here’s what you need to own:
I thought iOS 18.2 was supposed to be released already today 😕 pic.twitter.com/BpnYLAzPxvDecember 11, 2024
Still no sign of the iOS 18.2 update, and some users on X are getting frustrated. I expect the new operating systems to arrive in the next few hours, so just remain patient as it’s definitely going to launch today.
I can’t wait to see what everyone thinks of iOS 18.2, as I was incredibly impressed with just how feature-rich it was when I installed the developer beta last month. iOS 18.2 is what iOS 18 should’ve been, but we’ve just had to wait a few months to get it.
6.12 December 2024 at 12:19 am
(Image credit: Apple)
So… These are some Genmojis of me with my Frenchie, Kermit. As a huge fan of the Muppets and frogs, I also decided to make one of a French bulldog next to a frog. I’ve been using the Genmojis of me with my dog since I first created them about a month ago, who doesn’t want a custom emoji with their pet?
I’m surprised at how good a job Apple Intelligence did with these, I’m a bald man with a beard so it’s easy to recreate my likeness in emoji form, but even then it still manages to look like me. Good job Apple.
7.11 December 2024 at 11:58 pm
(Image credit: Apple)
I noticed a weird issue with the ChatGPT extension that might impact some of you installing iOS 18.2 today.
If you used our workaround to access Apple Intelligence early in the UK, when you decide to change your language back from US English to UK English,you might notice ChatGPT disappear.
If this happens all you need to do is change the region of your iPhone too and ChatGPT should reappear. This issue left me scratching my head for weeks, so I’m glad I managed to find the reason why and share it with you all.
8.11 December 2024 at 11:53 pm
(Image credit: Apple)
Are you keeping up? My hands are trying to.
If you’re in the UK, Australia, or one of the other countries I mentioned below, today is the first day you can use Apple Intelligence without needing a workaround.
So not only are you getting access to everything I listed below as part of iOS 18.2 but you’re also getting Writing Tools, Clean Up, a Siri redesign, Notification summaries, and other Apple Intelligence benefits sprinkled throughout your iPhone’s operating system.
It might seem like there’s too much getting added all at once, but don’t worry Apple wants you to use Apple Intelligence when you need it, so expect to see the features pop up naturally throughout iOS rather than you having to look for them.
That has to be everything right? Nope, iOS 18.2 brings a massive overhaul to the Mail app using Apple Intelligence to create Categories that help you determine just how important an email actually is.
I’ve found this update to Mail genuinely useful and have actually reverted back to using Mail over the Gmail app for the first time in ages. Not only do you get Apple Intelligence summaries built-in, but AI will also decide if an email is important and prioritize it over everything else in your inbox.
If you don’t like the way it works, you can always revert back to a more traditional Mail layout.
10.11 December 2024 at 11:43 pm
(Image credit: Apple)
There’s also Image Wand, which allows you to circle anything you’ve drawn in the Notes app and use Apple Intelligence to turn it into an AI generated image.
I could see Image Wand being incredibly useful for students, who want to bring their drawings to live alongside lecture notes or other study info.
It’s also a great tool to show to kids, allowing them to see magic as basic drawings become full images right in front of their very own eyes.
Image Wand is very cool, and I actually think it might end up being more useful than Image Playground, just because of how you access it.
11.11 December 2024 at 11:38 pm
And another one…
(Image credit: Apple)
Yep that’s right there’s even more new Apple Intelligence additions as part of iOS 18.2. Genmoji isn’t the only image generator built into iOS now, Apple also added a new app called Image Playground.
Image Playground is Apple’s attempt at the best AI image generator, and it can be used throughout your iPhone’s operating system. Simply choose your prompt, choose your art style, and watch as Apple Intelligence creates some image magic.
If you don’t use AI image generators like MidJourney, I don’t expect you to get much use out of Image Playground. That said, it’s a nice to have and it’s very simple to use. Who says no to extra features, right?
12.11 December 2024 at 11:32 pm
(Image credit: Apple)
The features keep on coming. iOS 18.2 adds ChatGPT to Siri, allowing you to ask OpenAI’s chatbot anything you want, when Siri doesn’t quite cut it.
The ChatGPT extension can be accessed at any time through Siri by simply asking a question or using Type to Siri. If Siri can’t answer the specific prompt, it will give you the option to access ChatGPT.
There’s a couple of settings that allow you to bypass the request so you don’t need to approve access to ChatGPT every time you want to use it, but Apple has included an option that requires your approval every single time – just to be extra cautious.
ChatGPT as part of iOS is a massive update and one that I think many Apple users never really expected to see. It’s quite incredible to think that we now have access to one of the world’s best AI chatbots directly from Siri, and best of all, it works seamlessly.
13.11 December 2024 at 11:28 pm
(Image credit: Apple)
Next up, Visual Intelligence.
This new Apple Intelligence feature in iOS 18.2 is exclusive to thebest iPhones, specifically the iPhone 16 lineup. It’s similar to Google Lens, but built by Apple and directly tied into the new Camera Control on the latest iPhones.
Simply hold down on Camera Control, then take a photo of anything and either ask ChatGPT for more information or search for information with Google. I think the fact that you can launch Visual Intelligence whenever you want makes it a very compelling feature and one that many might fall in love with.
14.11 December 2024 at 11:23 pm
(Image credit: Future / Apple)
Let’s go through each of the big new Apple Intelligence features coming to iPhone with iOS 18.2, starting with my personal favorite, Genmoji.
I’ve been using Genmoji for a few weeks now and I think it’s the best Apple Intelligence feature to get started with, purely because it’s so much fun!
I’ve had a blast creating emojis of a frog on a skateboard, a frog driving a car, and even a frog playing the drums. My favorite way to use Genmoji, however, is by creating emojis based on my photos alongside my French Bulldog, Kermit.
Honestly, I think most of my friends are starting to block my number because Genmoji is becoming my sole means of communication. Maybe I should try and tone it down. But where’s the fun in that?
Genmoji is an absolute blast and I advise anyone installing iOS 18.2 to give it a try.
15.11 December 2024 at 11:18 pm
Apple Intelligence has arrived (in some countries)
Oh, and if you’re in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, or the UK, you can now access Apple Intelligence without any workarounds.
That’s right, Apple Intelligence is now officially out in more countries worldwide with support for localized languages. Apple says additional languages, including Chinese, English (India), English (Singapore), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese will be coming throughout the year, with an initial set arriving in a software update in April.
16.11 December 2024 at 11:13 pm
(Image credit: Apple)
Where shall we start?iOS 18.2 is rolling out today alongside iPadOS 18.2 and macOS Sequoia 15.2. The new update brings Genmoji, Apple’s generative AI emojis, to iPhone and iPad (sorry Mac users you’ll need to wait a little longer), as well as major upgrades to Siri that allow you to ask ChatGPT directly from your favorite voice assistant.
If that wasn’t enough, there’s also an AI image generator called Image Playground, as well as Visual Intelligence, an exclusive iPhone 16 feature.
It can all get a bit overwhelming, considering just how much is launching as part of iOS 18.2, but fret not, I’ve been using Apple Intelligence for months and I’ve got you covered.
It might be hard to believe, but we’re just 14 days away from Christmas. The holiday season is here, and I’d bet you’re already spinning your favorite Christmas songs on your preferred music service, like Spotify orAppleMusic, but there is a change in the wind with how your next favorite holiday song might be recorded.
Alongsidereleasing iOS 18.2 for the iPhone, Apple is dropping a major update for Voice Memos, which Michael Bublé thinks is “going to change the way we make music, forever.” Voice Memos has long been used to record tracks, jam sessions, and even ideas for songs by artists, but now the app supports layered Voice Memos recording.
This allows you to layer a vocal recording on top of an existing instrument-based track, all with just your iPhone. However, you will need a new one, specifically aniPhone 16 ProoriPhone 16 Pro Maxwith an A18 Pro chip inside. With just that one device, you can play the existing instrumental backing track out of your iPhone’s speakers and use the onboard microphones to record your vocals in real time.
In fact, that’s how Michael Bublé, Carly Pearce, and producer Greg Wells recorded vocals for their new Christmas song,Maybe This Christmas, on an iPhone 16 Pro within Voice Memos. After recording, and during the process, the A18 Pro chip isolates just the vocals by using AI and ML models – likely similar to what Apple uses within Logic Pro for separating instruments, but the big difference is that this is for everyone, free on the top of the line iPhone.
Apple even released a bit of a behind-the-scenes story with Pearce, Wells, and Bublé alongside announcing that layered Voice Memos were rolling out. You can see a bit of the process, including the recording on the iPhone, but also thoughts on the broader impact. Bublé is bullish on it and says, “If an artist has a moment of inspiration, being unencumbered by the traditional studio experience becomes the advantage, not the limitation.”
After completing a layered recording within Voice Memos, the result is two tracks – one with vocals and one with instruments, that will sync across your Apple devices within the app or that can be exported to another tool like Logic Pro for additional mixing or recordings. And thanks to a fresh update for Apple’s pro-mixing tool for the Mac and iPad, you can also easily send that base instrumental layer to Voice Memos.
So, say inspiration strikes, and you write down lyrics in notes. Ask your band for the base track; they can record it in Logic and send it to you, and you can layer down sweet, soulful vocals on your iPhone. It’s pretty nuts.
Of course, if you’d rather listen to the new holiday song,“Maybe This Christmas” is streaming now on Apple Music, mixed with Spatial Audio. Assuming you’ve updated to iOS 18.2, you’ll see this new feature within Voice Memos alongside some major new Apple Intelligence features like Genmoji and Image Playground.
And as far as Christmas tracks, I’m still spinningBruce Springsteen’s ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’… who knows, maybe he and E Street will rerecord with Voice Memos and include the historic Clarence Clemons saxophone solo.
Overall Winner and Mammals Category Winner — ‘Stuck Squirrel’ by Milko Marchetti | 2024 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards
The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards winners were announced today at the competition’s Awards Night at the Oxo Gallery in London. Photographer Milko Marchetti is this year’s overall winner, thanks to his excellent and hilarious image of a red squirrel stuck in a tree, aptly named “Stuck Squirrel.”
Marchetti bested a record number of photographers this year, as the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards received over 9,000 images, the highest total in its decade of existence.
The competition says the final selection was challenging this year, with only a few points separating the top five entries. Ultimately, Marchetti’s hilarious image won out.
“I have taken many, many photographs of squirrels, in many situations over the years in Italy, but this one struck me as really funny and such a strange position, because it is that exact moment when the squirrel is detaching its back legs from the trunk to enter its hide,” the photographer says. “Whenever I show this image at the nature seminars at my local photography club, the audience always explode with raucous laughter, so I had to enter it!”
For his victory, Marchetti receives a once-in-a-lifetime safari in the Masai Mara, Kenya, with Alex Walker’s Serian, plus a unique handmade trophy from the Wonder Workshop in Tanzania. Marchetti also gets a new photography bag from Think Tank.
When Marchetti received a call from Tom Sullam, co-founder of the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards alongside Paul Joynson-Hicks, Marchetti says he shouted, “Wow,” over and over while jumping for joy.
“Looking at the beautiful finalists’ photos, I would never have thought I would be the chosen one. What can I say — I am so, so happy,” the winning photographer adds.
“We are thrilled to celebrate Milko Marchetti’s outstanding achievement in the Nikon Comedy Photography Awards 2024. His image, ‘Stuck Squirrel,’ brilliantly captures the playful and unpredictable moments that make nature so enchanting,” says Stefan Maier, General Manager of Marketing at Nikon Europe. “This year’s competition received a record number of entries, each one a testament to the power of photography in evoking emotion. We look forward to continuing to inspire the next generation of wildlife photographers through these wonderful awards.”
Alongside Marchetti’s overall winning photo, the judges selected additional category winners, plus special award winners. All these winning images are featured below.
Insect Category Winner — ‘Mantis Flamenca’ by Jose Miguel Gallego Molina | 2024 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards
Reptile Category Winner — ‘Frog in a Balloon’ by Eberhard Ehmke | 2024 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards
Bird Category Winner — ‘Whiskered Tern Crash On Landing’ by Damyan Petkov | 2024 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards
Fish and Other Aquatic Animals Category Winner — ‘Unexpected Role Swap’ by Przemyslaw Jakubczyk | 2024 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards
People’s Choice Winner — ‘Shake, Ruffle, Rattle, and Roll’ by Tapani Linnanmäki | 2024 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards
The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards winners will be on exhibit at the Oxo Gallery in London from December 11-15 and arefeatured on the competition’s website.
