Tag: WWDC

  • Apple WWDC reveal: interesting but not typical Apple

    Apple WWDC reveal: interesting but not typical Apple

    Key Takeaway

    – Apple cut specific audio frequencies (3kHz-6kHz) during WWDC when “Siri” was mentioned to prevent device activations
    – The tactic was largely ineffective, as many viewers reported their Apple devices still woke up during the livestream
    – This frequency-muting approach is not unique; Amazon used a similar method for “Alexa” in 2017, and other brands do it too

    Apple’s WWDC Tweak: Keeping Siri at Bay

    Apple made some interesting tweaks so that you could have an uninterrupted WWDC livestream. To avoid countless Apple device activations, the Cupertino giant tweaked frequencies when ‘Siri’ or ‘Siri AI’ was mentioned. How efficient those tweaks were is questionable at best, as pointed out by viewers.

    The Frequency Cutting Technique

    A user named ‘luuk de leest’ shared on X that during the keynote, Apple cut out 3kHz, 4kHz, 5kHz, and 6kHz frequencies every time the phrase ‘Siri’ was mentioned. This was done to avoid unnecessary activations on the viewers’ devices. The user shared a spectrogram screenshot showing blank spots in the claimed frequencies when ‘Siri’ was mentioned. Furthermore, they mention HomePods in particular, but the tweak should have affected all devices in the ecosystem.

    It Didn’t Quite Work Out

    Unfortunately, it didn’t really work as intended, and several commenters mentioned that their iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, and even HomePods were woken up several times during the keynote. It is possible that without the tweak, the activations may have been even worse.

    Not a New Trick in the Book

    As interesting as it is, this tweaking is not new. Apple isn’t the first or the only one doing this, as back in 2017, it was found that Amazon did the same with its commercials when ‘Alexa’ was mentioned. Other brands do it as well, to prevent unnecessary smart speaker activations.

     

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  • Apple Watch Ultra Gets Short Update Support for No Reason

    Apple Watch Ultra Gets Short Update Support for No Reason

    Key Takeaway

    – watchOS 27 drops support for Series 6, 7, 8, and 9, requiring Series 10/11, Ultra 2/3, or SE 3.
    – Series 9 (with S9 chip) is excluded, while the same-chip Ultra 2 is supported, creating inconsistency.
    – Apple Watch software support is no longer reliable, cutting off devices after just two major updates.
    – Long-term updates, once a key advantage over competitors, are no longer guaranteed for Apple Watch.

    watchOS 27 Anounced at WWDC With New Restrictions

    Apple introduced watchOS 27 at WWDC today, which is a big new operating system update for the Apple Watch that should be coming out in the fall. Excluding the Siri AI and the new chatbot built on Google Gemini, there are not many fresh features to get excited about. But, the software support for older watches is going to be heavily cut down, which is a massive change from before.

    Which Apple Watch Models Are Compatible

    Even though watchOS 26 worked with the Apple Watch Series 6, 7, 8, and 9, as well as the first-gen Ultra and the second-gen SE, Apple has slashed support by four generations all at once. To run watchOS 27, you will need a Series 10 or Series 11 ($299 on Amazon), an Apple Watch Ultra 2 or 3, or an Apple Watch SE 3. That means the Series 9, which launched only two and a half years back, has only got two major software updates.

    Performance and Chip Similarities

    This is really bothersome, mainly because the Series 9 watch uses the exact same Apple S9 chip which is also inside the Apple Watch Ultra 2. That Ultra 2 model came out at the same time and is confirmed to work with watchOS 27, so the inconsistency is confusing. Since the S6, S7, and S8 chips from the earlier generations were practically identical, maybe there is some technical reasons for dropping support for those models.

    Long-Term Support and Consumer Trust

    Apple is leaving customers who bought a costly smartwatch just two years ago out in the cold, which shows that you cannot always count on future updates. People who purchase an Apple Watch now should not expect long-term software support anymore, which is a shame. In the smartwatch market especially, having long updates was a real plus for the Apple Watch compared to many of its rivals.

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