HMD Global seems to have multiple smartphones in works at the moment and one of them was codenamed Tomcat according to recent leaks. While the specs of HMD Tomcat were also leaked, it seems like those are the same specifications associated with HMD Skyline. Here’s what all we know.
HMD Skyline: What We Know
According to a recent leak from a Finnish publication, the HMD Skyline will debut in July, as it’s scheduled to appear in stock at one Finnish retailer on July 10. The HMD Skyline seems to have the codename ‘Tomcat’, suggesting it will sport a FHD+ OLED touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate, and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 Processor under the hood.
On the rear there it will be having three cameras including a 108MP primary sensor, 8MP ultra-wide angle sensor and a tertiary 2 MP macro or depth sensor. For selfies there’ll be a 32 MP snapper. The handset is expected to sport a 4,900mAh battery with support for 33W fast wired charging.
It will be IP67 certified for dust and water resistance, and will run Android 14 out of the box. It could further employ an optical under-display fingerprint sensor as well as a stereo speaker setup too.
The device is said to retail for €520 (approx Rs 46,800). This price range is a newer one for HMD, considering it usually operates in the lower-end segment. The device will be offered with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage in a black shade and will carry the model number is TA-1688.
There’s no word on whether the device would launch in India or not. However, HMD does have a launch scheduled for India, and it is the HMD Arrow. It is unclear whether HMD Skyline and the Arrow share the same specs.
As we reported last month, the HMD Arrow will also likely be a 5G smartphone and will have a completely new design over the HMD Pulse Pro. If not Skyline, Arrow could also share its specs with an HMD smartphone codenamed Nighthawk
HMD Nighthawk
A different device is also coming soon from the house of HMD which is codenamed Nighthawk. It is supposed to costs under €300 (approx Rs 27,000). It’s also rumoured to have an FHD+ OLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate, but this will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 SoC suggesting it will be inferior than the Skyline. The chip will be paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage.
Leak says it gets a 108 MP primary camera but one additional sensor instead of two as seen on the Skyline. Again, there will be a 32 MP selfie snapper. It will pack a 5,000 mAh battery and a Headphone jack. It will run on Android 14 and will also have stereo speakers.
June 2024 ushers in the release of new TWS earbuds, a rapidly expanding market featuring brands like BoAt and more. Here’s a roundup of all the TWS earbuds launched in India this month. We have also maintained a roundup of all launches that happened last month, including the likes of Airdopes 311 Pro, Itel T31 Pro, and more.
Boult Torq, Dash, Derby TWS Earbuds
The Boult Torq, Dash, and Derby TWS earbuds are available at an introductory price of Rs 1,299, while the MRP is set at Rs 5999. They can be purchased through Amazon.in, Flipkart, and Boult’s official website with a 1-year warranty. Their features include:
13mm Bass drivers BoomX Technology
Quad Mics
ENC powered by ZEN Technology
Up to 50-hour playtime (Torq); Up to 100-hour playtime (Dash, Derby)
Buds Freedom is set to go on sale from July 1 onwards and consumers can easily pre-book the product from 25th June onwards at a special offer price of Rs 1799. Following the launch, the regular price of Buds Freedom will be Rs 1999 from July 1 onwards. Its features include:
16mm beryllium speaker driver
Open-ear stereo wireless design
Flexible memory titanium wire
Skin-friendly ear hooks
Quad mics
PureVoice ENC Technology
Wind noise reduction
500mAh battery
Instant pairing
Bluetooth v5.4
Siri, Google Assistant support
Lyne Coolpods 39
For Rs 3,999, the Coolpods 39 can be bought via leading offline retail outlets across India in colours including black, beige and purple. Its features include:
Active Noise Cancellation
50 hours of music playback
55 hours of talktime
240 days standby time
Bluetooth v5.3
Lyne Coolpods 37, Coolpods 38
Available in sleek black, pristine white and stylish blue colors, these wireless gaming earbuds are priced at Rs 3,299. They will also be available at leading offline retail outlets across India with features like:
Bluetooth v5.4
30 Hours of music time
35 hours of earphone talk time
300 hours of standby time
IPX3 rated
Lyne Coolpods 27
Available in three colors – black, magenta and blue, the Coolpods 27 are sold at Rs 2,799. It can be bought via leading offline retail outlets across India. Its features include:
40-hour playback time
2000-hour standby time
Bluetooth v5.3, 10-meter Transmission range
IPX4 rated
Levin Storm Buds
Priced at Rs 1,049, these buds from Boston Levin are available on the brand’s own website, Amazon and Flipkart. Its features include:
ANC
IPX5 rated
Bluetooth v5.3
Dual mics
Up to 32-hour playback time
Touch controls
Voice Assistant support
UV nano-coating
Grooves Metal Gaming TWS
Available in a glossy white and gold combination, the Grooves Metal Gaming TWS is now on sale for Rs 1,699 on Amazon, Flipkart, Tata Cliq, JioMart, and Moglix. Its features include:
13mm dynamic driver
JL chip
Bluetooth v5.3
50ms low-latency
ENC
Touch controls
300mAh case battery, Up to 32-hour total playtime, Up to 6-hour single charge playtime
LED indicators on case
IPX4 rated
BoAt Airdopes 131 Elite ANC
Priced at Rs 1,499, the new TWS model is available on Flipkart, and BoAt’s website, featuring colour options in Active Black, Active Teal, Active White, and Dawn Blue. Its features include:
13mm dynamic drivers, boAt’s Signature Sound
Bluetooth v5.3
IWP technology
BEAST Mode, Up to 65ms low-latency
Up to 60-hour total playback time, 10-hour playtime on single charge
400mAh case battery, 35mAh earbuds battery (each)
Quad mics
Active Noise Cancellation
Touch controls
Voice assistant support
IPX5 rated
Realme Buds Air 6 Pro
Priced at Rs 4,999, the Buds Air 6 Pro come in Titanium Twilight and Silver Blue colours. They can be purchased via Realme’s website or Flipkart. Its features are:
11mm Bass Driver, 6mm tweeter
Up to 40 Hours Battery Life, 10 mins charge for 7 hours playback
LDAC support
360-degree spatial audio effect
Dual-Device Connection
50dB Adaptive Hybrid ANC
6 mics (3 on each earbud)
Google Fast Pair, In-ear detection
Touch controls
Realme link app support
Bluetooth v5.3
IP55 rated
55ms Ultra-low Latency
Sennheiser Accentum True Wireless Earbuds
The Accentum True Wireless by Sennehiser are available for pre-order at a special price of Rs 12,990 in black and white color variants from today, 20th June. The headphones come with a 2-year warranty and are available for pre-order on the brand webshop as well as on Flipkart and Amazon.in. Its features include:
7mm dynamic True Response Transducers
Up to 28-hour total playback time, 8-hour playtime per charge
USB-C charging, Qi wireless charging support
Hybrid ANC and Transparency modes
Sennheiser Smart Control App support
5-band equalizer, Sound Check preset creator
Touch controls
Bluetooth v5.3, Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast capable
Supported Codecs: AAC, SBC, aptX, LC3
JBL Live Beam 3
JBL Live Beam 3 earbuds will be available for Rs 13,999 from June 18. It can be purchased via Amazon and JBL’s website in India and will be available in shades of Blue, Grey and Black. Its features include:
48-hour total playback time, 12-hour playtime on single charge
Wireless charging
6 mics
Multipoint connectivity
Adaptive Noise Cancelling
Google Finder, Google Audio switch support
IP55 rated
Bluetooth v5.3 (earbuds), Bluetooth v5.1 (case)
Marshal Minor IV
The Marshall Minor IV True Wireless earbuds are priced at Rs 11,999 and will be available globally starting June 15, 2024, through Marshall.com. Its features are:
12mm Dynamic Drivers
30+ hours playback time, 7-hour playtime on a single charge
USB-C fast charging, Wireless charging support
Bluetooth LE Audio-Ready
Touch controls, Auto play/pause
Multi-point connectivity
OTA updates
Equalizer
Marshall Bluetooth App
IPX4 rated
Nu Republic Cyberstud Spin
The Cyberstud Spin is available at a price of Rs 2499. The TWS earbuds are available at a variety of stores across the country including the brand’s own online store. Its features include:
Fidget Spinner Case
13mm neodymium drivers, X-Bass technology
ENC
Up to 70-hour playback time
Bluetooth v5.3
Game & Music Mode
40ms low-latency
Splash & Sweat resistant
Touch Controls
U&i Century Series
U&i Century TWS Earbuds are available in the market at a price of Rs 3,999. Users can purchase it from all U&i outlets and other leading retail stores across India. Its features include:
Bluetooth v5.3
ANC
ENC
Up to 100-hour playtime; 350mAh case battery, 30mAh earbud battery
USB-C charging
LED display
BoAt Airdopes Atom 81 Pro
The Boat Airdopes Atom 81 Pro TWS earbuds are available on Amazon and BoAt’s website at a launch price of Rs 999. They come in three colours such as Ivory Elegance, Obsidian Noir, and Slate Fusion. Its features include:
4 mics, ENx technology
13mm dynamic drivers, BoAt Signature Sound
50ms low-latency
IPX5 rated
IWP technology
ASAP Charge, USB-C port
Bluetooth v5.1
Voice Assistant support
Grooves Theta
Available in Glossy White with black accents, the Grooves Theta Gaming TWS earbuds can be bought for Rs 1,999 on Amazon, Flipkart, Tata Cliq, JioMart, and Moglix. Its features include:
BTG Ultra will be available for sale on Amazon, Flipkart, and Truke.in at a special launch price of 899 from 3 days starting from June 5 to June 7. Post that, the product will be available at regular price of Rs 1099/-. It will be available in two colours – Metal Black & Mint Mist. Its features include:
Rapid Power charging technology
Quad mics, PureVoice ENC Technology
Sir and Google Assistant
40ms low latency
Up to 60-hour playtime, 500mAh case battery
13mm titanium drivers
360-degree spatial audio, SBC & AAC codecs support
BoAt Airdopes 300
The boAt Airdopes 300 TWS Earbuds are offered in Chrome White and Gunmetal Black variants, available at a price of Rs 1,399. You can buy them directly from the brand’s website, local offline retailers, through Amazon.in and Flipkart. Its features include:
Qualcomm is planning to make AI technology available to more people by incorporating it into its lower-end processors, as confirmed by the President of Qualcomm India. Additionally, there is now a timeline for the release of budget 5G smartphones that will be priced below Rs 8,000.
“Qualcomm has started working on bringing AI capabilities to budget and mid-budget processors; we will see them in action at the end of 2024 or maybe early 2025,” Savi Soin, President of Qualcomm India, said to The Mobile Indian.
At present, Qualcomm’s lower-end chipsets, which are available in budget smartphones but do not have access to on-device AI, include Snapdragon 6 Gen series and 4 Gen series chips, considering Snapdragon 7 Gen series already has access to the technology.
AI in Qualcomm Chips Below Rs 30,000
Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 processor earlier this year, the first 7-series processor to support on-device AI, thereby borrowing the same capabilities from Qualcomm’s flagship 8 Gen 3 chip.
In India, the first device to come with this chip is the Realme GT 6T which is also set to gain AI features soon and starts at Rs 30,999. Bringing down the price further was Poco, who launched the Poco F6 5G at Rs 29,999, sporting the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 that gets about the same AI capabilities as the 8 Gen 3 but with lower speeds.
Qualcomm has already penetrated the sub-Rs 30,000 segment by bringing AI to lower-tier devices, and later this year, it plans to enter a new segment, potentially the sub-Rs 20,000 range. Bringing down AI at this price point would definitely pressure the competition and would also make for an appealing purchase factor for the consumers in the segment, especially in India, which is a price-sensitive market.
Launch Timeline For 5G Smartphones Below Rs 8,000
Earlier this month, we reported that Qualcomm would be bringing down 5G smartphone prices below Rs 8,000 this year. Now, thanks to a concrete update from Soin, we can confirm that such devices will begin launching in the second half of this year. “We are working with our partners to bring 5G to the affordable segment, and consumers can expect an announcement in the second half of this year just after the Cricket T20 World Cup,” said Soin.
As of now, the cheapest 5G smartphone in India costs Rs 9,499, and it is the Lava Yuva 5G, which debuted quite recently. However, it has the Unisoc T750 processor and is the first handset to sport that Chipset in the country. This suggests that even competitors are working in full swing to bring down the prices of 5G smartphones.
While Qualcomm’s presence in the sub-Rs 10,000 segment is weaker compared to MediaTek or Unisoc, we could soon witness a significant shift as Qualcomm prepares to disrupt the segment with the cheapest 5G smartphones.
What’s Next From Qualcomm?
Coming to what Qualcomm will further be bringing in 2024, apart from making 5G and AI available to lower-end processors, the chipmaker will further expand in the AI PCs segment in the second half of this year, as it did with the Copilot+ PCs.
Further, it’ll be working with local car manufacturers and those who sell two-wheelers in India to bring better connectivity features and an overall enhanced experience through Qualcomm chips. Qualcomm is also collaborating with Reliance Jio to bring 5G connectivity to Indian households via wireless devices.
Next up, the chipmaker is in talks with IoT companies alongside digital camera brands to bring AI into the camera segment. Expect major announcements from Qualcomm in all the fields in the second half of 2024.
Samsung India today announced a load of new offers on its big TVs, including the ultra-premium Neo QLED, OLED and Crystal 4KUHD TVs. The ‘Big TV Days’ offers have been introduced for the T20 Cricket World Cup to enhance users’ entertainment experience. During the Big TV Days sale, the brand is offering a free Serif TV or a Samsung soundbar depending on the model you purchase.
Samsung Big TV Days Sale: All Details
Customers purchasing Samsung TVs during ‘Big TV Days’ will get a free Serif TV worth Rs 89,990 or a Soundbar worth Rs 79,990 free, depending upon the TV purchased. Customers can also avail easy EMI starting Rs 2,990, and cashback up to 20%. The offers will be available on Samsung.com, leading retail stores, and various other online platforms, ensuring convenience for consumers nationwide.
The offers will be available between June 1 and June 30, 2024, on 98″/85″/83″/77″/75″ sizes across the Neo QLED, OLED and Crystal 4K UHD TV range on select models.
Samsung further reiterates how it has curated localized smart experiences for Indian consumers to include a range of services like gaming, entertainment, education and fitness, which are available in these televisions. The Cloud gaming service enables users to experience AAA games with plug and play – with no console or PC required.
These TVs also pack Samsung Education Hub which helps users to experience big screen learning with live classes, making learning for your kids more interactive and immersive. Additionally, with TV Key Cloud service, consumers no longer need a set-top box as it enables direct transmission of content through the cloud. Samsung TV Plus provides 100+ channels free with instant access to news, movies, entertainment and more.
The Neo QLED 8K TV has AI Picture Technology that sharpens image quality to capture finer details, such as facial expressions and other subtle nuances. Additionally, AI Upscaling Pro enhances lower-resolution content to align with the 8K display, significantly improving image sharpness and viewer immersion.
Additionally, Samsung’s glare-free OLED TVs, models S95D and S90D, ranging from 55 to 83 inches, are designed to eliminate screen reflections while maintaining clarity in all lighting conditions. The NQ4 AI Gen2 Processor powers them and feature Real Depth Enhancer and OLED HDR Pro to enhance the picture quality.
Artificial intelligence is taking over the tech industry and it’s now time for PCs, as AMD has now announced the launch of Ryzen AI 300 series processors, shortly after the launch of Snapdragon X Elite processors which Qualcomm debuted earlier last month. AMD further claims that it has surpassed the Apple M3 and newly announced Snapdragon X Elite processors with its latest processors.
AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series processors are Copilot+ ready, similar to Snapdragon X series processors. Built on the new AMD XDNA 2 architecture, this new NPU offers 50 TOPS of AI processing power, surpassing Copilot+ AI PC requirements, with three times the AI engine performance of the second generation of AMD Ryzen AI. For a comparison, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X series has 45 TOPS, Apple’s M4 has 38, and AMD’s last-gen Ryzen 8040 series chips had 16.
Powered by new “Zen 5” architecture, the Ryzen AI 300 processors come equipped with up to 12 high-performance CPU cores with 24 threads and 50% more on-chip L3 cache memory over previous gen “Zen 4” processors for thin and light laptops. AMD’s own data shows that its chips are up to 60% faster in graphics, 30% faster in multitasking, 10% in productivity and 5% in responsiveness, compared to Snapdragon X Elite processors.
AMD says that its working with industry partners, including Acer, ASUS, HP, Lenovo and MSI, which will be announcing more AI PCs enabled by AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series processors. Ecosystem partners like Microsoft and Zoom are also working closely with AMD to expand the possibilities of AI PCs.
AMD Ryzen 9000 Series, 5000 Series Desktop Processors
Aside from these laptop chips, AMD also announced Ryzen 9000 Series Desktop processors. Aimed at gamers and creators, these chips will be enabling smooth gameplay and high frame rates across a wide range of titles, while professional content creators can now harness the full potential of their creative workflows, according to the company.
The new AMD X870E and X870 chipsets boast support for the latest technologies such as PCIe 5.0, DDR5, USB4, and WIFI7. Socket AM5 platforms are built to last, with support through 2027 and beyond.
These new chipsets feature USB4 as a standard feature and are also designed to support even faster DDR5 memory overclocking with AMD EXPO Technology. Both the X870 and X870E feature 44 total PCIe lanes and direct-to-processor PCIe 5.0 NVMe connectivity for the ultimate transfer speeds. The X870E is differentiated with 24 PCIe 5.0 lanes, with 16 lanes dedicated to graphics. When PCe 5.0 direct-to-processor storage and graphics care are enabled at the same time, the X870E offers twice the Bandwidth of competing platforms.
The new Ryzen 9000 Series desktop processors are expected to be available to DIY customers and SI partners starting July 2024.
AMD also expanded support for the AM4 platform with two new additions to the Ryzen 5000 Series desktop Processor family: AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT and Ryzen 7 5800XT desktop processors. The new Ryzen 5000 Series desktop processors are expected to be available to DIY customers and SI partners starting July 2024.
Samsung introduces new features with its flagship phones every year. These features eventually become available on older devices if they are compatible with the hardware. One upcoming feature on the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the ability for users to double tap on the back of the device to display the time on the screen. This feature will debut with the new 2024 foldable phones from Samsung, and will then be rolled out to older Samsung devices with the launch of One UI 7.0.
Spotted by The Mobile Indian, the development of the feature was confirmed by Good Lock Terrace, a section within the Good Lock App that shows the latest news and updates about the upcoming features for various modules.
One of the posts within Good Lock Terrace says “We are working hard to develop a new feature using back-tap action for Good Lock’s RegiStar on Galaxy Fold 6 and Flip 6 devices. This feature helps you check the time by tapping the back of the device even in an environment when it is difficult to see the screen and aims to improve accessibility.”
Moreover, the post confirms that the feature will work even when the screen is off, unlike other back-tap actions. As for the availability, the “double tap to show time” feature will first be made available on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the Galaxy Z Flip 6 devices, and will later be expanded to other Galaxy devices with the rollout of One UI 7.0 which is expected to take place in late 2024.
With the confirmation coming from the official Good Lock team, it can certainly be said that the feature is in development and one can soon expect an appearance. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the Galaxy Z Flip 6 are expected to launch on July 10, when the brand is expected to host its second Galaxy Unpacked event for 2024.
OPPO’s last F-series launch took place in February in India earlier this year, called F25 Pro 5G and it will soon be succeeded by a new series, dubbed OPPO F27 Pro 5G series, which will likely consist of two models, including the F27 Pro as well as the F27 Pro+ 5G. Here’s what we know about the two devices.
OPPO F27 Pro 5G Series: India Launch Date
The F27 Pro 5G series will debut in India on June 13, as per a posted shared by a tipster on X. The posted shows the F27 Pro+ 5G dunked under water, while the tipster also suggests that it will at least have the IP69 rating. These will be India’s first devices to have an IP69 rating. Meanwhile, the F27 Pro+ 5G will be available in at least two finishes, pink and blue, both of which will have a vegan leather dual-tone back.
OPPO F27 Pro 5G Series: Specs
OPPO A3 Pro
The OPPO F27 Pro will likely have a MediaTek Dimensity 7050 SoC, 8GB/256GB memory, 64MP primary camera joined by an 8MP ultrawide sensor and 2MP macro shooter. For selfies, the F27 Pro will sport a 32MP front-facing unit. It’ll likely be backed by a 5,000mAh battery capable of 67W fast charging. The handset will feature a 6.7-inch OLED panel which could be curved on two sides.
As for the Pro+ 5G model, it will likely be a rebranded OPPO A3 Pro 5G. The A3 Pro 5G sports a 6.7-inch FHD+ OLED curved panel with up to 120Hz refresh rate, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection, up to 240Hz touch sampling rate and a 394 ppi. The device sports up to 12GB RAM, 256GB storage and is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7050 processor. It runs on ColorOS 14 based on Android 14.
The OPPO handset has a 64-megapixel f/1.7 main sensor, plus a 2MP portrait sensor. There’a an 8MP f/2.0 front-facing sensor. It gets a 5000mAh battery with 67W Fast charging support. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.3, GPS, and a USB-C port. The handset is also IP69 rated and has stereo speakers.
OPPO F27 Pro 5G Series: Expected Price In India
According to a tipster on X, the F27 Pro+ 5G will have a price tag between Rs 25,000 and Rs 30,000. He further claims the MRP mentioned on the box is Rs 27,999. There are no details regarding the prcie of the F27 Pro so far. However, one can expect it to be priced below Rs 25,000.
After departing from Realme, Madhav Sheth took the role of CEO at HTech India and since then, the brand has slowly progressed with the launch of two smartphones, a pair of TWS earbuds and a smartwatch as well. However, questions have been raised about Sheth’s integrity, with claims that he fails to achieve his set goals and makes forward-looking statements merely for show. Sheth now has a response for his critics.
Sheth said,” I think whatever forward-looking statements I say, other brands haven’t reached that stage to check whether I have achieved them or not.”
“I have always achieved what I say I will. Many of the competitors have always claimed that I won’t be able to achieve success with building up Honor 2.0 in India and I have proved them wrong,” Sheth added.
Sharing his view on HTech’s future plans, Sheth said, “If we are able to establish what we are currently trying to do, which is to transfer technology from outside to India in accordance with the Indian government’s rules and regulations, we’ll be setting a standard in the industry and a benchmark for our competitors to meet.”
Speaking on rumours regarding Honor International’s unsupportive nature towards HTech India, Sheth said that the brand is continuously working to meet all the government requirements and provide an enhanced experience to Indian consumers without compromising on product quality, and it takes time.
“We are ensuring that our position in the Indian market differs from other Chinese brands, and we are actively working to avoid any compliance issues in the future. This is why several internal processes are time-consuming,” Sheth said.
Sheth also discussed how HTech has developed various touch points for consumers so they can seamlessly connect with the brand in case of any issues with their purchase. The brand is also working on expanding its portfolio in India, and Sheth says that we are about to witness at least 5 to 6 more smartphone launches before March 2025.
Amazon is making a push in the AI segment with the introduction of the new Search functionality in Fire TV devices that’s powered by Amazon’s own large language model (LLM). Using the new technology, users can search for shows and movies on their Fire TV in a more convenient manner.
Amazon highlights a 2023 report which said that an average streaming customer spends more than 10 minutes searching for options each time they access their streaming services. In a bid to solve the problem, Fire TV now offers a new way to search using Alexa that makes discovering something new to watch easier and more convenient.
Fire TV’s new AI-enhanced search integrates artificial intelligence with its extensive entertainment content and App library, allowing users to find personalized TV show and movie recommendations through natural language. As per Amazon, you can ask Alexa to search for streaming content recommendations in the same way you might ask a friend with knowledge about TV shows and movies, using complex or nuanced language to ask for options based on topic, genre, plot, character, actor, and even by quotes.
Amazon also listed out a few example prompts, including:
“Alexa, show me movies about dog and human friendships.”
“Show me psychological thrillers with surprise endings.”
“What movie has the line, ‘You’re killing me Smalls?’”
This new AI-powered Fire TV search experience is powered by an Amazon-built LLM. These recommendations are contextual, personalised for you, and will include choices from your Prime Video or other streaming subscription libraries, so you know which ones are free to you.
The new Fire TV search experience is now rolling out to customers in the U.S. in English on select Fire TV devices running FOS6 and later. It will be available on all eligible Fire TV devices in the U.S. in the coming weeks. There’s no word on when the feature would expand to regions outside of the United States.
Apple is set to host WWDC 2024 from June 10 and one of the major software related announcements would be iOS 18, which is now being rumoured to introduce an all-new powerful and upgraded version of Siri with AI capabilities. Furthermore, iOS 18 is also expected to introduce a redesigned Settings App along with changes to the Control Center as well.
According to a Bloomberg report, Apple will allow Siri to access various functions of an app so it can perform various tasks within those apps, all thanks to the new AI technology it will be integrating within its voice assistant. “The new system will allow Siri to take command of all the features within apps for the first time,” sources close to the development told the publication.
”That change required a revamp of Siri’s underlying software using large language models — a core technology behind generative AI — and will be one of the highlights of Apple’s renewed push into AI,” sources who wished to remain anonymous told Bloomberg. These new capabilities will allow Siri to navigate through iPhones and iPads running iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, respectively, more precisely.
For instance, users will be able to ask Siri to open individual documents, move a note to another folder, send or delete an email, open a particular publication in Apple News, email a web link, or even aski the device for a summary of an article. Apple will also utilise AI to analyse what people are doing on their devices and automatically enable Siri-controlled features.
Initially, the new Siri will handle one command at a time, but Apple has plans to support chain commands in the future as well. For example, they could ask Siri to summarize a recorded meeting and then text it to a colleague in one request. In other words, it will be able to perform a task followed by another task that’s linked to the first one, hence, the name, Chain Commands.
However, you may not expect this feature to arrive before next year, as it’s one of the more complex ones to implement. Instead of releasing it with iOS 18, the update could be introduced in 2025 as one of the major subsequent updates to the software. What may come next month could include voice memo transcriptions and summaries, instant recaps of websites and notifications, automated message replies, advanced photo editing, and AI-generated emojis.
Aside from this, Mark Gurman also posted on X that iOS 18 will bring a revamped Settings app as well. The app will be “getting a new UI with a reorganized, cleaner layout that’s more simple to navigate.” Not only that but it will also feature a much improved search. As per Gurman, there are updates to the Control Center also.
