What’s in store for the iPhone 16
1Digest
This podcast episode covers a wide range of tech topics, starting with a preview of the upcoming Apple iPhone event and diving into rumors about new iPhone models, potential features like an action button and camera upgrades, and the impact of AI on iPhone photography. The episode then shifts to a lightning round of gadget reviews from the IFA tech show in Germany, highlighting the Remarkable Paper Pro, e-paper phones, and DJI's new selfie drone. The hosts discuss Intel's new Lunar Lake laptop chip, battery life claims, and Verizon's shift from 5G to fiber infrastructure. The episode concludes with discussions about Snapchat's monetization efforts, the rise and fall of live service games, and the potential of the Fediverse for open social networks.
Outlines
Tech News and Gadget Reviews
This episode covers a wide range of tech topics, including rumors about the new iPhone, gadget reviews from IFA, and discussions about the future of AI, social media, and the tech industry.
Apple iPhone Preview and Rumors
This chapter previews the upcoming Apple iPhone event, discussing rumors about new iPhone models, Apple Watch, AirPods, and other potential product releases. It also mentions the IFA tech show in Germany, where a team is exploring new gadgets, including a laptop with a rotating lid.
iPhone Features and AI Impact
This segment delves into rumors surrounding the new iPhone models, focusing on potential features like an action button on all models, a dedicated camera button on the Pro models, and camera upgrades. The discussion also explores the potential impact of AI on iPhone photography and the future of input methods.
IFA Gadget Reviews: Remarkable Paper Pro
This chapter kicks off a lightning round of gadget reviews from the IFA tech show in Germany. The first gadget discussed is the Remarkable Paper Pro, a color e-ink tablet designed for note-taking. The segment highlights the device's fast refresh rate, color capabilities, and potential drawbacks.
E-Paper Phones and Max Ink Mode
The discussion revolves around the emergence of e-paper phones, particularly TCL's \"Next Paper\" technology. The hosts discuss the concept of \"Max Ink Mode,\" which aims to create a more book-like reading experience by reducing screen brightness and color. They compare this approach to Apple's focus on vibrant, dynamic displays.
DJI's New Selfie Drone: \"Hey, Fly\"
The hosts discuss DJI's new selfie drone, the Neo, which features voice control with the wake word \"Hey, Fly.\" They express amusement at the choice of wake word and debate the potential market for such a product, considering the existing market saturation for action cameras and drones.
Intel's Lunar Lake Chip and Laptop Innovations
The hosts discuss Intel's new Lunar Lake laptop chip, designed to compete with ARM and Qualcomm chips. They highlight the significance of Intel's reliance on TSMC for chip manufacturing and the potential impact on the company's future. They also discuss Lenovo's Auto Twist AIPC, a motorized two-in-one laptop with a rotating screen, and Acer's Project Dual Play, which features a built-in game controller.
Battery Life Claims and Industry Trends
The hosts discuss the prevalent claims of 24-hour battery life in new laptops, particularly from Acer. They question the validity of these claims, highlighting the difficulty in objectively measuring battery life and the reliance on unrealistic testing scenarios. They also discuss the implications of these claims for Intel's future, as they compete with ARM and Qualcomm in the laptop market.
Verizon's Shift to Fiber and Tech Industry Reassessment
The hosts discuss Verizon's recent acquisition of Frontier, a company they previously sold Fios assets to. They analyze Verizon's shift from focusing on 5G to investing in fiber infrastructure, highlighting the enduring importance of wired internet connections. They draw parallels to the current state of the tech industry and AI, where companies are reevaluating their reliance on new technologies.
Snapchat's Monetization Struggles and Potential Acquisition
The hosts discuss Snapchat's recent decision to introduce ads in chat lists, a move they see as a sign of desperation. They highlight the company's struggle to monetize its platform despite its popularity among a specific demographic. They debate the potential for Snapchat to succeed with a subscription model and discuss the company's potential for acquisition.
Live Service Games: Success and Failure
The hosts discuss the recent failure of Sony's live service game, \"Concord,\" which was shut down after a month due to low player numbers. They analyze the reasons for the game's failure, including its late release, lack of innovative features, and the saturated market for free-to-play live service games. They contrast this with the success of games like Fortnite and League of Legends, highlighting the difficulty of creating a successful live service game.
The Fediverse and the Future of Open Social Networks
The hosts discuss the potential of the Fediverse, an interconnected network of open social platforms. They highlight the emergence of new ideas for monetizing social feeds, such as Sub.club, a paid social feed platform. They express excitement about the potential for creators to be paid directly for their content and for users to subscribe to feeds across different platforms.
Keywords
Indeed
A global online job search platform that connects employers with job seekers. It offers a vast database of job listings, resume search capabilities, and a matching engine to facilitate efficient hiring.
E Ink
A type of electronic display technology that mimics the appearance of ink on paper. It offers a paper-like reading experience, low power consumption, and high readability in sunlight.
Multimodal AI
A type of artificial intelligence that combines multiple input and output modalities, such as text, speech, vision, and touch. It enables more natural and intuitive interactions with technology.
Action Button
A physical button on a device that can be programmed to perform specific actions or launch shortcuts. It provides a quick and convenient way to access frequently used features.
Chat GPT
A large language model developed by OpenAI that can generate human-like text, translate languages, write different kinds of creative content, and answer your questions in an informative way.
Shortcuts
A feature in iOS and macOS that allows users to create automated workflows by combining multiple actions. It enables users to streamline tasks and automate repetitive processes.
Assistive Technology
Technology designed to help people with disabilities perform tasks that would otherwise be difficult or impossible. It often involves adapting existing technologies or creating new ones to meet specific needs.
Spatial Audio
A technology that creates a three-dimensional sound experience by using multiple speakers or headphones to simulate the direction and distance of sound sources.
Apple Intelligence
Apple's suite of AI-powered features that enhance the user experience across its devices. It includes features like Siri, on-device machine learning, and image processing algorithms.
Q&A
What are some of the key features rumored for the new iPhone models?
Rumors suggest an action button on all models, a dedicated camera button on the Pro models, camera upgrades, and potential AI enhancements to iPhone photography.
How does the Remarkable Paper Pro's color e-ink technology work?
The Remarkable Paper Pro uses a color e-ink technology that involves actual color pixels of cyan, yellow, and magenta, resulting in a higher quality color display compared to other e-ink devices.
What is the significance of the action button in the context of multimodal AI?
The action button, when combined with multimodal AI, could potentially provide a more intuitive and efficient way to interact with devices, allowing users to access features and information through voice commands, gestures, and physical buttons.
What are some of the potential challenges and opportunities for Apple in the future of AI-powered devices?
Apple faces the challenge of integrating AI seamlessly into its devices while maintaining a user-friendly experience. Opportunities lie in leveraging AI to enhance features like Siri, photography, and input methods, creating a more personalized and intuitive user experience.
What are the key differences between Apple's approach to phone displays and the \"Max Ink Mode\" concept?
Apple focuses on vibrant, dynamic displays that aim to enhance the visual experience, while \"Max Ink Mode\" prioritizes a more book-like reading experience with reduced brightness and color.
What are the challenges of monetizing social feeds in the Fediverse?
Monetizing social feeds in the Fediverse is challenging because there is no established model for doing so at scale. Existing attempts, such as paid Twitter posts, have not been successful.
What are the potential benefits of the Fediverse for creators and users?
The Fediverse offers the potential for creators to be paid directly for their content and for users to subscribe to feeds across different platforms, creating a more interconnected and sustainable ecosystem.
What are the key factors that contributed to the failure of Sony's \"Concord\" live service game?
\"Concord\" failed due to its late release, lack of innovative features, and the saturated market for free-to-play live service games. It was unable to compete with established giants like Fortnite and League of Legends.
What are the implications of Verizon's shift from 5G to fiber infrastructure for the tech industry?
Verizon's shift highlights the enduring importance of wired internet connections and the need for companies to reevaluate their reliance on new technologies. It also reflects a broader trend in the tech industry, where companies are reassessing their strategies in the face of evolving consumer preferences and market dynamics.
Show Notes
The Verge's Nilay Patel, David Pierce, and Alex Cranz discuss previews for the Apple event, gadgets at IFA, the latest with Snap, and a whole lot more.
Further reading:
- Apple’s iPhone 16 launch event is set for September
- Apple’s iPhone 16 event: how to watch and what to expect
- Apple’s rumored Mac Mini redesign may ditch the USB-A port
- Is our long FineWoven nightmare almost over?
- What Not to Expect at Apple Event on September 9: 'It's Glowtime'
- A new low-end Magic Keyboard may come next year.
- Apple Sports is ready for all kinds of football
- Inside Apple’s theatrical U-turn on Wolfs.
- Ted Lasso could come back for a fourth season
- Beats’ long-awaited Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds are coming in 2025
- Microsoft and Apple are arguing over cloud gaming apps again
- The Remarkable Paper Pro is as outrageous as it is luxurious
- Honor’s superthin foldable is another cool phone the US won’t get
- TCL’s new Nxtpaper phones have a dedicated button for maximum monochrome
- Our first official look at Huawei’s tri-fold.
- Acer’s first handheld gaming PC is the Nitro Blaze
- DJI’s $199 Neo selfie drone is going to be everywhere
- Acer’s Project DualPlay concept laptop has a pop-out controller and speakers
- Acer’s 14-inch laptops claim 24 hours of battery life from Intel, Qualcomm, or AMD
- Qualcomm’s new eight-core Snapdragon X Plus makes these Windows laptops cheaper
- IFA 2024: hands-on (and off) with Lenovo’s Auto Twist AI PC concept
- Intel strikes back against Windows on Arm
- Verizon looks to expand Fios with $20 billion purchase of Frontier
- Concord was worse than bad — it was forgettable
- Sony is taking Concord offline on September 6th after disastrous launch
- Snapchat to put ads next to chats with friends
You’ll soon be able to Sony is taking Concord offline on September 6th after disastrous launch- Sub.club is here to help the fediverse make money
Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you.
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