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A new article from AppleInsider today revealed some further detail about several of ‌iOS 18‌'s widely anticipated AI features. Siri is rumored to receive some major upgrades including:

• Improved Responses: Significantly updated response generation capabilities with a new smart response framework that takes into account entities such as people, companies, calendar events, locations, dates, and more.
• Enhanced Voices: "More natural" voices with better text-to-speech functionality.
• Cross-Device Media Controls: Use ‌Siri‌ on one device to control playback on another, such as via the Apple Watch for the Apple TV. This feature is not expected to arrive until later in 2024.
• Catch Up: Users can request an overview of their recent notifications via ‌Siri‌.
A range of other AI-powered features are also in the works for specific apps in ‌iOS 18‌:
• Smart Replies: Allows users to reply to messages and emails with automatically generated text responses.
• Transcription and Summarization: New AI tools for the Notes app allowing users to edit audio in the app, transcribe audio, and summarize text.
• Math Notes: Support for proper mathematical notation in the Notes app with Calculator app integation. Math Notes will allow the Notes app to recognise mathematical equations and come up with solutions and generate graphs.
• Keyboard Math Predictions: Input enhancements for mathetmatics enabling the completion of complex mathematical expressions when recognised as part of text input, similar to predictive text or inline text completion.
• Clean Up: Remove objects from photos using generative AI. This tool will replace Apple's current "Retouch" feature.
• Generative Playground: Application that uses generative AI to create and edit images with an iMessage app extension. It is currently designed for Apple's internal test environments only, but indicates that there are plans to allow users to generate images and then share them via iMessage. This could be related to rumored plans to allow users to generate custom emojis.

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Hearing about a Samsung Fold 6 Slim, Q4'24, bigger display than the Fold 6. Price probably similar to the Fold 6. No pen input.

• Panel supplier and possible size spec: LGD is the exclusive panel supplier. In addition to the 20.25" option, Apple is also considering using an 18.8" panel instead. The difference between these two sizes is their folded form factor, corresponding to the design of 14–15" and 13–14" laptops, respectively.
• Production schedule and processor: The target mass production schedule for the panel and assembly is 4Q25 and 1H26, respectively (compared to the previous estimate of 2027). This product is expected to use the M5 series processor.
• Crease-free panel as a design goal, resulting in very high panel and hinge costs: Apple aims to make the panel as crease-free as possible, requiring high design specifications for both the panel and the hinge. As a result, the cost of the panel and hinge is very high. Current preliminary estimates put the panel and hinge costs at around $600–650 and $200–250, respectively. If production yields improve significantly by the time of mass production, these costs could decrease.
• LGD (panel) and Amphenol (hinge) are currently Apple’s exclusive development partners: A high level of integration between the panel and hinge is required to address the crease issue. LGD and Amphenol are the exclusive development partners for the panel and the hinge, respectively. Based on experience, Apple typically collaborates with only one manufacturer to focus resources on overcoming the manufacturing challenges posed by innovative designs. For example, the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s tetraprism (periscope) camera was developed in partnership with LGIT (module) and Largan (lens).
• BOM cost/pricing and shipment estimates:Given the high cost of the display and hinge, the foldable MacBook is likely to be expensive. Unless Apple can significantly improve yields and reduce costs before mass production, the BOM cost of the foldable MacBook could approach that of the current Vision Pro. However, due to the more defined product positioning of the foldable MacBook, the shipments are expected to be significantly higher than those of the Vision Pro. Shipments are estimated to exceed 1 million units in 2026.

Source Kuo

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