However, a recent report showed that Apple and Google were handing over sensitive information to governments whenever asked.

The government has been collecting users’ push notification records from Apple for years. The company’s recent policy change put a stop to that. Now, they require a search warrant before handing over data.

Why Apple updated its legal policy

On December 6, 2023, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to reconsider its secret data collection practices.

He felt concerned after his team received a tip that foreign governments were demanding push notification data from Apple. Apparently, secretly spying on unsuspecting iPhone users is the latest trend.

Although government-led mass surveillance is pretty much an open secret, the fact other countries want Americans’ information is concerning.

Wyden wanted the DOJ to change its transparency policies, hoping the inevitable public outrage would stop its shady practices. 

Just days after Wyden’s letter, Apple quietly changed its legal policy.

Now, the government needs a search warrant or a court order under the Stored Communications Act — a law forcing electronic communication providers to comply during criminal investigations — before getting push notification records.

How the policy change affects you

You can only get push notifications if the data passes through your service provider’s servers.

Because it works this way, the government can get those records directly from Apple instead of through thousands of third-party app companies.

Before, the government could force Apple to comply with their demands. They didn’t need an emergency, a court order, or a search warrant. In fact, Wyden’s letter implies it’s been using push notifications to spy on Americans secretly for years.

Now, they have to go through formal legal routes — meaning you can find out when they request your data.

How Apple’s new legal policy protects iPhone users

Apple’s legal department will review every push notification data request, rejecting broad or unclear demands. This change safeguards users in multiple ways. 

1. Safeguards your information

Push notification records reveal when you got the alert, what it was about, which account received it, and what phone it went to. Companies can identify behavioral patterns using this data.

In other words, they can learn almost everything about you.

Apple’s new legal policy safeguards your notification data from law enforcement agencies, private companies, and governments, meaning they will no longer get information on your everyday movements or usual activity.

2. Prevents secret surveillance

Senator Wyden sent his letter because he learned foreign governments demanded Americans’ push notification data. If they got what they wanted, they’d have access to names, addresses, phone numbers, and account usernames.

Do you think they’d use that information to send a lovely card in the mail?

While it’s impossible to know why foreign governments were truly requesting Americans’ push notification data, you can be sure it wasn’t for your benefit.

Apple’s policy change prevents them from using your sensitive information to scam or spy on you.

3. Protects your privacy

Think about the push notifications you get every day. While a mobile game update isn’t particularly juicy, text and banking apps have an enormous amount of sensitive data.

Personally identifiable information (PII) like your location or email address probably pops up all the time.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has released warnings about PII. In 2021 alone, 51,829 people lost over $517 million to this scam. Once someone has enough of your personal details, they can open credit cards or apply for loans as you. 

Fortunately for iPhone users everywhere, Apple’s policy change will keep anyone from accessing your details unless they have a search warrant or a court order.

In other words, you no longer have to worry about your information being everybody’s business.

4. Secures your accounts

Have you ever sent someone your address or received a push notification asking you to save your new password? There’s a good chance the government has that information now — and what they do with it is still a mystery. 

Even if the government only stores it, that’s one more place a hacker could attack.

Since Apple’s new policy prevents anyone from collecting your notification data going forward, you won’t have to worry about leaking your account information when sending a text. 

Apple’s policy change protects your privacy and security

It’s dizzying to think how much of your personal life the government could puzzle together only using your push notifications.

Fortunately, Apple’s policy change stopped their secret surveillance practices–and you can rest easy about keeping your app alerts enabled.

Have any thoughts on this? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

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The post Pushing for privacy: Apple requires warrants for notification data appeared first on KnowTechie.

These are only a few highlights — if you can even call them that, of Meta’s ongoing legal troubles. So, what now?

Let’s look at Meta’s current trouble in paradise that might cost them $600 million (via Reuters) from the voracious AMI publishing association.

Yet another Meta data privacy matter

Meta is no stranger to unethical data use across its social media properties, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Now, 83 Spanish media outlets are trying to reopen the wound. Why did Spain’s most prominent newspapers suddenly collaborate? Because Meta has blatantly ignored EU data legislation since 2018. 

AMI wants Meta to stop pulling so much data from its platforms

The dystopian-level personalized ads are evidence of Meta’s marketing monopoly. Spanish media companies are suing to give everyone else a chance at the limelight. But it’s about more than money and ad real estate.

Firstly, Meta creates an impossible advertising landscape. Secondly, it’s not compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation. 

The consortium knows this because it sees ads using personal data without asking for consent.

How can newspapers advertise ethically when there is unethical competition swarming every webpage? It’s hard to get away with that nowadays, even as the world’s leading adtech behemoth. 

Too many stopgaps like this legal kerfuffle will prevent Meta from spending money and time on more worthwhile ventures, like developing foundational models for the world’s new favorite thing — artificial intelligence.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of Meta or not. They are massive contributors to tech innovation that lawsuits do encroach upon.

Why AMI might lose

History hasn’t been the kindest to older media formats in the courtroom. Tech moguls tend to have the upper hand, with more money and lawyers to spare fighting for their interests.

It’s the ideal time to do so, too, as copyright law and navigating online privacies are still relatively new legal territories.

Meta also had a startlingly powerful quarter, especially with its recent addition of Threads. Revenue for Q4 hit $34.15 billion, a 23% year-over-year increase.

A measly $600 million court case feels almost laughable, but it doesn’t make the issue less essential to bring to legal battlegrounds.

Why AMI might win

Spain has set a precedent despite the circumstances. Its media outlets targeted Alphabet in 2014, which shut down Google News in the country.

Newspapers didn’t want their content republished in full or partially without compensation. Seems fair.

Alphabet wasn’t willing to pay a collective licensing fee to make it happen, so they were out of the picture for a long time.

Google News returned to Spain in 2022, only after a few legal revisions. At least news publishers can talk directly to Google now to outline payment terms.

What is the biggest fear Meta should have? Just about any country in the EU could issue this same lawsuit because the GDPR is a blanket over all members.

Who’s to say Meta won’t hear from any other nations soon? The court fees and settlement costs might start to add up to a number it can’t ignore.

Meta needs to pay attention

Whether you’re the average social media user or a tech giant, everyone must start taking legislation like the GDPR seriously.

Court cases like this are necessary touchpoints for critical discussions in digital safety and ethical advertising. Who do you think will come out on top?

No matter who does, everyone has something to learn from AMI.

Have any thoughts on this? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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• Due to the new copyright laws, Google may pull its News section from Europe
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The post The $600 million legal battle: Meta versus Spanish media appeared first on KnowTechie.

After two decades, LinkedIn announced it reached 1 billion users at the beginning of November 2023. In the same breath, it revealed its plans to roll out new AI features for premium subscribers. 

While the new AI technology is initially only for select premium users, it’ll roll out to all subscribers soon enough. The company wants to test and optimize everything before it greenlights a full launch.

Even though LinkedIn already has AI tools, it decided to capitalize on a gap in the professional market.

Since experts believe generative technology’s value will grow substantially by 2028, it’s no surprise that the company needed to amplify its current offerings. 

Why is LinkedIn developing new AI?

Strangely enough, many companies have just started using AI even though the tech has existed for ages. While you could argue it’s because there’s profit in it, the real reason involves the ever-evolving digital landscape.

In the digital age, advancement is critical to an organization’s survival. For example, digital mail delivery only recently became popular because remote work forced companies to adapt or get left behind.

In LinkedIn’s case, it knew its existing AI features weren’t enough, so it decided to make more. It began developing its own after it decided off-the-shelf software wouldn’t cut it. Roughly one year later, it ended up with its new generative model.

What the new AI features can do

LinkedIn’s large language model (LLM) and generative pre-trained transformers (GPT) can help recruiters and average professionals. Here are all of the things the new AI features are capable of.

1. Analyze job descriptions 

Companies can use LinkedIn’s new LLM to draw in more candidates. After analyzing the skills and requirements they’re looking for, it generates job descriptions in seconds. 

2. Suggest connections

This new feature elevates premium users’ connections by providing helpful insight and advice. For example, it can analyze a hiring manager’s profile and suggest relevant responses. It can also make networking recommendations.

3. Create collaborative articles

You might’ve come across collaborative articles where the AI does all the writing and LinkedIn users contribute on the side using brain emojis instead of bullet points. It’s a way to minimize algorithmic hallucinations and maximize usefulness. 

4. Build profiles

AI-powered profile building is another one of the new features. If you have no idea what makes you an interesting or good candidate, you can get the LLM to write your “About” and “Headline’ sections instead of doing some self-reflection.

It uses your skillset and history to develop a relevant professional snippet.

5. Help with job searches

If you’ve ever job searched before, you immediately know how valuable an AI-powered assistant would be. LinkedIn’s model rapidly analyzes posts, researches companies, and compares your profile to its selection to find you the perfect roles.

6. Curate users’ feeds

One of LinkedIn’s most useful features is powered by AI tech from Microsoft Bing. It analyzes every post, pulling only the best for your viewing pleasure. You can interact with it, ask it for insight, or get it to find job opportunities.

Will the new AI features be available to free users?

While free users can scroll through AI-powered collaborative articles, the rest of the features are off-limits without a premium subscription.

Admittedly, LinkedIn used tech from OpenAI — the creators of ChatGPT — during development. A generic generative model won’t be the same, but it’s a solid alternative.

In 2021, over 49 million LinkedIn members had premium — that’s a lot of people getting exclusive access to those shiny new features. There’s no guarantee they’ll find jobs faster or hire better candidates, but it seems likely.

If you need an advantage in networking, recruiting, or applying, it might be worth it to pay the $39.99 a month. 

The future of LinkedIn’s AI tech

Maybe it’s time to level up your professional game with LinkedIn’s latest AI tools. After all, the platform’s latest technology might be just the beginning of its algorithm-powered future.

Have any thoughts on this? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

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The post LinkedIn amplifies its AI features as user base hits 1 billion appeared first on KnowTechie.

It’s been several years since the last Apple Pencil refresh, so the time is right for a next-gen model, especially with new iPads on the way.

Note that this isn’t the recently released Apple Pencil (USB-C) but a premium update to the Apple Pencil (Gen 2).

What features could the Apple Pencil 3 have? How will it change digital creativity?

New features on the Apple Pencil 3

Apple is reportedly gearing up for a new Apple Pencil release within the following year. The Apple Pencil 3 would be coming out five years after the Apple Pencil 2 and nearly ten years after the original Apple Pencil.

This next generation of Apple’s drawing and writing accessories could include some exciting new features.

For example, in early 2023, Apple submitted a patent for a real-world color sampling technology designed for the Apple Pencil.

The new feature uses light sensors to detect the colors of physical objects, such as paper or clothing. The user can pull those colors into apps on their iPad as if they were sampling a color from their screen.

Industry insiders (via MacRumors) also say the Apple Pencil 3 will have magnetic interchangeable tips. There will be at least three tips with varying sizes, lengths, and uses.

This feature is mainly for art-related applications, but it could also make the new Apple Pencil more adaptable to various writing styles. The device could launch in late 2023 or early 2024 alongside a new line of iPads.

The Apple Pencil 3 will likely only be compatible with this new generation of iPads, although it’s possible it will also work with current-gen iPad Pro models.

There are also rumors that Apple plans to change the charging system on the Pencil 3. That feature will determine device compatibility if it turns out to be true.

Unique uses for the new Apple Pencil

Why are the new features on the Apple Pencil 3 exciting for digital creatives? They open up some incredible new possibilities and use cases for the Pencil, and not just for artists.

For example, iPads have become a popular healthcare tool since the telemedicine boom. In 2022, there was a 34% increase in virtual nursing programs due to the spiking demand for telemedicine services.

The new features on the Apple Pencil 3 can help nurses with tasks such as digital notetaking and real-world color sampling for medical records. The new Apple Pencil will be especially valuable for students of nursing, medicine, and biology.

There are also industrial and design use cases for the Apple Pencil 3. For example, product designers can use real-world color sampling to test different colorways more intuitively.

The color-swapping feature would also be helpful for interior design and portrait art. Plus, the additional tips will improve functionality for technical drawing, which requires high precision and detail.

Users typically adjust their line width in apps, but the tip of the Apple Pencil does impact how it feels. Native support for interchangeable tips will be a huge upgrade for many users, particularly those in the art, design, or architecture professions.

Who is the Apple Pencil 3 for?

The Apple Pencil 3 will have some exciting new features, but they’re most useful in a few situations.

Professional artists, product designers, technical artists, and health and science professionals will benefit from the next-gen Apple Pencil.

While interchangeable tips and real-world color sampling likely won’t reshape how most people use the Apple Pencil, they could be game-changing for those professional groups.

Until Apple officially announces the refreshed Apple Pencil, artists and notetakers will have to make do with the Apple Pencil (2nd Gen). It’s still the best stylus for the iPad and well worth the premium.

Apple Pencil (2nd Generation)

4.7

$129.00 $115.00

The Apple Pencil (2nd generation) is the ultimate tool for painting, sketching, doodling, and note-taking. With pixel-perfect precision, tilt, pressure sensitivity, and minimal lag, it enhances your creativity. The Pencil magnetically attaches for wireless pairing and charging.

What We Like:

• Precise and Responsive: Enjoy pixel-perfect precision, sensitivity to tilt and pressure, and minimal lag for a seamless creative experience.
• Easy Compatibility: Works with a range of iPad models, making it accessible to a wide user base.
• Seamless Integration: Magnetic attachment enables wireless pairing and charging, ensuring effortless connection.
• Versatile Creativity: Transform your iPad into a canvas for drawing, sketching, note-taking, and document mark-up.
• Natural and Intuitive: Flat edge design and magnetic attachment allow for easy tool switching with a tap.

Check Availability

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01/25/2024 09:00 am GMT

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The post Is Apple Pencil 3 set to revolutionize digital creativity? appeared first on KnowTechie.

Whether that’s on an iPhone keyboard or in VR, haptics provide valuable feedback to the user to aid with immersion or UI challenges.

Here’s how it works and what users can expect when using it. 

What is haptic feedback?

Haptic feedback is a technology that uses different sensations to simulate physical interactions. It can go in everything from a wearable vest to a joystick.

Most companies use it in apps and virtual reality (VR) games, but it can do so much more than that. 

Although this tech sounds futuristic, it’s been around for decades — and not just in the research and development way. It’s been a part of everyday technology for years.

For instance, Google added haptic feedback to its keyboard in 2019. You’ve probably used it before without realizing it.

How does haptic feedback work?

Haptic feedback technology can use sensors, motors, speakers, electrodes, and actuators to simulate physical sensations. The exact combination changes depending on the kind of device you use.

Here are the different types of haptic feedback:

• Temperature: Actuators use your body’s temperature to heat up or cool down in specific spots. Imagine VR with this kind of tech — you could feel the chill of space or the warmth of a flaming sword.

• Pressure: A device uses sensors and expanding cushioning to make you feel force. For example, Meta’s haptic gloves use multiple inflatable pressure pads to simulate the sensation of physical touch in VR.

• Sound: Wearables — like vests and gloves — can use speakers or actuators to make you feel like you’re standing in the front row of a concert. Devices with screens simply play a sound when you rotate or touch something.

• Vibration: Miniature motors or actuators shake quickly to produce vibrations. This type of haptic feedback is the most common since phones and tablets can already vibrate.

• Electricity: Small electrodes send tiny electric pulses, making your nerve endings experience pain or physical contact. 

While some tech only has one kind of haptic feedback, others use both. It depends on what you plan to use the device for.

After all, although your phone can technically heat up after too many hours of scrolling, making it change temperature is pointless.

How does haptic feedback transform experiences?

Every once in a while, the world gets a new, transformative invention that changes how people interact with technology. Haptic feedback is one of those — and it revolutionizes the consumer experience in more ways than one.

Improves attention

Considering over 50% of Generation Z spends more than 10 hours using electronics daily, a good chunk of the population has a nonexistent attention span.

Fortunately for them, haptic feedback uses sensory stimulation to trigger a mental response. It can keep them focused and make experiences with technology more memorable.

Transforms accessibility 

People with visual or auditory disabilities have a much easier time when they can feel their devices physically respond to them. This kind of tech opens the door for new assistive gadgets and transforms how people digitally interact.

Increases engagement

Consumer technology is much more immersive when you can engage all your senses at once — flying a drone or playing your favorite video game become life-changing experiences. 

Enhances usability 

Haptic feedback improves the consumer experience by making the user interface more intuitive and responsive.  It’s a helpful tool, even if you don’t notice it directly.

Imagine how annoying it would be if confirmation buttons didn’t respond when pressed. A small sound or vibration lets you know your device registered your input.

Heightens perception 

One study found people who used a touch screen were more likely to notice their surroundings than those who used a mouse and keyboard — their entire perception changed because of the kind of tech they used.

Since haptic feedback introduces a whole extra level of immersion, there’s no telling how much it could heighten awareness and focus.

Provides personalization

Consumer technology is a one-size-fits-all sector because it relies on mass production. Luckily, haptic feedback is here to save the day.

It can personalize every interaction you have, whether exploring VR or flying a drone. Every experience is unique when you engage all your senses. 

Haptic feedback is revolutionary

Haptic feedback can be utterly transformative for everything from smartwatches to kitchen appliances. After all, this tech is the closest the world’s gotten to a fully immersive, lifelike technological experience.

Have any thoughts on this? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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The post Feeling is believing: discover the magic of haptic feedback in tech appeared first on KnowTechie.

Apple is positioning the device as a bridge between the digital and physical world while allowing you to do many computer-based tasks without dealing with the confines of a laptop screen.

For example, you could compose a graphic design scheme on a blank wall of your office instead. 

However, with the high starting price of $3,500, most people will understandably want concrete details about what it can and cannot do. Some recently emerged about whether people can use iPhone and iPad apps with the Vision Pro. 

Vision Pro will work with most existing apps

Apple’s official website for the Vision Pro promises, “Free your desktop, and your apps will follow.” It turns out that’s not just marketing language. A developer update in early September 2023 spells it out clearly.

The launch coincides with the opening of a new App Store for apps designed for the device’s visionOS operating system. But that’s not all, the vast majority of iPhone and iPad apps will already work with the headset.

That’s right, thousands upon thousands of apps will run on the Vision Pro without modifications. Any apps that aren’t compatible won’t be shown in the new App Store.

Apple will also notify developers if their app won’t work with the headset, and give them tools to test how their apps will work.

Will developers rapidly create Vision Pro apps?

One question that we won’t know the answer to for some time is how many dedicated apps will launch with the headset, and which categories those will cover.

Will developers see more of a market for games and entertainment or workplace productivity tools?

The device’s immersive capabilities make it easy to imagine how some industries might rely on it to transform learning opportunities.

For example, medical technologists support diagnostics and treatment by performing and analyzing numerous lab tests.

The Apple Vision Pro could expand teaching and learning opportunities, and support medical breakthroughs by allowing people to interact with content in new ways.

One Vision Pro app currently in a demo format is Complete HeartX. It includes highly realistic 3D models and animations to teach students about heart problems such as ventricular fibrillation.

Or for entertainment, the djay app lets users become a DJ without any equipment, providing digital equipment at their fingertips. 

Some analysts say developers may not rush to create Vision Pro-specific apps because of the device’s high price and relatively small user base.

However, it’s helpful that making apps compatible with the headset won’t be difficult. It’s even more important that most iOS and iPadOS apps will already work without modification.

Then, users will see plenty of offerings when they start using their new Apple headsets. 

Stirring anticipation

There is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the Apple Vision Pro headset. What

However, as additional details emerge, curiosity arises as potential users see how the headset could impact their workflow.

It’s also great to see that the majority of existing App Store apps will be compatible at launch—even if developers originally made them for the iPad or iPhone.

Have any thoughts on this? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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The post Apple’s Vision Pro to integrate iPad and iPhone apps appeared first on KnowTechie.

With his official introduction to the AI bandwagon, it will be curious to see how well the competition — like ChatGPT — will wrestle with xAI’s existence.

Is this the beginning of a game-breaking AI feud? Musk seems to think his new brainchild will solve the universe’s secrets instead of producing chatbot hallucinations.

Musk’s objective with xAI

The only information curious folks have now about this announcement is through xAI’s sparsely populated website. It touts that it will understand the true nature of the universe alongside the list of experts running the show.

It doesn’t explain how or what makes it different, but it’s enough to incite intrigue for techies and the AI-curious.

Some pretty stout minds are working with Musk to get this up and running. They are alums of previous AI projects, including OpenAI. 

More info will release Friday, July 14, on Twitter Spaces. Hopefully, this avenue doesn’t dictate its trajectory of success, being that Twitter has kind of taken a nosedive since Musk’s reign.

The site explicitly states how xAI will collaborate with Twitter — also known as X Corp — and Tesla to achieve universal knowledge.

Measuring it against ChatGPT

Both systems are large language models that leverage deep learning and neural networks. It’s kind of the trend right now if anyone is going into the AI biz.

However, Musk made some statements that indicate the main known difference — data oversight.

Musk said he feared companies like OpenAI were making their product too politically correct, meaning he disagrees with how data scientists are curating data sets and supervising the AI’s learning.

He believes prioritizing political correctness is also a way to skew information accuracy. 

This implication suggests his model might deepen already problematic bias concerns in AI — especially since he wants TruthGPT to influence political landscapes.

Biases are known to cause cybersecurity concerns in AI models. So, how could it possibly work well without hackers tampering with it?

Musk hasn’t publicly acknowledged this yet, despite the fact that cyberattacks increased by over 300% in 2020 alone and continue to increase yearly.

Hard to tell how this kind of thinking could help humans understand the truth of the universe, but apparently, Musk does what Musk wants.

Making besties of humans and AI

Yes, Musk’s mission statement for xAI is mostly nonexistent. However, stans can piece together an assumption. Musk has been vocal about his concerns about AI being a threat to society — a potential extinction event.

So, could an AI that knows everything about the universe be less likely to harm humans?

The people he’s working with, including Dan Hendrycks, the Executive Director for AI Safety, released an open letter signed by some of the top voices in the sector to collaborate on preventing extinction, nuclear war, and further pandemics.

Other notable signatories include Bill Gates and the CEO of OpenAI himself, Sam Altman. 

Elon Musk is not on the list, but based on previous news statements, one of the goals he may have for xAI is to reduce these supposed threats to humanity. Maybe, they’ll follow each other on Twitter.

xAI versus ChatGPT

Numerous AI companies work for and against each other to build the most accurate, powerful data sets.

Musk’s inclusion in the scene will make things more interesting because his methods will raise ethical questions and more discourse about what does and doesn’t make a sound artificial intelligence that benefits the planet. 

Whether xAI can achieve this with future tools like TruthGPT is hard to say, but it will inevitably take the world by storm.

Have any thoughts on this? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

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The post Will Elon Musk’s new company xAI be ChatGPT’s top rival? appeared first on KnowTechie.

However, even if you’re still interested, purchasing one could be harder than expected. 

No specific release date yet

When Apple officially announced the Vision Pro in June 2023, it revealed some important details about the device.

For example, you can use it with prescription lenses but not while wearing your glasses. Instead, Apple will add dedicated lenses to the headset for a fee. The Vision Pro is also privacy-centric, using an iris-identification system to unlock it. 

However, Apple has yet to provide the device’s exact release date. Instead, it should arrive in early 2023, beginning in the United States.

Apple’s press release mentioned it would bring the Vision Pro to additional countries later that year but did not provide more details. 

It’s also worth pointing out that many Apple products have faced delays in being announced or released — including the Vision Pro itself, which many hoped they’d officially hear about in 2022. 

The lack of a precise release date could make it more challenging for some people to purchase the Apple Vision Pro when it does come out.

Moreover, a delayed release date could prompt Apple’s biggest devotees to buy one. That could shut out people who are slightly less motivated. 

Many announcements about the latest tech products and achievements get people excited. They like how advanced algorithms can work orders of magnitude faster than humans when finding data patterns.

However, enthusiasm alone is not always enough to interest them in buying pricey products as soon as they become available. 

Supply chain troubles slashed production numbers

Media coverage from July 2023 indicates Apple’s supply chain partners will produce fewer Vision Pro gadgets than anticipated. Parties familiar with the matter say Luxshare, the device’s sole assembler, will make less than 400,000 units in 2024. 

Additionally, two suppliers providing specific Vision Pro components said Apple only requested 130,000 to 150,000 in the first year.

Apple’s earlier sales targets were to sell 1 million headsets during that time, indicating a significant drop. Industry insiders say Apple made more conservative estimates after doubting it could scale production. 

It’s easy to imagine people with the most resources snatching up as many Apple Vision Pro devices as possible, then selling them much higher than the retail price to people most willing to pay. That would make it much harder to own the device. 

Plus, if first-year production numbers are as low as these reports say, scammers will probably capitalize on the buzz, trying to sell people headsets they don’t actually have. 

Non-U.S. users could initially be shut out even if buying from Apple

Some of the most eager enthusiasts outside the United States may plan trips stateside to buy the headset in Apple retail outlets on its release day or get friends living in the country to send the headsets to wherever they live.

However, if you’re living outside the United States and thinking about one of these options, you might still be out of luck. 

Apple mentions that the Vision Pro will have a new app store that provides content that will work well with the headset.

However, some of Apple’s content is location-restricted. People who get a Vision Pro from the United States and try to use it elsewhere may not get some content. 

Will you still try to get an Apple Vision Pro?

Owning an Apple Vision Pro in 2024 could be an out-of-reach goal. Although Apple’s products are often in high demand, this one has some particular challenges.

However, if you’re still set on getting one, there’s no harm in trying — while keeping realistic expectations.

Have any thoughts on this? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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The post Why the Apple Vision Pro might be a challenge to get your hands on in 2024 appeared first on KnowTechie.

Google is sunsetting another augmented reality (AR) effort, cleverly called Project Iris. They already pulled Enterprise Google Glasses from shelves years ago.

Previously, cybersecurity threats and failed investments were its downfalls. Is the same true this go around, proving Google has a foundationless belief in this technology? Or did something arise from the woodwork that surprised everyone?

Who knows what the project even is

AR headsets are a capital boom for companies like Meta, Apple, and Sony. Though people believed Iris was a headset instead of another rendition of the infamous Google Glass, it still didn’t get off the ground — or will it?

The kicker is that Google didn’t clarify for everyone that the two projects were under wraps.

Google has the assets to create a revolutionary product, so what’s not adding up? Here are some of the cursory specs from the headset blueprint:

• Battery-powered
• Use of Google’s Tensor chip, which makes their products more efficient
• Added external cameras for better object placement
• Ski-mask style appearance

The ski mask-style AR headset project is a collaborative effort with Samsung and Qualcomm, and it could still see the light of day.

Beneath this confusing press was a regular glasses prototype, which is the project they’re trashing. After acquiring North, a startup specializing in AR glasses, people thought they were serious this time.

What caused another downfall

A few suspected influences made Google shy away from Project Iris.

Meta and Apple announced competitive announcements during its development. They weren’t glasses, but they had the chance to overshadow other AR market offerings. The specs and projected success could have been enough for Google to understand its place in the industry.

While consumers were confused about what Google was actually working on because of confusing announcement timelines, Google’s Head of AR and VR, Clay Bavor, left the company amid the AR glasses project.

An internal disruption like this could be another catalyst for the sunset, though other engineers and project heads remain inside Google’s doors. 

The tech landscape is already rife with long-standing social and societal problems like gender disparities, skilled worker shortages, and failure to acknowledge cybersecurity risks.

These compounds upon reports that suggest repeated shifts in Project Iris’s strategy caused sweeping aggravation among employees, which doesn’t help the morale necessary for progress.

What Google plans to do instead

Maybe after this failure to launch, they will realize consumer-facing products aren’t their best bet. They tried to dabble in translation technologies that combined well with glasses, and they tried making it a commercial-only endeavor. 

Hardware is out — software is in. Rumors suggest they focus on AR digital products instead, which could leverage their expertise that more closely aligns with Google’s goals. 

AR headset companies could collaborate with Google on top-tier programs to optimize their products, meaning Google continually plays the AR game without worrying about manufacturing.

Android devices use Google infrastructure, so working with Android for AR is the most realistic placement of their efforts.

The day Google stands a chance 

Who knows when Google will manifest its AR glasses dreams? It may be tangential, reliant upon third-party collaborations, or less hardware-focused investments. Regardless, it’s a turning point for the company. 

Large companies like Google must pick a lane or diversify their assets as other trending technologies like generative AI rise.

Maybe they will succeed in each front, or perhaps it’s more likely a fourth iteration of Google Glasses will be in the works sometime in the next few months — it’s hard to tell.

Have any thoughts on this? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Google may owe you a class action settlement: here’s how to get it
• Google Photos for web gets some much-need editing tools
• Google says goodbye to first-gen Chromecast
• Google gave up on a different foldable phone prior to Pixel Fold

The post Google reportedly kills its AR glasses project — for the third time appeared first on KnowTechie.

Meta already has two VR headsets on the market and a third on the way. Can Apple compete with the current market leader?

Let’s take a look at the specs and features of each product hints that Apple might be the new gold standard. 

Apple Vision Pro vs. Meta Quest 2/3/Pro: specs

How does the Apple Vision Pro compare to Meta’s headsets on a purely technical level? It will be a tough competitor for Meta but falls short in one important category.

Price: Meta

Meta is the clear winner in the price category. As incredibly powerful and sleek as the Apple Vision Pro is, it costs more than most people pay in monthly rent.

The Apple Vision Pro costs $3,500, three times more expensive than Meta’s most expensive headset and 10 times costlier than the baseline Quest 2. 

Sensors and display: Apple

You’ll get your money’s worth if you can afford the Apple Vision Pro. The sensors, cameras, and display are significantly more powerful than those in Meta’s Quest Pro headset.

The Vision Pro has a 23 million pixel 4K display in each eye, far sharper than the Quest Pro’s Full HD LCDs. 

However, the Vision Pro has twice as many cameras as the Quest Pro, plus powerful TrueDepth and LiDAR sensors.

All those cameras allow the Vision Pro to have an outward-facing display that lets other people see the wearer’s eyes while wearing the headset. 

Battery life: draw

There are no frontrunners in the headset battery contest. The Apple Vision Pro has an estimated battery life of about two to three hours, which matches all of Meta’s headsets.

The difference is that the Vision Pro uses a detachable wired battery pack. Meta’s headsets have an internal battery, so you will need a third-party detachable battery to replicate the same feature with a Quest 2, 3, or Pro. 

Privacy and features on Apple and Meta’s headsets

Which headsets have the best features for users? Apple hasn’t announced the full range of apps on the Vision Pro, but there is one crucial difference between Apple and Meta’s headsets already. 

User privacy: Apple

More people are paying attention to data privacy today. Part of this stems from fear of personal information being stolen or used for inappropriate purposes like advertising.

However, learning and training can go a long way toward defeating those concerns so you can use VR and AR safely. 

That’s why it is so important to understand how Apple and Meta differ on user privacy. Paying more for the Apple Vision Pro is well worth it if you have concerns.

Apple has a long history of protecting and respecting users’ data privacy, while Meta has already been caught selling users’ eye-tracking data for targeted advertising. 

Apple clarified in the Vision Pro announcement that users’ eye-tracking data will never leave the headset. Even Apple won’t have access to it. That policy makes Apple far and away the frontrunner regarding user privacy. 

Games and apps: draw

Meta’s Quest headsets have been out much longer than the Apple Vision Pro, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they have an edge on apps and games.

Meta’s available apps are heavily concentrated on gaming, primarily in VR. A Quest 2 or 3 might be the way to go if you mainly want a headset for playing VR games. 

The Apple Vision Pro will launch with two incredibly powerful chips inside to run virtually any app on Apple’s other devices. It can essentially replace an entire Macbook.

You can play games on it, but you can also edit videos, write an essay, do graphic design, work remotely, or join a FaceTime call with a realistic 3D rendering of your face. 

Which headset should you buy?

The choice between Apple and Meta can be tough if you’re considering buying a VR or mixed-reality headset. The Apple Vision Pro is worth the investment if you can afford it.

However, if you’re just looking to play VR games, Meta’s headsets could be the more cost-effective option.

Meta Quest 2 Virtual Reality Headset - 128GB

4.5

$249.99 $299.99

With its sleek design and cutting-edge tech, the Meta Quest 2 offers a game-changing VR experience. All without a PC. Take the plunge today; you won't regret it.

What We Like:

• It's completely wireless, meaning no clunky equipment to lug around and no messy wires
• Impressive library of games and apps, easily accessible through the Meta Quest store, you'll never run out of options.
• Super easy to use, even the most technologically challenged among us can jump right in.

Check Availability

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01/24/2024 01:23 am GMT

Have any thoughts on this? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Apple Vision Pro: Release date, features, news, and price
• Can you play Steam games on the Oculus Quest 2?
• The Meta Quest 2 is, once again, $299.99
• The Meta Quest 3 will release in late 2023

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The post How the Apple Vision Pro compares to Meta’s headsets appeared first on KnowTechie.