Sir Apfelot Wochenschau - Apple and Tech News of KW4 2018

The year 2018 is now almost a month old, which is why the Sir Apfelot Wochenschau is now taking on calendar week 4. In the following I have summarized Apple and technology news that caught my eye in the past week. Among other things, it is about a bot from Microsoft that paints pictures according to description, as well as the new MacBook for beginners, which will probably come onto the market with a 13-inch screen in 2018 (by the way, you can find the latest rumors about Apple WWDC 2018 here). If you also have interesting news ready, please post it with a (reputable) source as a comment;)

Drawing AI: Microsoft bot times pictures as desired

There is one on the official Microsoft blog insightful article on the subject of "Drawing AI", that is, on the artificial intelligence that paints. Once it is ready and can be used, you only have to describe what kind of picture you would like to have. The AI ​​then sets the corresponding parameters, looks for suitable images or their individual parts from the network and then presents an image that corresponds to the description. How here described in a German article, the task for the following picture could be "Paint a yellow bird with black wings and a short beak":

New 13-inch entry-level MacBook from Apple in 2018

According to a supplier, Apple is set to release a new entry-level MacBook in the second half of 2018. The model with a 13-inch display will certainly not have as strong a performance as larger Apple laptops or their Pro series, but it will certainly make up for it with a similar quality Cupertino a smaller price. Indicators for the new mobile computer from the Apple company are increased production and delivery figures from the LCD screen manufacturer GIS. The latter can reportedly increase its deliveries from 300.000 displays a month to 600.000 units thanks to new orders from Apple. Details are in the Message from DigiTimes.

Amazon Echo Spot also in Germany

After the start in the USA, you can now order the Amazon Echo Spot, i.e. the AI ​​loudspeaker with Alexa voice assistant and additional camera plus round screen, in Germany and Austria. The screen is used to display various contents of weather and news via a media player and a clock to the surveillance camera in the smart home or another user who is contacted via video telephony. You can find product details and the option to buy natural at Amazon. And here is a video that shows the device in action:

DJI Mavic Air - New 4K camera copter in mini format

The DJI Mavic Air Drone is not only small and light, but also full of high tech! In addition to the 4K camera for high-resolution videos and HDR images with a new 3-axis gimbal, the quadrocopter has other interesting features. The internal memory of 8GB, the independent image processing in asteroid mode, intelligent flight modes such as Boomerang and 3D environment recognition are just a few examples. The summary of the "Adventure Unfolds" keynote with the presentation of the DJI Mavic Air can be found here. I also have a post with the technical data of the drone for you written for you. And that's not all! All advantages, the price and further details about the DJI Mavic Air Fly More Combo I have here for you.

AML function for emergency calls now also on iOS

Like the iPhone ticker berichtet, the update to iOS 11.3 (currently in beta) also improves the emergency call function on the iPhone. The so-called AML function (Advanced Mobile Location) was already integrated into Android in 2016 and will now also be supported by iOS devices in the future. It enables the location of the person calling the emergency to be automatically transmitted by the emergency call, so that the emergency or rescue forces can be sent to the scene of the crime or accident more quickly. In Europe, the technology is used in Belgium and Sweden, among others.

iOS 11.3 with iCloud Messages, Animoji, AirPlay 2 and more

In addition to the AML function for the emergency call, the current iOS beta for version 11.3 has other innovations. For example, the storage of messages in the iCloud was announced before the release of iOS 11 and the feature was then removed again before the release. With the next update, there is a high probability that it will actually happen. Furthermore there will be new Animoji characters, the ARKit will go into the next round with version 1.5 and there will be a "Health Records" feature in which medical data for medical treatment can be saved. Other updates include Apple News, HomeKit, iBooks and so on. An extensive article on this offers MacRumors.

Apple HomePod - sales start today, shipping on February 9, 2018

Actually announced for December 2017, the Apple HomePod is officially launched today as a smart Bluetooth speaker with extremely high-quality technology and Siri voice assistance. At least in the US, UK and Australia. The starting price is $ 349 (US) and orders are already possible at least on the Apple websites of the three countries. There is also a lot of information and pictures. On the German Apple site, the HomePod, which will be delivered from February 9, 2018 in the countries mentioned, is not yet discussed further. The source for the information is not only the views of the individual pages;) but also these press report from Apple.

Nintendo: stop for Miitomo, plans for new apps

This time, let's close with news from Nintendo. Like the Japanese video game giant announced the Miitomo app will no longer be supported from May. The first App of the former world market leader in the field of video games can still be used until May 5, 2018 and Miitomo Coins, the in-app currency, can also still be used until then. However, new coins will no longer be sold from now on. Although the Miis are the characteristic avatars of the individual users and the app offers some fun opportunities to live out and communicate, it is now being terminated after less than two years of operation. Nintendo apparently wants to continue focusing on the franchise games - like Animal Crossing or Fire Emblem (Which). Rumor has it that maybe The Legend of Zelda could also be messed up in an app: D

Johannes Domke

After graduating from high school, Johannes completed an apprenticeship as a business assistant specializing in foreign languages. But then he decided to research and write, which resulted in his independence. For several years he has been working for Sir Apfelot, among others. His articles include product introductions, news, manuals, video games, consoles, and more. He follows Apple keynotes live via stream.