Subj : The Apple Intelligence launch is a mess dont buy the iPhone 16 o To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Mon Sep 16 2024 16:45:05 The Apple Intelligence launch is a mess dont buy the iPhone 16 or install iOS 18 based on the promise of whats to come Date: Mon, 16 Sep 2024 15:38:36 +0000 Description: iOS 18 and the iPhone 16 release this week, but we're all just waiting for the arrival of Apple Intelligence. FULL STORY ====================================================================== What a week it is for Apple fans, with the launch of iOS 18 and the release of the iPhone 16 all happening over the next few days. This particular week in September comes around every year like Christmas, giving tech lovers the chance to use a shiny new smartphone or give a lease of life to their old one. This years no different: the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus , iPhone 16 Pro , and iPhone 16 Pro Max have arrived on the scene with exciting new features like Camera Control and larger displays on the Pro models. All four models are joined by iOS 18, the next generation of the iPhones operating system, which itself brings Home Screen customization options that let you pick any color to tint your app icons, a new Passwords app to house all your login information, and even an updated calculator app with Math Notes. Im not even scratching the surface with iOS 18, however; theres plenty more to get excited about and the OS works with every iPhone from the XS and onwards. So, why the downbeat headline? After all, the iPhone 16 Pro looks like a solid upgrade from last years best iPhone , adding a faster chip, camera upgrades, new buttons, better and larger screens, and even better battery life. Touted as the first iPhones built from the ground up for Apple Intelligence, these new smartphones are propelling us into a new Apple AI future well, sort of. (Image credit: Apple) You see, plastered across all of Apples marketing for the latest iPhones, youll find people reaping the benefits of Apple Intelligence . New commercials featuring The Last of Us Bella Ramsey show the actor using AI to summarize emails, speak with the upgraded Siri, and make Movie Memories. All pretty cool, right? Sure, but nestled in each ad (in small white writing) is a disclaimer that Apple Intelligence wont be available at the iPhone 16s launch on September 20. Why, you ask? You just preordered an iPhone 16 because of all the cool Apple Intelligence features youve seen plastered on the London Underground or shown at the cinema before Beetlejuice Beetlejuice . Well, those Apple Intelligence features like Writing Tools, Clean Up , and new Mail categories are coming, just not in the first release of iOS 18. Its a bit of a weird situation, to be totally honest. Apple is selling the latest and greatest iPhones based on 'what ifs?', and as consumers, were meant to trust the process and jump on for the ride. Unfortunately, the lack of major features at launch in not only iPhone 16 but iOS 18 too means that these upgrades and updates all feel kind of lukewarm. Just check Apples iOS 18 Preview page if you dont believe me: Apple Intelligence is the headline feature, followed by incremental updates to apps we use every day, and color customization options that shouldve arrived on iPhone years ago. Its all very odd even Mails category feature isnt available in iOS 18 initially, because its powered by Apple AI. The promise of 'what ifs?' As an ex-Apple Retail employee, I dont envy any of my ex-colleagues who will have to explain to disgruntled customers why their fancy new iPhone cant do the snazzy things theyve seen advertised. Itll even be tough for them from a demo perspective how do you make retail customers want a product without its best features? Its an intriguing situation, but its not a long-term one. Apple Intelligence is set to arrive in US English in October as part of iOS 18.1 and then in other localized English languages in December. If youre in the UK, like I am, you can use Apple Intelligence when it launches in Beta next month by simply changing your devices language and Siris language. But after the arrival of iOS 18.1, Apple Intelligence tools will arrive in a scattered launch with no real timeframe of when well be able to use everything we were shown at WWDC 2024 in June. If current estimates are correct, Siris on-screen awareness wont arrive until iOS 18.4, which is likely to land in March 2025, while other features like Genmoji and Image Playground are scheduled for iOS 18.2 , which will begin rolling out just before the turn of the year, according to Bloombergs Mark Gurman. (Image credit: Apple) This is where my bigger concern lies: the promises of whats to come. Ive used Apple Intelligence as part of the iOS 18.1 developer beta and I like what Ive tried so far, but Genmoji, Image Playground, and the wonder of an actually useful Siri are all just pipedreams right now. No one outside of Apple has even seen these AI tools in the flesh; they arent even in beta testing yet as part of a Developer Beta. So, can Genmoji even generate two emojis together as seamlessly as we saw on stage? Does Image Playground work as well as some of the best AI image generators ? No one has a clue, were just putting blind faith in Apple based on the companys track record of delivering in the past. This wouldnt be the first time that Apple has launched a new iPhone with promises of future features (see Deep Fusion ), but it is the first time such a major selling point is just absent from an iPhones release. In a year, if all goes well, Apple Intelligences muddled launch will be a thing of the distant past. But if Genmoji or Image Playground turns into a replica of the AirPower fiasco, then the iPhone 16 launch could be an absolute nightmare for Apple. If youre in the market for a new iPhone, purchasing a new one based on the incredible new A18 chips, Camera Control, and any other hardware improvement will likely make you a happy camper. If youre looking at the new iPhones for Apple Intelligence, especially the features that arent in iOS 18.1, then its worth debating between an upgrade now versus one in a few months. With iOS 18, if you want a few new features and a more stable iPhone operating system, youll be happy. But if you install iOS 18 expecting Apple Intelligence and everything youve been promised, then you might just feel a little disappointed. Our early iPhone 16 review , early iPhone 16 Pro review , and Apple Intelligence hands-on hint at a very exciting year for Apple. Just know what youre getting yourself into, because if youre spending hard-earned cash on the promise of future features, you might just end up regretting your decision. You might also like Apple Intelligence hands on - iOS 18.1 dev beta gives us an early look at a smarter Siri and more What is Apple Intelligence? The new AI powers coming to your iPhone, iPad and Mac explained Apple Intelligence: here's a full list of the iPhones, iPads and Macs that'll get Apples new AI powers ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/the-apple-intelligence-launch-is-a-mes s-dont-buy-the-iphone-16-or-install-ios-18-based-on-the-promise-of-whats-to-co me --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .