Category: Links

Quick thoughts that link out to other sites

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Links News

CNBC: New Siri is “still on track to launch 2026” »

From Jennifer Elias at CNBC, in a story titled “Apple’s stock has worst day since April as iPhone maker faces FTC scrutiny, reports of Siri delay”:

Apple told CNBC it is still on track to launch in 2026.

While Apple originally only ever confirmed Siri would launch in 2026, the rumors that the iOS 26.4 beta would give us access became accepted as fact – even to me, to be honest. Now, they’ve reset expectations, but need to stop investor sentiment from getting out of hand.

View the original on CNBC (via 9to5Mac).

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Developer Links

PSA: AI Terminal bots can query macOS Spotlight using mdfind

From Cheng Lou on X:

Public service announcement for all of you running Claude Code/Clawd: macOS’ Spotlight comes as a terminal tool, mdfind, that can fuzzy & exact query your entire computer in real time. Ask your bot to use it!

No RAG, no prescriptive structure, no external tool, super optimized

Super useful if you’re using something like OpenClaw (renamed from Clawd) for advanced AI access to your Mac.

Plus, you can run shortcuts from the command line as well.

View the original.

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Links News

Amazon Alexa+ AI assistant now available free for Prime members »

From Amazon News:

With an entirely new architecture powered by large language models—from both Amazon Nova and Anthropic—Alexa+ is significantly more powerful, and customers are using it in completely new and different ways. They’ve moved from simple, formulaic requests to much deeper, more complex interactions—they’re streaming more music and having deep conversations about discographies, genres, and artists Alexa recommends just for them; they’re settling dinner table debates with a quick question, exploring complex topics, discussing the news of the day, and having deeper ongoing conversations with Alexa (sometimes over days, because Alexa+ can remember context). They are also interacting with Alexa+ in more places, chatting on the go in the Alexa app, and doing deeper research, planning, and generating content at Alexa.com—overall, customers are interacting with Alexa+ more than twice as much.

We’re finally leaving behind simple voice assistants and getting into the era of proper smart assistants.

View the original.

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Links News

Apple is Hiring a Shortcuts Tech Lead Manager

From Careers at Apple:

Summary

Play a part in the next revolution in human-computer interaction. Contribute to a product that helps users tune their devices, making them more personal. Create groundbreaking technology to provide intelligence around the apps you use every day. Work with the people who created Shortcuts, Siri, and other system features that help millions of people get things done.

Our team is looking for engineers experienced with working on Apple platforms who are passionate about building complex, performant systems that power Apple Intelligence. In this role, you’ll be part of a cross-functional and collaborative team that works on frameworks and systems that interact with first-party apps and system services. You’ll ship code that runs on the devices you use every day and powers products that are critical to the lives of millions of users!

Description

You will primarily be responsible for developing features and driving performance for the internal frameworks and subsystems that enable action running on Apple platforms. As a Tech Lead Manager, you will manage a small team of one or two engineers while actively contributing code and providing technical leadership. This position is ideal for those interested in stepping into management while staying connected to technical work, or for experienced managers looking to balance leadership with hands-on development.

As a strong programmer and a creative problem solver, you will break down interesting technical challenges and create robust, performant solutions. You will work across teams and organizations, building relationships and crafting compelling system features. You finish projects with a keen eye to the details that surprise and delight customers. You are driven by building software that operates in extremely tight tolerances, where the pursuit of quality and the satisfaction of solving challenging technical challenges and constraints fuels your best work. You will also play a crucial role in guiding our existing products, leveraging your ability to anticipate issues before they arrive, and lead development of essential technologies in early stages. You care deeply about software architecture and writing code that is robust and maintainable for the future. You are excited about developing new features, as well as maintaining existing code, fixing bugs, and contributing to overall system design. You know it’s all in the details.

Posted January 22, 2026. Make sure to peep the Pay & Benefits…

View the original.

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Gear Links

Casey Liss created a Status Board for his smart home »

From Casey Liss:

[A] listener pointed me to these now-discontinued HomeSeer switches. At a glance, this a standard Decora-style dimmer that can be controlled via ZWave. However, upon closer inspection, there are seven LEDs on the left-hand side. Even more interestingly, you can put the switch in “status mode”, which means each of the LEDs can be individually controlled.

[…]

The center switch actually controls the lights above our kitchen table. But for me, it’s the home status board. Here’s what each of the lights indicates, from top to bottom:

LED Color Purpose
None Not currently used
Green The laundry needs attention
Blue The mail is waiting
None Not currently used
White The Volvo is charging
Magenta The shed door is open
Red The garage door is open

The steady/all-good state of the status board is for all of the LEDs to be extinguished. If any of them is on, it doesn’t necessarily mean that something needs attention, but it may.

What a cool idea – I’m curious if Casey could add a Home Automation based on this Accessory that sets a Scene or sends an alert when all five are achieved.

View the original.

 

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Links

Xcode 26.3 unlocks the power of agentic coding »

From Apple Newsroom:

Expanding on the intelligence features introduced in Xcode 26, which brought a brand-new coding assistant for writing and editing in Swift, this release gives coding agents access to even more of Xcode’s capabilities. Agents like Claude Agent and Codex can now collaborate throughout the entire development life cycle, giving developers the power to streamline workflows, iterate faster, and bring ideas to life like never before. Agents can search documentation, explore file structures, update project settings, and verify their work visually by capturing Xcode Previews and iterating through builds and fixes.

Very cool update from Apple. Time to test how well it handles App Intents…

View the original.

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Guest appearances Links Podcasts

Guest spot — HomeKit Insider: Integrating Apple Home & Siri Shortcuts

I had the pleasure of joining Andrew O’Hara as a guest on HomeKit Insider to talk about Home Automations and Shortcuts:

In this episode of HomeKit Insider, Andrew teams up with shortcut expert Matthew Cassinelli to delve into the world of smart home automation. They explore the evolution of shortcuts from Workflow to Apple Shortcuts, offering insights into personal and home automations within Apple HomeKit. Listeners will learn how to enhance their home setups with advanced logic, integrate APIs for custom solutions, and troubleshoot common issues. The episode also highlights future smart home interfaces, real-world automation examples, and the potential of AI in home automation. Perfect for tech enthusiasts eager to elevate their smart home experience.

Check out HomeKit Insider in Apple Podcasts, watch the video on YouTube, or listen to the episode below:

 

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Links

Hiboy S2 Pro Electric Scooter – Worth It?

From KayakDIY on YouTube:

Hiboy S2 Pro Daily Commuting Electric Scooter costs way less than Ninebot Max even though it offers very similar features.

Amazon Link https://amzn.to/3KscIoS

At time of filming S2 Pro is only $499 on both Hiboy Website u0026 Amazon! Ninebot Max claims to have a 40 mile range, but most Ninebot testing show only 21-22 mile range. Hiboy advertises an impressive 25 mile range and costs WAY LESS than the Ninebot. Is the Hiboy S2 Pro electric scooter too good to be true? I will say we were surprised with the results and experience. Then we bumped into other Hiboy e-scooter owners and asked them for a real review.

Electric Scooter Lock Cable (run through rear wheel or seat post hole): https://amzn.to/3G9nz4n

Linking this because this simple review/comparison helped me decide to pick up a set of two from Facebook Marketplace – I am now an e-scooter guy.

Watch the video on YouTube1.

—

  1. P.S. My apologies for the wonky thumbnail – I upscaled the 480p thumbnail using Super Resolution in Pixelmator Pro (from Apple Creator Studio). ↩
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Links

A New Chapter for Mac Power Users (for Stephen Robles!)

From David Sparks/MacSparky:

After seven years of podcasting together, Stephen Hackett is stepping away from the show. Stephen has become a dear friend, and I will really miss our weekly conversations. He was also an outstanding podcasting partner, handling problems before I even realized they existed. The show wouldn’t be what it is today without him.

[…]

I’m also excited to announce that Stephen Robles will be joining me as the new co-host.

I’ve been listening to Stephen’s podcast and watching his YouTube channel for some time now. When I started thinking about who could fill this role, he was at the top of my list. Stephen views himself as a teacher, and while he’s become a very successful YouTuber, he also has years of experience as a podcaster. A good MPU host needs to be knowledgeable, willing to do the work, and fun to talk to. Stephen checks all of those boxes. Every conversation I’ve had with him throughout this process further validates my decision to bring him on board.

My congratulations to Stephen(s) – Hackett on recognizing it was time for a change, and Robles for a well-deserved hosting position.

I originally met Stephen Robles as he interviewed me for the AppleInsider podcast back in 2021, and it’s been excellent to see his creator journey flourish – I’m glad to see this show reborn yet again with him as the new cohost.

View the original.

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Apps Links

Indie App Spotlight: ‘Within Reach’ helps you track your weight loss journey »

From Michael Burkhardt at 9to5Mac:

Within Reach has a couple headlining features to help you track your weight loss journey with GLP-1s, though its also useful for those who aren’t using weight loss medications.

[…]

As hinted at prior, Within Reach lets you plan your workouts in the app for keeping you on pace. It also offers Siri Shortcuts and Widgets – so everything feels at home on the iPhone.

Developer Matt Corey also makes Signals for HomeKit, which responds to Apple Home triggers.

View the original.

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Links

Final Cut Pro 12 Deep Dive (Ripple Training on YouTube) »

From Ripple Training on YouTube:

Take a deep dive learning adventure with Mark and Steve as they show you everything you need to know about the new Final Cut Pro 12 Update from Apple.

Whether you’re a beginner, small business owner who wants to learn how to edit marketing videos like a pro, film editing enthusiast, or a professional video editor who wants to level up, we’ve got courses in Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve.

Ripple’s training course taught me everything I know about Final Cut Pro, and this video does the same for the new features releases alongside Apple Creator Studio – absolutely worth watching in full to learn the depth of what’s new (and where the limitations lie).

Watch the video on YouTube and check out Ripple Training.

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Gear Links

Apple introduces new AirTag with expanded range and improved findability »

From Apple Newsroom:

Apple’s second-generation Ultra Wideband chip — the same chip found in the iPhone 17 lineup, iPhone Air, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch Series 11 — powers the new AirTag, making it easier to locate than ever before. Using haptic, visual, and audio feedback, Precision Finding guides users to their lost items from up to 50 percent farther away than the previous generation.

Solid update – nothing especially new, just better.

View the original.

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Links News

Inside Enchanté, Apple’s AI chatbot for employee productivity »

From Filipe Esposito for Macworld:

Macworld has learned that the company has begun rolling out two new AI-powered apps more broadly to employees in its offices. Both tools are designed for employees to not only test AI capabilities in real-world scenarios, a source said, but also integrate them into their workflow and even help improve Apple Intelligence.

[…]

The first app, called Enchanté, functions as an internal ChatGPT-like assistant for employees. The app can be used to assist employees with ideas, development, proofreading, and even general knowledge answers. The interface looks quite similar to what you see in the ChatGPT app for macOS.

And:

The second internal app, known as Enterprise Assistant, is far more specialized. Built entirely around Apple’s internal large language models (LLMs), Enterprise Assistant acts as a centralized knowledge hub for corporate employees.

View the original.

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Links News

Apple reportedly replacing Siri interface with actual chatbot experience for iOS 27 »

Mark Gurman, quoted by Zac Hall on 9to5Mac:

Apple Inc. plans to revamp Siri later this year by turning the digital assistant into the company’s first artificial intelligence chatbot, thrusting the iPhone maker into a generative AI race dominated by OpenAI and Google.

The chatbot — code-named Campos — will be embedded deeply into the iPhone, iPad and Mac operating systems and replace the current Siri interface, according to people familiar with the plan. Users will be able to summon the new service the same way they open Siri now, by speaking the “Siri” command or holding down the side button on their iPhone or iPad.

More details on the upcoming chatbot version of Siri.

View the quoted story on 9to5Mac and view the original on Bloomberg (paywalled).

 

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Links News

Apple’s Two-Phase AI Rollout – New Siri Soon, Chatbot Later »

From Mark Gurman, quoted by Jason Snell on Six Colors:

The previously promised, non-chatbot update to Siri — retaining the current interface — is planned for iOS 26.4, due in the coming months. The idea behind that upgrade is to add features unveiled in 2024, including the ability to analyze on-screen content and tap into personal data. It also will be better at searching the web.

And:

The chatbot capabilities will come later in the year, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans are private. The company aims to unveil that technology in June at its Worldwide Developers Conference and release it in September.


Jason speculates on the policy shift from Apple that would need to occur for these to run on Google’s servers too.

View the quote on Six Colors and view the original on Bloomberg (paywalled).

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Gear Links

Master Trainer Stars in New Powerbeats Fit Campaign »

From Marcus Mendes at 9to5Mac:

The YouTube description reads:

“Put in the work. Staying strong this year with Kirsty Godso, whose training philosophy is all about showing up, staying consistent, and moving with purpose.”

Kirsty Godso is a health and workout influencer, who’s known for being a Nike Master Trainer, as well as for training celebrities.

I’ve been using my PowerBeats Pro as my daily drivers and love them (ever since my AirPods Pro 2 randomly stopped charging a few months ago 😕).

View the original.

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Links News

Apple Intelligence Siri is over a year late, but that might be a good thing »

From Michael Burkhardt at 9to5Mac:

All of this time passing means one thing: a lot more people have an Apple Intelligence-capable device.

Everyone who bought any iPhone 16 or iPhone 17 model at all in the past two years (plus anyone who already had an iPhone 15 Pro), will be able to use Apple Intelligence.

*Apple engineer taking this to their boss*: “You see? It’s actually a good thing we were so late.”1

View the original.

  1. Burkhardt is still correct here, and Apple also shouldn’t have been so late with it. ↩
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Links

Gemini Personal Intelligence show what we can expect from Siri »

From Ben Lovejoy at 9to5Mac:

We already knew some of the features we could expect from AI Siri thanks to the announcements at WWDC 2024 and a now-deleted iPhone 16 ad – and the launch of Gemini Personal Intelligence has now effectively provided a working preview […]

Google yesterday launched a beta version of what it calls Personal Intelligence. The headline feature here is Gemini’s ability to use a complex mix of sources to generate responses, including personalized information pulled from a number of the Google apps and services people use.

“Personal Intelligence can retrieve specific details from text, photos, or videos in your Google apps to customize Gemini responses. This includes Google Workspace (Gmail, Calendar, Drive, etc), Google Photos, your YouTube watch history, and of all of the various Google search services you’ve used (Search, Shopping, News, Maps, Google Flights, and Hotels).”

View the original.

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Links

Apple model combines vision understanding and image generation »

From Marcus Mendes on 9to5Mac:

In the study titled MANZANO: A Simple and Scalable Unified Multimodal Model with a Hybrid Vision Tokenizer, a team of nearly 30 Apple researchers details a novel unified approach that enables both image understanding and text-to-image generation in a single multimodal model.

Mendes gives a detailed explanation of the paper’s results – Apple’s image generation is “comparable” to GPT-4o in some tests, for example:

As a result of this approach, “Manzano handles counterintuitive, physics-defying prompts (e.g., ‘The bird is flying below the elephant’) comparably to GPT-4o and Nano Banana,” the researchers say.

We can basically see here that Apple’s models are a year behind where they want to be – but potentially catching up thanks to new research.

View the original.

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Links

Apple introduces Creator Studio, an inspiring collection of creative apps »

From Apple Newsroom (line breaks added):

Apple today unveiled Apple Creator Studio, a groundbreaking collection of powerful creative apps designed to put studio-grade power into the hands of everyone, building on the essential role Mac, iPad, and iPhone play in the lives of millions of creators around the world.

The apps included with Apple Creator Studio for video editing, music making, creative imaging, and visual productivity give modern creators the features and capabilities they need to experience the joy of editing and tailoring their content while realizing their artistic vision.

Exciting new intelligent features and premium content build on familiar experiences of Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Keynote, Pages, Numbers, and later Freeform to make Apple Creator Studio an exciting subscription suite to empower creators of all disciplines while protecting their privacy.

View the press release.