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Apple extends Swift programming language to support robotics

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Apple has updated Swift Playgrounds, its educational coding app for iPad, to include what the company describes as “new way to learn to code using robots, drones and musical instruments”.

Swift Playgrounds is aimed at students and beginners learning to code with Swift, Apple’s programming language for building apps.

Apple says it is working with leading device makers to make it easy to connect to Bluetooth-enabled robots within the Swift Playgrounds app, allowing users to program and control popular devices, including Lego Mindstorms Education EV3, the Sphero SPRK+, Parrot drones and more.  [Read more…] about Apple extends Swift programming language to support robotics

Apple developing processor especially for AI

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Apple A10 chip for iPhone 7
Picture of chip for iPhone 7 via ExtremeTech.com

Apple is developing a processor specially for artificial intelligence applications, according to a report on Bloomberg. 

The maker of iPhones, iPads and a number of other computing devices and machines is said to refer to the chip internally as the “Apple Neural Engine”.

Bloomberg, which says its source requested anonymity, adds that the AI-dedicated chip will be used for facial recognition, speech processing and other tasks which require the processing of large amounts of data.  [Read more…] about Apple developing processor especially for AI

Apple invests $200 million into Corning’s ‘revolutionary’ glass production methods

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Corning recaptures glass material for use in the production process and to help reduce waste. Pictures courtesy of Apple

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently set up a $1 billion fund for the tech giant to invest in advanced manufacturing in the US, and the company has allocated $200 million of that money to a company called Corning. 

Corning – which has been supplying the cover glass for iOS devices for the past 10 years – will receive the $200 million from Apple’s new Advanced Manufacturing Fund as part of what Apple calls its “commitment to foster innovation among American manufacturers”.

The investment will support Corning’s research and development, capital equipment needs and “state-of-the-art glass processing”.  [Read more…] about Apple invests $200 million into Corning’s ‘revolutionary’ glass production methods

Apple begins manufacturing iPhones in India

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After months of protracted negotiations, Apple has started manufacturing its iPhones in India. 

The factory is variously said to be in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and / or Karnathaka. Not knowing the geography all that well, we think this is slightly south-west of the middle of India.

The picture above is from IndRead.com, which seems to suggest Foxconn is setting up and running the factory. Foxconn is the Taiwanese company which manufactures most of Apple’s products.

Apple has begun making what was described as “a small number” of iPhones in the country, although a “small number” could mean hundreds of millions, considering there are more than a billion iPhones in the world today.

In comments to CNBC, Apple said, “We are beginning initial production of a small number of iPhone SE in Bengaluru”, adding that it plans to begin shipping to customers as early as this month.  [Read more…] about Apple begins manufacturing iPhones in India

Apple to invest $1 billion in advanced manufacturing companies in the US

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By Stephen Nellis, Reuters

Apple plans to create a $1 billion fund to invest in US companies that perform advanced manufacturing, chief executive officer Tim Cook said a few days ago, the iPhone maker’s latest effort to show how it is creating US jobs.

The Cupertino, California company will announce the fund’s first investment later in May, Cook said during an interview on CNBC.

Cook also said Apple plans to fund programs that could include teaching people how to write computer code to create apps, and will release more details about the effort this summer.

The announcements were the latest in a series of disclosures to highlight how Apple, the world’s largest company by market valuation, contributes to job creation in the United States. Apple came under fire from President Donald Trump during his campaign because it makes most of its products in China.  [Read more…] about Apple to invest $1 billion in advanced manufacturing companies in the US

How Burger King’s OK Google ad exposed flaws in home automation

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Burger King recently decided to try something different to promote its classic Whopper. The fast food giant aired a commercial in which a Burger King employee who says he doesn’t have time to talk about all of the ingredients in a Whopper comes up with another way for customers to learn about its ingredients.

The employee leans into the camera and says “OK Google, what is the Whopper burger?” This activated Google’s smart speakers — Google Home, and that’s when people started having fun. The actual ingredient list, as published on Wikipedia, was edited with some items replaced with things like children, toe-nail clippings and rat — among other creative ingredients.

Google wasn’t in on the plan, which led to an interesting chain of events that exposed some of the weaknesses of virtual assistants and home automation.  [Read more…] about How Burger King’s OK Google ad exposed flaws in home automation

Apple acquires permit to test autonomous vehicles in California

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By Jessica Resnick-Ault, Reuters

Apple has secured a permit to test autonomous vehicles in California, fuelling speculation that it is working on self-driving car technology in a crowded arena of companies hoping to offer those cars to the masses.

The permit allows it to conduct test drives in three vehicles with six drivers, the state Department of Motor Vehicles said on Friday. The vehicles are all 2015 Lexus RX450h, according to the DMV.

Although it has never openly acknowledged it is looking into building an electric car, Apple has recruited dozens of auto experts in recent years, and the permit pulls the curtain back a bit on any possible plan.  [Read more…] about Apple acquires permit to test autonomous vehicles in California

US President Donald Trump orders reduction of manufacturing and construction bureaucracy

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Newly inaugurated US President Donald Trump has signed an order aimed at reducing the amount of bureaucracy involved in getting permissions and licences in the manufacturing and construction sectors. 

Trump got elected partly on a platform to rejuvenate manufacturing and industry – or his “make it in America” mantra – and these first few days have seen some big changes proposed.

The order he signed is designed to streamline the administrative process, which Trump said was “incredibly cumbersome, long, horrible”.  [Read more…] about US President Donald Trump orders reduction of manufacturing and construction bureaucracy

Apple to expand manufacturing in America

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Apple CEO Tim Cook during a visit to the company’s facility in Austin, Texas, where the Mac Pro is assembled. Picture courtesy MacRumours.com

Tech giant Apple looks to have decided to expand its manufacturing operations in the US. The company filed a notification in the Federal Register apparently to that effect. 

A statement on the Federal Register website says that Apple already has authority to manufacture within the Mesa, Arizona region. “The new request would add finished products and foreign status materials and components to the scope of authority,” it says.

TechCrunch notes that the statement included a mention of Apple’s plan to build data centre server cabinets, which is not a consumer product Apple sells and, therefore, TechCrunch presumes, would be “used for building out its own data centers”.  [Read more…] about Apple to expand manufacturing in America

Apple more or less confirms autonomous car project in letter to US government

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By David Shepardson, Reuters

Apple is wading in to the debate over regulation of self-driving cars, declaring it is excited about the potential for automated transportation and calling on US regulators not to restrict testing of such vehicles.

A five-page letter from Steve Kenner, Apple’s director of product integrity, to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is the company’s most comprehensive statement yet about its interest in self-driving vehicle technology.

The November 22 letter followed more than a year of industry speculation about the computer and iPhone maker’s plans for expanding into transportation.  [Read more…] about Apple more or less confirms autonomous car project in letter to US government