Hello Reader,

Happy New Year! May 2024 bring new happiness, new goals, new achievements, and a lot of new inspirations to your life.

Fun fact: On January 9, 2007, Apple showed off the iPhone at Macworld. But you couldn’t buy it until June 29th. People were really excited about it and couldn’t wait to get their hands on one. In 2007, Apple sold 1.4 million iPhones. And every year after that, they sold even more. After they introduced the iPhone, Steve Jobs said that Apple Computer, Inc. was changing its name to just Apple, Inc. This was because they wanted to show that they made more than just computers. But even though they changed their name, some people still called them Apple Computer.

2023 Retrospective

The end of the Intel Mac era

In January 2023, Apple stopped selling the Intel-based Mac Mini, and by June 2023, they also discontinued the Intel Mac Pro.

This marked the end of the era for Macs with Intel processors, showing Apple’s shift towards using their own chip technology.

Apple then quickly introduced the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips, all within just ten months.

This was a big step, showing how fast Apple is moving in chip innovation.

They also updated the MacBook Pro line with these new chips, proving their confidence in the performance of their own technology.

For those who were waiting for a 27-inch iMac with Apple Silicon, there was disappointing news.

An Apple executive confirmed that they have no plans to release such a model.

This decision reflects Apple’s strategy to focus on other technologies and possibly new types of products.

The increase in operating system update frequency

In 2023, Apple significantly increased the frequency of its OS updates, releasing them 23 times throughout the year.

This averages to about twice per month, marking a notable 10% increase in update frequency compared to 2022.

This surge in updates reflects Apple’s commitment to continually enhancing and refining the user experience, ensuring that their operating systems remain up-to-date with the latest features and improvements.

Despite this increase in update frequency, there was a 16% decrease in the number of unique security vulnerabilities addressed by Apple in 2023, with 391 vulnerabilities fixed, down from 466 in 2022.

This reduction could indicate improvements in Apple’s initial software security, reducing the number of vulnerabilities that emerge. It might also reflect a more focused and effective approach to identifying and resolving critical security issues.

On the macOS side, macOS Ventura, encountered its share of challenges, being 17% more bug-ridden compared to its predecessor, macOS Monterey.

However, for macOS Monterey, over 75% of these bugs were rectified within the first year of its release.

This statistic suggests that it might be prudent for users to delay upgrading to a new macOS version immediately upon its release, allowing time for initial bugs and issues to be resolved through subsequent updates.

The rise of Generative AI

The generative AI landscape experienced significant advancements in 2023, marked by OpenAI’s release of GPT-4 Turbo, a more advanced AI model capable of processing over 300 pages of text in a single prompt and designed to be cost-effective for developers​​.

OpenAI also introduced DALL-E 3 to ChatGPT Plus, enabling users to create images by describing them, and developed a tool for detecting fake images with 99% accuracy​​.

Additionally, Apple heavily invested in generative AI, planning to enhance its operating systems and potentially revamp Siri, with a study by Setapp revealing that 42% of Mac users use AI-based apps daily​​.

The year also saw a growing awareness of the need for responsible AI development.

Concerns about AI jailbreaks and prompt manipulations underscored the importance of developing AI technologies safely.

Companies like Apple emphasized AI’s integral role in their products and future plans, with AI-driven features becoming fundamental to devices like the Apple Watch​​.

Furthermore, OpenAI reached a milestone with ChatGPT gaining over 100 million weekly users and introduced custom versions of ChatGPT tailored to specific needs, indicating the widespread popularity and versatility of generative AI​​.

Competition in the AI field intensified with Anthropic releasing Claude 2.1, a large language model with enhanced functionality, and Stability AI entering the video generation arena with Stable Video Diffusion, an open-source model for animating existing images.

These developments highlighted the rapid progress and diverse applications of generative AI technologies​​.

In summary, 2023 was a pivotal year for generative AI, marked by significant advancements, growing integration into mainstream technologies, and an increased focus on responsible development and safety.

2024 Outlook

Apple Vision Pro

Sometime in the first quarter of 2024 (some say end of January, beginning of February), Apple will release the much-anticipated Apple Vision Pro, its take on Augmented and Virtual Reality.

Here's a link to the Newsflash NF2023-12, in which you'll find my first impressions and what I thought of it at that time.

As planned, sales will be limited to the US, but recently, sources from the supply chain have been predicting that production issues will probably limit the number of units sold to about 500,000, which is one-third of the number of iPhones sold in its first year of existence.

So, despite its price tag of $3,500 before tax and without corrective lenses, tech pundits predict that the Apple Vision Pro will sell out very quickly.

It is still unclear how much better the Vision Pro will make the computing experience, both as a standalone device and as an adjunct to an existing Mac.

Having used a Meta Quest 2 for the past 2 years, most of the times that I connected it to a computer was to play Virtual Reality games that couldn’t run locally on the headset, and the experience was subpar at best.

I even bought a virtual desktop app to be able to see my Mac’s screen in a VR environment, but I disliked the experience because of a combination of the need to use physical joysticks, as well as eye fatigue and the lack of comfort after a prolonged period of time.

The design and technology embedded in the first Apple Vision Pro are supposed to alleviate these issues, and time will tell if Apple finally cracked the nut of seamless AR/VR experiences.

Will iOS 18 & macOS 15 include Generative AI features?

This is the 1 billion dollar question, IMO.

We’ll know more in June at the WWDC’24 and I really hope the answer is yes.

Despite its phenomenal and rapid improvements over the past 12 months, Gen AI is far from perfect, for sure.

However, the potential of a deep integration of Gen AI within Apple’s operating system is huge, both to boost creativity and productivity, which is at the core of Apple’s ethos.

And best of all, Apple is extremely well positioned for 3 reasons:

1. Apple already leverages Machine Learning for predictive capabilities
2. Apple is very active in the field of AI research by publishing papers and releasing open source tools
3. every Apple device sold in the past 3 years contains a very powerful chip capable of running AI models locally

In fact, it’s way easier to run AI models on hardware equipped with Apple Silicon than on Windows PCs, and there are more native AI tools as well.

In other words, as Apple device owners, we are best placed to benefit from the AI revolution that is currently taking place.

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Apple TV+

Apple TV+ is making waves in the awards scene and with its awesome show lineup.

First off, it scored 16 nominations at the 2024 Critics Choice Awards.

Shows like "The Morning Show" and "Lessons in Chemistry" really stood out.

Plus, at the Children's and Family Emmy Awards, it bagged five awards, showing it's pretty good at kid and family shows.

This all shows how Apple TV+ is climbing up the ladder in the streaming world.

There's more cool stuff happening with their shows, too.

Fans of old-time drama will be happy because "The Buccaneers" is back for season two. It's about young American women in 1870s London and is based on a book by Edith Wharton.

The sci-fi series "Foundation", based on Isaac Asimov's stories, is also coming back for a third season. It's all about rebuilding civilization after a huge empire falls.

And there are new dramas on the way.

"Your Friends and Neighbors" stars Jon Hamm as a burglar who used to run a hedge fund.

"Constellation", starting February 21, is a space thriller that's sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Then there's the British crime show "Criminal Record", starting January 10, about two detectives on an old murder case.

All these shows prove that Apple TV+ is all about giving us a bunch of great, different stories to watch.

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Operating System Updates

December 11, 2023

iOS 17.2 and iPadOS 17.2:

iOS 17.2 adds several features: a Journal app for iPhones to log daily activities with multimedia, new sticker reactions in Messages, enhanced Apple Music playlists, spatial video and faster focusing for iPhone 15 Pro, and improved security with iMessage Contact Key Verification.

The update redesigns the TV app, integrates more iCloud syncing in Messages, and enhances location-based Emergency Alerts.

Additional updates include new Weather app features, Siri accessing Health data, and ProRes video recording for iPhone 15 Pro.

iPhones 13 and 14 gain Qi2 support for faster charging.

iPadOS 17.2 mirrors iOS 17.2, adding similar updates to Messages and Apple Music but excludes the iPhone-only Journal app. It features a redesigned TV app and enhanced security in Messages.

macOS Sonoma 14.2:

The macOS 14.2 Sonoma update brings some cool new stuff to your Mac, making things easier and more fun.

One big change is the Enhanced AutoFill for PDFs - it fills out your name and address on forms, just like on websites.

If you love messaging, you'll dig the new feature in the Messages app where you can stick stickers right onto your chat bubbles.

Plus, there's a handy button to skip to the latest unread message.

For those who keep an eye on the weather, you'll find new Weather widgets that show detailed info like rain, wind, and more.

The Clock app now lets you set multiple timers and save your favorite ones.

If you're into Apple Music, check out the new Favorites Playlist and the option to turn off listening history when you're in Focus mode.

But, there's a heads-up for those using screen sharing: macOS 14.2 Sonoma had a little hiccup with managing virtual desktops during screen sharing.

If you're used to hiding stuff on your desktop before sharing your screen, be careful – those hidden windows might pop up in the screen sharing menu.

This issue caught the attention of both developers and users, so it's smarter to close any private windows instead of just hiding them when sharing your screen with this version.

Don't worry, though, the follow-up update, macOS 14.2.1, has fixed this screen sharing glitch.

watchOS 10.2:

The watchOS 10.2 update for Apple Watch is all about making things easier and more accessible.

One cool thing is how Siri now works with your health data.

You can just ask Siri about stuff like your heart rate or how much you've exercised, and it'll tell you right from your watch.

This is super handy when you're working out or when your hands are full.

It's also great for anyone who finds it hard to use the tiny menus on the watch, making health info much easier to get.

Also, they've brought back the ability to swipe to change watch faces.

Lots of folks (including myself) missed this after it was removed with watchOS 10.0.

Now, just swipe on your watch screen to quickly switch between different watch faces.

It makes it simpler to change up your style or use different features on your watch.

These updates in watchOS 10.2 really improve how the Apple Watch works and make it friendlier for everyone to use.

tvOS 17.2:

The new tvOS 17.2 update introduces 3D movies compatible with the upcoming Apple Vision Pro headset, offering an immersive viewing experience.

The Apple TV app is now easier to navigate with a new sidebar and sections for popular streaming services like Hulu and Prime Video.

The update also combines iTunes TV Shows and Movies into the Apple TV app for a more streamlined experience.

Older devices

iPhones & iPads stuck at iOS 16 received iOS 16.7.3 and iPadOS 16.7.3 respectively.

Macs running macOS Monterey and Ventura should install Safari 17.2, and their respective OS updates: macOS Monterey 12.7.2 and macOS Ventura 13.6.3.

Beware that the macOS Monterey 12.7.2 update broke Shortcuts on my 27-inch iMac, which means that I need to trigger them from my iPad until Apple releases a new macOS version.

December 19, 2023

-) Safari 17.2.1 for macOS Monterey and macOS Ventura
-) iOS 17.2.1 for iPhone XR, iPhone XS and later
-) iOS 16.7.4 and iPadOS 16.7.4 for iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPad 5th generation, and iPad Pro 9.7-inch
-) macOS Sonoma 14.2.1 for all Macs runnings macOS Sonoma

Except for macOS Sonoma 14.2.1, which patched one vulnerability, these were only minor bug-fix updates.

​

Artificial Intelligence

Apple

Apple's diving deep into AI and Machine Learning.

They've rolled out MLX, a free and open-source framework made for Apple Silicon.

It's for machine learning pros to build, test, and tweak AI models.

By going open-source with their AI tools, Apple shows they're serious about pushing AI forward and working with the wider developer community.

They've also come up with something called HUGS (Human Gaussian Splats).

It's a cool AI tech that can whip up digital human avatars from short videos in about half an hour.

This tech uses 3D Gaussian Splatting, making it way faster than old methods to create animated humans in scenes.

Plus, Apple's cracked how to run Large Language Models (LLMs) on iPhones.

They're using flash memory in a smart way to get past memory limits, which means iPhones can now do more advanced AI stuff, like better Siri and real-time language translation.

Apple's also looking to team up with big publishers to train its AI.

They want to use licensed content for more reliable and accurate AI models, instead of just pulling from the internet.

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OpenAI

The launch of OpenAI's GPT Store, which is like an app store for AI, has been moved to 2024 due to changes in leadership at OpenAI.

It was supposed to open in late 2023 to let people access and share specialized AI models.

Now, because of some internal reshuffling and the project's complexity, it's been delayed to early next year.

Even though there's a delay, you can still create and share GPTs, just not on the public platform or with any revenue-sharing until the store officially opens.

In fact, I've finally created my own private GPT to help me prepare this very Newsflash 🙂

OpenAI is also beefing up its safety game.

They've set up a new safety advisory group to watch over their tech teams and guide the leadership.

Plus, the OpenAI board now has the power to stop the use of any AI models they think are too risky.

All this is part of their updated "Preparedness Framework," which checks for big risks in AI, like cybersecurity and model autonomy.

They're taking a careful approach, so any models that are too risky won't be made or used. This is all about making sure AI is developed and used safely.

​

Microsoft

Microsoft's Copilot, an AI-powered chatbot, now has a cool music creation feature by teaming up with the GenAI music app Suno.

This lets you make whole songs, with lyrics, tunes, and even singing, just by asking, like "Create a pop song about adventures with your family."

You can use this on Microsoft Edge by turning on the Suno plug-in on the Copilot website.

This is a big leap for creativity, but it also raises questions about ethical and legal issues in AI-made music, especially about artists' rights and where the AI gets its training data.

Also, Microsoft Copilot is now on iPhone and iPad, and there might be a Mac app coming soon.

Before, this chat helper, which uses OpenAI's GPT-4 and DALL-E 3, was just on desktops.

Now you can use all its features, like writing emails or making AI images, right from your mobile.

It needs iOS 15 or iPadOS 15 to work, and the hinted Mac version might need an M1 processor and macOS Sonoma.

This expansion means more people can use AI help on different devices.

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Google

Google's got a new AI thing called Instrument Playground, limited to the U.S. at the moment.

It's pretty neat – it makes music sounds from over 100 instruments just from a few words you type in.

You pick an instrument, throw in a mood word like 'happy' or 'sad', and it whips up a short tune you can tweak and download.

Right now, there are 65 instruments to play with, and it can even add some funny lyrics.

You can mix up to four instruments in one song and use your keyboard to play notes.

It's still just for fun and not quite ready to take over from real musicians.

On another note, Google's Gemini, which is kind of like OpenAI's GPT-4, is running late.

It was supposed to launch in late 2023 but now it's pushed to early 2024.

Gemini, made by Google's DeepMind, is supposed to be this big-deal AI that can handle photos, videos, audio, and more.

But there's a bit of a fuss because a video showing it off was edited to make it seem faster than it really is.

So, people are wondering if it's really as good as it looks.

Google also launched NotebookLM in the U.S.

It's an AI-powered note-taking tool that helps with notes, adding info, planning stuff, and rewriting things in different ways.

This tool uses the Gemini AI and is a big step in making AI help us get things done.

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Other AI news

The New York Times is suing Microsoft and OpenAI, claiming they used its articles to train OpenAI's language models, like Bing and ChatGPT, without asking.

This lawsuit shows the tricky legal stuff AI gets into, especially about using content and intellectual property.

At the same time, Geekbench, famous for its testing tools, now checks AI and machine learning on computers, like macOS, Windows, and Linux.

This shows how AI is becoming a big part of everyday tech and why we need ways to test how well AI works on different gadgets.

In a cool AI twist, a company called Channel1 made a 20-minute news show with an AI news anchor.

It's pretty neat, but you can tell it's not perfect yet, with some odd hand movements and lip-sync issues.

Then there's Mozilla's new tool, Solo, which lets you build websites without knowing how to code.

You just tell it what you want, and it makes the site, showing how AI can make web design easier and more accessible.

The European Union also made a big move with the AI Act to control how AI is used.

It sets rules to stop AI from doing bad stuff, like making sure AI follows copyright laws and labels fake content.

It also says AI that talks to people has to make it clear it's AI, keeping things transparent.

This law is really strict for AI used in important areas like health and energy, where people need to keep an eye on it and have all the technical details sorted out.

This law is all about dealing with the big effects AI has and making sure we use it responsibly and safely.

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Macpreneur podcast

In December, I released 4 episodes aimed at helping solopreneurs better leverage AI:

-) Episode 74: Unlock Creative Genius: 3 Cutting-Edge AI Brainstorming Hacks for Solopreneurs

-) Episode 75: Revolutionize Marketing: 9 AI Tactics Every Solopreneur Must Know

-) Episode 76: Next-Level Podcasting on Mac: Slash Editing Time & Skyrocket Quality with AI

-) Episode 77: Unlock the Power of AI Beyond Text and Images

Season 3 will end on January 11, and all the episodes are accessible via the following link.: https://macpreneur.com/category/season-3/​

The purpose of Season 4, starting on January 18, will be to help solopreneurs optimize their business processes.

If you know solopreneurs who run their business on their Mac, I’d be super grateful if you could tell them about it.

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Have a great day!
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PS: May I ask you another favour? If you like this Newsflash, please forward it to someone you know who might like it too. Later on, he or she can subscribe to get it automatically by email via the following link: https://easyte.ch/newsflash-en​