Leaving Siri Speechless: Google Assistant

It's not hard to tell how competitive Apple and Google are. And they're quite equally matched teams. Google's Google+ certainly beat Apple's Ping in social networking, but Apple's iTunes creamed Google's Google Music. As for mobile operating systems, it's a close call between iOS and Android, but Apple might have the edge there. Well, how about voice-powered assistants? It really isn't a far-fetched idea to say Apple's already won that battle with Siri. But Google doesn't give up that easy.

As always, Google needs to find one of Siri's weaknesses. And they could've done the trick. See, Siri is built more to perform operations when given the relative command. In fact, it's more or less a modified search engine that talks. It doesn't have much social capabilities, or personalization. And that's where Google comes in. Their service, which they plan to call "Google Assistant," will be engineered more towards a "do engine" than a "search engine." In other words, Google will try to get a lot of information packed into their assistant, but they'll try to display it in a more personalized way than Siri does. The personalization settings will likely go further than Siri's calling you by your name. Google could even open up their assistant to third-party developers, so that their assistant could do even more. Considering what developers have hacked Siri to do, (play the piano, start a car, adjust their thermostat, and much more) Google Assistant could perform some crazy stuff. And I mean crazy.

Picture of iPad 3 Part With "A5X" Processor Shows Itself

Lately, there have been a lot of photoshopped pictures of iPad 3 parts circulating around the web. So when we hear about a picture of an iPad 3 with an "A5X" processor, "Photoshop" is pretty much the first word that pops into our minds. Yet, look at the picture. It's so clear, and the reflection of the light on the bubble wrap looks perfect. The date code's number, 1146, means it was produced in the 46th week of 2011, corresponding to November 16-20. This is approximately when construction on the iPad 3 began. And yes, the processor's name is A5X.

This picture showed up yesterday on the Chinese site Weiphone. It appears to be the processor and part of the memory unit of the upcoming iPad 3. Currently, the iPhone 4S, iPad 2, and 5th generation iPod Touch all sport A5 processors. So, it was expected that the iPad 3 would see an A6 processor. But this picture suggests that the change in processor speed would be more minor, just as an iPhone 4S would be a more minor change than an iPhone 5.

But what could this tell us about the iPad 3? Well, if the changes in the processor are minor, it could be that it becomes quad-core, but the GHz stay the same. Or maybe the GHz goes up from 1 to 1.5, but it stays dual-core. Either way, if this picture is in fact correct, this certainly changes our predictions about the iPad 3. Sure, you could just wait 16 days for the media event, but waiting is hard when it's for something like an iPad...

Three, a UK carrier, lists the white iPhone 4 as avaliable on April 20

Three, a UK wireless carrier, now shows the white iPhone 4 as avliable for purchase on its website! The earliest delivery date is April 20th. Does that mean the white iPhone will be released tomorrow, Wednesday? It certainly could! When asked about this topic, Three represtatives said that the deal isn't live yet, and they no nothing else about the white iPhone 4.

iOS 5 to release in September alongside iPad 3?

I know, the first source told me that iOS 5 was being released in early April. That, according to two other reliable sources, is very unlikely to happen. Instead, iOS 5 will be released in September. iOS 5 will bring cloud based movies, photos, and music. We hear it will be a "big revamp." There's a reason why Apple didn't talk at all about iOS 5 on March 2nd when they released the iPad 2... because it isn't coming out any time soon! Apparently, the iPad 3 (I know, the iPad 2 was released but 16 days ago, and we're already talking iPad 3!) will be released alongside iOS 5. We don't know much about the iPad 3 yet except that it will have a retina display.

Apple releases iOS 4.3.1!

Only 17 days after iOS 4.3 was released, Apple has made iOS 4.3.1 avaliable. Here are the improvments over iOS 4.3:

-Fixed occasional graphics glitch on iPod Touch 4th generation

- Fixed bugs related to activating and connecting to some cellular networks
- Fixed image flicker when using Apple Digital AV adapter with some TVs
- Fixed an issue relating to authenticating with some enterprise web services

iOS 4.3.1 is avaliable for the AT&T iPhone 4, the iPhone 3GS, the iPad 1 and the iPad 2, and the iPod Touch 3rd generation or 4th generation. Note that iOS 4.3 or 4.3.1 is not avalible for the Verizon iPhone yet; Verizon iPhone owners can't advance beyond iOS 4.2.

"No more free tethering!" says AT&T

A lot of people have been tethering with their iPhones without a tethering plan. They do this by using an app like MiWi paired with a jailbroken iPhone. While Verizon hasn't done much to stop it, AT&T is really cracking down on it. An interesting note is that no Android users reported this happening to them when doing similar things. iPhone users that do this have been receiving either this text:

Or this rather long email:

Dear XXXXXXXX,

We've noticed your service plan may need updating.

Many AT&T customers use their smartphones as a broadband connection for other devices, like laptops, netbooks or other smartphones– a practice commonly known as tethering. Tethering can be an efficient way for our customers to enjoy the benefits of AT&T's mobile broadband network and use more than one device to stay in touch with important people and information. To take advantage of this feature, we require that in addition to a data plan, you also have a tethering plan.

Our records show that you use this capability, but are not subscribed to our tethering plan.

If you would like to continue tethering, please log into
your account online at www.wireless.att.com, or call us
at 1-888-860-6789 Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. CST
or Saturday, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. CST, by March 27, 2011
to sign up for DataPro 4GB for Smartphone Tethering.
Here are details on the plan:

DataPro 4GB for Smartphone Tethering
• $45 per month
(this gives you 4GB in total, combining both your smartphone data plan for $25 and the tethering feature, $20)
• $10 per each additional GB thereafter, added automatically as needed
• Mobile Hotspot capabilities are included for compatible Smartphones
If we don't hear from you, we'll plan to automatically enroll you into DataPro 4GB after March 27, 2011. The new plan – whether you sign up on your own or we automatically enroll you – will replace your current smartphone data plan, including if you are on an unlimited data plan.

If you discontinue tethering, no changes to your current plan will be required.

It's easy to track your usage throughout the month so there are no bill surprises. For example, we send you free text messages when you reach 65, 90, and 100 percent of your plan's threshold. If you would like to monitor your account more closely, go to www.att.com/dataplans to learn about other ways to track your data usage.

As a reminder, our smartphone data plans also include unlimited usage of Wi-Fi at no additional charge. AT&T smartphone customers can use Wi-Fi at home or on-the-go at any one of our more than 23,000 U.S. hotspots already included in your data plan.

Thank you for bringing your account up to date. We appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve your mobile broadband needs.

Sincerely,

AT&T

70% of people waiting in line for iPad 2 own iPad 1!

Mobclix has discovered that 70% of people waiting in line to purchase an iPad 2 at the Apple Store already own the first iPad! My guess is that these people loved their iPad so much that they are getting the iPad 2. I, on the other hand, do not recommend spending $500 on two cameras, speed, and a proximity sensor if you already own an iPad 1.

People find Apple Stores too long a wait, buy iPad 2 on eBay for $4,000!

People are so impatient to get an iPad 2 that they are finding it too long a wait to purchase an iPad 2 at an Apple Store, and buying them for up to $4,000 on eBay! I knew the iPad 2 was popular, but even I wouldn't buy one for $4,000, when I could get the same 64GB iPad for $700 with a little bit of wait... Here's an iPad 2 that was sold on eBay (Note, this iPad was sold later than this screenshot was taken):

Google makes a TV app for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad!

In December, Google made a Google TV remote app for Android. Now, Google has finally made one for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad! It has all the features found on Android including Voice Search except that it won't let you share web pages from your iOS device to your TV. If you've got a Google TV and iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad, I recommend grabbing the free app from the App Store.

iPad 2 specs determined!

Anandtech has concluded that the iPad 2's GPU (graphics processing unit) is the PowerVR SGX543MP2 dual-core GPU. This GPU has more than 2x the computing horsepower of the iPad 1's, two cores instead of one, and 4x as many pipes. Apple claims that the iPad 2 has 9x better graphics performance than its predecessor, which doesn't seem unreasonable considering these findings. It has also been found that the iPad 2's Cortex A9 (dubbed the Apple A5) processor runs at 900MHz, close to Apple's claimed 1GHz (1000MHz)

iOS 4.3 to arrive March 9!

Why, look what we have here! Proof that Apple will release iOS 4.3 on March 9! (I know, the first rumor said February 14...). This person chatted with an Apple expert, who told them that iOS 4.3 would be released sometime today (the chat says tomorrow because the chat occured yesterday). I tried doing this myself and here is what I got:

Me: Hello! When will you release iOS 4.3?
Apple Expert: Soon.
Me: Oh. I heard you would release it tomorrow?
Apple Expert: Well, you have scooped me then.
Apple Expert: I haven't heard that anywhere.
Me: Ok, bye.

Hmmm... the person I was chatting with would not tell me the release date. This could be that he really doesn't know. It could also be that Apple told their chat representatives not to reveal this information. Which would mean we got a lucky bit of info here!

iOS 5 to get released early April!

The German site Macerkopf.de says that Apple is planning a media event to introduce iOS 5 and a new MobileMe system in early April. They say it will be the on the first or second week of April, which means April 3 to April 16. Many sources thought iOS 5 would be released or previewed on March 2, along with the iPad 2, but Steve Jobs failed to mention it at all.

iOS 4.3 to only let you tether 3 devices?!

Here's a picture of an internal AT&T document. But, oh no, it says "AT&T Mobile Hotspot for iPhone 4 on up to 3 devices!" 3 devices? I've never seen a gadget that supports mobile hotspotting with any limit under 5 gadgets. Even the Verizon iPhone 4 will hotspot five devices!

Update: Only 3 Wi-Fi devices can be tethered through the MiFi connection. You can tether 5 devices if you'd like, but two will need to use Bluetooth or a USB connection. The Verizon iPhone could be the same.

Get every March Madness game on your PC or iOS device- free!

If you're one of the many Tech n' Cars readers who has caught March Madness, you'd probably like to keep up your Tech Madness. Well, CBS and Turner Sprts are letting you keep up both at the same time, by streaming every March Madness gave to PCs, iPhones, iPod Touches, and iPads... for free! (Sorry, Android phone owners, only iOS) The free iOS apps will hit the App Store March 10th.

iPhone 5 to have a 4" screen and a thinner bezel!

There have been some rumors that the iPhone 5 will have a 4" screen. Now, there's more reason to believe those rumors; iDeals China has posted an iPhone 5 part, which shows a larger screen. It also shows a thinner bezel (the metal around the screen), which would help to keep the iPhone portable. That fact backs up the rumor that the iPhone 5 will have an "edge to edge" screen, which most likely means a thinner bezel. Rumors also tell us that the iPhone 5 will launch this summer. As the 4 stood for iOS 4 last year, the 5 could stand for iOS 5, and I'd say there's a 70% chance that Apple will launch iOS 5.0 on March 2nd, which would possibly accompany the iPad 2. iOS 5 on the iPad would certainly help battle the Motorola Xoom, which runs on Honeycomb, an amazing OS that has intrigued many customers. Pricing below the Xoom's $800 would also help.

Confirmed: iPad 2 will be Released March 2nd!

That's right; the iPad 2 with its retina display, front and rear cameras, SIM card slot, MiniDisplayPort, and probably more that hasn't been leaked will be coming out! Apple has begun sending invites for a March 2nd event! It is almost certain that the iPad 2 will be released at this event, as the picture shown above folds down to show an iPad. Other things may be previewed or introduced as well. Some people expect Apple to preview iOS 5 at the event. The event will be on Wednesday, March 2nd at 10:00 AM Pacific Time (12:00 Eastern Time), at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.

Free Access to The Daily Continues Until Feb. 28

Contrary to my post "iOS 4.3 to arrive Feb. 14!", February 14, 1:00 PM ET passed, and iOS 4.3 did not get arrive. Apparently Apple wasn't quite ready, as free access to the iPad magazine The Daily will continue until February 28. Many rumors had popped up when The Daily said it would be stopping its free access on Feb. 14, including a rumor that the iPad 2 would debut on that date. This means that iOS 4.3 will probably be released in March after all, and that you'll have to wait a little longer.

Could the iPad 2 be avaliable in March?

Macotakara says that Apple will have a short media event at the end of February to release the iPad 2 in March. The Japanese site (click here to see a rough English translation of the site) could easily be incorrect, but it is true that prototypes of the iPad 2 have been seen, and apparently a TV commercial for the iPad 2 was shot in LA last week.

iOS 4.3 to Arrive Feb. 14?

MacStories says it has "heard from a reliable source" that Apple will release iOS 4.3 to the public on February 14, at 1:00 PM eastern time. There is evidence that there will be hotspotting and app subscriptions; AT&T has said they will start a hotspotting program, and free access to The Daily stopped.

Might There be a 7" iPad?

You must be loving all of these iPad 2 rumors if you've been reading Tech n' Cars! lately. Lo and behold, I've got some more. Apple might change the aluminum shell of the iPad from aluminum to carbon fiber. This would make the device significantly lighter. That's not all; apparently one of Apple's suppliers has been asked to make a component that would be used on a 7" iPad. Though Steve Jobs has said (incorrectly, in my opinion) that it would be impossible to offer a satisfactory tablet experience with such little screen real estate, the Samsung Galaxy Tab has certainly proved him wrong. Ok, it's got a 7" screen instead of a 9.7" one, but that makes it significantly more portable.