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For decades, Super Bowl ads have been used as a launching platform for new products, devices, and even technologies. In Super Bowl LIX, it took center stage in the exploding AI space. Until now, the tech crowd has ravenously ingested much of the most pertinent AI news. The innovators and early adopters are way ahead, but the Super Bowl creates a captive commercial-loving audience of 130 million normal people. With OpenAI, Meta, and Google all taking the opportunity to push artificial intelligence to the populace, they all took interest through very different approaches. Here’s a look at the AI-driven Super Bowl ads that made waves, what they promised, and how audiences reacted. AI-powered Super Bowl ads: Who showed what?OpenAI: The Information AgeWhat it showed: The ad featured black-and-white visuals in constant motion, walking through humanity’s many developments, from tools and fire all the way through to generative AI. Key message: We have entered The Information Age. We might…more

The introduction of transparency has been quite controversial in print production over the past few years, though the fact is that for most transparency in Adobe files works just fine. However, those of us out there with older RIPs may have issues printing transparency. In this video you’ll see how to flatten transparency in your PDF files before you ever hit the Print…more

One of the coolest aesthetic features of iMessage is its animated message effects. If you’re like many users, you might even have discovered them by accident, where wishing your friend a “Happy Birthday!” or congratulating them on a promotion unexpectedly flooded your screen with balloons or confetti. Apple’s iMessage effects first appeared in iOS 10 and still work perfectly in the most current iOS, iPadOS, and macOS versions. While Apple has only formally mentioned a few code words and phrases that automatically trigger these effects, I’ve compiled a massive list of all the hidden triggers I could find through research and trial and error — with over 50 languages included. Don’t Miss: Every Hidden Special Character on Your iPhone’s Keyboard That You Can Unlock Right Now While Apple hasn’t added any more English trigger words and phrases to its list of Easter eggs for iMessage effects since iMessage effects were a thing, it has added more words and phrases that work with other…more

Apple’s iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 have been out since September, but more features are coming, such as new emoji from Unicode 16, and you can test them after installing a beta build for iOS 18.4 or iPadOS 18.4. Apple Intelligence debuted on iOS and iPadOS 18.1 and expanded on iOS and iPadOS 18.2 and iOS and iPadOS 18.3, but iOS and iPadOS 18.4 will likely improve Apple Intelligence features even more. But there will also likely be new features and changes beyond Apple Intelligence you’ll want to try out. The iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 betas were first available to registered developers on June 10 and to Apple Beta Software Program users on July 15. While stable iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 versions were released to everyone on Sept. 16, Apple continues beta testing 18.x versions. iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 were released on Oct. 28. iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2 were released on Dec. 11. iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3 were released on Jan. 27. iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 are approaching the initial beta build. The most…more

Apple’s Freeform app levels up with iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, offering you new features to enhance creativity, collaboration, and organization. While some updates, like the new Scenes feature, are prominent, others are more subtle but just as powerful. This incredible app’s versatile features work equally well on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. If you haven’t updated to iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 yet, it’s definitely worth it for Freeform’s upgraded capabilities. Many of these features also work on macOS Sequoia 15. The updates cater to a wide range of users, from casual planners to professional teams working on large projects. Freeform’s improvements also beautifully integrate with other Apple ecosystem features, including iCloud, Siri, and Apple Intelligence. If you enjoyed the app’s earlier ability to create freehand sketches and collaborative boards, this update expands on those strengths with new tools designed to make your workflow smoother and your projects more polished. Don’t Miss: Unlock the…more

Apple is gearing up to release iOS 18.3, its latest software update for iPhone, and it could hit devices as early as the last week of January. While it’s not as feature-packed as the previous updates for iOS 18.2 and iOS 18.1 were, there are still a few important changes you’ll want to know about. Aside from the return of a critical Calculator feature, most of the changes in iOS 18.3 apply to iPhone models that support Apple Intelligence. Those would be the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 models. The new emoji from Unicode 16 are also missing from this update but are expected to arrive with iOS 18.4. Note: Many of these features and changes also apply to iPads running iPadOS 18.3 and Macs running macOS Sequoia 15.3. Apple Intelligence Enabled by DefaultAccording to Apple’s release notes for developers, you’ll automatically be opted into Apple Intelligence after upgrading a supported device to iOS 18.3. That way, you have immediate access to all of Apple…more

Apple Maps keeps getting better and better for all the hikers in the world. With iOS 18, iPadOS 18, or macOS Sequoia 15, you can access thousands of detailed trail maps within U.S. national parks and topographic views, but you can also create your own walking and hiking routes. Custom walking and hiking routes, available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac since Sept. 16, work anywhere you want. It could be for hikes in state or local parks, walks around town, or any path you’d like to remember. You can give your routes custom names, add notes, label them one-way, out-and-back, or closed-loop hikes, and more. On an iPhone or iPad, you can also download custom routes for offline use when you don’t have cellular and Wi-Fi connections. Don’t Miss: 13 New Weather Features and Changes iOS 18 Gives Your iPhone Step 1: Start a Custom RouteThere are multiple ways to get started. First, you can mark a location on the map for the start of the route, hit the More (•••) button on the place card, and choose…more

With so many useful native and third-party apps available on iPhone, the Compass app is under the radar for many users. It may not be as essential as Messages, Photos, or Mail, but you can still get plenty of use out of it, especially if you’re a hiker, camper, or someone who enjoys outdoor adventures. One of the best features of the Compass app is that it works offline, relying on your device’s GPS and magnetometer rather than cellular service. This means it’s just as effective in remote areas as it is in urban settings. For added security, download offline maps in Apple Maps before heading out. Here’s the breakdown of all the features you can find in the simplistic Compass app that has everything you need on a single screen. 1. N/S/E/W Direction in DegreesThe Compass displays your current direction along with a precise degree reading. This is perfect for staying oriented on trails or in open spaces with few landmarks. For example, if your trail map says to follow a heading of 215°,…more

Today is the 10-year anniversary of the death of Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs. To commemorate the occasion, Apple has posted a message and a mini-documentary on its website. But beyond Jobs’ visionary accomplishments, this anniversary is also an opportunity to peer into the possible future of what Apple has in store in the first decade after the passing of its passionate, trailblazing leader. • Don’t Miss: Facebook’s Big Smartglasses Mistake—Not Pairing Ray-Ban with Instagram Instead In this area, there’s really only one direction in which to look: augmented reality… more

On Monday, the social media giant Facebook suffered a massive outage that, as of this writing, is still in effect. The company’s flagship services, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are all currently inaccessible. But one unexpected development is that this outage is also hurting Facebook’s “metaverse” products, including Oculus Quest users and Ray-Ban Stories smartglasses users. • Don’t Miss: What Is the Difference Between Facebook Ray-Ban Stories, Snap Spectacles, & Amazon Echo Frames Smartglasses? Currently, if you turn on your Oculus Quest 2 headset, after the device powers on… more