Connected 586: Dashboard Confessions, Apple Creator Studio, and Google Gemini for Siri

Tichi Scale Updates and RSS Recommendations

• 🐦 The Tichi Scale has been updated, with the spider on the 'nightmare' end being replaced by a bat, and the 'happy' end featuring a quokka.
• 📰 Regarding RSS readers, NewsBlur is no longer recommended due to the company pivoting to e-ink glasses (Sol); instead, Feedbin or Inoreader are suggested as services, with Unread, lire, and ReadKit as client options.

Nostalgic Tech Accessories and Mac Widgets

• 📱 A trend of beige, retro-inspired tech accessories is highlighted, including a Spigen iPhone case mimicking the Macintosh 128K and a Mac Mini stand designed to look like a Tangerine iMac.
• 🖥️ Discussion on Mac OS widgets reveals a preference for Apple to bring back the 'Dashboard' feature for a more organized widget experience, rather than relying on the current notification center or desktop widgets.

Apple Creator Studio and Pro App Subscriptions

• 🎨 Apple announced 'Apple Creator Studio,' a subscription bundle for professional apps like Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro, priced at $129/year or $12.99/month, significantly less than Adobe Creative Cloud.
• 💡 The bundle includes Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor, Mainstage, and iWork apps with AI features. Educational pricing is available at $2.99/month or $29/year.
• 🖼️ A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the new icons for the Creator Studio apps, with a tier ranking placing Motion, Compressor, and Mainstage in S-tier, and Pixelmator Pro in F-tier.

Google Gemini Powering Apple Intelligence and Siri

• 🤝 Apple and Google jointly announced that Google's Gemini models will power Apple's upcoming AI features, including those for Siri, running on both cloud and on-device.
• ☁️ Apple determined Google's AI technology to be the most capable foundation for its 'Apple Foundation Models,' emphasizing continued privacy standards and on-device processing where possible.
• 🧠 The integration aims to give Siri memory, proactive features, and world knowledge, potentially phasing out OpenAI's ChatGPT extension.
• 🛠️ Reports suggest Apple will have the ability to fine-tune Gemini for its specific needs, optimizing responses for Apple platforms and apps, though this carries risks of model degradation.
• 🔄 A two-model approach is anticipated: a smaller on-device model for simple tasks and a larger cloud-based Gemini model for complex queries, managed by a router system.
• 📈 The partnership is seen as a significant move for both companies, with Apple leveraging Google's AI capabilities and Google gaining access to the vast Apple ecosystem.