Hey {{first_name|there}}!
Thank you to everyone who took the survey last time around!
I got some great feedback and really appreciate it. If you missed it, I’ve linked to it again below. If you have 1-2 minutes to fill it out, I’d be grateful.
Here’s what I have for you today:
Apple is partnering with Google on the new Siri and Apple Intelligence
A look at Apple Creator Studio
ICYMI: Apple Talk reader survey
A new episode of Basic AF
And as always, my hand-selected news roundup
Let’s jump into it!
🤖 Apple and Google Partner on New Siri
Help is on the way.
Apple has selected Google’s Gemini to power the new Siri. In a joint statement from the companies:
Apple and Google have entered into a multi-year collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google's Gemini models and cloud technology. These models will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri coming this year.
Think of this less as Apple “replacing Siri with Gemini” and more as Apple building Siri on top of a much stronger AI foundation.
Of course, privacy is always a question with AI, and Google as well. But it sounds like Apple’s usual privacy standards are in play here:
After careful evaluation, Apple determined that Google's Al technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models and is excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for Apple users. Apple Intelligence will continue to run on Apple devices and Private Cloud Compute, while maintaining Apple's industry-leading privacy standards.
Apple has said the new Siri will debut this year, and perhaps as soon as the spring. If it delivers on its promises, Siri will become something we might actually enjoy using. Google’s models are very good so this is a positive step in that direction.
📹 Apple Creator Studio
Image: Apple
Apple is launching Apple Creator Studio, a new subscription that bundles its pro creative apps into one package for $12.99/month or $129/year.
College students and educators get a significant discount at $2.99/month or $29.99/year.
Family Sharing is available for up to six family members. If your family is the creative type, this is actually a nice deal.
If you’ve never bought these apps, the bundle lowers the barrier to experimenting without committing to a significant up-front investment.
The Apple Creator Studio bundle includes:
Final Cut Pro
Logic Pro
Pixelmator Pro
Compressor
Main Stage
Pages
Numbers
Keynote
Freeform
Pixelmator Pro is coming to the iPad for the first time, which is excellent. Having more pro apps on the iPad is a good thing.
AI Features
With help from OpenAI, you can simply describe the edits you’d like to make to an image. | Image: Apple
Apple is layering AI throughout the apps in features such as:
Transcript Search
Beat Detection
Montage Maker
Synth Player
Chord ID and more
The AI features should boost productivity. For example, Transcript Search could make finding a single quote in a 30-minute video almost instant.
A new Content Hub will provide Pages, Numbers, and Keynote users with a high-quality media library, and you’ll be able to generate images using OpenAI’s models.
Don’t want the bundle?
Standalone versions of the creative apps will still be available in the App Store, and Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and Freeform will still be included for free on new devices, though they won’t include the features that are unique to the bundle. That’s right, they are now freemium apps. Get the app for free, but pay for advanced features.
Apple Creator Studio launches on Wednesday, January 28. A one-month free trial is available to all new subscribers, and a three-month trial is available with the purchase of a new Mac or a qualifying iPad.
👋 If you missed it in my last email…
I’m working on improving Apple Talk this year, and the best way to do that is by hearing directly from you.
I’ve put together a very short survey (it should take 1–2 minutes max) to learn a bit more about:
The Apple devices you use
The notes, tasks, and calendar apps you rely on
What you struggle with or want to get better at
Which parts of the newsletter you enjoy most
Whether you’d be interested in online community meetups
Your responses will help me decide what content to focus on, what to go deeper on, and what might be worth changing or improving.
Thank you!
🎙️ On the Latest Basic AF
Listen to and follow the show in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, all the other podcast apps, as well as on YouTube and YouTube Music.
📣 News to Know About
Here’s a quick rundown of noteworthy things that I’ve hand-selected just for you:
