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WhatsApp’s first smartwatch app is also coming to Wear OS, bringing texting and voice calls without needing a phone.

Google’s Wear OS 3 is getting new features from Google itself along with third-party apps and — later this year — a major update to Wear OS 4. Announced Wednesday during Google I/O, the watch operating system will be getting more integrations with Google services like Gmail, Calendar and Google Home. Many of these improvements, which include battery life improvements, will arrive on Wear OS 3 watches like Google’s own Pixel Watch and the Samsung Galaxy Watch series.

The updated Google Home app will allow for remotely unlocking your door and checking Nest doorbell notifications. Gmail and Calendar’s Watch OS updates will add quick replies to emails along with access to schedules, event RSVPs and the ability to update a task status from a watch.

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Third-party apps are also part of Google’s Wear OS announcements, with chat service WhatsApp planning to launch its first native watch app on the operating system. WhatsApp’s Wear OS app — currently in beta — plans to include texting alongside voice calls directly from a Wear OS watch. Google also announced that Spotify and Peloton will be including watch tiles in their Wear OS apps, both of which will provide faster access to music playlists and workout details respectively.

When Wear OS 4 becomes available later this year, Google says the software will bring battery life improvements, a faster text-to-speech experience and backup support. That latter feature will make it easier to transfer data and settings from an old watch to a new one, much like Google’s current Android phone setup process.

The Wear OS announcements come as Google’s I/O keynote takes a big focus on AI announcements. These include the PaLM 2 language model, an AI-powered version of Google’s search engine and the public release of the Bard AI chatbot.

As production ramps up across its autonomous electric tractors, Foxconn is looking to produce more EVs.

Foxconn, one of Apple’s key suppliers for the iPhone, is pushing further into electric vehicles as consumer interest ramps up.

Electric vehicle sales are expected to increase by 35% in 2023, and stricter emissions standards in the US are predicted to drive a near tenfold increase in EV sales by 2032.

Foxconn last month completed the first five “driver optional” electric smart tractors as part of its partnership with Monarch in Ohio. In its first-quarter earnings announced Thursday, Foxconn said production on the autonomous agricultural tractors has “begun smoothly” and that it is preparing to produce other vehicle models in 2024.

Foxconn added more on its EV hopes: “The goal is to find the next potential leading automaker, use more innovative and efficient processes to build vehicles, and provide customers with the most competitive production model to accelerate the trend toward electromobility.”

Foxconn’s EV goals didn’t come out of nowhere. The tech manufacturer had announced in October 2020 that it was looking to diversify its business and enter the EV market. It unveiled the Foxtron EV brand and three EVs in October 2021: the Model C electric SUV, Model E luxury sedan and Model T electric bus.

Foxconn then bought a former GM manufacturing plant at the end of 2021 to help produce the Endurance electric pickup and formed a partnership in mid 2022 to build Fisker’s Project Pear electric SUV and added the Model V electric pickup truck to its prospective portfolio.

Foxconn in January also announced a partnership with Nvidia to use Nvidia Drive Orin processors in its electric vehicles, as well as Nvidia’s AI Drive Hyperion sensor suite.

For more on electric vehicles, here’s how to claim the $7,500 tax credit and which cars qualify for it and which states charge electric vehicle drivers for not pumping gas.

The pivot from being mainly just an iPhone supplier to producing electric vehicles comes as Foxconn reported a plunging first-quarter net profit of T$12.8 billion ($415.9 million) on Thursday, down 56% from the T$29 billion ($942 million) reported for the same quarter last year.

Foxconn laid the blame on a T$17.3 billion ($565 million) write-down of its 34% stake in Japanese electronics company Sharp. Sharp on Thursday reported a $1.9 billion loss for the full year due to writing down the value of its panel display business and other assets, according to Reuters.

Much of the AI technology we use today runs in hulking data centers operated by cloud computing giants like Amazon, Microsoft and Google. But with a technology called WebGPU that Google is now building into its Chrome browser, web apps can take advantage of AI processing more directly.

Google announced the WebGPU adoption at its Google I/O conference Wednesday. With WebGPU, web apps on phones or laptops can better tap into the kinds of artificial intelligence software that’s sweeping everything from creative tools to health apps.

“WebGPU makes the web AI-ready,” said Matt Waddell, who leads Chrome’s developer and consumer focused work, in an exclusive interview ahead of the conference. At Google I/O, the company plans to demonstrate a web app running Stability AI’s Stable Diffusion software for turning text prompts into images, he said.

The move reflects the growing pervasiveness of AI technology that’s been used behind the scenes for years but that’s become much more prominent with new generative AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Bing, Google’s Bard and Adobe’s Firefly. Google — caught flat-footed by ChatGPT despite CEO Sundar Pichai declaring Google an AI-first company in 2016 — is racing to capitalize on the excitement.

Although phone and laptop hardware is much less powerful than data center server hardware, being able to run AI locally on a device sidesteps network problems and can help you control your data. That could be useful for businesses with sensitive data or health apps whose results you want to keep private, Waddell said.

WebGPU’s origins date back years to projects at Google, Apple and others that brought a video game hardware revolution to the web. That let web apps tap into the raw power of graphics processing units, or GPUs, that previously only graphics-heavy video games might use. The computing industry discovered those GPUs are pretty good at accelerating AI, too.

AI software also can run in apps running natively on a device, as indeed they do with software like Adobe’s Lightroom and Photoshop image editing apps. But speeding up AI in web apps means developers have a better chance at taking advantage of the universality of the web platform.

“We think about a more capable and powerful web platform all the time,” Waddell said.

Less browser compatibility hassle
The web’s universality has come with problems, though, including fragmented efforts to add new browser abilities programmers can use. That undermines the ease of developing a website or web app that’ll work the same on many devices without complicated workarounds.

But also at Google I/O, the company announced a partnership with Mozilla’s Firefox, Apple’s Safari and Microsoft’s Edge to detail a new effort called Baseline to flag the web features developers can rely on all browsers supporting, Waddell said.

Baseline 2024 should arrive at the end of this year and then be continuously updated as new compatible features arrive.

Moving Android apps to the web faster
Another programming change emerging at Google I/O is expanded web technology called WebAssembly — Wasm for short — that promises to speed up web apps. Wasm lets programmers translate native software to run within web browsers, powering the web version of Adobe Photoshop and Autodesk’s AutoCAD design software.

At Google I/O, the company plans to announce developers can now convert apps written in the Kotlin language to Wasm. Since Kotlin is the most widely used language to write Android apps, that could help Android developers reach new users on other platforms more easily.

Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to create some personal finance explainers that are edited and fact-checked by our editors. For more, see this post.

Steve Wozniak tells the BBC that “bad actors” will abuse the technology.

Artificial intelligence may make it more difficult for you to spot and avoid scams. That’s according to Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, who told the BBC on Monday that the technology could be corrupted by bad actors. He called for industry leaders to impose more regulation.

Wozniak is dubious that generative AI will replace humans — a common concern in the debate over the future uses of the tech — but he’s convinced AI-powered tools could sound like humans. By using large language model programs like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, bad actors can easily create seedy scams and run rampant online, Wozniak said.

“AI is so intelligent it’s open to the bad players, the ones that want to trick you about who they are,” he told the BBC. He wants strict industry standards to hold companies developing AI accountable, but he’s dubious that regulators will get it right. “I think the forces that drive for money usually win out, which is sort of sad,” he said.

Read more: It’s Scary Easy to Use ChatGPT to Write Phishing Emails

Since the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT last year, companies have released a deluge of generative AI software that can do things like create code, plan a vacation, write poems and answer all sorts of questions for you. Google unveiled its own AI chatbot, Bard, in February, shortly after Microsoft launched a new AI-powered Bing search. Social media companies Meta and Twitter have also teased that their own AI products are coming soon.

In March, more than 1,000 AI, tech and other industry leaders, including Wozniak and Elon Musk, signed a petition to halt the development of AI programs beyond ChatGPT 4 due to the “profound risk” these systems may pose without any industry regulation.

“Should we let machines flood our information channels with propaganda and untruth? Should we automate away all the jobs, including the fulfilling ones? Should we risk loss of control of our civilization?” the letter asks.

Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to create some personal finance explainers that are edited and fact-checked by our editors. For more, see this post.

The update patches a security issue, and Apple said everyone should download it.

Apple released its first iPhone Rapid Security Response update, called iOS 16.4.1 (a), on May 1. The company said the update is recommended for all users and it applies important security fixes to iPhones, but Apple didn’t release security notes associated with the update.

To download the update, go to Settings > General > Software Update, tap Install Now and follow the onscreen prompts.

Some users saw an error message when installing iOS 16.4.1 (a) on their devices. The message read, “Unable to Verify Security Response,” and it said they were no longer connected to the internet. If you see this error message, you can immediately retry downloading the update or try again later.

Rapid Security Response updates are a new type of device update Apple introduced alongside iOS 16.2 in December. According to Apple, Rapid Security Response updates provide users with important security fixes more frequently. These updates can help you mitigate iPhone security issues in real time, rather than make you wait for the release of a larger iOS update. Rapid Security Response updates are designated with a letter to differentiate them from other updates.

Apple didn’t immediately respond to CNET’s request for comment.

For more iOS news, check out what features could be coming to your iPhone with iOS 16.5 and what was included in iOS 16.4.1 and iOS 16.4.

Google I/O is this Wednesday, and the tech giant will reveal more details then.

It’s official. The Pixel Fold is real. After months of rumors, Google on Thursday offered up a look at the Pixel Fold, confirming that the company plans to launch its first foldable phone soon. A page in the Google store and a video posted to Twitter show several views of the phone.

Google didn’t provide any specifications for the device, but the teaser video shows it has a full outer display that opens up to a larger inner display, similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold phones. The inner display is rumored to measure 7.69 inches, while the outer one could be 5.79 inches.

We also get a glimpse of the Pixel Fold’s rear camera bump, which looks similar to other Pixel phones, though it’s unclear exactly what the setup will be. Rumors have suggested the phone could have a 50-megapixel main camera along with two 12-megapixel cameras and an 8-megapixel one.

The phone in the video is shown in a light color option, which is rumored to be called “chalk” or “porcelain.” There’s also expected to be a black or gray version that may be called “carbon” or “obsidian.”

The company will offer more details about the Pixel Fold at Google I/O on May 10. The phone is rumored to go on sale in June and could cost between $1,400 and $1,800. Google’s teasers for the Pixel Fold just say that it’s “coming soon.”

The Pixel Fold will go up against other foldable phones, like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip lines as well as devices from Chinese phone makers like Huawei and Oppo. Apple is also rumored to be working on a foldable iPhone, but that might not show up until 2025. Google has the potential to take foldable phones more mainstream, according to CNET’s Andrew Lanxon. Being in control of the Android operating system puts it in a unique position to overcome the software problems that have plagued other foldable phones.

At Google I/O, we’re also expecting to see the rumored Pixel 7A and we could get more details about the Pixel Tablet. The company will also likely spend time talking about its AI efforts, and we’ll get more details on Android 14.

Google didn’t respond to a request for additional comment.

The union representing a Maryland Apple store wants you to be able to show your gratitude.

A union demand at an Apple Store in Maryland could open the door to tipping by Apple customers for their in-store transactions.

The request for a tipping option is one of a number of demands that the union made of the company this week, according to Bloomberg. Employees at the store in Towson, Maryland — the first Apple Store in the US to form a union — are also asking for raises of as much as 10%, vacation policy changes, bereavement leave and overtime pay, among other demands, Bloomberg reported.

These proposals are subject to change as negotiations between the union and Apple continue, the union told Bloomberg.

While we await the outcome of negotiations, here’s what you should know about the proposal for tipping.

Is tipping even allowed at Apple stores?
As things stand now, receiving tips while working at an Apple store could result in an employee’s termination, the Apple Coalition of Organized Retail Employees said in a Twitter thread this week.

“Apple employees everywhere can tell you that they are already being offered tips by customers regularly, however, if an employee accepted even $1, it would be grounds for immediate termination,” ACORE said.

Apple didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

What kind of tips are we talking about?
The tipping system being proposed would offer tips in increments of 3%, 5% or a custom amount customers could give, according to Bloomberg. ACORE wants to create “an acceptable system that allows the occasional customer the ability to reward our team for their hard work,” it said in the Twitter thread.

How many stores would this affect?
The negotiations with the union for the Towson store would likely affect only that location, but a win by the union there could set a precedent for Apple stores.

Apple has opposed unionization efforts in many of its stores. In April, retail managers in 270 outlets held meetings with employees to turn them against unionization efforts, Bloomberg reported. Only two Apple stores are currently unionized, the Towson location and an Oklahoma City store.

There are 272 Apple stores in the US, and nearly as many overseas. Apple opened its first retail store in India in April.

When might tipping go into effect?
Hard to say. It’s early days still in what could be a prolonged back-and-forth between the company and the union. The proposal is also subject to change, the union told Bloomberg, due to the long and complex nature of the negotiation process.

There are now more than 1 billion active iPhones in the world, Apple says.

Apple’s iPhone success still isn’t slowing down, with the tech giant on Thursday announcing iPhone sales reached a record number for the March quarter, bringing in $51.3 billion in revenue.

There are now over 1 billion active iPhone devices, Apple said on Thursday while announcing earnings for its fiscal second quarter that ended April 1.

iPhone sales are expected to continue, with the company likely releasing its iPhone 15 lineup in the fall. The new phones are rumored to include a USB-C port instead of Lightning; the Dynamic Island on all models; more RAM in the iPhone 15 Pro to make room for a possible A17 Bionic chipset; a periscope-style telephoto lens on the Pro Max; and a new luxe device called the iPhone 15 Ultra.

Read more: Best iPhone in 2023: Which Apple Phone Should You Buy?

Another bright spot in its second-quarter earnings was Apple services, the segment that includes the App Store, Apple TV Plus, Apple Music and Apple Arcade, hitting record quarterly revenue of $20.9 billion.

Apple doesn’t break down the numbers, so it’s unclear exactly how much each service contributed to the record number. However, Apple revealed during the earnings call that it now has 975 million paid subscriptions for services.

“We are pleased to report an all-time record in services and a March quarter record for iPhone despite the challenging macroeconomic environment, and to have our installed base of active devices reach an all-time high,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said.

Overall, Apple’s total quarterly revenue was $94.8 billion, down 3% year over year. It comes against a backdrop of a tough economy that has seen other major tech companies conduct mass layoffs this year, including Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Facebook parent company Meta.

Apple said it’s also “making major progress” in becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference on June 5 will likely see the company finally reveal its long-rumored AR/VR headset and show off iOS 17, the next iteration of its iPhone operating system. It’s rumored that iOS 17 will finally bring with it the ability to sideload apps on the iPhone.

The AR/VR headset from Apple has an expected release date this summer or fall, and is rumored to be similar to Meta’s Quest Pro, with focuses on work, mixed reality and eye tracking.

These features aren’t guaranteed, but beta testers can try them now.

Apple released the fourth beta version of iOS 16.5 on Tuesday, a day after the release of iOS 16.4.1 (a), Apple’s first Rapid Security Response for iPhones. The beta update, rolling out to public beta users as well as developers, brings more improvements to the OS, like a new Pride wallpaper section and a sports tab in Apple News.

New iOS features can be fun, but we recommend downloading a beta only on a device other than your primary phone, just in case the new software causes problems. Apple also provides beta testers with an app called Feedback, which they can use to notify the company about any issues in the new software. That way, problems can be addressed before general release.

Here are the new features beta testers can try now with iOS 16.5 beta 4.

Pride wallpaper section
In iOS 16.5 beta 4, Apple introduced a new Pride section to your iPhone’s preloaded wallpapers.

The wallpapers were “designed with the colors of the Pride flag to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community,” the section’s description reads.

In iOS 16.3, the company introduced the Unity section of preloaded wallpapers as part of its Black Unity Collection to celebrate Black History Month.

Apple News gets a Sports tab
The Apple News app launched in 2015, and the first iOS 16.5 beta brought a Sports tab to the app for the first time. The tab can be found in the toolbar across the bottom of your screen when you open the app. Before, the toolbar displayed tabs for Today, News Plus, Audio, Following and Search. The iOS 16.5 beta 1 got rid of the Search tab to make room for the Sports tab.

Ask Siri to start a screen recording
With iOS 16.5 beta 1, you could ask Siri to start a screen recording for you. Prior to that beta, you had to go to add the screen recording tool to your Control Center, then turn on the tool manually. Now asking Siri could save you time, since you won’t have to edit out the beginning and end of your videos where you turn the recording on and off.

There’s no word on when iOS 16.5 will be released to the general public. There’s also no guarantee these beta features will be released with iOS 16.5, or that these will be the only features to come out with the update.

For more, check out what to know about iOS 16.4.1 (a) and Rapid Security Responses. There’s also what you may have missed with iOS 16.4. And there’s how to become an Apple beta tester so you can try out new iOS features before other folks.

Apple was the only leading vendor to increase market share in the last year, says a new Canalys report.

Global smartphone shipments fell by 13% in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the same period last year, according to a report published Thursday by research firm Canalys.

The decline comes amid a convergence of economic conditions, including softening consumer demand, high inflation, and sluggish economic growth.

“The smartphone market’s decline in the first quarter of 2023 was within expectations throughout the industry,” said Canalys Analyst Sanyam Chaurasia. The quarter saw 269.8 million units shipped.

Despite a slowing smartphone market, Apple bucked the trend as the only top five vendor to increase its market share annually, to 21% from 18%. Rival Samsung’s market share dropped from 24% to 22%, indicating that Apple has closed in on its South Korean rival, boosted by robust demand for its iPhone 14 Pro series, announced last September.

During the latest January to March quarter, however, Samsung reclaimed the top spot from Apple, shipping 60.3 million units driven by a fresh lineup of products following the launch of its popular Galaxy 23 series in February. iPhone market share fell from 25% to 21%, while Samsung’s share of the pie grew from 20% to 22%. Chinese tech giant Xiaomi maintained its third place position with 30.5 million shipments, and Chinese phone makers Oppo and Vivo rounded out fourth and fifth place on the list.

The quarterly drop-off for Apple doesn’t come as a surprise, though. The fourth quarter encompasses the launch of new iPhones, generating a huge bump up in sales that subsequently tapers off in the following January-March quarter.