It’s time for Bits & Bytes…
… where we bring you news, innovations, and thought-provoking insights from AI, IT, and beyond. In this week’s newsletter we’re looking at:
- Apple’s Glowtime event
- Touch typing is out of touch
- More bots, less humans online
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
🗞️ Apple’s Glowtime Event Brings iPhone 16, AI Features, and More
Apple’s biggest event of the year just wrapped up, showcasing a mix of expected hardware releases and AI innovations. Headlining the event were the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, which come equipped with the new A18 chip, promising a 30% speed boost over the iPhone 15. Starting at $799, the iPhone 16 comes with a shiny new A18 chip and the much-hyped Camera Control button—a fancy way to toggle camera features by physically pressing a button, something you could’ve programmed in shortcuts with the current phones but who’s checking.
But that’s not all—Apple also revealed the Apple Watch Series 10, with a sleek design and more rounded corners, plus AI-powered features like personalized photo curation and sleep apnea detection (pending FDA approval). On the audio front, AirPods 4 were announced, promising enhanced comfort, machine learning-driven Spatial Audio, and nodding or shaking your head for Siri responses. The updates are set to roll out on September 20, setting the stage for a fresh wave of Apple tech adoption, packed with new AI-driven features.
TL;DR
- iPhone 16: Starts at $799 with the new A18 chip (30% faster)
- iPhone 16 Pro & Pro Max: Bigger screens (6.3” and 6.9”), starting at $999.
- Apple Watch Series 10: Slimmer design, brighter screen, AI-driven photo curation, and sleep apnea detection (pending FDA approval).
- AirPods 4: More comfortable, machine-learning powered Spatial Audio, and they can now detect head nods and shakes for Siri commands.
TECH HEADLINES FROM ACROSS THE WEB
⌨️️ The Decline of Typing Skills
Despite their digital-native reputation, Gen Z struggles with traditional typing skills, as keyboard instruction in schools has nearly vanished. A Wall Street Journal report reveals only 2.5% of high school graduates took a typing class in 2019, a sharp drop from 44% in 2000. Many young people rely on mobile devices, further distancing themselves from physical keyboards.
👃 Uh oh, STINKY
Crew members of the USS Manchester secretly installed a Starlink dish, creating the Wi-Fi network “STINKY” to bypass Navy internet restrictions. The unauthorized installation went undetected for months until a civilian worker stumbled upon the hidden device. The scheme led to a Navy investigation and disciplinary actions for those involved, including a court-martial for the leader.
🪪️️ Fake Interactions Fill the Web
More than a third of global internet traffic comes from bots, with AI making them increasingly sophisticated. While some bots help with customer interactions, others are used to inflate views, spread fake news, and manipulate online engagement. This rise in bot activity threatens to replace genuine human interactions and casts doubt on the authenticity of online content.
TECH FOR GOOD
Ever wished your camera could see the world like a butterfly? Neither have I but thanks to researchers at Penn State, that might soon be a reality. They’ve developed an ultrathin metasurface that can turn an ordinary camera into a hyperspectro-polarimetric powerhouse. Translation? It lets you capture light beyond what human eyes can see, from hidden colors to the polarization of light.
This tech is compact, affordable, and works in real-time with the help of AI, meaning we’re on the verge of a whole new way to view the world. Whether it’s spotting the finest details in medical scans or getting a better look at nature, this butterfly-inspired breakthrough could change how we see everything – literally.
