News on the sidelines for the week of March 20 - 26

A more affordable iPad is coming soon, file sharing between Samsung and Apple via AirDrop is now possible, the iPhone Air is achieving record-breaking success, Cloud will handle all your tasks on your Mac, Apple is launching its unified Apple Business platform, the Sora AI video creation app is being discontinued, Apple has full access to Gemini, and other exciting news is coming soon…


Google: Android is now faster than iPhone in browsing the internet.

From PhoneIslam: A bar graph comparing four mobile platforms on the Speed ​​3.1 and LoadLine 2.1 scales; Android devices scored higher than competing platforms in this result, reflecting the weekly tech news for March.

Google announced that new Android phones have set a new record for internet browsing speed, making them faster than other platforms like iOS. This improvement is thanks to seamless integration between the hardware, the operating system, and the Chrome browser. The phones excelled in tests such as Speedometer, which measures responsiveness when tapping or scrolling, and LoadLine, which tests page loading speed. According to Google, Android phones achieved up to 47% higher LoadLine scores, with a year-over-year improvement of up to 60%, resulting in 4-6% faster page loading and 6-9% better user interactions.


Apple can create small AI models from Google's Gemini.

From the PhoneIslam website: The word "Gemini" is centered on a black background, with glowing lines and waves extending horizontally from each side below the text.

Apple now has full access to the Gemini AI model, allowing it to develop and customize it to its needs. This access enables Apple to create smaller, simpler versions of the model that run directly within iPhones, iPads, and other devices without requiring an internet connection. This method is called "drip-feed," which simply means that Apple takes the knowledge and skills from the larger model and transfers them to smaller, cheaper, and faster versions.

In this way, the iPhone can offer advanced smart services easily and quickly. For example, the new Siri can answer questions, summarize texts, understand documents, tell stories, provide emotional support, and even help you book travel and accomplish other daily tasks, just like the most popular smart chat programs. Although Apple is currently relying on Gemini to develop the smart version of Siri in iOS 27, its team is still working on developing its own AI models. However, Apple faces some challenges because the Gemini model is primarily designed for chat and programming, making it difficult to adapt perfectly to Apple's vision.


Apple adds over 100 new indicators to the App Store Connect tool

From PhoneIslam: The laptop screen displays tech news analytics for the application, and shows metrics such as downloads, revenue, conversion rate, and user statistics on the dashboard interface.

Apple has made a major update to App Store Connect, the tool developers use to track their apps' performance on the App Store. Apple said this is the biggest update since the tool's analytics section was launched.

The update includes over 100 new metrics to help developers better understand the performance of their apps and games, particularly regarding in-app purchases and subscriptions. New features have also been added, such as analyzing user groups by download date, source, or start date, comparing app performance with similar apps, and providing new subscription reports and the ability to apply up to seven filters simultaneously for more precise insights. A new guide is also available to help developers create a data-driven strategy for growing their businesses. App Store Connect can be accessed through a dedicated app on iPhone and iPad, or via the website.


The macOS Tahoe 26.4 update adds a slow charger indicator to MacBooks.

From PhoneIslam: The tablet's battery settings screen displays a graph of the battery level, the charging status "fully charged", and options to view battery usage over the past 24 hours or the past 10 days - perfect for keeping up with the weekly tech news.

Apple has released a new update for macOS Tahoe 26.4 that includes a very useful feature for MacBook users. Now, when your charger is slow and not providing full power, a clear warning in orange, stating "Slow Charger," will appear in the Battery menu and Battery settings. This warning helps you understand that charging is taking longer than usual and recommends using a charger and cable that support the wattage recommended for your device model for faster charging.

The update also added another important feature called “Charging Limit”, which allows you to set the maximum battery charging percentage between 80% and 100%, helping to keep the battery healthy for a longer period. 


OpenAI shuts down its Sora AI video creation app

From PhoneIslam: Three smartphone screens showcase an application for creating realistic videos, converting claims into videos, and sending them to users or friends. It is available in the week of March 20-26. News.

OpenAI has announced it is shutting down its AI-powered video creation app, Sora, just six months after its launch. The company thanked users who created and shared their videos and said it will soon reveal more details about the closure date. It stated that shutting down the app will free up resources to develop newer AI models. Sora initially gained significant popularity but faced criticism for deepfake videos, leading to restrictions that diminished its appeal. 


The new Siri: Smarter and easier experience in iOS 27

From PhoneIslam: A colorful and glowing MacOS Finder icon on a dark gradient background, featuring a split smiley face with light reflections.

Apple is preparing to launch a completely new and improved version of Siri, transforming it into a standalone application that's as user-friendly as other popular artificial intelligence programs. You'll be able to speak to Siri or write messages to it, and it will save your previous conversations to better assist you. It will also feature a new and attractive design on the iPhone screen, making it more interactive. Siri will become smarter and more capable of understanding your needs precisely, such as summarizing files and searching the internet. It will be available within various apps to help you anytime, anywhere, with complete ease. These impressive features are expected to be officially unveiled at Apple's event this June.


Apple launches unified “Apple Business” platform to simplify business management

From PhoneIslam: The MacBook, iPad, and iPhone display various Apple business-related websites and apps on their screens against a plain white background, making them ideal for staying up-to-date with technology news or creating a weekly summary.

Apple has announced the launch of a new, free platform called Apple Business, which brings together all the tools businesses need to manage their devices and employees in one place with ease. This platform allows employees' phones and computers to be set up right out of the box without any complications. It also securely separates personal and work data on the same device to protect privacy, and offers shared email and calendar services for seamless daily workflow.

In addition to internal organization, the platform helps businesses reach customers more effectively. It allows them to display their logo and information on Apple Maps, communicate with customers using their official company identity, and even display their logo when paying via iPhone. This useful service will be available for free starting April 14th, making it easier for business owners to manage their companies and communicate with their customers without requiring complex technical expertise.


Challenges in the design of the new iPhone

From PhoneIslam: A close-up shot of a smartphone screen with a semi-transparent overlay showing the internal front camera and sensor components against a black background, ideal for use in tech news or a summary of the latest tech news.

Apple currently faces some technical challenges that prevent it from releasing a truly full-screen iPhone, as hiding the facial recognition sensors under the screen remains difficult. Therefore, it is expected that in future models, the company will simply reduce the size of the notch at the top of the screen rather than eliminate it entirely, meaning that the current design will not undergo a radical change in the near future.

On the other hand, reports indicate that Apple is working on its first foldable iPhone, which is expected to be thin, comfortable, and affordably priced. The company has high hopes for the success of this new phone upon its release, and it is expected to be unveiled, along with the new iPhone 18 Pro series, this coming fall, offering a variety of options to meet everyone's needs.


Claude's artificial intelligence performs your tasks on your Mac for you.

Anthropic has released a stunning new update to its artificial intelligence software, Cloud, which can now control your Mac to perform tasks for you even when you're away. If you ask it to do something, the software will open files, use the browser, and click buttons just like a human would until the task is completed.

What is special about this feature is that you can send commands to the program via your iPhone, and when you come back you will find that the task has been successfully completed, saving you a lot of time and effort in a safe and easy way.


The iPhone Air steals the show and achieves record sales.

From iPhone Islam: A person holding a light blue iPhone Air, smiling, facing the camera. The focus is on the back of the phone, highlighting the camera, design, and one of the latest iPhone colors.

Recent studies indicate that the iPhone Air has achieved phenomenal success, exceeding all expectations. Its popularity has doubled that of previous "Plus" models. The secret to this overwhelming demand seems to lie in its incredibly thin and lightweight design, which has attracted many users, some even preferring it to the more expensive "Pro" series. This remarkable success has extended to numerous countries worldwide, including Japan and South Korea, especially since the phone has proven its exceptional speed in internet browsing, making it the ideal choice for those seeking both elegance and powerful performance.


Miscellaneous news

Poland has announced a plan to impose a 3% tax on digital services revenue, a move expected to affect Apple and other major US companies. The law aims to ensure fair competition between domestic and foreign companies, and will apply to companies generating more than €1 billion globally and more than $6.79 million within Poland. Services include the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV+, and advertising. This measure comes after the European Union backed away from a similar digital tax.

OpenAI has updated its ChatGBT app to focus more on helping you find and compare products rather than directly purchasing them within the app, providing you with more flexible and diverse options. You can now search for items using images and easily compare popular brands, with major retailers joining the service to make it easier to find the best deals. This update is currently available to all users, whether you're using the app on an iPhone or other device, ensuring a smarter and simpler shopping experience.

Apple has released a new update for all AirPods models to improve performance and address some technical issues for a better listening experience. To install this update, simply place your AirPods in their charging case, plug them into a power source, and ensure they are near your iPhone, which should be connected to the internet. The update process will complete automatically within minutes, helping your AirPods operate more efficiently and stably.

Samsung has announced a significant step that will simplify life for many. Starting this week, Galaxy S26 owners will be able to send photos and files directly to iPhones and Macs with incredible speed and ease. This new feature breaks down the barriers between different phone types; all you need to do is activate the "Share with Apple Devices" option via AirDrop in your phone's settings to start sharing with your friends and family, making the process of transferring photos and memories easy and accessible to everyone without any complications.

◉ To mark the approaching 50th anniversary of Apple's founding, a new and distinctive book has been published entitled “Apple: The First Fifty Years"By David Pogue, now available with a 30% discount on Amazon. This book takes you on a fascinating journey through the company's rich history, featuring stories and interviews with 150 key figures who contributed to building Apple and making it a leader in the world of technology. It's a fantastic opportunity for anyone who wants to learn the secrets of this global company's success in a simple and engaging style, and at a reduced price of $34, a 31% discount."

From PhoneIslam: A white book titled "Apple: The First 50 Years" by David Pugh features a design resembling an iPod click wheel on the cover, against a blue and green gradient background, making it an ideal reading experience.

Apple is preparing to launch a new and improved version of its budget-friendly iPad (12th generation) before the end of this year. It will feature a powerful processor capable of seamlessly running Apple's latest artificial intelligence technologies. While the device's design will remain familiar and user-friendly, it will offer greater speed and enhanced intelligence to assist users with their daily tasks, making it an ideal choice for students and those seeking a practical and advanced device at an affordable price.


This is not all the news that is on the sidelines, but we have brought you the most important of them, and it is not necessary for the non-specialist to occupy himself with all the incoming and outgoing. And help you with it, and if it robbed you of your life and got busy with it, there is no need for it.

Sources:

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5 comment

comments user
They are

Artificial intelligence or artificial intelligence?

    comments user
    AI Smart

    Both are grammatically correct, but “artificial intelligence” is the more common and widely used term in Arab technical and academic circles to refer to artificial intelligence. Sometimes, changing a single letter doesn't alter the fact that machines are still trying to mimic our minds!

comments user
Omar Murad

Thank you for the article and the extensive news coverage.

comments user
a B C

You didn't mention the new update numbers for AirPods!
To ensure that it has indeed been updated to the latest version…
What is the latest update number for Pro 3?

    comments user
    AI Smart

    Welcome. The latest update number for AirPods Pro 3 is 8B39, and it was recently released on March 24th.

    Remember that the update happens automatically in the background, so don't bother looking for an "update" button; Apple likes to make our lives easier (or perhaps a little more mysterious).

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