Apple has held its biggest event of the year, announcing four new iPhones and two new Apple Watches. The livestreamed event saw no mention of Macs, Apple TVs or iPads. But some products were even more rejected than that: being discontinued during the event, or after it. That includes the smaller iPhones, all leather accessories and some products with the Lightning connector that was removed from the new phones. Here’s everything that was discontinued during the event. iPhone Mini In 2020, Apple released a phone that was incredibly exciting to some: a smaller model, at 5.4-inches, which it referred to as the iPhone 12 Mini. A year later came its predecessor, the iPhone 13 Mini. Some people may have liked them a lot – but not enough people did. Last year, Apple didn’t announce a follow-up model in the iPhone 14 range, and instead launched the iPhone 14 Plus. But the iPhone 13 Mini stuck around in the line-up, until the iPhone 15 event. Now it is gone, and it doesn’t look like anything is replacing it. Other iPhones have also been removed from the line-up: the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, and the iPhone 12. They all have direct replacements, however, in the form of the previous year’s model. Lightning accessories Perhaps the biggest news for the new iPhones was the switch away from the Lightning cable, used for more than a decade, and its replacement with USB-C. Apple had initially resisted the switch, but after the European Union forced it to change, it relented and presented it as a selling point during the event. That switch, however, means that some Lightning accessories have been removed. That includes, for instance, the MagSafe charging pack that Apple released with the iPhone 12, presumably because it had a Lightning connector at the bottom. It is unclear whether they will be coming back, with a USB-C port or any other changes. But they are no longer on the store. (Some Lightning accessories are still here, however, for now. The mouse and keyboard that comes with the iMac still plugs in that way, for instance.) And lightning AirPods The AirPods have also been moved to USB-C, and so the old ones have left the market. Apple presented this as a straightforward upgrade during its event – though after the fact it has emerged that the new AirPods are actually new in other ways, with support for lossless audio and better dust protection. The silent switch The switch has been on the side of the phone in some form since the very first iPhone. And now it is gone, at least in the Pro line-up. Instead, Apple has swapped it for the “action button”. That can still be used for muting – and by default it is set that way – but it can be changed to do other actions, too. The switch is still around in the normal, cheaper iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. But given that those tend to get many of the innovations from the previous years’ model, expect it to be removed fully in next year’s iPhones. Leather accessories Apple focused on sustainability a lot during its event. And the star announcement of that focus was the removal of leather from Apple’s line-up. It will make no new accessories out of the material, it said – though some will still be available, they are being phased out. Apple said that was because of their environmental impact, not mentioning ethical concerns. Instead, Apple has launched a range of new Apple Watch straps and iPhone cases in a new material, named FineWoven. It says that it will do the same job but with “significantly lower emissions”. Read More The iPhone has gone all grown-up. Here’s why we should be grateful Why Apple getting rid of lightning cable iPhone charger is a big deal France bans Apple iPhone 12 sales due to ‘too high radiation’ Here’s the brand new Apple Watch Apple to stop using leather in all new products Apple is changing the plug on the bottom of your iPhone

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BURLINGAME, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 6, 2023--

Heading to school, college students have to do without some of the comforts of home.

Last year, I got over-the-ear wireless headphones for the first time ever, wanting to prove that the headphones we wear are a vital styling choice. Although I had always been enthused by the way they made people look cool without trying so hard, it had never occurred to me to wear headphones that mimicked the look of a bygone era. My generation did grow up in the time of wired headphones, but it was at the point when the sleek white string of Apple earphones hung over your outfit. As such, I just could never understand why other commuters chose over-the-ear headphones, or even wireless Airpods.

Sonos has released the Move 2, an updated version of its chunky speaker for the outdoors. The Move was released in September 2019, as Sonos’s first battery-operated and semi-portable speaker. It was joined later by the Sonos Roam, which comes in a much smaller and lighter form factor that is intended to be more easily carried around, and the Move has focused on uses such as carrying a speaker into the garden or moving it from room to room. Now Sonos has revealed an updated version of that Move, focusing largely on sound quality and its battery. It will cost $449, or the same in pounds – slightly more than the previous Move, which sold for $399 – and will be available on 20 September. The improvements to the sound bring what Sonos says is a “completely overhauled” design of the speakers. That allows for stereo sound and other improvements to the audio quality. The improvements to the battery double the playtime from the version of the Move, increasing it to up to 24 hours. It also includes a USB-C port that can send power out the other way: charging up a phone or other electronics, for instance. Audio can also go into the speaker through that input. After being largely resisted to adding line-in connections to its speakers, Sonos has recently brought USB-C inputs to its latest releases, though still requires customers to buy a line-in adapter separately. And it comes in a new olive colour, alongside the black and white of the original Sonos. That is matched with a new design on the user interface, first unveiled with Sonos’s recent Era speakers, which include a slider for volume control. Otherwise, the Move looks almost identical to its predecessor. It has the same level of water resistance and features WiFi and Bluetooth, though it has the option to bring two Moves together for stereo sound when they are connected to WiFi. Read More Starship ‘ready to launch’, Elon Musk says Elon Musk vows to sue ADL for calling him antisemitic over X campaign Apple is dropping leather from iPhone cases and Watch bands, report claims

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PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 14, 2023--

UPDATE: Jun. 7, 2023, 5:00 a.m. EDT This article has been updated to reflect the

Google is reportedly planning to roll out a new artificial intelligence tool that provides “life advice” and acts as a “personal life coach” along with many other AI chatbots to perform tasks like writing and tutoring. The new tools under development are reportedly part of the tech giant’s efforts to drive research further on generative AI systems like ChatGPT in competition with rivals, including Microsoft and OpenAI. Google’s AI teams are testing the use of new tools, such as those behind chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and the company’s own Bard, into a personal life coach that offers life advice on topics ranging from career decisions to relationship troubles, the New York Times first reported. The tech giant has reportedly teamed with the AI training company Scale AI to evaluate the new “life coach” chatbot. Over 100 experts with doctoral degrees in various fields are also testing the bot rigorously, according to the New York Times. Since the surge in popularity of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, many tech companies and services, including Google, Facebook, and Snapchat have attempted to develop their own versions of the generative AI technology to better interact with users and offer human-like responses to queries. However, some of these AI tools have raised concerns over the validity of their responses as well as privacy issues. Experts have also flagged multiple instances of chatbots making facts up in what is widely called “AI hallucination” – a problem many say may not be fixable. In one instance, an American non-profit for supporting those with eating disorders was forced to take down its AI chatbot after it was revealed that it offered harmful advice instead of helping people. AI experts continue to warn that while such chatbots are very good at giving convincing answers in response to questions, they can often provide information that is not factually accurate. The latest attempt by Google to use AI technology to offer personalised life advice strays from its current guidelines for its Bard chatbot which warns users not to use the AI tool’s responses for “medical, legal, financial, or other professional advice.” Bard’s guidelines also warn users not to include “confidential or sensitive information” in their conversations with the chatbot. Read More Snapchat experiences ‘temporary outage’ as My AI chatbot posts own Story Amazon is rolling out a generative AI feature that summarizes product reviews Paper exams, chatbot bans: Colleges seek to 'ChatGPT-proof' assignments ‘I’m scared’: Snapchat’s AI posts image that terrifies users How much of a threat does AI really pose? Get your ticket for our free event AI-driven cyberattack can now steal passwords with near 100 per cent accuracy

Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla is reportedly under a federal investigation over a mysterious project that might involve the construction of a “glass house” for its chief Elon Musk. Federal authorities are probing whether the EV company’s funds were being used for Mr Musk’s own personal use, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The US attorney’s office in New York has sent subpoenas to current and former employees at Tesla, asking information about the company’s purchase of hard-to-get construction materials, and investigating whether the project involved appropriate use of the EV-maker’s funds, according to Bloomberg. The strange project appears to be for a “dramatic glass-walled building” close to Tesla’s Texas headquarters, the Journal noted. Prosecutors are also reportedly reviewing Tesla’s 2022 purchase order for a construction material – “a special kind of glass”. But a mere investigation by federal agencies does not mean there is likely any criminal or civil proceedings ahead, as officials sometimes start inquiries that can lead to dead-ends. It also remains unclear if the project is still under work, or if any construction material was ever delivered. Tesla has not immediately responded to The Independent’s request for comments. Mr Musk has previously expressed interest in building a “utopia” in Texas, constructing a whole new town from scratch on thousands of acres of farmland Tesla bought outside the state capital Austin. In March, the Tesla titan attended meetings with land owners and real estate agents, where he and his staff outlined his ideas for the project, The Independent reported. Mr Musk reportedly wants his staff around Austin – including employees at SpaceX, Tesla and the Boring Company – to be able to live in new homes for rents below market value. Local court documents filed in January also show plans to build over 100 homes near “Snailbrook” – a reference to the Boring Company mascot “Gary the Snail.” A town needs at least 201 residents and approval from a county judge to be incorporated, according to Texas law. Documents also reveal further plans to build 110 more homes in the planned town “Project Amazing”. Read More Elon Musk booed at video games contest as crowds shout: ‘Bring back Twitter!’ Meta could finally launch Threads feature everyone is waiting for Musk admits X may be doomed to fail as glitch wipes out old pictures from Twitter Elon Musk booed at video games contest as crowds shout: ‘Bring back Twitter!’ ‘San Francisco will end up like Detroit’: Why Elon Musk and tech CEOs are fighting lawsuit on homeless crisis Elon Musk’s SpaceX sued over allegations of hiring discrimination