Cult of Mac Today
Posts
Why Humane's AI gadget will not replace your iPhone

Why Humane's AI gadget will not replace your iPhone

Do you really want to ditch screens?

Leander Kahney
May 11, 2023

In today’s top post, Cult of Mac writer D. Griffin Jones lays out why Humane’s screenless “iPhone killer” will not, in fact, kill the iPhone.

He lays out a good argument using products like the HomePod and Apple Watch as examples to build his case.

I’m not as skeptical as he is, despite the underwhelming talk Humane’s CEO gave at TED recently.

I think it’s inevitable that at some point, AI-driven assistants that we talk to will be a huge part of our daily lives. So does Griffin — it just won’t be a standalone device.

Also in today’s newsletter:

Recession? What recession? Small app developers are doing just fine, according to a new study.
Elkson makes a ton of cool and inexpensive accessories for your Apple products, and they’re 15% off for Mother’s Day.
You can also save on the fantastic Apple Pencil 2, which hit its lowest price yet on Amazon.
I had high hopes for Apple TV+ sci-fi show Foundation, which in the end was disappointing (although actor Lee Pace as the baddie was great). Perhaps season two — which we just got the first trailer for — will be better.
Today’s the day that Steve Jobs revealed that Apple was working on OS X, the most impactful software the company ever made. It powers not just macOS but iOS, iPadOS, watchOS and more.

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

Why Humane's screenless AI gadget will not replace your iPhone

Humane finally shows off its hyped AI device, and it’s remarkable that a team filled with ex-Apple talent could miss the mark so badly.

Facebook will discontinue Messenger app for Apple Watch on May 31

You’ll continue to receive notifications for new messages on the smartwatch, but you won’t be able reply to them. For that, you’ll have to use your iPhone.

Study shows small App Store developers enjoy robust revenue growth

Small developers around the world saw revenue from Apple's software store grow 71% between 2020 and 2022, according to researchers.

^{A message from the Cult of Mac Store}

Mother's Day selection: Get 15% off Elkson's Apple accessories

You can pick up rugged Apple accessories from Elkson in the Cult of Mac Store’s Mother’s Day Sale for 15% off through May 15.

Steve Jobs’ check for $175 brings whopping $107,000 at auction

The Apple co-founder didn't sign many autographs, and the check is also a rarity because of the address it shows for the young computer company.

Trailer for psycho-thriller ‘The Crowded Room’ gets in your head

Tom Holland and Amanda Seyfried star in the 10-episode series, which premieres June 9 on Apple TV+.

^{A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team}

Save up to 63% on these portable Apple Watch chargers

The Apple Watch Wireless Charger Keychain is compatible with any Apple Watch, and you can get one for $25. (Save even more on multiples.)

Get Apple Pencil 2 with a massive $40 discount

The must-have accessory for the iPad Air and iPad Pro drops to its lowest price on Amazon.

New trailer teases return of ‘Foundation’ to Apple TV+ in July

The second season of Apple TV+’s epic space opera "Foundation" premieres in July, as the collapse of the Galactic Empire continues.

‘Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth’ battles onto iPhone and iPad

Unite a team of elves, dwarfs, wizards, men and hobbits to fight in the new game.

Totallee’s new cases add premium feel to your AirPods

They're "on brand" in that they're lightweight, protective and branding-free. And they're made of 100% recycled plastic, too.

Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs lays out a new strategy for Mac OS

On May 11, 1998, Steve Jobs spelled out the future of the Mac operating system. The big news? OS X was scheduled to arrive the following year.

Tweetz o’ the day

convergence:
apple turns all of rams' products into software on a multi purpose hardware device
divergence:
teenage engineering turns all of apple's software into single purpose hardware devices
— Eli Rousso (@elirousso)
12:35 PM • May 11, 2023

Amazing that you are a $1.4 trillion market cap company and yet every product you launch on your biggest product day is either
1. Derivative.
2. Reactionary
3. Pie in the sky
4. Fluff
5. Or all of the above.
But it does have AI!!!
— OM (@om)
10:43 PM • May 10, 2023

One more thing ...

❝

The hardest thing is, when you think about focusing, you say focusing is about saying ‘yes.’ No. Focusing is about saying ‘no.’ And you’ve got to say, ’No, No, No, No, NO.”

— Steve Jobs, 1997.

Today’s poll

What do you think of Humane's gizmo?

Results from yesterday’s poll: How seriously should Apple take secrecy?

Best reader comments from ‘caedmonmyers’ and ‘stephencito.’

Reply

or to participate.