Dorchester — Nov 12th 2024

David Parnell demonstrated the much improved calculator now included in Mac OS 15 and iOS 18, with included scientific features and conversion of a wide range of physical measurements and currencies, updated if connected to the Internet. There is also a programmer feature which we left for the geeks. He then showed how Notes now includes mathematical calculation capability, which includes being able to handwrite formulas as well as using the keyboard. It will even cope with basic algebra.

David then showed us the latest AI features added by Adobe to their software in this instance, Lightroom. Included now in this app is very efficient auto-masking. He gave various demonstrations instantly selecting people or features of a person, just by a single instruction. Having selected a feature by instant masking, you then have the full range of adjustments. Removing a foreground object showed how effective the AI can summabluff the background, very impressive.

Trevor Craven gave us an update on Apple Intelligence. Following on from David’s demonstration of roving an object in a photo, Trevor showed that a similar feature using AI in Photos, Clean Up, is a new heading under Photo Edit options, Adjust, Filters, Crop, and now Clean-up. This allows you to remove an object in the photo and, like Adobe AI, can bluff the background very effectively. You can change the size of the brush which you paint over the object to be removed. Other features of Apple Intelligence only work using US English. Trevor had changed his settings accordingly and showed how AI can now summarise text, rewrite text in a different style ( e.g. fun or professional), as well as being able to proofread. Trevor had been surprised that features were applied very differently in different Apple apps such as Mail, Notes, and Pages, so they definitely work in progress. Trevor reminded us that Apple Intelligence only works on Macs with Apple silicon chips, iPads with M series chips, and only iPhone 16s and iPhone 15 Pro.

Mick ran through the impressive latest updates to Apple Products. Already, after the first M1 chip was released 3 years ago, onto M4. Apple has introduced new M4 iMacs and a couple of new colours. An amazing Mini now reduced to the size of an Apple TV, though a little taller with an impressive range of connectivity, including to and from USB-C ports. Price starts at £599 with M4 up to £1,399 for M4 Pro. Mick showed up a delightful/fun Apple promotion movie ending with a user sitting opposite 3 x 27” monitors all connected to this tiny little box. Finally, the MacBook Pros have also been updated. The 14” available with M4, M4 Pro, or M4 Max and the 16” with the choice of M4 Pro or M4 Max, ranging in price from £1,599 for the basic 14” up to £3,999 for the highest spec 16”. Mick reminded us that all these details are available on the Apple website.

Proof read by Apple Intelligence!

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