Featured

Sneaking Early Gemini Features Into Google Home

Gemini for Home still isn’t officially rolled out, but there’s a workaround floating around that lets you access part of the Gemini experience early: the upgraded Gemini voice pack, which is normally tied to the upcoming Home assistant revamp. On your phone, pop this into your browser: googlehome://assistant/voice/setup This deep-link forces the Google Home app to launch the new Voice Setup UI — the same one Google is reserving for the Gemini transition. If you’re using Chrome, pick the second option when it appears. The first one is just a Google search. You might see a “Continue to Home?” prompt,  hit Continue. You’re immediately given a choice of ten new voices, polished, ultra-natural, and clearly modeled after the more expressive Gemini TTS engine: Amaryllis – soft, airy, almost therapeutic Calathea – deeper, grounded Croton – bright, youthful Yarrow – calm, articulate They have that Gemini warmth, the same energy Google used in its AI Studio demos, not the old rob...

Apple Intelligence: A Leap from IPhone 13


As a long-time Apple enthusiast, I recently upgraded from my trusty iPhone 13 to the new iPhone 16 Pro and enrolled in the iOS 18 developer beta program. The transition has been nothing short of transformative, especially with the introduction of Apple Intelligence—a feature that has redefined my smartphone experience.

Apple Intelligence is the latest innovation in iOS 18, leveraging advanced machine learning to provide personalized and context-aware functionalities. From predictive text enhancements to smart photo sorting and proactive app suggestions, it feels like having a personal assistant tailored to my habits and preferences.

To fully utilize Apple Intelligence, there are a few prerequisites:

1. Compatible Device: You’ll need an iPhone 16 Pro or later, as the feature relies on the advanced neural engine available in these models

2. iOS 18 or Later: Ensure your device is running iOS 18. Some features may not be backward compatible with earlier versions

3. Regional Settings: Certain functionalities are region-specific. I discovered that adjusting my regional settings unlocked additional features. To do this:
• Go to Settings > General > Language & Region.
• Select the region where Apple Intelligence features are fully supported (e.g., United States).

Enrolling in the iOS Beta Program

Getting access to the iOS 18 developer beta was straightforward:

1. Apple Developer Account: First, I signed up for an Apple Developer account on the Apple Developer website.

Navigate to Settings > General > Software Update.

Download and install the iOS 18 developer beta.

Comments