4 ms·

Better computational photography with added camera hardware, new immersive audio algorithms, on-CPU changes for optimized ML matrix computations, etc, are not "

by z5h 7y ago

Better computational photography with added camera hardware, new immersive audio algorithms, on-CPU changes for optimized ML matrix computations, etc, are not "small spec bumps". If you think they are it's likely because companies like Apple are so incredible at delivering this kind of stuff that it seems routine.

writepub 7y ago
Every one of those features appeared in Chinese & Korean Android phones 2-3 years ago. Neither are these "feats", nor are they unique to Apple. They're already behind the curve on these features. The only commendable thing is scale, when Apple adds these features they reach 10X in unit sales per SKU compared to the competition.
- beamatronic 7y ago
  Do you trust those phones with your data?
  - writepub 7y ago
    Do you really trust Apple with yours? [1][2]. [1] https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208351 https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208351 [2] https://9to5mac.com/2019/07/29/stop-apple-listening-siri-recordings/ https://9to5mac.com/2019/07/29/stop-apple-listening-siri-rec...
ehsankia 7y ago
> Better computational photography Basically catching up to the Pixel > new immersive audio algorithms Will have to try it out but it sounds very much like fluff > on-CPU changes for optimized ML matrix computations So faster matrix multiplies are a user-facing feature? Other than the camera changes, there was no features an average user would be excited over. No new tech like face unlock, animojis, Samsung's audio focus, Pixel's Soli, or other real new features.
- z5h 7y ago
  I was countering your claim that these were spec bumps. Now we're instead having a discussion about Android phones and Animojis? I can't keep track.
  - nanoservices 7y ago
    > Now we're instead having a discussion about Android phones and Animojis? Because you & apple during the presentation made is sound like computational photography in phones was something ground breaking and never before seen. Its been in the Pixel phone for years.
    - colejohnson66 7y ago
      No one said it was new. They said it was big for Apple. Yes, Apple is always behind their competitors in many things, but that’s not why people buy Apple.
  - ehsankia 7y ago
    I categorize announcements in two buckets: 1. Spec bumps: These are mostly invisible to the consumer, it just gives them a phone that's slightly faster or lasts longer. Faster matrix multiply falls into this category. 2. Features: These are actual changes the user can see and interact with. I named a few examples, both on software (animoji/sound focus) and hardware (face unlock/soli) side. This presentation had almost none of the latter, other than Dark Mode. I'm not sure why that statement is so hard to understand. None of the stuff you named were really features. No one goes to the store to buy the phone with the slightly faster cpu or better matrix multiplies.
    - deleted 7y ago
      [deleted]
- spike021 7y ago
  I'm never sure why everything always has to be about "X was slow to do Y, and now they're finally catching up to Z". It is how it is, just let it be. If you prefer a certain brand then just go with that brand. Otherwise it's just a wasted effort to be trying to brag for one brand you don't even work for that they did something faster than another one.

by z5h 7y ago

writepub 7y ago

Every one of those features appeared in Chinese & Korean Android phones 2-3 years ago. Neither are these "feats", nor are they unique to Apple. They're already behind the curve on these features. The only commendable thing is scale, when Apple adds these features they reach 10X in unit sales per SKU compared to the competition.

beamatronic 7y ago
Do you trust those phones with your data?
- writepub 7y ago
  Do you really trust Apple with yours? [1][2]. [1] https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208351 https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208351 [2] https://9to5mac.com/2019/07/29/stop-apple-listening-siri-recordings/ https://9to5mac.com/2019/07/29/stop-apple-listening-siri-rec...

ehsankia 7y ago

> Better computational photography Basically catching up to the Pixel > new immersive audio algorithms Will have to try it out but it sounds very much like fluff > on-CPU changes for optimized ML matrix computations So faster matrix multiplies are a user-facing feature? Other than the camera changes, there was no features an average user would be excited over. No new tech like face unlock, animojis, Samsung's audio focus, Pixel's Soli, or other real new features.

z5h 7y ago
I was countering your claim that these were spec bumps. Now we're instead having a discussion about Android phones and Animojis? I can't keep track.
- nanoservices 7y ago
  > Now we're instead having a discussion about Android phones and Animojis? Because you & apple during the presentation made is sound like computational photography in phones was something ground breaking and never before seen. Its been in the Pixel phone for years.
  - colejohnson66 7y ago
    No one said it was new. They said it was big for Apple. Yes, Apple is always behind their competitors in many things, but that’s not why people buy Apple.
- ehsankia 7y ago
  I categorize announcements in two buckets: 1. Spec bumps: These are mostly invisible to the consumer, it just gives them a phone that's slightly faster or lasts longer. Faster matrix multiply falls into this category. 2. Features: These are actual changes the user can see and interact with. I named a few examples, both on software (animoji/sound focus) and hardware (face unlock/soli) side. This presentation had almost none of the latter, other than Dark Mode. I'm not sure why that statement is so hard to understand. None of the stuff you named were really features. No one goes to the store to buy the phone with the slightly faster cpu or better matrix multiplies.
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
spike021 7y ago
I'm never sure why everything always has to be about "X was slow to do Y, and now they're finally catching up to Z". It is how it is, just let it be. If you prefer a certain brand then just go with that brand. Otherwise it's just a wasted effort to be trying to brag for one brand you don't even work for that they did something faster than another one.