Apple Intelligence available in beta for developers in China with Qwen integration

Apple has announced the start of testing for the Apple Intelligence feature in mainland China, beginning on November 4. This launch will integrate Alibaba's Qwen model into components such as Siri, Writing Tools, and Visual Intelligence.

These new capabilities will initially be available as a beta version for iOS developers before being released more widely with the iOS 27.3 update in December, as Apple stated on October 31.

Users will be able to ask the Qwen model questions about texts, images, and documents directly through Apple's system functions. Access can be gained by logging in with a Qwen account or using the 'Sign in with Apple' feature. Additionally, Writing Tools will gain the ability to generate original content using Qwen.

The initial implementation phase includes support for live translation, photo cleanup, Genmoji generation, natural language image search, and creating summaries of messages, notifications, and recorded conversations. Support for other Apple platforms will follow after obtaining the necessary permissions. [Apple, in Chinese]

The new Apple iPad mini model will be available in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) starting at a price of Dh2,849. Among the updates offered by the device are an OLED display, a faster processor, and water and dust resistance.

The basic Wi-Fi version will cost the buyer Dh2,849, while the Wi-Fi and cellular version will start from Dh3,449. Additionally, customers can purchase the tablet at a special educational price starting from Dh2,649.

Pre-orders will begin on Wednesday, October 28, and official sales are scheduled for Friday, November 6. The new model is equipped with an 8.5-inch Super Retina XDR display with OLED technology, which is larger than the 8.3 inches of the previous generation.

Despite the increase in screen size, the overall dimensions of the device remain the same because the bezels have become 24 percent thinner. According to Apple, the display provides deeper blacks, vibrant colors, and a peak brightness of up to 1200 nits, more than double that of the previous model. Users can also choose a nano-texture display option to reduce glare in brightly lit areas.

The new iPad mini features an acoustic display that improves sound quality when watching videos, playing games, or editing content. Specially designed woofers are integrated into the display to provide stronger bass and increased volume. Furthermore, the body has a sealed construction, allowing it to achieve an IP67 rating.

The 12 MP front camera is now located on the edge, which is ideal for video conferences, FaceTime calls, and collaboration. The 12 MP rear camera takes photos with Smart HDR 4 and records 4K video at up to 60 frames per second. The adaptive True Tone flash also enhances photo quality and improves document scanning.

The iPad mini model with the A20 Pro processor will be available for pre-order starting Wednesday, October 28. Delivery of the device to Apple Stores and authorized Apple resellers will begin on Friday, November 6. The iPad mini will be available in midnight and starlight colors with memory configurations of 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB.

Accessory compatibility is confirmed: the new iPad mini supports Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C). The Apple Pencil Pro costs Dh529 and Dh499 with educational discounts, while the Apple Pencil (USB-C) is available for Dh319 and Dh279 with student discounts.

The first feature-length film entirely created using artificial intelligence (AI) premiered in Chinese cinemas on Friday. Due to low demand for advanced tickets, this film may pose a significant challenge to box office revenue in the country's rapidly growing technology industry.

According to ticketing platform 'Maoyan', over 10,000 screenings of the sci-fi thriller 'Sansindui: Past Future' were scheduled for Friday. However, audiences did not show much enthusiasm. According to 'Maoyan', preliminary sales reached only 65,000 yuan by Thursday evening (equivalent to $9,700 or 900,000 Indian rupees). It is projected that total box office collection will remain below 100,000 yuan, which constitutes only a small fraction of the film's stated production cost.

Jiang Defu, CEO of the production company 'Bona Film Group', admitted in a recent interview that the public reaction to the film was reserved. Nevertheless, he emphasized that the picture aims to explore new boundaries. He stated in the publication 'Julie' that they are the first to take such a step, receive permission for theatrical screening, and present their work to the audience for the first time.

'Bona Film Group' reported that creating this film took over two years of work by about 100 people, with costs exceeding 10 million yuan ($1.5 million, or 150 million Indian rupees). Despite this, the film failed to impress Iris Yang. She watched a free preview on Thursday and noted that given the quality of the picture, she would never pay for a ticket.

Yang added that if any AI-created film could provide a cinematic experience comparable to 'Avatar', she would be willing to consider buying a ticket. While AI-generated videos are gaining popularity in China, the world's second-largest economy, AI dramas on the Chinese version of TikTok, 'Douyin', were viewed over 200 billion times in September. Meanwhile, independent AI director Zhang Jun told AFP that the mere fact of creating a film with AI does not guarantee viewers' willingness to pay for it.

Chinese social media users are also not showing much interest in the appearance of AI films in theaters. One Weibo user commented that the film could become very popular if it were available to watch for free on streaming platforms, but people are not yet ready to pay for viewing.