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Apple reduces Project Titan down to small team size http://bit.ly/2rdnxjn What is Project Titan, Apple's secretive car project? When will it ship, how will it work, and how much will it cost? Nobody outside Apple's upper echelon knows for sure, but here are all the rumors currently making the rounds! Project Purple was the iPhone. Gizmo was the Apple Watch. And Titan? Well, that's believed to encompass Apple's automotive ambitions — aka, the car. Just like iPhone started off as a tablet, became a phone, and then expanded to a tablet again, Apple Car will likely take a twisting, turning path to market. That's if it ever comes to market. Plenty of Apple projects, including the television set, never have. The car feels different, though. For one thing, due to regulatory issues, it's forced to be more public than most of Apple's special projects. Second, the logistical revolution is real and Apple is uniquely positioned to be one of the major players in that space. Because autonomous cars won't just be about the destination, they'll be about the differentiated experience of the journey. January 26, 2018: Apple reduces Project Titan down to small team sizeApple has made some staffing changes to it's Project Titan, which many refer to as the Apple Car but is really a more encompassing autonomous technologies project. From CNBC:
John Gruber, writing for Daring Fireball:
Moving people around like this sucks. No company is great at it, even Apple. Here's hoping everyone finds a new posting, in Apple or elsewhere. December 17, 2018: Apple poaches glasses and car designer Andrew Kim from TeslaA while back it was all about people leaving Apple for Tesla. Now, it's increasingly about people leaving Tesla for Apple. Blips or trends, it's hard to say. In this case, it's designer Andrew Kim. According to 9to5Mac:
Let the Mixed-Reality Car rumors fly! August 31, 2018: Nissan Leaf crashes into Apple Car — Humans 0 : AI 1Apple has been testing its autonomous driving system for a while now in specially outfitted Lexus SUVs. On August 24, a Nissan Leaf decided to have a go at one. From the California DMV, via MacRumors:
No fault on Apple or its Project Titan-mobile here. Humans, watch where you're going! August 15, 2018: Apple Car release date rumored for 2023-2025Apple supply-chain exfiltrator extraordinaire, Kuo Ming-Chi of TF International Securities, has sent out a new note to investors and, as usual, it's making the rounds. From MacRumors:
Because Kuo's sources are tied to the supply chain, and the Apple Car isn't in any stage of production yet, it's hard to tell where he got those numbers from. Still, we're still years away from AR and ML technologies being ready for even semi-autonomous mainstream vehicles, so as guesses go it's certainly not the worst. When combined with the upcoming Apple AR Glasses and growing services revenue, Kuo thinks it could drive the new trillion-dollar company to a 2 trillion dollar valuation. As a reminder, though: Nothing unshipped exists. Expect those trillions only when you see them. August 9, 2018: From Mac to Tesla and back to Titan: Doug Field returns to AppleDoug Field, who helped run Mac hardware at Apple before going to Tesla for the Model, 3 is back at Apple and working on Apple's car project, Titan. From Daring Fireball:
And, yeah, Gruber's also got the prerequisite Bob and Doug joke... December 21, 2017: Apple granted patent for autonomous vehicle navigationApple has been granted a patent on a self-driving vehicle navigation system. The patent outlines ways to create more efficient self-driving vehicles using data stored on the vehicle in question. From CNBC:
December 10, 2017: Apple's on the hunt for AI engineersWired reported midday Saturday on a recent Apple-hosted professional lunch for AI engineers. Hosted by Apple's director of artificial intelligence, Ruslan Salakhutdinov, the lunch revealed several results from the company's AI projects:
August 23, 2017: Apple planning autonomous shuttle between Palo Alto and Infinite LoopThe New York Times has recapitulated a lot of the recent history of Apple's car project, codenamed Titan. There's a new bit, though, that focuses on the idea of autonomous shuttle between Paulo Alto and Apple's Infinite Loop campus.
Autonomous shuttles is an idea that was bandied about for a while both inside the project and out. It'll be interesting to see when and how they go ahead. June 13, 2017: Tim Cook confirms Apple is working on the mother of all AI projects — autonomous drivingApple doesn't talk about special projects or unannounced products, except Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, just did. Specifically about Titan, Apple's long-rumored autonomous driving — née Apple Car — initiative. From Bloomberg:
Cook wouldn't say whether Apple would produce an "Apple Car" for sale or for ride-sharing, or partner with another manufacturer, service, or several.
What Apple is currently doing is focusing on everything it takes to ingest the world around us and understanding what it means in the context of navigating it and actually driving it. In other words, getting from where you are to where you're going, all through an autonomous system. Where that system ends up, and the experience around it, we'll have to wait and see. April 28, 2017: Apple proposes changes to California's self-driving car testing rulesApple is looking to make some changes to California's self-driving car testing policy. As first noted by Reuters, Apple is looking for California to clarify or change its positions on certain testing regulations in order to make easier for self-driving vehicles to reach public acceptance. From Apple's letter:
In particular, Apple takes issue with current rules about disengagement reporting and testing without a safety driver, along with some definitions. In the case of definitions Apple seems to be seeking these changes so that these regulations don't hinder the company's development of additional technologies that could improve self-driving vehicles. April 21, 2017: Apple's car project, Titan, ready to train testersLast year Apple pivoted its Project Titan from a full-on car project to a platform designed to enable autonomous vehicles, whether they're eventually made by Apple or a partner manufacturer or ride-sharing service. It looks like that platform is now ready for early testing. Kif Leswing, writing for Business Insider:
The drivers, mostly Ph.D's involved with the machine learning program, have to pass seven tests to be considered trained to, among other things, take back control of the system should they ever need to. April 14, 2017: Apple granted permit to publicly test self-driving cars in CaliforniaApple has officially been granted a permit to test driverless vehicles in the state of California. According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the state has issued a permit to Apple. Additionally, as of April 14, 2017, Apple is the most recent recipient of such a permit. Via Business Insider):
July 28, 2016: Apple poaches QNX CEO Dan Dodge to head up car softwareApple has reportedly hired Dan Dodge, formerly of BlackBerry-owned QNX, to work on Project Titan, the company's electric car project. From Bloomberg:
Apple previously hired the head of QNX software to run Core OS, which makes foundational software for both macOS and iOS. Apple has also reportedly raided QNX talent in Ottawa, setting up an office in the same area to work on Apple's own automotive software project. July 25, 2016: Bob Mansfield takes over Project TitanFrom the Wall Street Journal:
Titan was previously under senior vice president of hardware engineering, Dan Riccio who took over part of Mansfield's duties at the top of Apple's hardware-based organization back in 2012. (Senior vice president of hardware technologies, Johny Srouji, took over platform architecture.) Despite downshifting from his day-to-day responsibilities, Mansfield has still been seen regularly at Apple's Infinite Loop campus, and has remained involved with the company. Following a project review last month, it's been rumored Apple felt bringing Mansfield — who helped launch iMac, MacBook, iPhone and iPad — to what comes next, would give Titan a lead with both enormous experience and the benefit of singular focus. It seems like a win/win all around. And that's important at a place like Apple where senior vice presidents have plates already beyond full. Beyond whether or not Apple ever ships a car, project Titan is incredibly important to Apple's culture and technology going forward. Even with Mansfield at the steering wheel, an Apple Car based on project Titan, isn't expected to launch for several or more years. What an Apple Car looks like, how autonomous it is, at which markets it's targeted, and how Apple will both sell and "sell" a car also remain fascinating questions. Is Project Titan really an Apple Car?It was once. Now it's probably better to think of it as an autonomous driving platform. The distinction might be obscure right now but everything about how we drive is changing and Apple needs to build for the future, not for the present. Telsa and Uber show the direction it's going. Apple has to be there too. So... no actual car?It's unlikely Apple will manufacture its own engine, drive train, suspension system, etc. at this point and more likely the company will partner with a manufacturer or multiple manufacturers already adept at manufacturing those parts. But Project Titan is more than just CarPlay?Much more. CarPlay is an integration layer on top of existing automotive infotainment units that offers Siri and dashboard-optimized front ends for iPhone apps. Apple Car is the complete digital environment for an autonomous driving experience. In other words, CarPlay will be seen as the Moto ROKR to Apple Car's iPhone. Will Apple Car software also run on Mac and iPhone?That was one of the original dreams — a next-generation operating system and development stack that would leap past iOS, macOS, and Xcode the way NeXT technology's leaped past the original Mac System software. Would Apple license a carOS to BMW, McLaren, and other car makers?Never say never. Are there wilder options?Apple getting a fleet of cars built on its own dime that it then makes available as a service to anyone with an iPhone. Get it, automagically engage all your own, personal, entertainment options, and then sit back, relax, and enjoy your ride. Sold! When can I buy... er subscribe... er, pay as I go... er, whatever!Unknown, sadly. Probably not for a few more years, but stay tuned! Updated June 13, 2017 with comments from Tim Cook on Apple's autonomous driving project. Gadget News via iMore - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch blog https://www.imore.com/ January 26, 2019 at 07:45PM
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