The revamped version of Apple’s virtual assistant, Siri, is in testing. According to details published by Bloomberg, the tool can control third-party apps such as Uber, AllTrails, Threads, Temu, Amazon, YouTube, Facebook, and WhatsApp without touching the device’s screen.

With this move, the virtual assistant could go from “being a limited resource to becoming a true voice control tool, both in its own apps and in external services.”

How will Siri be able to help users? It is known that “it will be able to request an Uber ride, edit and send a photo, or add a product to the cart in an online store” using spoken commands.

The company relies on two fundamental pillars: Apple Intelligence and the improved App Intents system, aiming for Siri to “not only understand what the user wants, but also who is asking for it and under what circumstances.”

This change will not only affect the iPhone; customers with iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro will also be able to enjoy the functionality. Regarding security, “the company is considering restricting certain functions in banking or health apps to avoid errors that could have critical consequences.”

Furthermore, Apple has said that the rollout of the new version “will be gradual, and not all countries will receive the update at the same time. In the United States, the release is planned for spring 2026, possibly alongside iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, macOS 26.4, and VisionOS 26.4. This means that most users will have to wait more than a year to experience this transformation.”

M.Pino

Source: enter.co

(Reference image: omid armin on Unsplash)

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Personal online purchases through platforms such as Amazon, Shein, or Temu in Ecuador will be subject to a 20 % tax starting June 16, according to the Ministry of Production and Foreign Trade.

The local government has reported that the tariff directly affects all imports under the Courier 4×4 (Category B) regime. It clarified that the annual limit of $1,600 per user remains in place.

With this measure, the Ecuadorian government seeks to “prevent informal commercial use of the 4×4 system, designed for personal purchases from abroad.”

Local sources have reported significant growth in online commerce over the past four years, with a 392 % increase in value (from $102.7 million to $502 million in 2024) and a 637 % increase in the number of packages (from 879,000 to 6.5 million).

The measure is expected to contribute to other executive branch initiatives aimed at protecting domestic production and employment from unfair competition from foreign platforms such as Temu or Shein, which directly affect the footwear and textile sector in the South American country.

M.Pino

Source: elnacional

(Reference image source: Shutter Speed on Unsplash)

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La entrada Ecuador establishes 20 % tariff on personal online purchases apareció primero en Bitfinance.

The rapid increase in the presence in Latin America of Chinese online stores with merchandise at very low prices keeps governments on alert, which are studying measures to protect retailers due to possible unfair competition.

The very low prices of Chinese chains such as AliExpress or Shein cause a sensation among young people, who prolong their browsing on these platforms, attracted by new products and super-cheap packages.

The data company Statista reported data from 2022, where “online commerce moved 122,000 million dollars in Latin America and could reach 200,000 million by 2026.”

AliExpress, Shein and Temu are at the top of the list of Chinese online companies with wide influence in the region. Their offers consist of “products at very low prices after direct purchase from suppliers and agreements with logistics companies.”

As a protection measure against the daily flow of packages in customs, countries such as Chile and Brazil decided to eliminate “tax exemptions for purchases from abroad under 41 and 50 dollars, respectively.” On the other hand, Mexico decided to apply controls on this commercial activity to strengthen trade.

In addition to the investigations into some Chinese online store chains for possible unfair competition in Latin America, last October the European Union announced an investigation into the Temu firm “for alleged sale of illicit products through these platforms.”

Another risk for the consumer is the possible addiction to online shopping, since customers spend hours scrutinizing offers, new packages and extraordinary discounts instead of investing that time in sharing with family or resting.

There are other aspects related to fashion, such as the exploitation of specific ethnic groups in factories around the world, as well as the increase in polluting emissions that contribute to the greenhouse effect, in addition to the increase in wastewater.

M.Pino

Source: forbes.com.mx

(Reference image source: CardMapr.nl in Unsplash)

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La entrada Low-cost Chinese online stores cause alarm in Latin America apareció primero en Bitfinance.

Between November 24 and 27, the world witnessed one of the most notable shopping events of the year: Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023. A sector that capitalized the most on these days was e-commerce.

Shares of giants such as Shopify, Etsy and Wayfair experienced a notable rally on Monday, boosted by strong Black Friday sales and promising prospects for Cyber Monday, according to reports from television network CNBC.

According to the note, this growth is largely attributed to American shoppers, who largely opted for the convenience of online shopping from the comfort of their couches, mostly avoiding physical stores during this period.

Recent data from Adobe Analytics revealed that online shopping during Black Friday reached a record $9.8 billion in the United States, an increase of 7.5% from the previous year.

Online sales during Cyber Weekend, which covers the days between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, amounted to $10.3 billion, an increase of 7.7%.

Cyber Monday sales are projected to reach $12.4 billion, making it the largest online shopping day of the year in the United States, Adobe said.

This booming sales landscape turned out to be a boon for many e-commerce-focused retailers, reflected in their shares rising on Monday as investors celebrated early positive results.

K. Tovar

Source: Bitfinanzas

(Referential image source: Ashkan Forouzani, Unsplash)

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