Apple’s kid-friendly Swift Playgrounds taught me to code
In 2014, Apple introduced a new programming language called Swift. Though that might not seem like much to everyday users like you and me, this announcement was actually a pretty big deal for the developer community. One of the reasons for that is that it’s a lot simpler than Objective C, the lingo that Apple had been using for over 20 years. So simple, in fact, that Apple believes that Swift could be anyone’s first programming language. That’s why at this year’s WWDC, the company introduced Swift Playgrounds, an iPad app designed to teach kids how to code. After a few days playing around with it, I can safely say that it also managed to teach me — a clueless grownup — a few Swift programming basics as well.
It’s available for developer preview now and will be in public beta in July, with a much wider release when iOS 10 launches this fall. An iPad-only app, it’s compatible only with the following models: iPad mini 2, 3 and 4; iPad Air and Air 2; and both the 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
When you first launch the app, you’ll see a Featured tab with a gallery of highlighted lessons. Each set of lessons is called a “Playground,” and if you’ve already started playing with one, you’ll see it listed in the My Playgrounds tab. The app ships with two basic modules, which are ‘Learn to Code 1″ and “Learn to Code 2.” As I’m a beginner when it comes to programming languages — last I learned was MS Basic when I was 12 — I decided to start with the first one.
In this particular Playground, you’ll learn basic Swift commands by guiding a character called Byte around to solve puzzles. The screen is split in two; one side shows the actual code, while the other is a live view of Byte and a 3D world. You can spin the world by swiping it around or pinch to zoom to get a closer look. As for the code, you don’t even have to type anything in; you can cherry pick what commands you like from a QuickType keyboard at the bottom of the screen. You can also bring up an on-screen keyboard at any time to enter in custom text.
The first few lessons are pretty easy, at least to my adult brain. To get started, all you do is compile a few simple commands like moveForward(), turnLeft() and collectGem() to get Byte moving the way you want. Once you’re happy with your list of commands, you can simply tap “Run My Code” to see if it works. Later on, I learned how to repeat commands in loops as well as how to ascribe several commands into a single function. I have to admit that even though Playgrounds is meant for the average 12-year-old, as the lessons got progressively harder, I was definitely challenged. I did consult a few hints at times when I was stuck.
That’s part of the cool thing about Swift Playgrounds; there is no one right solution. The code can be as complex or as simple as you want it to be. As long as you get the objective done — be it collecting gems or toggling switches — the app will celebrate your success. There’s no shame in giving up and looking up the answer either; you won’t get penalized if you do. Still, if you’re smart enough to enter in the most optimal code, you’ll be given even further praise — sort of an extra pat on the back, if you will. Plus, optimizing code is a good lesson to learn in general; better code leads to better apps.
The other thing that I found fascinating is that the experience is pretty open-ended. You don’t have to follow the curriculum exactly; you can jump around from lesson to lesson if you feel like it. That way you can skip ahead if you feel like being challenged.I should also mention that the fact that this is all done via an iPad makes the coding process feel more intuitive. The ability to tap and drag around bits of code makes an otherwise tedious process a lot faster.
Along with lessons and challenges, the app ships with a couple of templates for building Playgrounds of your very own. Indeed, the company is encouraging educators and developers to create their own lessons and challenges for the app so that the app can be used in the classroom. Apple is also planning to release additional lessons and challenges on a regular basis.
An important takeaway is that the language you’re learning on Swift Playgrounds is actual, real code, and not some pretend pseudocode common in a lot of educational apps. “It’s the exact same language as Swift,” said Cheryl Thomas, Apple’s Vice President of Software Engineering Operations. “This is very unique; you can learn to code in something that is the same as the one you can use to make very powerful apps.”
Because Playgrounds lets you code in actual Swift, even seasoned programmers can use it to draw up prototype of an app. It can even call on real iOS APIs. From there, you can transfer that code via iCloud to Xcode, Apple’s more advanced developer tool, to finish up the process. What’s more, because the latter uses much of the same language and syntax as Swift, a Playgrounds graduate could theoretically pick it up simply by reading the documentation.
“When we first created Swift Playgrounds, we wanted to really inspire the next generation to want to learn to code,” said Thomas. “It reflects an Apple engineer’s viewpoint and perspective on the best practices on how to do so.” The team recruited several educators to help them figure out how kids will respond to the app and the best way to motivate them. “We feel like the app appeals to a broad base of learners. It appeals to boys, girls and is very accessible. It can be used by folks with different levels of sight.”
Apple also brought kids in to get their feedback and, according to Thomas, it was fantastic. “Folks at all different ages seem to like the product a lot.” Thomas and her colleagues also realized that kids love to share what they’re building. So if you want, you can send screenshots right from the app and even record a video or broadcast what you’re doing live.
“It assumes zero knowledge,” said Wiley Hodges, a product marketing director for Tools and Technologies at Apple. “You can come to it a complete beginner and it’ll introduce you to all the core concepts.”
“We’re pretty excited about the idea that we can give people better access to this ability to learn and experiment with code,” he continued. “There’s a value beyond just the idea of learning to code. You’re not necessarily going to be a programmer […] Learning to code can teach kids problem-solving, persistence… it’ll serve them well regardless of what they go on to do.”
Apple’s first reality TV series is ‘Planet of the Apps’
As rumoured earlier this year, It looks like Apple’s getting in on the TV-content game. Online applications are now being accepted for Apple’s first ever original series Planet of the Apps. As the punny title suggests, the show will give app developers (yes, including you), a chance feature in the reality show. Applications must be received before August 26 if you want a chance of being selected, though.
The show is being created in collaboration with Prospect Productions (the co-owners brought you The Biggest Loser and Master Chef) and the whole series focuses on apps and their creators. Obviously, therefore, any startup or founder that makes it through the audition stage will be getting some valuable airtime for their products. 100 will be chosen in total.
Prospect says that anyone selected will need to be available for non-consecutive shoots in Los Angeles between late 2016 and early 2017 and all applicants need a functioning iOS, macOS, tvOS or watchOS app by October 21 to be considered eligible. Betas are fine too.
Successful applicants will get access to “hands-on guidance from some of the world’s best experts in tech and entertainment,” the chance to meet potential backers to discuss investments of up to $10 million and featured app placement in the App Store at the end of the show. Of course, having a huge metaphorical spotlight shine on you could be a curse if it all ends up going awry, but that”s reality TV for you.
Via: 9to5Mac
Source: Planet of the Apps
New Motion Camera App ‘Polaroid Swing’ Seeks to Redefine Photo Sharing
Ailing consumer electronics brand Polaroid has leant its name to a new motion photo sharing platform called Polaroid Swing which saw its release on the App Store yesterday.
Similar to Live Photos in iOS, the app lets users capture a one-second moment with their device’s camera, which can then be shared over social media or in the new platform’s Instagram-like social feed.
While its premise is nothing new, the quality of the motion captures is a step above that offered by typical GIF-creation apps, and records moments in 60 frames per second for smooth, crisp playback.
What’s also unique to Polaroid Swing is the way users interact with the shots. Tilting the device left rewinds the moment, while angling it right advances the capture relative to the speed of the user’s motion.
Floating the mouse cursor over a capture when viewed on a desktop, or sliding a finger over the shot on an iOS device, produces the same effect. Users can also embed Polaroid Swing moments as another way of sharing their experiences.
The app is the result of a partnership between the Polaroid brand and a Silicon Valley tech startup chaired by Twitter co-founder Biz Stone.
The developer team is comprised of former Apple engineers as well as the creator of Instagram’s original filters and logo, Cole Rise.
“Polaroid Swing has the potential to change the way we think about images, just like Twitter’s 140 characters changed how we think about words,” said Biz Stone in a press release. “People will start seeing the world in one second moments. It’s a genre-defining medium.”
Polaroid Swing is a free download for iPhone and iPad available on the App Store. [Direct Link]
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‘Prisma’ App’s Art-Inspired Photo Filters Take Social Media by Storm
Amid all the hype for Pokémon Go this week, one non-game release that’s enjoying relatively quiet success in the App Store is a new photo editor called Prisma.
The brainchild of a team of Russian developers, Prisma describes itself simply as an “editor for Instagram”, but has attracted far wider attention thanks to an impressive series of stylistic and art-inspired filters.
The app uses a server-side combination of neural networks and artificial intelligence to apply the 33 different filters, which can be changed in intensity using a sliding scale. The results can be immediately shared over Instagram or Facebook, or using the options found in the iOS Share Sheet.
The app is currently available in 25 different countries and has achieved 300,000 downloads each day in 10 of those markets, leading developers scrambling to double their server capacity to process all the information.
Once Prisma’s developers have got to grips with the surge in popularity, the team says the app will soon add support for videos and immersive VR.
Prisma is a free download on the App Store for iPhone and iPad. [Direct Link]
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Kids’ robot breaks into a dance to teach them how to code
DIY robots are becoming the gateway to coding. Over the last couple of years, a new wave of cute-faced bots has taken shape to make programming languages fun for kids. Instead of dense textbooks and complex online tutorials that are designed for a more mature audience, programmable toys are built to introduce young kids to the world of code. The latest entrant on the educational bot scene is the JIMU robot, a build-your-own-bot kit from UBTECH Robotics that snaps together to form a little dancing humanoid called MeeBot or a more elaborate elephant that flips forward on its trunk for some awkward yoga asanas.
With the JIMU robot, UBTECH Robotics, a Schenzen-based company that has been around for eight years, is stepping into a space that’s quickly getting cluttered with motorized toys. The company already has a lineup that includes industrial bots in China and commercial humanoids like Alpha 2, but now they’re using their existing infrastructure to build affordable, programmable robots for kids, eight and older, with DIY inclinations. They might also find a home in schools that are looking to adopt coding in their curriculum.
The MeeBot kit, which is available exclusively at Apple stores for $130 starting today, comes with interlocking parts that include colorful blocks, connectors, motors and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. A platinum grey control box with a U-shaped line across the front doubles as a smiling face. Lime green blocks make the arms while the turquoise pieces are the legs. Bright red flat feet lend a pop of color and a personality to the robot that can break into a jig with the touch of command. Six servo motors, produced in-house by the robotics company, act as moving joints along the body of the robot.
The humanoid with its 201 parts is actually the simpler build within the JIMU ecosystem. There’s also the Explorer Kit, which lets you construct complex animals like a penguin, T-Rex or a parrot with 372 parts, and the more advanced, 675-piece Inventor Kit. You can buy the latter on Amazon to build an elephant, giraffe or a humanoid that looks like a descendent of Optimus Prime. In addition to these “official characters”, the JIMU robotic system makes room for creativity so that young builders can come up with their own iterations with the same blocks.
The JIMU’s building block anatomy resembles LEGO’s interlocking bricks. Indeed, the higher-end, 16-servo humanoid from the $400 Inventor Kit evokes memories of LEGO’s flashier, laser-wielding Mindstorm robot, which sells for a similar $350. But what the JIMU’s more expensive iteration lacks in flashy accessories, it makes up with the simpler and more affordable MeeBot that can help kids learn a coding language for a lot less money.
In addition to the accessible price point, JIMU’s open-source software is where its educational capabilities really shine. You can build and program the robot from the JIMU robot companion app, which is available on the Apple store and will soon launch for Android. There are step-by-step 3D animated instructions that make the construction a lot easier than working with an old-school print booklet. You can zoom in and twirl the robot’s body around on the screen for 360-degree views to see how the parts interact with each other.
Still, it’s not as simple as building a LEGO figure. The construction, as general manager John Zhee pointed out during a recent demo, is intentionally challenging. It makes room for collaborative building between students or a parent and child. Depending on your DIY skills, after you’re done building the machine you can start programming its movements. You can pick from a list of pre-loaded “actions” that range from basic front and back movements to some “crazy dance” moves or you can come up with your own choreography through the “pose, record and playback” feature. When the Meebot is standing still, you can move its arms or legs, reposition them and record the manual movements for the app to lay down the line of code for you. When you hit play, the robot moves the way you intended. The feature essentially takes your physical interactions with the robot and turns it into automated moves when you hit play.
When you’ve figured out the choreography, you can work through the more advanced programming aspects of the dance routines. In a block cording section that looks like a colorful flow chart, you can drag and drop actions, conditions and coding functionalities from a list of controls. After choosing the starting point of the program, you choose an action that will act as a trigger. The tilt of a phone to the right, for instance, can set the movement off. For the actual moves, you can choose from a preloaded list or you can design your own before bringing it into the final performance.
All of this makes a user think about sequencing, order of events and even the correlation between coding and movements. For someone who wants to dig in deeper into the programming of the robot, a simple tap on an icon on the top right of the screen takes you into Swift to see the breakdown of your code. While the 3D instruction set is rooted in Java, the company says it went with Apple’s Swift programming language for its simplicity. “There’s a big push to bring it into the main fold,” says Zhee. “Kids need to understand robotics at a young age, get their brains primed for what’s coming. Swift fits into that easy coding approach.”
Beyond the build and the programming, another feature that UBTECH Robotics seems to be banking on is its Instagram-style social sharing. Users can share their stories, robot pictures and even how-to-build instructions through a feature in the app so others can like, comment or follow. This kind of community-building aspect seems unique within the landscape of educational robots that have been available on the market. But the ease with which you can build and program a JIMU robot is its biggest strength. A child or an adult who appreciates the DIY robot building activity does not need prior programming knowledge to get into it. In fact, the starter kit is an ideal starting point for anyone looking to step into the world of programming.
Apple Donates $1Million to Help China’s Flood Relief Efforts
Apple has donated $1 million to organized efforts in China working to battle the country’s worst flooding in years (via USA Today).
The China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA), a non-governmental body, said on Monday that it has received 7 million yuan ($1 million) from Apple, the first U.S. company to donate to the CFPA in this year’s flood. The group said on its website that it will work closely with Apple to make sure the money is best applied.
“Our thoughts are with all those devastated by the flooding along the Yangtze River,” Apple’s CEO Tim Cook wrote on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent to Twitter.
According to China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs, torrential rains have affected 31 million people in over 500 towns across the region. Due to the impact of the floods, which have continued since late June, approximately 1 million people remain in need of emergency assistance.
This isn’t the first time Apple has donated to relief efforts in China. In 2014, Apple donated $1.6 million to help relief efforts responding to a major earthquake in the country’s Yunnan Province that killed over 600 people and caused widespread damage. Apple made a similar but larger donation in support of relief efforts following another earthquake in China in 2013.
The company has committed to charity support on a number of other occasions, including facilitating donations from iTunes Store users following the 2015 refugee and migration crisis across the Mediterranean Sea and Europe, as well as after large wildfires in Alberta, Canada earlier this year, Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.
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PC shipments recover in the US
It’s not all doom and gloom in the PC world… for once. Both Gartner and IDC estimate that PC shipments actually grew in the US for the first time in over a year, climbing in the second quarter to either 4.9 percent according to Gartner (which includes Windows tablets) or 1.4 percent if you ask IDC (which doesn’t). There’s no one answer as to why the computer industry is bouncing back, regardless of who you ask. A stronger US economy is playing a part, but the analyst groups also point to strong Chromebook sales to schools as well as a possible spike in purchases from governments and other public outfits.
Just don’t look at shipments in the rest of the world, as they’re rather ugly. Both Gartner and IDC reckon that worldwide deliveries dropped between 4.5 to 5.2 percent. That’s not as bad as it could have been (IDC was predicting a 7.4-point drop), but you’ll have to forget any visions of an imminent return to the PC’s heyday. Economies are still weak outside of the US, and mobile devices like smartphones and tablets are still a higher priority for cash-strapped buyers. Lenovo may have extra reason to worry — its shipments shrank enough that it’s barely holding its market share lead over HP.
On the bright side? While researchers are cautious, they do see ways the industry could climb out of its hole. As upgrading to Windows 10 will soon cost you $119, there’s the chance that people will decide to replace their PCs rather than fork over cash to update existing machines. You could also see the corporate crowd take a serious look at buying Windows 10 computers instead of clinging to aging systems for dear life. Although that amounts to a lot of “ifs” and “maybes” that could easily change, it’s the best hope yet for a PC business that has been declining for years.
Source: Gartner, IDC
iPhone 7 spy shot offers a clearer look at its camera
If you’re wondering what the iPhone 7 should look like when it’s more than just a bare shell covered in watermarks, look no further. NowhereElse.fr has obtained a leaked photo that appears to offer an exceptionally clear, more complete view of Apple’s upcoming handset. The snapshot of the device sample shows that, yes, the standard-sized future iPhone should have a much larger, protruding camera lens (and presumably a larger sensor) along with cleaner antenna lines. While there’s no guarantees that this is exactly what Apple will launch later this year, we believe this photo was taken outside of the offices of Lite-On, a company with expertise optical and power supply technologies. It’s possible that someone brought the iPhone chassis to Lite-On or a nearby firm for testing.
The shot doesn’t verify other rumored details, such as the absence of a 3.5mm headphone jack, dual-SIM support or increased storage. And is the camera higher resolution, or will Apple offer a similar resolution and improve image quality (such as low light performance) instead? We’d add that this doesn’t show the larger iPhone 7 Plus, which is widely rumored to have dual rear cameras that would improve focusing and overall fidelity. This may not be the last leak you see, but we have a hunch that you won’t get all the answers until Apple holds its iPhone launch event sometime in the weeks ahead.
Via: 9to5Mac
Source: NowhereElse.fr
The next iPhone reportedly starts with twice the storage
Apple maintained that a 16GB iPhone was enough last year, but the company might be singing a different tune in 2016. A Wall Street Journal source claims that the next iPhone will start with 32GB of storage — at last, buyers of the base model won’t have to be quite so thrifty with their free space. That kind of entry capacity is far from new, of course (HTC, LG, Samsung and others have had 32GB starters for a while), but it’ll be more than welcome if you prefer iPhones and can’t justify more expensive versions.
It’ll certainly feel overdue for some. Apple started offering 16GB base iPhones back in 2009, with the 3GS. That was cavernous at the time, but it gradually became a tighter and tighter fit as apps and media collections grew larger. If you capture 4K video on the iPhone 6s or SE, it chews up 375MB per minute — a 16GB device user could easily run out of room.
The next question: what about other capacities? The insider doesn’t say (and Apple certainly isn’t commenting), but it wouldn’t be surprising if the new iPhone doubled the higher storage tiers to 128GB and 256GB. Notice how the iPad Pro’s options jump straight from 32GB to 128GB and 256GB? While we wouldn’t rule out a different strategy, it’d be consistent if the iPhone had the same storage choices as its bigger-screened siblings.
Via: AppleInsider
Source: Wall Street Journal
Apple will use the iPhone to encourge new organ donors
Apple CEO Tim Cook knows firsthand the agony of watching a close friend wait for an organ donor, so the company is doing something to help ease the shortage. With iOS 10, Apple will add a new button to the Health app that will allow users to enroll in a national donor registry, according to the Associated Press. The software is expected to arrive this fall, probably in September, when Apple rolls out its next iPhone and mobile OS.
Cook famously offered to donate part of his own liver to his friend, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, telling the AP that Jobs’ lengthy wait on the transplant list was “excruciating.” Apple isn’t the first company to offer the option, as Facebook has allowed users to sign up as organ donors on their timelines since 2012. At the time, Mark Zuckerberg said that he, too, was inspired by Steve Jobs to add the feature. Jobs himself helped shepherd a California organ transplant bill into law in 2010, making it easier for residents to find donor matches.
Source: Associated Press
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