Apple’s kid-friendly iPad coding app arrives tomorrow
There are lots of initiatives to teach kids how to code, including ventures from Google, Minecraft and even the Star Wars franchise. However, with Swift Playground, Apple is actually prepping kids for a potential career at, well, Apple. The company has announced that the app, based on the Swift language used for iOS, OS X, WatchOS, tvOS and Linux, will arrive alongside iOS 10 tomorrow (September 13th).
As Engadget’s Nicole Lee discovered during a hands-on, it’s actually a nice way way to learn programming. It assumes that kids have zero knowledge, but produces actual Swift code that can be used to develop real apps. At the same time, it’s open-ended — young coders learn in a non-linear way, so enthusiastic kids can skip ahead if they want. It rewards students regardless of the quality of code, but gives extra kudos for well-optimized solutions.
Apple says there are over 100 schools and districts teaching the app this fall in the US, Europe and Africa. Apple will also offer its own “Get Started with Coding” workshops that will show the basics of Swift Playgrounds. It’ll also offer a drop-in hour for folks who want extra help with “challenging puzzles” in the app. If you want to get a head start on your kids (you’re gonna need it), the workshops and drop-in sessions will be available at select stores in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, UAE, Netherlands and Hong Kong.
Apple drops iPad prices while bumping up the storage
While Tim Cook and Co. didn’t make any iPad announcements on stage earlier, Apple’s tablet range did get a few changes today. Like the iPhone line, Apple is bumping the minimum storage to 32GB across the board and keeping the same price as the previous 16GB models. The iPad Pros now top out at 256GB of storage, but you’ll actually be paying less per gigabyte than in the past.
Things get a little more complicated, depending on which model you’re looking for, however: The iPad mini 2 now only comes in a 32GB size for $269 or $399, depending on whether you go WiFi or cellular. The WiFi-only models of iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 4 now cost $399 for 32GB or $499 for 128GB, but those are your only storage options. (For reference, an iPad mini 4 with 128GB was $599 at launch.)
On those iPad Pros, Apple has actually dropped the price on each storage option. Now, the high-end 12.9-inch, 256GB WiFi version will run you $999, down from $1099 previously. Same goes for the 9.7 inch model, which got a $50 price cut on the middle tier and $100 less expensive on the 256GB.
Click here to catch all the latest news from Apple’s “See You” event.
Via: MacRumors
Source: Apple
Apple Watch Series 2 Continues to Offer Same Battery Life as Original Apple Watch
Despite rumors suggesting the Apple Watch Series 2 models would feature longer battery life than the original Apple Watch models, technical specifications for the new devices shared by Apple suggest the Apple Watch Series 2 will continue to offer up to 18 hours of battery life — the same as Apple Watch Series 1.
Part leaks indicate the Apple Watch Series 2 may indeed have a larger battery built into it, but it appears any increase in battery capacity is being consumed by the new GPS chip introduced in the Series 2. GPS, which will bring better location tracking to the Apple Watch, can drain a significant amount of battery.
Apple didn’t mention the battery life of the Apple Watch Series 2 on stage or point towards any battery improvements, so we will need to wait for a device teardown to see exactly what’s inside.
In addition to a new GPS chip, the Apple Watch Series 2 features a more water resistant casing suitable for swimming, a display that’s brighter in direct sunlight, and a second-generation dual-core S2 system-on-a-chip that offers 2x faster graphics performance and 50 percent faster CPU performance. Power drawn by the GPS chip may also be mitigated by the new S2.
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iOS 10 will be available to download on September 13
In some countries, Tuesday 13th is the unlucky date (not Friday). Coincidentally, that’s the date you’ll be able to upgrade your iPhone or iPad to iOS 10. Version 10 of iOS has been rattling around since Apple’s developer conference in June, and we’ve had a pretty good look at most of the new features, but now they’re finally ready for prime time.
As a brief refresher, iOS 10 brings a slew of new tricks that should add more than a dash of “smart” spice to your regular old (TBF, still pretty smart) iPhone experience. First up (and possible personal bias here) is the ability to remove (or technically, hide) all those stock iOS apps you never, ever wanted. Siri gets a bit overhaul too, and will finally put its brand of voice control inside third party apps — which will make calling an Uber or Lyft as simple as asking for one (among other things).
There are also improvements to the way the iPhone sorts images, a revamped Music app, and the real update we’re all excited about: improved emoji in Messages. Whichever of the above tickles your fancy, you’ll want to get up early on the day it hits the servers. Normally downloads go without a hitch, but you want to make sure you’ve figured out all the new goodies — like the invisible ink feature — early enough to avoid sounding like a n00b once everyone else is using them.
Click here to catch all the latest news from Apple’s “See You” event.
Apple to Sell Standalone Lightning to 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adapter for $9, Lightning EarPods for $29
Apple today announced the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, which both come without a headphone jack. To make up for the lack of a headphone jack, the iPhones will be shipped with a Lightning to 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adapter and EarPods that feature a Lightning connector.
Apple also plans to sell its Lightning to 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adapter and its new Lightning EarPods on a standalone basis for iPhone 7 buyers who want extra accessories.
The Lightning to 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adapter is priced at $9 and while it can’t be purchased yet, it will presumably go on sale alongside the iPhone 7.
The EarPods with Lightning Connector are priced at $29, the same price as the EarPods with a 3.5mm Headphone Plug. The Lightning EarPods are also unavailable for purchase at the current time, but should be available alongside the iPhone 7.
Apple today also announced wireless Bluetooth earbuds called AirPods, which will be sold on a standalone basis starting in October. AirPods will be priced at $159.
Apple plans to begin accepting pre-orders for the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus on Friday, September 9. The two devices will officially launch a week later, on Friday, September 16.
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Trademarks for ‘AirPod Case,’ ‘Iris Engine,’ ‘Touch Bar,’ and More Hint at Future Apple Products
Trademark lawyer Brian Conroy today shared the culmination of months of intensive research on Apple trademarks, giving us some solid insight into what the company might be working on based on its trademark filings around the world.
First and foremost, Conroy has tracked down a trademark filing for the iPhone 7, seemingly confirming the “iPhone 7” name just ahead of tomorrow’s event. The larger version of the iPhone, the “iPhone 7 Plus” is also mentioned in a separate filing, confirming that name as well.
Conroy has also found a trademark filing that confirms the “AirPods” trademark has been registered by Apple. MacRumors first discovered the AirPods trademark late last year and linked it to a lawyer associated with Apple, but Apple was careful to use a shell company for trademark registration. While there was little doubt the AirPods trademark belonged to Apple, there is now no question.
Alongside the AirPods, which are said to be wireless Bluetooth earbuds, Apple also appears to have trademarked the name “AirPod Case,” which is in line with rumors suggesting the AirPods will come with a battery case that is aimed at charging them on the go to increase battery life. The AirPods are rumored to feature four hours of battery life sans case and they could be announced at tomorrow’s event along with updated Beats headphones.
Conroy has also found trademark filings for future Apple products that include “Apple Iris Engine,” “Apple Iris Image Engine,” “Apple Smart Button,” and “Apple Touch Bar,” which he plans to cover in greater detail in later posts. Apple is rumored to be working on iris recognition capabilities for the 2017 iPhone, and “Apple Touch Bar” could potentially refer to the touch panel that’s built into the next-generation MacBook Pro, rumored to be coming tis October. Apple Smart Button is less clear, but could potentially refer to the new touch-based flush Home button coming in the iPhone 7.
Software-based filings have also been discovered, including “Apple Swift Labs,” “Apple Progress Card,” “Apple Breathe,” “Apple Smart View,” “Apple Rich Links,” “iBooks Storytime,” “Control Strip,” and many other trademarks for known iOS 10 features. macOS Sierra trademarks that hint at alternate names Apple might have used for the operating system have also been discovered and will be shared later.
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Zagg Debuts New ‘InvisibleShield Sapphire Defense’ Screen Protector Infused With Sapphire Glass
Zagg today announced the launch of its two newest screen protectors for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, introducing the InvisibleShield Sapphire Defense and the InvisibleShield Glass+.
The Sapphire Defense InvisibleShield is a hybrid glass screen protector infused with sapphire to give it superior scratch resistance. According to Zagg, the Sapphire Defense combines sapphire, glass, and traditional screen protection for a “virtually indestructible” screen protector that offers 7x better impact protection compared to an unprotected screen.
It also features smudge resistance, a self-healing surface to mask minor scratches, and the smooth feel and clarity of traditional glass screen protectors from Zagg.
“Almost everyone can relate to the fear associated with accidentally dropping your smartphone onto a hard surface,” said Brian Stech, president of ZAGG. “As mobile devices have become the epicenter of our lives, we believe your screen should look as good today as the day you first purchased your device. This mentality drives us to work tirelessly to ensure mobile users can charge through life free from the fear of a damaged screen, confident to know the world’s most advanced screen protection and lifetime warranty are protecting them.”
The InvisibleShield Glass+ is a less expensive tempered glass screen protector which Zagg says features advanced impact protection, scratch resistance, and reinforced edges. It’s constructed from several layers to protect against scratches and it offers 2x more impact protection than an unprotected screen.
The InvisibleShield Sapphire Defense is priced at $49.99 while the InvisibleShield Glass+ is priced at $39.99. Both new screen protectors can be purchased from the Zagg website, with the Glass+ coming in early September and the Sapphire Defense coming in early October.
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Apple to Clean Up App Store, Eliminate Outdated and Non-Functional Apps
Apple today notified developers about some upcoming changes to the App Store, which are designed to make it easier for customers to find high-quality app content.
Starting on September 7, Apple will begin removing old, outdated apps that have not received compatibility updates, do not comply with current review guidelines, or that no longer function as intended. This will see the elimination of many older apps that have been long abandoned.
Quality is extremely important to us. We know that many of you work hard to build innovative apps and update your apps on the App Store with new content and features. However, there are also apps on the App Store that no longer function as intended or follow current review guidelines, and others which have not been supported with compatibility updates for a long time. We are implementing an ongoing process of evaluating apps for these issues, notifying their developers, and removing problematic and abandoned apps from the App Store.
Apps across all categories will be subject to Apple’s new review process this September. Developers with problematic apps will be notified and will have 30 days to make changes to their app to prevent it from being removed from the App Store. Apps that crash on launch will, however, be removed from the App Store immediately.
Apple also plans to limit the number of characters that can be used in an app name, preventing some developers from using excessively long app names to influence search results. Beginning on September 7, app names submitted in iTunes Connect for both new apps and app updates will be limited to a maximum of 50 characters.
Search is one of the most frequently used methods for customers to discover and download apps from the App Store. In hopes of influencing search results, some developers have used extremely long app names which include descriptions and terms not directly related to their app. These long names are not fully displayed on the App Store and provide no user value. App names you submit in iTunes Connect for new apps and updates will now be limited to no longer than 50 characters.
Over the course of the last few months, Apple has been dedicating resources to improving the App Store. In June, Apple announced plans to open up app subscriptions to all product categories, offer more favorable subscription revenue splits, improve sharing tools, and introduce ads to App Store search results to give developers new ways to promote their apps.
Update: Apple has also released updated App Store guidelines that cover new features in iOS 10 like SiriKit, sticker packs, Messages App Store, the new subscription policies, and more.
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Logitech Unveils New Subscription Video Storage Plan for Circle Camera
Logitech released its Logi Circle home monitoring camera last September, but up until now, it has offered only 24 hours of storage, leaving users with no way to store multiple days of footage.
That’s set to change with the debut of the new Logitech “Circle Safe” subscription-based video storage plan that will let users keep and replay video footage beyond 24 hours.
Circle Safe will allow Logi Circle owners to store and access video footage for a full 31 days, keeping important moments available for a much longer period of time.
Alongside Circle Safe, Logitech is debuting improvements to Day Briefs, so subscribers will be able to create time lapse videos for the past day, week, or month. It also supports the creation of Day Briefs for specific user-inputted time frames.
Pricing for Circle Safe starts at $9.99 per account per month, and Logitech is providing all Logi Circle owners with a free 31-day trial. Introductory pricing options are also available.
Logitech’s Logi Circle home camera, which includes features like night vision, activity alerts, battery support, and two-way communication, is priced at $199.99 and can be purchased from the Logitech website.
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Steve Jobs Planned to Work on Apple TV Set After Stepping Down as Apple CEO
When Steve Jobs stepped down from his position as Apple CEO on August 24, 2011 due to illness, he didn’t intend to leave the company. Instead Jobs told Recode’s Walt Mossberg he planned work on an Apple-branded television set to re-invent the television industry.
Recode today shared a full recounting of Jobs’ conversation with Mossberg, which took place on the same day that Jobs left the company. The two discussed his plans for television experience that would be “fantastic.”
“He was going to still be involved. Their press release made some vague nod toward that. But he wanted me to know that he was going to be involved in big strategic things, and also that he was going to reserve one particular thing for himself.”
“I said, ‘well, what’s that?’”
“He said, ‘Well, it’s television … I think we figured out a way to do it, and it’s going to be fantastic. I want you to come out, in a few months, and I want to show it to you.’”
According to Mossberg, Jobs didn’t share in-depth information about his television ambitions, offering no details on hardware or programming, but Mossberg believes he was talking about a full integrated television set and software experience.
Mossberg says Jobs was “really excited” about the project and he came away with the sense that Jobs was going to “reinvent the whole TV set” at the conclusion of the conversation. Unfortunately, Jobs didn’t get a chance to further pursue the television project because he passed away from pancreatic cancer on October 5, 2011, less two months after stepping down as CEO.
Jobs famously made similar statements on TV to biographer Walter Isaacson. He told Isaacson that he wanted to develop an integrated television set that’s “completely easy to use,” syncing seamlessly with iCloud. “It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine,” Jobs is quoted as saying. “I finally cracked it.”
Since Jobs’ death, Apple has tried to gain a stronger foothold in the television industry, but it has failed time and time again to establish the deals that would allow it to create the full integrated television programming experience and television set that Jobs envisioned. Most recently, Apple wanted to create a streaming television bundle of approximately 25 channels at a cost of $30 to $40 per month, but negotiations fell through.
There were also rumors for many years suggesting Apple was pursuing a full television set, but those plans are said to have been shelved because Apple couldn’t find untapped features that would give it a clear edge in the television market.
Instead, Apple has focused on its Apple TV set-top box, introducing a new version with a full App Store and Siri support last October. Apple CEO Tim Cook has said several times that “the future of TV is apps,” with Apple working to position the Apple TV as a platform that allows other content providers to distribute their content instead of offering a streaming service itself.
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