Education

Free Apple Store workshops will help kids learn to code, program robots, edit video & more

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 20, 2017

Apple's retail stores will launch free workshops next month to help kids aged 8-12 learn how to code and program robots in the recently updated Swift Playground app, as well as draw, edit video and more. The sessions will be available from July as part of the company's “Today at Apple” classes which recently launched across Apple Stores globally.

Apple Camp, as it's called, will kick off on July 10 and run through July 28.

The three-day program was designed to help kids broaden their creative horizons by making movies with iMovie, creating interactive books and more using Apple products.

Macworld notes “Today at Apple” offers additional sessions for children, called “Kids Hour”.

This year's summer camps cover the following topics:

Creating characters and composing music—Kids ages 8-12 will create their own stories through drawings and sounds. Campers will start their session by sketching characters and scenes with iPad Pro and Apple Pencil, then they’ll explore the basics for composing a track using GarageBand. They’ll bring their story to life by adding vocals and finishing touches. Stories in motion with iMovie—Future filmmakers ages 8-12 will explore the creative process of turning their ideas into real movies. In this three-day session, Campers will learn how to brainstorm and storyboard. Then they’ll get hands-on with movie-making techniques like learning camera angles and editing with iMovie. On the final day, they’ll present their masterpieces. Coding games and programming robots—In this three-day session for kids ages 8-12, we’ll introduce programming through interactive play. Kids will learn visual-based coding by solving puzzles with Tynker. Then they’ll learn how to program Sphero robots, and even create fun stories starring Sphero as the main character.

Each workshop offers three 90-minute classes.

To sign up for the upcoming workshops, visit Apple's website.

Apple CEO Tim Cook and other technology leaders met with Donald Trump earlier today, with Cook pushing the US President to make coding a requirement in schools.

Cook has long been a proponent for helping the youngsters learn coding.

“We believe coding should be a required language in all schools,” said Apple's chief executive when his company debuted the Swift Playgrounds app last year.

Cook tells Trump coding should be requirement in every public school

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 21, 2017

Apple CEO Tim Cook and other technology leaders met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House today to share their views on how the federal government could improve its public services and use technology to reduce government spending.

According to Recode, Cook told Trump that coding should be a requirement in schools.

Cook said the same thing when Apple debuted the Swift Playgrounds app, saying that “We believe coding should be a required language in all schools.”

Cook also suggested that the White House modernize the US government's IT systems.

“The US should have the most modern government in the world. Today it doesn’t,” Cook said. The White House released a video of the meeting. Here's what Cook said in full (edited for clarity):

The United States should have the most modern government in the world, but today it doesn’t. It’s great to see the effort that Jared is putting in working on things that will pay back in five and ten and twenty years.

The government should be focused on its citizens and the services of the government should be measured on how pleased the citizens are with receiving those services.

That basic premise is not how it’s done today.

I would really encourage you to ask the cabinet how they’re measuring their parts of government and what they’re doing to serve the citizens that they’re meant to serve.

Unrelated, I think coding should be a requirement in every public school. We have a huge deficit in the skills that we need today versus the skills that are there. We are trying to do our part or, hopefully, more than our part in doing that.

But I think leadership from government is also key.

And here's the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKUU9VavTjE

Trump said the government could save up to $1 trillion over 10 years by updating its information technology systems, which should help cut costs and improve public services.

“Our goal is to lead a sweeping transformation of the federal government’s technology that will deliver dramatically better services for citizens,” Trump said. “Government needs to catch up with the technology revolution. We’re going to change that with the help of great American businesses like the people assembled.”

He called for a “sweeping transformation” of the government's outdated computer systems.

Amazon's Bezos added that the government should make more use of commercially available technologies and Palantir CEO Alex Karp suggested tapping into big data in order to catch and prevent fraudulent federal spending.

Trump's remarks are available on the White House website.

https://twitter.com/BouchardAnthony/status/877196743070429184

By the way, we're running a caption contest for that photo top of post.

Image: Carlos Barria/Reuters

Jony Ive has been appointed chancellor of London’s Royal College of Art

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 25, 2017

Jony Ive, Apple's Chief Design Officer, has been appointed chancellor of London's Royal College of Art (RCA), which is the world's leading art school. According to the press release, Sir Jony Ive succeeds Sir James Dyson OM, Provost of the College (2011–17), as this key honorary role is renamed.

“I am thrilled to formalise my relationship with the RCA, given the profound influence the College has had on so many of the artists and designers that I admire,” said Ive.

“Our design team includes many RCA alumni, who embody the fundamental values of the College,” Apple's design tzar added. “I look forward to advising both the College and students, hoping that my experience proves useful in their work.”

He will take up the role in July.

In 2017, RCA was ranked the world's best institution for art and design for the third year in a row by QS University World Rankings.

Paul Thompson, Rector of the Royal College of Art, commented:

We are delighted to welcome Sir Jony Ive as our new Chancellor. It is a great honour to be joined by the world’s leading designer of his generation, who has produced consistently innovative and commercially successful technology and design.

As Chancellor, Jony embodies the RCA’s ideals of technology and design excellence, inspiring students and staff, and enabling us to educate the next generation of world-leading artists and designers.

As Chancellor for a five-year term, Ive will advise the College during a period of expansion, embodied in the construction of a new building at Battersea, scheduled to open in 2020.

From the release:

Ive joins the RCA at a critical point in its evolution into a dynamic, STEAM-focused postgraduate university, expanding its research and knowledge exchange centres into the domains of computer and materials science, the impact of the digital economy, advanced manufacturing and intelligent mobility.

Ive received an honorary doctorate from the RCA, conferred in 2009.

He was awarded a CBE in 2006 and a KBE in the 2012 New Year’s Honours list. Among others, Ive also holds honorary doctorates from both Oxford and Cambridge Universities. In 2012, D&AD named Ive and his team the Best Design Studio of the past 50 years.

The Chancellor is head of the College, presiding over meetings of the Court, a member of its governing body, Council, and conferring degrees at Convocation. Baroness Gail Rebuck remains Chair of Council and becomes Pro-Chancellor of the university. The posts of Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor are non-salaried.

Ive holds over 5,000 patents.

“Today at Apple” classes launch at Apple retail stores globally

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 17, 2017

Announced last month, a series of revamped educational sessions, headlined as “Today at Apple”, launched on Wednesday at Apple's brick-and-mortar stores globally, with more than 4,000 classes being offered each day this week. The new sessions have been available at Apple Union Square since the store opened.

“Introducing Today at Apple—inspiring and educational free sessions happening every day at Apple,” said the iPhone maker, adding that “inspiration is now in session”. While content varies from one store to another, the 495 Apple Stores around the world are expected to offer "Photo Walks" and "Kids Hour" sessions by May 20.

Most sessions are an hour in length. In recognition of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, the Cupertino giant is hosting a bunch of accessibility-related sessions at its stores as well.

The company shared this promo video to mark the launch of “Today at Apple”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-1GPznHrrM

As mentioned, these hands-on educational sessions are available starting today in all company-owned retail stores in the US and around the world. The classes range in topics from photo and video to music, coding, art and design and more.

In select cities, “Today at Apple” hands-on classes will be led by world-class artists, photographers and musicians, teaching sessions from basics and how-to lessons to professional-level programs.

To mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Apple shared this morning some inspiring videos showcasing how people with different disabilities are using assistive features built into iPhone, iPad and Mac to make their lives easier.

New features announced for Minecraft: Education Edition

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 2, 2017

As part of Microsoft’s event held earlier today, developer Mojang announced that Minecraft: Education Edition is getting new features. The educational version of the popular open-world game designed specifically for classroom use will be gaining a Code Builder feature, Command Blocks and other enhancements via an upcoming update due later this Spring.

Code Builder

With Code Builder, educators and students can explore, create and play in the Minecraft world, all by writing code. Students can connect to popular learn-to-code platforms: ScratchX, Tynker, Code.org and a brand new open source platform, called Microsoft MakeCode.

Check out Code Builder in the video presentation embedded below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rKuSlgqePo

Players start with the familiar Minecraft tools, templates and tutorials, with additional resources at their disposal allowing them to easily engage with computer science concepts as they design and create.

Command Blocks and Classroom Mode

Command Blocks, a new feature, will be part of the upcoming Minecraft: Education Edition version 1.0.1 due later this Spring. That update will also bring out a few other perks, including additional languages, villager trading, adventure mode, concrete/terracotta blocks and llamas.

Lastly, Classroom Mode for Minecraft: Education Edition has been updated with additional toggles to support teaching and learning. The update gives educators additional toggles to manage chat and blocks that cause damage like lava and TNT, weather and mobs.

Availability

Microsoft says classrooms in more than a hundred countries have used the educational edition of Minecraft, with its professional learning community having created 30,000 profiles and hundreds of educator-created lesson plans.

Download Minecraft: Education Edition for Mac/Windows via education.minecraft.net, where you can also join an open beta of Code Builder if you'd like.

The software maker said that a one-year subscription to Minecraft: Education Edition is now included with qualifying purchases of Windows 10 computers and tablets.

The regular edition of Minecraft is gaining a Marketplace feature, basically an in-game store where players can buy Minecraft customizations made by independent developers.

Marketplace is coming via the version 1.1 Discovery Update.

Microsoft unveils touchscreen Surface Laptop, its $999 MacBook rival

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 2, 2017

At its educational event held this morning in New York City, Microsoft unveiled Surface Laptop, its $999 MacBook rival available for preorder beginning today ahead of its planned release this summer.

The device runs the new Windows 10 S operating system, the company's answer to Google’s Chrome OS, and features a clamshell body weighing at 2.76 pounds and measuring 14.47mm at its thickest point and tapering down to 9.9mm at its thinnest point at the front.

Taking on MacBooks

Surface Laptop runs either Intel’s seventh-generation i5 or i7 processor and sports vapor chambers integrated into the anodized aluminum finish on the rear to help keep it cool.

It's got a 13.5-inch PixelSense LCD touchscreen with a 3:2 aspect ratio featuring 3.4 million pixels (withCorning’s Gorilla Glass 3 for protection) and supporting the Surface Pen stylus. “This is the thinnest LDC touch model every created and put into a laptop,” says Microsoft's Panos Panay, who took to the stage to unveil the new products today.

Say hello to Surface Laptop

Watch a reveal trailer for Surface Laptop below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74kPEJWpCD4

The laptop is outfitted with a 14.5-hour battery.

That’s “up to four more hours of battery power than a 13-inch MacBook Pro” and “more battery life than any MacBook Air on the market today,” says the Windows maker in another comparison between its new notebook and Apple's MacBook line. The Windows maker claims you can watch as many as fourteen episodes of your favorite TV show in one sitting, without ever plugging in.

The device's keyboard has a 1.5mm travel, with the backlit keys made from the same material used for premium Surface Pro covers, called Alcantara fabric. The speakers are integrated underneath the keyboard, but there are no speaker grills or holes.

In terms of connections, Surface Laptop comes outfitted with a regular USB port, mini DisplayPort and the conventional Surface power connector, but no USB-C.

Windows 10 S or Windows 10 Pro?

Because it runs Windows 10 S, Surface Laptop can only run apps offered on Windows Store.

Google Chrome is not found on Windows Store and Spotify’s app with support for Surface Dial will be coming to the store early this summer. If you want to run apps not found on Windows Store, you can optionally upgrade to Windows 10 Pro for a one-time $49 fee.

Because Windows 10 Pro is the full version of Microsoft’s operating system, upgrading may result in reduced battery life and performance, cautions the Windows maker.

If you need to use an app that isn’t in the Windows Store, in just a few clicks can go to the Windows Store and switch to Windows 10 Pro. But you shouldn’t. This device, this OS, they’re made for each other, and together they offer so much. It’s everything you love about Windows, Office, and Surface, made pure and elegant in an unbelievably thin and light package.

Microsoft now has three families of Surface devices in its lineup: the Surface Pro 4 notebook/laptop hybrid, the all-in-one Surface Studio and the new Surface Laptop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HCVUCqZoHI

Availability and pricing

Surface Laptop is available for pre-order via Microsoft Store starting today.

The entry-level $999 model uses Intel’s seventh-generation Core i5 processor with Intel HD Graphics 620, four gigabytes of RAM and 128 gigabytes of flash storage. The $1,299 model uses 256 gigabytes of flash storage and eight gigabytes of RAM.

The more powerful $1,599 model comes outfitted with Intel’s seventh-generation Core i7 processor with Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640, eight gigabytes of RAM and 256 gigabytes of flash storage. The flagship $2,199 model upgrades your storage and RAM to 512 and sixteen gigabytes, respectively.

Surface Laptop comes in four colors: Platinum, Burgundy, Cobalt Blue and Graphite Gold.

The notebook will start shipping this summer on June 15. For a limited time, Surface Laptop comes with an offer for one-year subscription to Office 365 Personal and one terabyte of free storage on OneDrive, giving you full access to Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.

“Today at Apple” educational sessions coming to Apple Stores in May

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 25, 2017

Apple announced Tuesday that dozens of new educational sessions will be launching next month across the 495 retail outlets the company operates in the United States and around the world.

These hands-on sessions, collectively called “Today at Apple,” have been offered at Apple's flagship Union Square store in San Francisco since last year, with topics ranging from photo/video to music, coding, art, design and more. Apple says these sessions cater to all skill levels/ages and include how-to lessons, professional-level courses and more.

Apple shares details about WWDC 2017 Scholarships

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 6, 2017

Worldwide Developers Conference will be returning to San Jose and Apple this morning shared details on Scholarships that reward talented students and STEM organization members with the opportunity to attend this year’s conference. Young developers selected for a scholarship will receive a free WWDC17 ticket and lodging. Submissions open March 27.

Google news: Pixel 2 phones coming, Pixel laptops are no more, Chrome OS beats Apple in K-12

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Speaking with journalists at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, Google's Vice President of Hardware, Rick Osterloh, has confirmed that the successor of the company's Pixel smarthones will be launching later this year, Android Pit reported Friday. Osterloh shot down reports calling for a budget Pixel edition, saying Pixels remain premium smartphones.

While Google showed no intent to abandon its premium smartphone brand, the company's premium notebook bearing the Pixel brand has reached the “end of the line” status after shipping just two generations since 2013, according to Osterloh in a report by Frederic Lardinois for TechCrunch.

Video: Tim Cook receives honorary degree from University of Glasgow, chats with students

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 9, 2017

As announced last week, Apple's chief executive Tim Cook has received an honorary degree from the University of Glasgow, in the United Kingdom. Following the official ceremony last night, Cook sat down for a fireside chat with students. Just prior to the session, he stopped at the Glasgow Apple Store and talked to customers.

The Apple CEO discussed a range of topics, including immigration, Apple Pencil, the legacy of Steve Jobs and more. A full video of Cook’s appearance at the University of Glasgow is now available for you to enjoy.

Apple releases $199 education bundle: FCP X, Logic Pro, Motion, Compressor & MainStage

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 3, 2017

If you're a teacher, college student, faculty member or staff, or a K12 or higher education institution, you can now buy a bundle of Apple's pro video and audio editing apps for Mac. As reported by The Loop, the Pro Apps Bundle for Education includes Final Cut Pro X ($300), Logic Pro X ($200), Motion 5 ($50), Compressor 4 ($50) and MainStage 3 ($30).

The bundle is priced at just $199, a $430 savings versus the apps' combined retail price.

Tim Cook will receive honorary degree from University of Glasgow

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 3, 2017

Apple's chief executive Tim Cook is scheduled to receive an honorary degree from the University of Glasgow on February 8 at 6pm local time. Following the official ceremony, the university will hold a fireside chat with Cook which will be followed by a Q&A session with students.

The news was tweeted this morning on the University of Glasgow's official Twitter account. The event is open to the University of Glasgow students.