Facebook has chosen not to unveil its latest smart connected devices at the company's F8 developer conference in May, in part because of the ongoing data-privacy scandal that has engulfed the social network, according to people familiar with the matter.
Bloomberg reports that Facebook's new home products, which include a video-capable smart speaker featuring the company's own digital assistant, are now being held back from public view, pending a deeper review into the devices' processing of user data. Although the hardware wasn't expected to launch until the fall, Facebook had planned to preview the devices at its annual developer summit, according to the paper's sources.
The devices are part of Facebook's plan to become more intimately involved with users' everyday social lives, using artificial intelligence -- following a path forged by Amazon.com Inc. and its Echo in-home smart speakers. As concerns escalate about Facebook’s collection and use of personal data, now may be the wrong time to ask consumers to trust it with even more information by placing a connected device in their homes. A Facebook spokeswoman declined to comment.
In the last few weeks, Facebook has come under increasing scrutiny over its user data practices, after reports emerged that political advertising firm Cambridge Analytica procured information on 50 million social network users without seeking permission.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is set to testify in front of Congress on privacy in the coming weeks, but the chief executive has so far refused a British request to appear before a parliamentary committee and answer questions about the social network's involvement in data misuse.
Popular Twitter client Twitterrific 5 for Mac and iOS received a major update today, introducing features that bring it on par with the official Twitter apps and competing third-party Twitter apps.
Starting today, Twitterrific users can attach 140-second or shorter videos to tweets on both iOS and Mac. On iOS, a video can be inserted by tapping the camera when composing, and on Mac, you a video can be added by clicking on the camera button.
The app is also gaining official support for Twitter muting, so users and accounts that have been muted will sync between Twitter and Twitterrific with muted content removed from the timeline. Muted users do not generate push notifications, and all previously muted screen names will be auto upgraded to official Twitter mutes.
Muffling has been improved in Twitterrific with the following new features:
- Defining any muffle rule to apply only for a single user - Muffling mentions from a specific person or mentions of a specific person - Muffle tweets that quote someone specific - Avoid seeing retweets from a specific person about someone else - For full details, check out the knowledge base: https://twitterrific.com/help/muffles
Twitterrific for iOS includes several improvements such as better responsiveness when attaching media to a tweet, new rule suggestions for the Muffle submenu of the Actions menu, a easier-to-access Translate option in the Actions menu, a shortcut for muting the author of a tweet, and a media picker that sorts the most recent photos and videos at the bottom.
On Mac, the reading position marker is now updated when closing a timeline, user search results and listings indicate if a user has been muted or blocked, and there's a new shortcut for muting the author of a tweet.
Twitterrific for the Mac can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $7.99. [Direct Link]
Twitterrific for iOS can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
The price of the new sixth-generation iPad didn't change in the United States compared to the previous fifth-generation model, but prices for the new tablet have been lowered in several other countries around the world.
Prior to the launch of the new iPad, rumors had suggested it could be priced as low as $259 in the United States, which did not happen, but the price has indeed dropped slightly in multiple countries.
In the UK, for example, the entry-level fifth-generation iPad was priced at £339, with the new sixth-generation model available for £319.
In Canada, the fifth-generation 32GB iPad cost $449, while the equivalent sixth-generation model is now available for $429.
In Germany, France, and other European countries, the new iPad is priced starting at €349 to €369, down from €399 to €419. Prices appear to be lower in most, if not all European countries.
Prices have not changed in all countries where the new iPad is available. In New Zealand and Australia, for example, prices remain unchanged, starting at A$469 and NZ$539, respectively. Prices have also not shifted in some Asian countries, including Japan, Singapore, and Korea, but prices are lower in others like China, and Thailand.
In the United States, the entry-level 32GB sixth-generation iPad is priced at $329, the price as the fifth-generation model. A 128GB version is available for $429, while Wi-Fi + Cellular models can be purchased for an additional $130 over the standard Wi-Fi only price.
Apple held its first event of 2018 this morning in Chicago, Illinois, at the Lane Tech College Prep High School. The event's unusual location was due to the fact that it focused on education, marking Apple's first education-oriented event since 2012.
The main draw of the event was a new low-cost iPad with Apple Pencil support, but Apple also announced several other education-focused initiatives for teachers and students. The full event spanned over an hour, but we've recapped everything that's worth knowing in the three minute video below.
Apple didn't live stream the event this morning, but after it was finished, the company shared a full video, so if you want to watch it from start to finish, you can do so on Apple's Events website or through the Events app on the Apple TV.
There were also a few other unannounced surprises that popped up on Apple's site after the event, like new iPhone and iPad cases, new Apple Watch bands, and a Space Gray Magic Keyboard, Trackpad, and Mouse, which were previously exclusive to the iMac Pro.
As with all Apple events, MacRumors provided a live blog and extensive coverage, all of which is listed below so you can catch up if you missed anything:
We'll be sharing additional details on the new iPad with Apple Pencil support throughout this week and next, so make sure to stay tuned to MacRumors. For more details about the new iPad, make sure to check out our iPad roundup, which will be updated later today.
In addition to our standalone articles covering the latest news and rumors at MacRumors, this Quick Takes column provides a bite-sized recap of other headlines about Apple and its competitors on weekdays.
From the Introducing ClassKit for Education Apps entry in the News and Updates section of Apple's Developer Program website:
The ClassKit framework, coming in iOS 11.4, works with a powerful new iPad app called Schoolwork that helps teachers and students keep track of assignments and progress. With ClassKit, you can help teachers easily discover specific learning activities in your app, take students directly to the right activity with a single tap, and securely and privately share progress data to help teachers personalize instruction.
In the United States, for example, a Wi-Fi model with 128GB of storage is available for $309, down from $359 previously and 28 percent off the original $429 price for the equivalent brand new model. Just keep in mind that fifth-generation iPads lack Apple Pencil support.
iBooks Author is not being retired: Apple's app for creating iBooks on Mac will remain in development, according to iMore's Serenity Caldwell. In a tweet, she said Pages is not a replacement for iBooks Author, despite the app receiving updates related to creating e-books earlier today.
OKAY, getting some clarifications on iBooks Author and Pages. Bear with me.
iBooks Author is NOT being sunset. It’s continuing development. This Pages update is not a replacement.
Instead, this is just bringing Pages’s ePub 3 features and export to iPad, with new templates.
— Serenity Caldwell @🍎👩🏻🏫 (@settern) March 27, 2018
eBay this afternoon launched another Spring Savings coupon, which is designed to allow customers to take 15 percent off of almost anything on eBay.
The 15 percent off coupon lasts for a few hours only, running from 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time to 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time, or 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time. To get the deal, customers will need to make a purchase on eBay worth $25 or more, pay for the item ahead of the coupon's expiration date, and enter the coupon code PREPSPRING in the coupon redemption field.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with eBay. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
eBay's coupon is available to eBay accounts registered in the United States and Canada, and the maximum discount allowed on an item is $50. The deal excludes gift cards and coupons, coins and paper money, and real estate. The coupon is a one-time use code, so if you're planning to purchase multiple items to get a discount, make sure to purchase them all at once.
Apple Watch Series 4 models set to be released this fall will feature a new design and a display that's 15 percent larger, according to predictions shared by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in a new note that was sent out to investors this morning (via 9to5Mac).
In addition to a new design with larger displays, the new fourth-generation Apple Watch models will feature a longer battery life enabled through more battery capacity and improved health monitoring capabilities. The display size of the watch could increase due to smaller bezels, and it's not quite clear what impact a larger display would have on physical device size.
The Apple Watch's design has remained unchanged since the first-generation Apple Watch was introduced in 2015, so a redesign three years later in 2018 would make sense.
Kuo also does not go into detail about what new health monitoring capabilities the fourth-generation Apple Watch might offer. Rumors have suggested Apple is exploring a sensor that would allow for continuous electrocardiograph monitoring to better detect serious heart conditions.
Apple is also pursuing a method for non-invasively monitoring blood glucose levels, but that technology seems to be a bit away and may not make it into a 2018 Apple Watch update.
Ming-Chi Kuo often shares accurate predictions about Apple's plans, so it's likely we can expect to see some kind of Apple Watch redesign this year. We'll be hearing more about Apple's plans as the watch's likely September release date gets closer.
The App Store appears to be experiencing issues at this time, with many customers unable to access the store to make purchases and install updates to apps. It appears the iTunes Store is also affected.
Affected customers are getting a popup message that reads: "The iTunes Store is unable to process purchases at this time. Please try again later."
The App Store issues have been ongoing for approximately a half hour now, but no outage is listed on Apple's System Status page.
We'll update this post when the issue is resolved. Problems like this are often fixed quickly, so apps shouldn't be unavailable for too long.
Update:Apple's System Status page now displays issues with the App Store, Apple TV, iTunes U, iTunes Store, Volume Purchase Program, and Mac App Store.
Back in early 2016, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation failed to pursue all possible solutions to unlock the iPhone 5c owned by San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook before demanding Apple's help accessing the device, reports Reuters.
The information was shared today in a report issued by the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General.
According to the report, the FBI's in-house unit that handles breaking into mobile devices did not begin looking for outside help to unlock Farook's iPhone until the night before the FBI demanded Apple's help through a court filing.
The FBI was aware that one of the vendors contacted at that point in time had "almost 90 percent completed" a technical solution that would allow the FBI access to the phone. The FBI, though, in its court filing with Apple at the time, said there were no other options for accessing the device.
A judge ended up ordering Apple to help federal investigators access the data on Farook's iPhone by creating a tool that would bypass the auto-erase function and allow investigators to submit an unlimited number of passwords to attempt to unlock the iPhone.
Apple, of course, opposed the order and refused to build such a tool, leading to a long and drawn out legal battle with the FBI that only ended when the FBI admitted it had indeed found another way to access the device.
Communication failures at the FBI were to blame, causing some officials to "misunderstand the status" of the FBI's efforts to open the device. That led to delays seeking help from the FBI and the vendor that was ultimately able to unlock the iPhone.
The report from the Department of Justice comes as some law enforcement officials are again pushing for backdoor access into electronic devices to aid in criminal investigations.
Both DOJ and FBI officials have been quietly meeting with security researchers to explore technology that would allow "extraordinary access" to encrypted devices like the iPhone without weakening a device's defenses against hacking.
Earlier this week, Apple's Craig Federighi reiterated Apple's stance that such a backdoor would be dangerous. "Weakening security makes no sense when you consider that customers rely on our products to keep their personal information safe, run their businesses or even manage vital infrastructure like power grids and transportation systems," he said.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
At today's education-focused event in Chicago, Apple announced several new features for its suite of iWork apps for Mac and iOS devices, and those updates have now been pushed out in new versions of the apps that are available for download now.
All of the iWork apps for iOS, including Keynote, Pages, and Numbers, are compatible with the Apple Pencil both on iPad Pro models and the new sixth-generation iPad, which now supports Apple Pencil.
In all three apps, you can draw and write with the Apple Pencil and use it for navigational purposes instead of a finger. In Pages, there's also a new Smart Annotation beta that's designed to allow you to use the Apple Pencil to add comments and marks to a Pages document, and you can add Apple Pencil drawings.
Pages for iOS also includes a new digital books templates for creating books, donut charts, real-time collaboration for documents stored in Box, and more. Full release notes for Pages for iOS are below:
- Draw, write, and annotate using Apple Pencil on supported devices, or use your finger. - Easily add drawings with pen, pencil, crayon, and fill tools. - Use Smart Annotation Beta to add comments and marks that stay anchored to their associated text. - Make beautiful digital books using new book templates. - Collaborate in real time on documents stored in Box. - Add an image gallery to view a collection of photos on the same page. - Use presenter mode to easily read and auto scroll text while giving a speech. - Create and edit paragraph styles and character styles. - View pages side by side as you work. - Turn on facing pages to format your document as two-page spreads. - Create master pages to keep the design consistent across your page layout document. - Change your document orientation to landscape or portrait. - Enhance your documents with a variety of new editable shapes. - Use donut charts to visualize data in an engaging new way. - Use conditional highlighting in tables to change the appearance of a cell when the value meets specified conditions. - New option to automatically format fractions as you type.
In Keynote for iOS, there's an option to animate your drawings during slideshows, and you can more easily change the theme of a presentation. Donut charts have been added for visualizing data in new ways, and there's an interactive image gallery for viewing collections of photos. Full release notes for Keynote for iOS are below:
- Draw and write with Apple Pencil on supported devices, or use your finger. - Animate drawings during slideshows. - Collaborate in real time on presentations stored in Box. - Easily change the theme of a presentation. - Adjust presentation slide size and aspect ratio. - Use donut charts to visualize data in an engaging new way. - Add an interactive image gallery to view a collection of photos. - Enhance presentations with a variety of new editable shapes.
Numbers for iOS offers new options for sorting and filtering tables, new donut charts, and interactive image gallery, editable shapes for spreadsheets, and more. Full release notes for Numbers for iOS are below:
- Draw and write with Apple Pencil on supported devices, or use your finger. - Collaborate in real time on spreadsheets stored in Box. - Use conditional highlighting in tables to change the appearance of a cell when the value meets specified conditions. - Powerful new options for sorting and filtering tables. - Improved, customizable import of CSV and text data, with support for custom delimiters and fixed-width files. - Use donut charts to visualize data in an engaging new way. - Add an interactive image gallery to view a collection of photos. - Enhance spreadsheets with a variety of new editable shapes. - Full bidirectional support for Arabic and Hebrew.
While Apple Pencil support in iWork for iOS was Apple's big announcement, all of the company's Mac apps have also gained new features in line with new features added to the iOS versions of the apps.
All Mac apps have been updated with support for real-time collaboration on spreadsheets stored in Box (macOS High Sierra required), and there are new donut charts for visualizing data in an "engaging new way." A new interactive image gallery is available in all three for viewing a collection of photos, and there's support for adding new editable shapes and reducing the file size of documents.
In Numbers for Mac, Apple has improved imports of CSV and text data with support for custom delimiters and fixed-width files, while in Pages, there are new book templates for creating digital books. You can also now view pages side by side as you work with two page spreads available, and master pages can be added to keep design consistent across your document. There's also a new Pages option for automatically formatting fractions while you type.
All of Apple's iWork apps are free downloads that can be obtained from the App Store and Mac App Store.
To go along with the new sixth-generation iPad, Apple announced two accessories designed by Logitech -- a $99 Rugged iPad Keyboard Case and a unique $49 Crayon Stylus that shares many characteristics with the Apple Pencil.
The Crayon Stylus looks similar to the Apple Pencil, with a slim aluminum body and an Apple Pencil-style tip. Interestingly, Logitech's website says that the Crayon has been designed for and is compatible with the 6th-generation iPad, suggesting it's not going to work with the iPad Pro.
iMore's Serenity Caldwell was able to get a bit more information on the Crayon from Logitech, and it turns out it's using the same technology as the Apple Pencil. It has the same latency, tilt, and palm rejection features as the Apple Pencil, but there is no pressure sensitivity.
The Crayon connects to the iPad via a single frequency and does not use Bluetooth, and it will last for up to 8 hours before needing to be recharged via an included Lightning port, much like the one on the Apple Pencil. Crayon works with all of the apps that support the Apple Pencil.
Just press the on button and start writing or drawing on iPad right away -- it's that easy. Logitech Crayon connects to iPad instantly with no complex device pairing or other delays.
There was speculation ahead of Apple's event that a lower-cost Apple Pencil might be in the works given the $99 price point of Apple's device, and it appears that we did indeed get that, but from a third-party manufacturer. Students who have a sixth-generation iPad will be able to use the Crayon or the Apple Pencil with the tablet.
Compared to the Apple Pencil, the Logitech Crayon has a more kid-friendly design with a pry-resistant smart tip that requires a special tool when the tip needs replacing. The rubber cap at the end that covers the Lightning connector is also tethered to the Crayon so it doesn't get lost.
It's not entirely clear why the Crayon is not backwards compatible with iPad Pro models, and we've asked Logitech for clarification.
Logitech does not plan to release the Crayon to the public at this time, with the accessory limited to teachers. Teachers will be able to purchase it for $49 starting this summer.
Apple didn't live stream today's education-focused event held at Lane Tech College Prep High School in Chicago, but the company has made a video available in the Events app of the Apple TV now that it's over.
The video spans an hour and seven minutes, and while Apple mainly focused on educational topics, it does include the unveiling of the new low-cost $329 sixth-generation iPad, which comes equipped with Apple Pencil support.
Apple has not yet made the event available to watch on its website, but a video should be uploaded and available soon, and a direct link to the video is available here. A YouTube version may also come later in the day.
In addition to its main event, Apple has shared several new iPad-focused YouTube videos that were shown during the Chicago event.
The first video, above, focuses on the Apple Pencil being used to draw the new iPad, highlighting Apple Pencil integration in the low-cost tablet. The other two videos focus on students using the new iPad for school work and Apple's commitment to education.
In addition to a new low-cost iPad with Apple Pencil support, Apple today also introduced new tools for teachers and students, including a Classwork app for assignments, a ClassKit API for creating educational apps with Classwork integration, new Apple Pencil capabilities for iWork, and an "Everyone Can Create" curriculum that's similar to "Everyone Can Code" but is more focused on creative pursuits like photography, video making, music, and art.
Don't want to watch Apple's full hour-long presentation? We'll have a recap coming soon that covers all of the interesting points of the event, so stay tuned for that.
Following its educational event in Chicago, Apple quietly introduced iPhone and iPad cases in new spring colors and officially launched the Apple Watch bands that were introduced last week.
The new iPhone cases, iPad Smart Covers, Apple Pencil covers, and more, are available in bright primary colors, perhaps a nod to the educational focus of today's event.
The $49 iPhone X Leather Case, iPhone 7/8 Leather Case, and iPhone 7/8 Plus Leather Case are available in new Bright Orange, Spring Yellow, Electric Blue, and Soft Pink colors. The $99 iPhone X Leather Folio is available in new Soft Pink and Electric Blue shades.
Apple last week introduced new Apple Watch bands in a variety of spring colors, and all of those bands are available for purchase starting today. The $49 Sport Band is now available in Lemonade, Red Raspberry, and Denim Blue, while the $49 Nike Sport Bands now come in Cargo Khaki/Black, Barely Rose/Pearl Pink, and Black/White.
Woven Nylon Bands ($49) are available in new striped shades including Pink Stripe, Blue Stripe, Gray Stripe, and Black Stripe, while the newer $49 Sport Loop bands now come in Hot Pink, Flash Light, Tahoe Blue, and Marine Green.
The Classic Buckle ($149) is available in Soft Pink, Spring Yellow, and Electric Blue, and there are several new Single Tour ($439) and Double Tour ($489) Hermès bands in fresh designs and colors.
All of the new Apple Watch bands, iPhone cases, iPad cases, and other accessories are available for purchase from the online Apple Store starting today and should be in stores later this week.
AppleCare+ was previously $99 for any iPad, but that price now applies to iPad Pro models only. The lower $69 price for the iPad and iPad mini has been offered by select Best Buy stores for the past several months.
AppleCare+ is an optional warranty plan that extends an iPad's or iPad mini's warranty period to two years from the original purchase date of the device, and adds up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage, each subject to a service fee of $49 plus applicable taxes in the United States.
AppleCare+ for iPad also provides 24/7 priority access to support advisors via online chat or phone for up to two years after the device's original purchase date. Without the plan, iPad owners are covered by Apple's limited one-year warranty and an initial 90 days of complimentary telephone support.
AppleCare+ pricing for 9.7-inch iPad and iPad mini models has also been reduced in other countries, including Australia, Canada, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. Prices vary based on local currencies.
Following the announcement and launch of Apple's new 9.7-inch iPad, a few websites have gotten hands-on time with the tablet and shared their thoughts online this afternoon. The initial consensus appears to be that while the iPad isn't very surprising in terms of form factor and features, it's a solid entry-level model that benefits from added Apple Pencil support.
Engadget said the new iPad is "as fluid and fast as the iPad Pro," which it described as an "impressive feat." The site said the iPad has a great screen, although it isn't as sharp as the iPad Pro's display. Engadget also pointed out the air gap between the display and cover glass on the new tablet, and its lack of the higher-end iPad Pro's True Tone color correction feature and 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate.
Image via Engadget
Following today's education-focused presentation in Chicago, we got a chance to pick up the new tablet for ourselves and, well, it's just about the same as last year's model. That's not a bad thing -- it still feels as solid and well-built as ever. The biggest change is Apple Pencil support, and after a brief test it feels almost as fluid and fast as the iPad Pro, which is an impressive feat.
The Verge began its hands-on coverage by stating the new iPad is "very familiar," with all of the expected screen size, bezels, Touch ID sensor, button placement, and cameras users have come to expect from Apple's tablet line. The Verge said the display was "vibrant and responsive," and the site got to mess around with an AR demo, which was "as good as any AR demo" it has seen.
Image via The Verge
The Verge also pointed out that Apple's demo area was not really "focused on the hardware," but instead software demos that showed real-world use in the classroom, with Tim Cook walking around and discussing the new announcement with reporters.
We just spent some time with Apple’s new $329 iPad, announced here in Chicago at its education event. It’s... an iPad. Holding and using an iPad, it feels very much like an iPad! The air gap on the screen is the same as before — large by iPad Pro standards, but only iPad Pro people will really turn their nose up at it. Same goes for the screen overall, which doesn’t have all the True Tone magic of the Pro, but is nevertheless vibrant and responsive.
I checked out a quick demo of an AR classroom app and was as good as any AR demo I’ve seen. Not knock-your-socks-off good, but it didn’t lag and the baby elephant stayed put right on the table where it was placed. Obviously we’ll need to spend more time to say for sure, but the A10 Fusion processor certainly seems up to most tasks.
Besides the new iPad, Apple today announced that its Classroom app will be coming to Mac this June, revealed a new "Schoolwork" app, showed off iWork updates for iOS, and more. New accessories and devices have also emerged on Apple.com following the Field Trip keynote, including standalone Space Gray color options for the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse 2, and Magic Trackpad 2.
Apple today updated its Clips and GarageBand apps for iOS with several new educational features and other improvements.
GarageBand for iOS
Clips has received a wide range of new fonts, colors, layouts, animated labels and stickers, title cards with education-themed designs, and more, all of which provides students and teachers with more creative flexibility to prepare video presentations and lessons using the app on the new 9.7-inch iPad.
The full release notes for Clips version 2.0.3:
Four additional Live Title styles featuring new fonts, colors, and layouts
Four new animated labels with vibrant colors and editable text
Nine new animated stickers including hand-drawn arrows, scribbles, circles, and underlining
Eleven new Apple-designed posters for creating animated title cards, including education-themed blackboard and notebook designs
Two new Selfie Scenes on iPhone X from Disney-Pixar that put you in the "Finding Dory" reef and on the Scare Floor from "Monsters, Inc."
Drop shadows have been added to some labels to improve visibility against light backgrounds
Fixes an issue that could prevent photos stored in iCloud Photo Library from displaying correctly in Clips projects
Improved stability when deleting projects
Likewise, GarageBand has received new educational sound effects, including animals, vehicles, and counting to ten in different languages.
The full release notes for GarageBand for iOS version 2.3.3:
New downloadable "Toy Box" sound pack with free educational sound effects, including animals, vehicles, and counting to ten in different languages.
Use facial expressions and the TrueDepth camera for hands-free control over musical effects like guitar wah and synth parameters*
Adds Modern Wah guitar stompbox effect
Provides stability improvements and bug fixes
* Apple's fine print: "Requires iPhone X. GarageBand uses ARKit face tracking features to translate your facial expressions into instrument effect controls. Your face information is processed on device, and only music is captured during your performance."
The updates to Clips and GarageBand are rolling out on the App Store today. The apps are free to download on iPhone and iPad.
While iMac Pro owners still get a main machine that's available in an exclusive Space Gray color, the accessories, which had been selling on eBay for quite a bit of money, are no longer exclusives.
Orders placed today for the new Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad 2 will ship out and deliver later this week.
Apple announced Everyone Can Create, a new free curriculum for teachers, during its "Let's Take a Field Trip" event at Chicago's Lane Technical High School today.
Everyone Can Create makes it fun and easy for teachers to integrate drawing, music, filmmaking or photography into their existing lesson plans for any subject. The new curriculum joins Apple’s successful Everyone Can Code initiative as one-of-a-kind programs for teachers that keep students excited and engaged.
Apple says the new curriculum is designed to take advantage of the new 9.7-inch iPad with Apple Pencil support, which was also unveiled on Tuesday, costing $299 for schools. The curriculum includes a range of free learning resources and teaching guides to help teachers include drawing, music, filmmaking or photography into lessons, topics, and assignments.
It also features teacher and student guides, lessons, ideas and examples to aid teachers in bringing more creativity and new communication skills into existing subjects like English, math, science and history, according to Apple. For instance, students can use the iPad's built-in camera to learn about fractals, or use Apple Pencil and apps like Tayasui Sketches to learn about symmetry. The curriculum feeds into Apple's other software announcements at Tuesday's event, including the new Schoolwork app that helps teachers create assignments and keep on top of student progress, and a new teaching assistant Mac application called Classroom, which helps teachers manage student iPads while guiding students through lessons.
Apple will begin teaching the Everyone Can Create curriculum as part of its regular Today at Apple sessions for educators.
Facebook has chosen not to unveil its latest smart connected devices at the company's F8 developer conference in May, in part because of the ongoing data-privacy scandal that has engulfed the social network, according to people familiar with the matter.
Popular Twitter client Twitterrific 5 for Mac and iOS received a major update today, introducing features that bring it on par with the official Twitter apps and competing third-party Twitter apps.
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