Free educational sessions coming to an Apple retail store near you

Apple has announced that it’s expanding its “Today at Apple” educational sessions to all of its 495 retail stores around the world in May.

Which is pretty sweet, because not only are they free (score), they’re on topics that are incredibly interesting, and will be taught by  highly-trained ‘Creative Pros’, or as Apple calls them, the “liberal arts equivalent” to its technical Geniuses. In select cities, Apple has also said that world-class artists, photographers, and musicians will teach sessions from “basics and how-to lessons” to “professional-level programs.”

For the subjects themselves? You’re looking at  photography, videography, music, coding, art, and design.

From the Sauce, Angela Ahrendts, Apple’s senior vice president, Retail:

“At the heart of every Apple Store is the desire to educate and inspire the communities we serve. ‘Today at Apple’ is one of the ways we’re evolving our experience to better serve local customers and entrepreneurs. We’re creating a modern-day town square, where everyone is welcome in a space where the best of Apple comes together to connect with one another, discover a new passion, or take their skill to the next level. We think it will be a fun and enlightening experience for everyone who joins.”

This is something everyone at all ages is encouraged to participate in.

There’ll be special programs such as Teacher Tuesday where educators can learn new ways to incorporate technology into their classrooms, Kids Hour is targeted towards families and will feature music awesomeness like making and robotics, and anyone who’s interested can learn about pro software such as Final Cut Pro X and Logic Pro X, or coding with the Swift Playgrounds app for iPad.

Everything we know (so far) about the 2017 iPhone

Here’s what we know about the next iteration of the iPhone. As always, lots of grains of salt all over this post – Mysterious Apple flavored grains of salt.

1. This will be the 11th release of an iPhone, but the 10 year anniversary of the original iPhone.

2. It’s predicted that Apple will be releasing 3 new iPhones. Two will be the iPhone 7S and the iPhone 7S Plus, and the third will be either the iPhone Edition, or the iPhone 8. We’re voting iPhone Edition.

3.The iPhone will probably be announced in September, and released 2-3 weeks later. There is a small possibility that Apple will announce the iPhone Edition/8 at WWDC in June, but this is pretty unlikely. There are also predictions that the ‘special’ iPhone will be released much closer to Christmas.

4.The iPhone Edition will have an edge to edge 5.8″ OLED screen, Faster A11 processor, and glass body. There will likely be no home button and yay for getting rid of wires because it’s said to have wireless charging. Sweet.

5. There have been rumors that the Touch ID will be integrated into the display, which is likely, however there have also been rumors that it will be on the back, about where the Apple logo is currently.

6.The iPhone 7S and iPhone 7S Plus will both be upgraded from the iPhone 7, but much more along the lines of the incremental hardware upgrades that we’ve seen in the last couple of years, combined with the fresh new software goodness of  iOS 11 (which will be announced for sure at WWDC).

7. All three iPhones will be water resistant, the same as the iPhone 7, but their resistance level will be improved.

8. The front facing camera may include 3D sensing capabilities perhaps enabling facial and iris recognition. Rumors also suggest that Apple is exploring both a vertical rear camera for improved pictures and a dual-camera setup for the front-facing FaceTime camera.

9. The iPhone 8/Edition will be a little more expensive, possibly coming in at just under $1000 clams.

10. Supply will probably be pretty constrained at first, because, you know, it’s Apple n stuff. Also, OLED production might be a little harder to come by.

Are you excited about the new iPhones? Do you think there’ll be any surprises? C’moooooooon time travel?

Facebook releases it’s future on us all

At F8, Facebook’s developer conference, the social media company introduced the way that it wants you, the end user, to see the world.

How’s that? Well, augmented.

Facebook’s augmented reality camera, or camera platform as FB calls it, will place digital imagery on the world around you. Think Pokemon Go, except…useful, realistic, change the way we see the world type stuff.

From the Sauce, Mark Zuckerberg:

“Facebook is so much about marrying the physical world with online, when you can make it so that you can intermix digital and physical parts of the world, that’s going to make a lot of our experiences better and our lives richer. Facebook is so much about marrying the physical world with online.”

From now on (actually, for a while now, but here’s where the action really starts) the camera is no longer just a tool that you use to capture images.

Now, you can change the world with it, manipulate the images that you capture as well as the environment you see through it. You’ll be able to display and intake information, add digital objects, and enhance existing objects.

Again, from the Zuck:

“The camera needs to be more central than the text box in all of our apps,” he said. “We’re making the camera the first augmented reality platform.”

At F8, the demos were on an Oculus headset, but soon, the plan is that you’ll be able to create and interact with augmented reality right on your smartphone. Or whatever replaces the smartphone – which may well be lightweight glasses, according to Zuckerberg.

And so the race begins to see who wins on creating the end augmented reality platform. Will the end product be shaped more by  software, rather than hardware? What mix will we end up with?

Over the coming months Facebook plans to give developers a chance to use its tools to create their own filters and effects for Facebook’s cameras. Developers who want to build their own apps, games, and art will be able to do so, perhaps taking the Camera in unanticipated directions.

Hi Future! *Waves* We’re in you…almost!

Apple just made Garageband, iMovie and iWork apps completely free

iMovie, Numbers, Keynote, Pages, and GarageBand for both Mac and iOS devices are now listed as free in the App Store.

Since 2013 if you had purchased a new Mac or iOS device you could get these apps for free, but now they’re just free free. Which is the best kind of free.

The change also makes it much easier for schools and businesses to download these apps through the Volume Purchase program store.

Now, go make some sweet tunes, to accompany some sweet movies, and… work your butts off! #Wednesday Wisdom!

Happy April Fools…. Wait… Happy April NOT Fools Day? Um, here’s a promo code!

We ALWAYS GET THIS WRONG, but it’s kinda funny in a way this time, right?

…Right? You know, because it’s April Fools, but it’s a joke, because it’s not April Fools! Geddit?

Anyway, Here’s a Promo Code.

APRILNOTFOOLS2017

Use this to get an extra $10 when you sell your iPhone to us! The Promo code will expire 7PM PST.

Happy Friday!

P.S. Don’t forget Mothers day is coming up, you could turn that stinky old iPhone into a prettttty sweet Mothers day present…

New models all over the place! Here’s what happened in the Apple world today.

First things first! THE RED PHONE

AND now if you’re anything like us you have Hotline Bling stuck in your head for the rest of the day. You’re welcome?

Apple today announced a special edition (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus that will launch this coming Friday, March 24.

These swanky models will be available in 128GB and 256GB for the same $749/$849 and $869/$969 prices as the others.

The model is in recognition of more than 10 years of partnership between Apple and the Charity (RED). Every purchase contributes to the Global Fund to support HIV/AIDS programs and help deliver an AIDS-free generation

From the Primo Sauce, Mr Cook, CEO:

“Since we began working with (RED) 10 years ago, our customers have made a significant impact in fighting the spread of AIDS through the purchase of our products, from the original iPod nano (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition all the way to today’s lineup of Beats products and accessories for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. The introduction of this special edition iPhone in a gorgeous red finish is our biggest (PRODUCT)RED offering to date in celebration of our partnership with (RED), and we can’t wait to get it into customers’ hands.”

The new (PRODUCT)RED iPhone will be available to order on Apple’s website, at Apple Stores, and at select authorized resellers and carriers and will ship by the end of March in the US and more than 40 countries and regions around the world.

NEXT! New models, new prices and discontinuations!

Apple introduced a new low-cost 9.7-inch iPad, a newly priced iPad mini 4 is available now on Apple.com in Silver, Gold, and Space Gray and they’ve discontinued the iPad mini 2.

The iPad mini 4 now offers more capacity for the same price. The 128GB model with Wi-Fi now starts at $399, which was previously the price for the 32GB model with Wi-Fi, which has been discontinued. A cellular model with 128GB of storage is also available for $529.

The new 9.7-inch iPad, which Apple are just calling ‘iPad’ is equipped with an A9 chip and a brighter Retina display to replace the iPad Air 2, which has also been discontinued.  The 9.7-inch size will be Apple’s new entry-level model, starting at $329 for 32GB and $429 for 128GB.

The specs of the new 9.7-inch iPad are as follows:

9.7-inch screen with 2,048‑by‑1,536 resolution and 264 PPI.

8-megapixel rear-facing iSight camera.

1.2-megapixel front-facing FaceTime camera.

Two speakers, Lightning connector, 3.5mm headphone jack, Touch ID with Apple Pay, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, and Bluetooth 4.2.

From the Sauce,Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing:

“iPad is the world’s most popular tablet. Customers love the large, 9.7-inch display for everything from watching TV and movies, to surfing the web, making FaceTime calls, and enjoying photos, and now it is even more affordable. New customers and anyone looking to upgrade will love this new iPad for use at home, in school, and for work, with its gorgeous Retina display, our powerful A9 chip, and access to the more than 1.3 million apps designed specifically for it.”

The 9.7-inch iPad is available to order beginning Friday, March 24 from Apple.com.

Will we see a new iPad Pro announced in April?

It’s not like Apple is a totally mysterious company when it comes to launching new products, right?

Uh…. not right. So here’s what we’re looking at, rumor-wise for the possibly upcoming announcement of a new iPad:

First week of April, Apple will announce two new iPads at an event that will be marking the inauguration of its Apple Park campus. When we say first week of April, we mean from approximately March 20th to mid April.

Apple plans to target the education and business sectors with a new 10.5-inch iPad Pro and a refreshed 12.9-inch model.

The 12.9-inch iPad will probably only feature small upgrades, but the 10.5-inch model might feature a nearly bezel-free edge-to-edge display.

What do you think would be some sweet iPad Pro upgrade features? What would make you want to upgrade?

WWDC scholarships on offer

WWDC is coming up pretty quickly! Apple’s Kind-Of-A-Big-deal-conference will take place  June 5 to June 9 at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California.

Are you a student or STEM organization member passionate about app development? Yeah?

So…wanna go?

Here’s some good news, kids – every year, WWDC scholarships are given to students and STEM organization members who don’t have the funds to attend and this year is no different.

For 2017, Apple will accept scholarship submissions from March 27, at 10:00 a.m. through April 2 at 5:00 p.m. Winning applicants will be notified of their status on Friday, April 21.

Scholarships offer free tickets to WWDC,  and for the first time, this year Apple will be providing free lodging.

Here’s the fine print:

Scholarship applicants must be at least 13 years old, registered as an Apple developer, and enrolled in a part-time or full-time course of study. Members and alumni of a STEM organization are also eligible.

If you fit the above description,  here’s what you’re looking to do, straight from the Source, (Apple, duh)

1. Tell us about yourself. Sign in with the Apple ID associated with your developer account. If you’re 13-17 years old and share your Apple ID with your parent or legal guardian, you will be asked to enter your name. You will also be asked for a phone number where we can reach you.

2. Provide school / membership information. If you’re a student, you will need to provide a PDF, PNG, or JPG of your current class schedule or other current proof of enrollment and your dean or principal’s contact information. If you’re a member or alumni of a STEM organization, you will need to provide a PDF, PNG, or JPG of your membership information and your local leader’s contact information.

3. Upload your Swift playground. Create a visually interactive scene in a Swift playground that can be experienced within three minutes. Be creative. You can use Swift Playgrounds on iPad or Xcode on macOS. If you need inspiration, start with templates in Swift Playgrounds for a head start on more advanced creations. Get inventive and make them your own by adding graphics, audio, and more.

4. Describe your Swift playground. Tell us about the features and technologies that you used in your Swift playground, in 500 words or less.

5. Provide optional information.

Let us know how you’ve considered sharing your coding knowledge and enthusiasm for computer science with others, in 500 words or less.

Travel Assistance
If you have extenuating circumstances that would require financial assistance for travel to attend the conference, let us know in 500 words or less. You will also need to provide a letter of reference (PDF, PNG, or JPG) from a teacher, supervisor, or other person of authority in your community confirming your need for travel assistance. Make sure that it includes their role and contact information.

Your Résumé / CV
If you’re 18 years of age or older and currently pursuing a BS, MS, or PhD in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, or a similar field and wish to share your résumé or CV with other groups at Apple, upload a PDF. This information will not influence the judging process.

Swift Playground Requirements
The Swift playground you submit should be created entirely by you as an individual. Group work will not be considered.
Your Swift playground should be built using Swift Playgrounds on iPad or Xcode on macOS.
Your Swift playground should function properly and run on the latest releases of Swift Playgrounds and iOS or Xcode and macOS.
All content should be in English.
Your .zip file size should not be more than 25 MB.
Any resources in your project should be included locally in the .zip file that you provide, as your Swift playground will be judged offline.
Judging

Submissions must follow all requirements in the WWDC Scholarship Terms. Applications will be judged on:
Technical accomplishment;
Creativity of ideas; and
Content of written responses.

Go get ’em, tigers!

Are you an educator at a school that has a 1:1 iPad Program?

Many schools across the country are now participating in a number of different edutech programs, most commonly a 1:1 program with laptops, iPads or ChromeBooks.

In fact, a (now three-year old) report by the education nonprofit Project Tomorrow found that one-third of all high school students were using wireless devices provided by their school districts.

In the past, providing a rounded education meant providing students with up to date and thorough text books, excellent teaching staff, and a safe and happy place to learn. Now, this also means providing them with up to date technology. In 10 years…. personal AI tutors? Let’s hope they’re subsidized.

Many schools are in the fortunate position to be able to provide iPads to their students, while many others have their students participate in a ‘BYOD’  – Bring Your Own Device – system, whereby the parents and families of the students provide the device under the school’s direction.

These very admirable and, at this stage necessary edutech initiatives aim to have as many children as possible excel in tech immersive learning so that they can excel in a world where tech is everywhere – teaching them how to create, use, and consume technology responsibly and effectively .

This is excellent. 

However, we recognize that at this stage these devices are not (yet) indestructible nor are they lasting, particularly in a school environment. Additionally, with technology improving at the current rate, the opportunity to provide a child with an upgraded device is one that comes around very regularly.

It’s also one we wouldn’t want to deny for too long for any child.

That’s why we provide a fast, economical and stress-free solution for 1:1 Initiative educators. We deal with old or broken tech so that you don’t have to.

Upgrading? Leaving devices in drawers until something better comes up? Thats us! Trying to sell surplus devices piece by piece? Let us deal with it.

We buy broken, cracked and used devices from schools, universities and businesses across America, providing a valuable, stress free transaction that includes free shipping.

If you’re an educator at a school that has a 1:1 iPad program, we encourage you to contact us at BulkSales@iPhoneAntidote.com, via our online chat at www.iPhoneAntidote.com, or on (888) 333 0635.

The ultra swank Apple campus – ‘Apple Park’ is opening soon!

The future is here! Well, you know, the building where some people might help create stuff that is likely to contribute to technology in the future is here.

Remember seeing photos of the super swank new, circular Apple campus that was being built? Well it’s almost ready! According to Apple, the campus, named ‘Apple Park’ will be open and ready for employees in April.

There’s still some small building construction and landscaping to be done, but moving all of the expected 12,000 employees over to the new site will also take about 6 months, so they’ve got some time.

Apple Park will also include a visitor’s center with a full Apple Store and cafe,  which will be open to the public. That’s us! Yay! The theater at Apple Park will be named the ‘Steve Jobs Theater’ in honor of the former CEO and will be open later this year.

Direct from the sauce, current CEO, Tim Cook:

“Steve’s vision for Apple stretched far beyond his time with us. He intended Apple Park to be the home of innovation for generations to come, the workspaces and parklands are designed to inspire our team as well as benefit the environment. We’ve achieved the most energy-efficient building of its kind in the world and the campus will run entirely on renewable energy.”

So about that energy efficiency thing? The complex takes up 175 acres and will be powered by 100 percent renewable energy.

Such cool beans.

The main circular building includes 17 megawatts of rooftop solar power, meaning Apple Park will be running one of the largest solar energy installations on the planet. ON THE PLANET.

Sorry for yelling, it’s just that tech and renewable energy get us excited, ya know?

Apple also replaced 5 million-square-feet of asphalt with various greeneries, including over 9,000 native and drought-resistant trees.

From Lauren Powell Jobs:

“Steve was exhilarated, and inspired, by the California landscape, by its light and its expansiveness. It was his favorite setting for thought. Apple Park captures his spirit uncannily well, he would have flourished, as the people of Apple surely will, on this luminously designed campus.”

Check out more images and a video about Apple Park here.