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It was a big day for Apple with the announcement of new iPad Pros and a MacBook Air. There’s a lot to like about both products, but I want to start with my favorite announcement of the day, iPad Pro.
The list of new features and improvements to the iPad Pro is impressive, but for me, the most exciting change is the Magic Keyboard. I realize that some people will like to technology advances more, but the keyboard has been a thorn in my side since it was released.
The older Smart Keyboard didn’t resemble any other Apple keyboard. The keys were small, and I found it challenging to use, even for the simplest of tasks. I have asked for years why they couldn’t make the Smart Keyboard more like what we see on the Mac—beautiful large keys with the look and feel of a traditional Apple keyboard.
Well, not only did they give me that, but Apple also included a trackpad in the keyboard. I never really understood the logic in using a trackpad on an iPad—I figured the screen was the trackpad. What I failed to consider is how Apple would intelligently implement a trackpad into the workflow.
Apple said that they wanted to rethink how a trackpad is used on the iPad. They didn’t want to just bring the Mac experience over the iPad, but rather bring a familiar and intuitive experience that has been adapted for the touch interface. From what I’ve seen, they’ve done precisely that.
The way the cursor transforms over interface elements will make the trackpad useful for anyone, and the Multi-Touch support will further expand what users can do on the trackpad.
I haven’t had a chance to use it yet, but I’m looking forward to seeing how this changes my workflow on the iPad Pro.
One of the problems I’ve had working on the iPad is how it sits on my lap. Now, with its floating design and 130-degree viewing angle, I have high hopes that the iPad will become even more useful in more places. Much like the MacBook, it’s important to me to be able to work on the iPad no matter where I am.
I could go on all day about the Magic Keyboard and my hopes for how it will change the way I work on the device, but there are more features to discuss.
When the iPad was introduced, and for years following, I think we were all trying to figure out how to use the device to its fullest. As Apple continues to update with advanced technologies, the company is giving developers new app possibilities not available on other mobile devices.
A perfect example of that is the addition of LiDAR in the iPad Pro. I couldn’t explain it any better than Apple does in its release:
The breakthrough LiDAR Scanner enables capabilities never before possible on any mobile device. The LiDAR Scanner measures the distance to surrounding objects up to 5 meters away, works both indoors and outdoors, and operates at the photon level at nano-second speeds. New depth frameworks in iPadOS combine depth points measured by the LiDAR Scanner, data from both cameras and motion sensors, and is enhanced by computer vision algorithms on the A12Z Bionic for a more detailed understanding of a scene. The tight integration of these elements enables a whole new class of AR experiences on iPad Pro.
Every existing ARKit app automatically gets instant AR placement, improved motion capture and people occlusion. Using the latest update to ARKit with a new Scene Geometry API, developers can harness the power of the new LiDAR Scanner to unleash scenarios never before possible.
Apple goes on to explain how the Measure app has been improved, but think beyond that one app to games, engineering, and interior design. This is going to change how developers think about creating apps for the iPad, and therefore, how we use it.
With the addition of five studio-quality microphones and four-speaker audio that adjust to any orientation, and Apple is giving everyone that wants to create content on the iPad, all the power and features they need.
MacBook Air
As much as I love the iPad, I am a Mac guy at heart. Almost everything I create is done on my Mac (an iMac and 16-inch MacBook Pro).
It’s not hard to see why the MacBook Air is Apple’s most popular Mac. It’s speedy, very light, affordable, and it gives users the technology they need to get the job done on the fly.
Of course, MacBook Air isn’t suited for the more high-end movie, audio, and photography jobs, but that’s why we have the MacBook Pro line. I will say that a few years ago, I only had a MacBook Air, and I needed to complete an audio project on the road. It did a remarkable job in getting it done. I would recommend one of the pro models, but hey, it did the job.
Apple recognizes that power is vital to all of its users, whether they are pros or consumers. In the latest MacBook Air, CPU performance is up to two times faster, it has 80 percent faster graphics performance, and it now starts with 256GB of storage.
The new MacBook Air also comes with the new Apple keyboard, which we all expected would happen. I’ve used the new keyboard on the 16-inch MacBook Pro, and it works very well. I still liked the older butterfly design, but I’m probably one of the few.
I love the MacBook Air. With its features and light-weight, it would be hard to find anything else I’d rather use while traveling, except maybe the new iPad.
First up, “Your next computer is not a computer”, followed by the sly, “How to correctly use a computer”. Apple is clearly all-out pushing the new iPad Pro as the computer for the masses.
Apple:
With iPadOS 13.4, Apple brings trackpad support to iPad, giving customers an all-new way to interact with their iPad. Rather than copying the experience from macOS, trackpad support has been completely reimagined for iPad. As users move their finger across the trackpad, the pointer elegantly transforms to highlight user interface elements. Multi-Touch gestures on the trackpad make it fast and easy to navigate the entire system without users ever lifting their hand.
This feels like a huge leap to me, beyond the trackpad experience on any existing computer. Makes me wonder if we’ll see a change to the Mac trackpad support to bring some of this new experience to macOS. This seems logical to me, especially for iPad apps ported to the Mac via Mac Catalyst.
As to LiDAR:
The breakthrough LiDAR Scanner enables capabilities never before possible on any mobile device. The LiDAR Scanner measures the distance to surrounding objects up to 5 meters away, works both indoors and outdoors, and operates at the photon level at nano-second speeds. New depth frameworks in iPadOS combine depth points measured by the LiDAR Scanner, data from both cameras and motion sensors, and is enhanced by computer vision algorithms on the A12Z Bionic for a more detailed understanding of a scene. The tight integration of these elements enables a whole new class of AR experiences on iPad Pro.
The stage is set for AR. This feels like a deflection point to me, Apple introducing key new technology that will mark a sea change to future user experiences.
And no small thing, Apple also delivered an amazing new keyboard case, the Magic Keyboard. Comes with a built-in trackpad, smooth laptop-like viewing angle adjustment, and a USB-C port (which charges the iPad Pro) built into the hinge. The case is pricey, $299 for the 11 inch, $349 for the 12.9 inch.
The line between iPad and Mac has never been more blurred. Will Apple port Xcode to iPad, give iPad users the ability to build apps on device?
Apple:
Apple today updated MacBook Air, the world’s most loved notebook, with faster performance, the new Magic Keyboard, twice the storage and a new lower price of $999, and $899 for education.1 The new MacBook Air delivers up to two times faster CPU performance2 and up to 80 percent faster graphics performance,3 letting customers breeze through daily activities and play more games. Now starting with 256GB of storage, MacBook Air allows customers to store even more movies, photos and files. With its brilliant 13-inch Retina display for vivid images and sharp text, Touch ID for easy login and secure online purchases, spacious trackpad, and all-day battery life combined with the power of macOS Catalina, it’s the best MacBook Air ever made.
And:
MacBook Air now features the new Magic Keyboard, first introduced on the 16-inch MacBook Pro.
And:
MacBook Air now starts with 256GB of storage, double that of the previous generation, so customers can store even more movies, photos and files. And for those who need even more storage capacity, MacBook Air offers up to a 2TB SSD, double the previous maximum storage.
Comes with a T2 Security Chip, Thunderbolt 3 ports, and support for up to a 6K external display.
Here’s a link to Apple’s MacBook Air page. And a link to Apple’s trade-in page in case you have a computer or phone you want to trade in, even if it’s not made by Apple.
New York Times:
On Wednesday, the Association for Computing Machinery, the world’s largest society of computing professionals, said Dr. Hanrahan and Dr. Catmull would receive this year’s Turing Award for their work on three-dimensional computer graphics. Often called the Nobel Prize of computing, the Turing Award comes with a $1 million prize, which will be split by the two pioneers of what is often called C.G.I., or computer-generated imagery.
Ed Catmull is the former president of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Catmull did foundational work in computer graphics at the University of Utah and, after getting his PhD, teamed up with a group of computer scientists, including co-winner Pat Hanrahan, to create RenderMan, the technology that would make Toy Story, and the Pixar movies that followed, possible.
Apple Watch alerts adding to your stress level. Turn ’em off. At least until we all come up for air again.
Follow the headline link, check out the banner on Apple’s front page. Apple’s previous statement was that stores would be closed until March 27th. This statement seems more realistic.
It ends with:
We look forward to seeing you soon.
Me too.
Follow the link, look at all the prices. The iPad Air is a particularly good deal, $99 off across the board.
Amazon blog:
Company will invest over $350 million globally to increase pay by $2/hour in the U.S., £2/hr in the UK, and approximately €2/hr in many EU countries for employees and partners who are in fulfillment centers, transportation operations, stores or those making deliveries so that others can remain at home.
And:
We also know many people have been economically impacted as jobs in areas like hospitality, restaurants, and travel are lost or furloughed as part of this crisis. We want those people to know we welcome them on our teams until things return to normal and their past employer is able to bring them back.
No matter what you think of Amazon, the company is playing a critical role here, getting goods and food to people who cannot/should not be out and about. Amazon delivery people are on the front lines, much like postal and retail workers. To me, those raises are hazard pay.
Take Control Books:
We’re in a time of unprecedented uncertainty. In the middle of a global viral outbreak, you were told or asked to work from home—and you’ve never or rarely had to be productive where you live before. What to do? We’re here to take at some stress out of your life with a new, free book that details how to set up a home office and balance work and home life for those not accustomed to it.
The book delves into furniture and hardware setup, including the right kind of audio input and output for calls and videoconferencing, as well as looking at security, collaboration, and communication software tools you may be unfamiliar with or might set up for your team or company.
I’ve worked from home for over 26 years now but it’s not easy. This free eBook has some good advice on how to manage it successfully.
The Hollywood Reporter:
NBCUniversal on Monday announced its current movies from the Universal Pictures stable — including the upcoming event family movie Trolls World Tour — will be made available on-demand at the same time they hit those theaters that remain open during the coronavirus pandemic.
Movies will be made available on a wide variety of on-demand services for a 48-hour rental period at a suggested retail price of $19.99 in the U.S. and the price equivalent in international markets. The announcement was made by NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell. Insiders say it isn’t a blanket policy for the studio’s entire 2020 calendar and that decisions regarding other titles and the duration of the policy haven’t been made yet.
Rather, the studio is hoping to provide options for consumers who cannot or should not go to cinemas.
I think you’ll see other studios doing this. It won’t last past this summer but for those of us practicing “social distancing” and not wanting to go to a movie theater, this is welcome news.
Apple:
Q: I want to return a product I recently purchased but the 14-day return period will end before March 28—what should I do?
A: Don’t worry. We’ll accept your return up to 14 days after we reopen. Exclusions: Contracted iPhones (US, CA, JP, AU); Carrier financing (US only); Trade-in devices (value of device can be given in form of gift card)
This and several other questions answered on Apple’s page.
AppleInsider:
Fortune has released a list of 100 products that they’ve deemed “the greatest designs” of modern times. Unsurprisingly, Apple features prominently throughout.
Coming in at number one was Apple’s iPhone. Fortune cited the company’s relentless innovation in hardware and software design as its reason for success, saying it was “a device that changed how we live.”
Of course, the iPhone wasn’t the only Apple product on the list, either. Second place went to Apple’s own Macintosh computer, which helped to define what the personal computer would become.
The iPod took the tenth spot with a special shoutout to Jony Ive. The iPod was released in 2001 and changed the way we listen to music forever.
Congratulations to everyone at Apple. They should be proud to dominate such a list. But I’m a bit miffed that the original iMac didn’t make the list.
CNET:
There’s no shortage of March Madness highlights on YouTube, from the best plays from last year’s tournament or from 2018 or from 2017 to the best buzzer-beaters of the last decade or the biggest upsets in tournament history. Or you could skip to the end and watch the tournament’s One Shining Moment recap video from last year and others.
While I could easily spend an entire afternoon going down a rabbit hole of March Madness highlights, we’re going to need full games to get us through the rest of the month. Therefore, in reverse chronological order, here are the full-game videos that will let you walk backward in time through 16 of the best games in March Madness history — all the way back to none other than Michael Jordan in his freshman year, 1982.
If you’re a fellow NCAA Men’s Basketball fan, no March Madness this year is incredibly disappointing. But here are 16 classic games to help you get through it.
The B1M:
There’s been a boom for taller buildings — how do you clear the path for the next supertall skyscraper? The B1M explains the challenging process of taking out a preexisting building.
I’ve often wondered how skyscrapers in dense areas get removed.
Travel and Leisure:
Going into a self-quarantine can have many complex issues and complications beyond having enough food and supplies for two weeks. In terms of entertainment, it also probably means you’re in for a lot of boredom, a lot of Netflix, and a lot of browsing the internet.
But there is a way to get a little culture and education while you’re confined to your home. According to Fast Company, Google Arts & Culture teamed up with over 500 museums and galleries around the world to bring anyone and everyone virtual tours and online exhibits of some of the most famous museums around the world.
Now, you get “go to the museum” and never have to leave your couch.
Having been to several of these museums, I can tell you it’s not the same online but it’s fun to “wander around” and see some famous art in its “natural” setting.
This is day 2 of the 12 Days of Apple Stores, brought to life by the prolific coverer of all things Apple Store, Michael Steeber.
Each day, Michael explores an unusual or favorite Apple Store, with background and links of interest. Nicely done.
Wesley Hilliard, AppleInsider:
Apple improves on their A-series processors every year for each new iPhone release, so a successor to the current iPhone 11 A13 chipset is expected in the fall of 2020. Each year as the iPhone flagship release approaches, benchmark scores for said to be from the new processor in the device start to populate popular benchmark tools, like Geekbench.
And:
New Geekbench testing, purporting to be from the A14 processor shows the first A-series processor to cross the 3.0 GHz mark.
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro has an A12X chipset with 8 cores and scores 1110 on a single core, and 4568 on the multi-core. The scores for the alleged A14 go beyond even that.
Single core performance of the device shows a 1658 score, with a 4612 multi-core score. This indicates a huge gain in its overall performance and will make multitasking and navigating apps smoother than ever.
Just for comparison, I went to the Geekbench browser and looked up Apple’s latest, the 2019 16″ MacBook Pro. The single-core score is 1122 and the multi-core score is 6993. Not exactly an apples to apples comparison, but amazing to see how far the Arm chipset has come.
This is a bucket list item for me. Watch the whole thing or, if you are pressed for time, jump to about 3:23 to get a sense of this wild skiing course in action.
Follow the headline link for the tech details from Juli Clover, watch the video below to see the new Powerbeats in action. And here’s a link to the official Powerbeats page on the Beats by Dre site.
CNBC:
French antitrust authorities ordered Apple on Monday to pay a 1.1 billion euro ($1.23 billion) fine for anti-competitive behavior.
The French competition authority said the iPhone-maker was guilty of creating cartels within its distribution network and abusing the economic dependence of its outside resellers.
And:
“Apple and its two wholesalers agreed not to compete and prevent distributors from competing with each other, thereby sterilizing the wholesale market for Apple products,” said Isabelle de Silva, president of the French Competition Authority.
Apple’s response:
“The French Competition Authority’s decision is disheartening. It relates to practices from over a decade ago and discards 30 years of legal precedent that all companies in France rely on with an order that will cause chaos for companies across all industries. We strongly disagree with them and plan to appeal.”
Hard to imagine this fine standing as is.
Kanopy:
Enjoy thoughtful entertainment and stream thousands of films for free, thanks to the generous support of your public library or university.
We partner with public libraries and universities to bring you ad-free films and series that can be enjoyed on your TV, mobile phone, tablet and online.
Enjoy critically-acclaimed movies, inspiring documentaries, award-winning foreign films and more.
There are some really good, interesting movies on this site.
Variety:
Universal Music Chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge has been hospitalized after testing positive for coronavirus, multiple sources exclusively told Variety. He is currently receiving treatment at Los Angeles’ UCLA Medical Center, sources said.
A UMG spokesperson was not immediately available for comment. Word of Grainge’s illness has rattled West Coast power players who attended his 60th birthday celebration on Feb. 29 in Palm Springs, multiple industry insiders said.
In attendance at that party? Tim Cook and Eddy Cue.
The likes of Apple CEO Tim Cook, veteran music manager Irving Azoff, and Apple senior vice president Eddy Cue attended the party 15 days ago as of Sunday, said sources. Symptoms of COVID-19, including fever and shortness of breath, can appear up to two weeks after infection. An Apple spokesperson declined to comment. A rep for Azoff did not immediately comment.
Let’s hope everyone who attended the party are symptom-free and Mr Grainge makes a full recovery.
Vegas is starting to close casinos.
Las Vegas Review: >Wynn Resorts Ltd. is set to close its two Las Vegas properties beginning 6 p.m. Tuesday to help stem the spread of the coronavirus. > >The closure is expected to last two weeks, after which Wynn “will evaluate the situation,” according to a Sunday statement from the company. > >All full-time Wynn Las Vegas and Encore employees will continue to be paid during the shutdown, and a limited number of employees and management will remain at the properties to secure and maintain the facility.
8NewsNow: >MGM Resorts has announced it will shut down all Las Vegas properties until further notice, starting on Tuesday, March 17. Casino operations will close on Monday, followed by hotel operations.
This is a big deal. Along with several states moving to close schools, bars, restaurants, Las Vegas casinos shutting down are a sign at least some are taking this pandemic seriously. People can turn to online casinot for their entertainment. Check out online casino sites like mpo888 to enjoy an exciting casino experience from the comfort of your own home.
Visit the website of เว็บ w88 if you’re looking for online platforms where you can play casino games and bet on your favorite sports teams. If you also want to access casino games anytime, there are online slot games you can play.
Ars Technica:
Comcast announced late Friday that it is suspending enforcement of its data cap and overage fees for 60 days during the coronavirus pandemic.
“With so many people working and educating from home, we want our customers to access the Internet without thinking about data plans,” Comcast’s announcement said. “While the vast majority of our customers do not come close to using 1TB of data in a month, we are pausing our data plans for 60 days giving all customers unlimited data for no additional charge.”
T-Mobile also issued an announcement late Friday, saying it will upgrade all current customers to “unlimited smartphone data for the next 60 days (excluding roaming).” This applies to any T-Mobile plan or Metro by T-Mobile prepaid plan that has a monthly data cap. Additionally, T-Mobile said it is giving all customers “an additional 20GB of mobile hotspot/tethering service for the next 60 days.” Sprint, which is being acquired by T-Mobile, is taking identical steps.
Comcast is also making its Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots free for anyone to use. Millions of the hotspots are scattered throughout the country; you can find hotspot locations here. The hotspots are normally free to Comcast customers, while anyone else needs to buy a temporary pass to use them.
Another example of companies doing what’s best. Good to see.
With events canceled & so much closed, I asked @PBS to stream BASEBALL for free so we can participate in the national pastime together. Watch at the link below or on any streaming device. And please look out for those with greater needs. Play ball. @MLB https://t.co/WaQLSpeYkF pic.twitter.com/QYp1XE0SLC
— Ken Burns (@KenBurns) March 15, 2020
Great move by Ken Burns and PBS. Sadly, not available outside of the US.
VOX:
Are you the sort of person who enjoys imagining the dark thought of a new, potentially deadly disease spreading across the planet like wildfire, infecting cities, then regions, then continents, then planets? Does this wholly imaginary scenario play into a macabre desire to explore what a worst-case scenario might look like? Do you also like telling your friends what to do?
When Pandemic begins, four different diseases — represented by different colored cubes — have sprung up around the globe, and you and your friends play employees of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you can develop vaccines for all four, you win. If any number of other scenarios happen, you lose. (Seriously, there are so many ways to lose this game. It’s mean.)
What makes Pandemic so good — and so enervating — is the way it quietly encourages you and your fellow players to do just a touch of roleplaying, as you gather around the table and quietly implore each other to do this thing or that thing, because it’s the only way to save the world.
It might seem a bit morbid to play this game right now but it’s actually a lot of fun and wonderfully cooperative. You can’t win unless you all work together.
New York Times:
Most American restaurants do not offer paid sick leave. Workers who fall sick face a simple choice: Work and get paid or stay home and get stiffed. Not surprisingly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2014 that fully 20 percent of food service workers had come to work at least once in the previous year “while sick with vomiting or diarrhea.”
As the new coronavirus spreads across the United States, the time has come for restaurants, retailers and other industries that rely on low-wage labor to abandon their parsimonious resistance to paid sick leave. Companies that do not pay sick workers to stay home are endangering their workers, their customers and the health of the broader public.
Studies show that paying for sick employees to stay home significantly reduces the spread of the seasonal flu. There’s every reason to think it would help to check the new coronavirus, too.
At the best of times, the lack of paid sick leave is a bad thing. Now, it’s an actual public health emergency. The vast majority of people who work in the Retail, Hospitality, and Grocery segments are low paid as it is. Without paid time off, they have to go to work, sick or not.