Business Insider:

In an unprecedented move for US retailers, stores across the country are opting to indefinitely shut their doors to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in the US.

Though companies like Walmart have taken steps to reduce hours, several major retailers are electing to fully cease physical store operations as confirmed coronavirus cases in the country continue to rise.

In most cases, employees are being compensated for the lost shifts, pointing to how the global pandemic has led to seismic shifts in paid sick-leave policies for retail workers on the front lines.

Like Apple, many of the listed companies are going to continue to pay workers.

The Verge:

Apple made it official: trackpad and mouse support is coming to the iPad. You can get it on an iPad Pro by spending $299 or $349 on Apple’s new Magic Keyboard, get it on a regular iPad with Logitech’s $150 keyboard case, use your existing Bluetooth mouse or trackpad, or presumably use any number of forthcoming accessories.

So the mouse support is there, but how will it work? The iPad and iPadOS are touch-based operating systems meant to be used with your big fat fingers, not tiny little pointers. Even when the Apple Pencil was introduced, they have stayed that way. Plus, more recently, iPadOS has increased the level of complexity for multitasking to 11 with support for multiple windows, split screens, slide-over windows, custom gestures for text editing, and more. Adding another input method to that mix could result in chaos.

We can answer some of your questions about how trackpad support will work today and we’ll get a chance to actually use it ourselves in the public beta. In the meantime, here’s what we definitely know about how it will work based on videos Apple has released publicly and on a video presentation given to reporters this morning.

Apple’s new Magic Keyboard is not cheap but the mouse and trackpad support looks great.

Billboard:

As the nation adjusts to the new reality of life under self-quarantine in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, a number of artists and musical institutions are taking the show online to share some musical joy during these trying times.

While sites like Stageit have been offering up live-stream shows for less-known artists for years, the loss of road time has inspired some acts to look for a new, temporary way to bond with fans until a return to normal.

Check out our ever-expanding list of shows and musical events to stream from the comfort of your home.

It’s obviously not the same as being there live but maybe your favourite artist is doing a little something you can watch from home.

AppleInsider:

Apple on Wednesday unveiled two new iPad Pro models that come equipped with a LiDAR Scanner, which will offer major improvements to ARKit and photography.

The new 11- and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models are the first of Apple’s devices to feature the 3D laser system, but they likely won’t be the last. Here’s what you need to know about LiDAR, how it improves current iPad Pro models, and what other future Apple devices could feature it.

At the most basic level, LiDAR is a time-of-flight system that shoots low-power lasers at an environment. Using the reflections, it calculates the distance to objects and points in the environment, and creates an accurate 3D depth map or rendering based on the results.

This could very well be the most interesting aspect of today’s announcement.

CNN:

As the coronavirus pandemic spreads, households across the country are hunkering down and emptying out store shelves.

Toilet paper has a become the ultimate symbol of the panic buying; it’s seemingly scooped up as soon as new rolls hit the shelves.

Companies that help supply these everyday paper products are stunned and trying to adjust to this rapidly evolving new normal in consumer behavior.

They’re faced with tradeoffs. Many were already operating their manufacturing facilities 24/7 prior to the pandemic. Now, some are limiting their facilities to essential workers and contractors. It’s unclear, however, what they will do in the event that those workers get sick.

“If you ask me why everyone is grabbing toilet paper, I can’t really explain it,” said Tom Sellars, CEO of Sellars Absorbent Materials in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His company is a processor and converter of paper and related products.

My wife and I were at Costco yesterday and there wasn’t a single sheet of toilet paper or paper towel available. Nor was there any liquid hand soap. I spoke to a Costco employee about the toilet paper situation and he shook his head saying, “We get new supplies every morning and they are sold out by 10am. What I don’t understand is I’ve sold maybe 10 people Vitamin C supplements which you’re more likely to need than extra toilet paper!”

Apple has posted a variety of apps to help you get through this situation from “Keep in Touch With Loved Ones,” to “Learn and Study From Home,” to how to work out and meditate.

Macworld:

We live in strange times. I’d wager that a lot of you are now working from home, either for the first time or for a lot longer than you’re used to. I used to work in an office more or less every day, but for the past five years I’ve been working in my garage every day. As a result, I’ve learned a lot about the tools, techniques, and behaviors that can help you work more efficiently on your Mac or iPad from home. I hope what I’ve learned can help you be more productive and healthier at home.

If you’re new to working from home, it can be a real challenge. I’ve been doing it for 26+ years and, unless you focus and make a plan, it can be difficult to get much work done.

Stuck inside and looking for something to watch? We're here for you with daily #ShudderShutIn picks.

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— Shudder (@Shudder) March 15, 2020

If things aren’t scary enough for you, you can watch horror movies for free for the next 30 days.

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.

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.

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.