AppleMagazine

wwdc 2019 part 2: mac innovation and a first for the ipad

THE LEGENDARY TABLET FINALLY GETS ITS OWN OPERATING SYSTEM Last week, we looked at a number of key events from day one of WWDC 2019, Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference. However, so much was revealed – even just on the first day – that we couldn’t possibly cover it all in a single article. In Part 2 of our WWDC 2019 review (or version 2.0 if you like!), we’ll take an in-depth look at two more key software announcements from day one, and round up the highlights from the rest of the event that ran from June 3 to 7. iPAD SOFTWARE TAKES A GIANT STEP FORWARD We’ll begin with some incredible news for iPad users, who are finally getting their own dedicated OS. The annual developers’ conference is traditionally the place where…

3 million us students don’t have home internet

With no computer or internet at home, Raegan Byrd’s homework assignments present a nightly challenge: How much can she get done using just her smartphone? On the tiny screen, she switches between web pages for research projects, losing track of tabs whenever friends send messages. She uses her thumbs to tap out school papers, but when glitches keep her from submitting assignments electronically, she writes them out by hand. “At least I have something, instead of nothing, to explain the situation,” said Raegan, a high school senior in Hartford. She is among nearly 3 million students around the country who face struggles keeping up with their studies because they must make do without home internet. In classrooms, access to laptops and the internet is nearly universal. But at home, the cost of internet…

how do you teach kids about texting? bring in the teenagers

How do you teach tech-savvy kids to safely navigate the digital world? In Germany, you bring in the teenagers. On a recent day, 18-year-old Chantal Hueben stood in front of a group of fifth-graders and asked them to brainstorm about the messaging program Whatsapp, which most are using to participate in a group chat for their class. They spoke about themes like cyberbullying and what material is OK to post. “Many are not really aware yet of the impact their messages can have on others,” says Hueben, dressed all in black except for white sneakers. “We’re teaching them not to post anything private on the class chat, not to send photos of others and not to insult anybody.” The session at the Gesamtschule Borbeck high school, in the western German city of Essen,…

schools reckon with social stress: ‘i’m on my phone so much’

High school biology teacher Kelly Chavis knew smartphones were a distraction in her class. But not even her students realized the psychological toll of their devices until an in-class experiment that, of course, was then spreading on social media. For one class period, students used a whiteboard to tally, in real time, every Snapchat, Instagram, text, call or other notification that popped up. Students were told not to respond to avoid generating replies ... and further notifications. Teachers around the country have run similar experiments, typically recording dozens of trips to the board. “One girl, just during the one hour, got close to 150 Snapchat notifications. 150!” marveled Chavis, who teaches honors-level courses at Rock Hill Schools in South Carolina. She’s among a growing number of teachers, parents, medical professionals and researchers convinced…

accessibility: apple’s biggest push yet

In all of the excitement of Dark Mode on iOS and the removal of iTunes on the Mac, you’d be forgiven for missing one of Apple’s biggest cross-platform updates to date. At WWDC, the firm announced plans to introduce a slew of new features for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, designed to make lives easier, and Apple products accessible to everyone. This week, we delve deeper into the changes, exploring how the technology will impact users of all abilities. MORE ACCESSIBLE THAN EVER Apple has always been one to fly the flag for accessibility, telling the world that “technology is most powerful when it empowers everyone.” It’s a trademark for the Cupertino firm’s commitment to building products that work for every human being, not just the able-bodied, and over the years, that mindset…

facebook stops huawei from pre-installing apps on phones

Facebook said it has stopped letting its apps come pre-installed on smartphones sold by Huawei in order to comply with U.S. restrictions, a move that deals a fresh blow to the Chinese tech giant. The social network said it has suspended providing software for Huawei to put on its devices while it reviews recently introduced U.S. sanctions. Owners of existing Huawei smartphones that already have Facebook apps can continue to use them and download updates. Facebook said people who have Huawei phones or buy new ones will still be able to download Facebook on their own. Facebook’s move is the latest fallout in the escalating U.S.-China tech feud. The Commerce Department last month effectively barred U.S. companies from selling their technology to Huawei and other Chinese firms without government approval. China’s Commerce Ministry responded this…