Category Archives: apple

Want to build apps for iPhone and iPad? Start with Xcode

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Once your purchase the license to develop for Apple ($99) you are ready to download Xcode, which is the program used to develop you Apple apps. Xcode is a development tool created by Apple. With Xcode you can create your app, test it with an emulator, and publish it to the iTunes app store (after extensive apple review of course).

How difficult is Xcode? If you are new to programming, its going to be very difficult. Xcode allows you to use C/C++ to program your app. In addition to knowing the language you need to understand Xcode interface as well as design for iPhone/iPhone, so it can get complicated very quickly. For the experience object oriented programmer, Xcode should not be too difficult to pick up. Overall, this software is not made for designers, rather experienced programmers.

Apple sells 2x as many iPads as iMacs to schools – Is this a good thing?

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Article: http://mashable.com/2012/07/24/apple-ipad-education-sales/

While I think it is great that schools are adopting new technology I have to wonder, did schools jump the gun here? I know that some schools are definitely using the iPad for some really cool things and I love to see innovation. However, I wonder, and this really only applies to schools who bought iPads to replace computers, do all of these schools have enough computers for each student already? I ask because you can purchase a PC for the same price as the iPad (there is no educational discount on iPads so they are $500 for schools). If a school does not have a computer for each student, I would question their purchase of iPads for each student (if that is what they did because just purchasing some iPads is not what I am talking about here in this post). Computers are significantly more powerful than iPads and can do much more. I only recommend that my students by a computer first and if they have more money, then get the iPad. Do not just get the iPad and expect it to replace their laptop. So while I like mobile/tablet technology and think it does have a place in education, I would question anyone who is using that technology to replace computers because it does not and I do know that some schools are replacing computers with iPads which I believe is not a good way to use this technology.

iPhone 5 Rumors

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Two rumors have been really turning up a lot lately with a lot of evidence, however, as always, do not trust any apple rumors until Apple announces them because so many times they have turned out to be untrue.

First rumor: iPhone 5 will be out in October. This sounds about right. Everyone is expecting a Fall announcement.

Second rumor: the connector (white plug that connects your iPhone to charger/computer) has been changed. It will be smaller. While this will make tons of chargers, plugs, car chargers, etc obsolete I think this might just be true. Large dock connectors just take up space and Apple is very concerned with design so this would not surprise me. Its also a chance for Apple to make more money from us. Here is an article about it: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57477641-37/iphone-5-will-launch-with-19-pin-dock-connector-report-says/

Clueful Pulled From Apple’s App Store

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And this is why I hate the apple app store and will never have an iPhone (at least as my main phone). I do have an iPad and Macbook though so I do like apple, I just hate iTunes and their app store.

From Huffingtonpost: “Privacy-conscious iPhone users, the app of your dreams is no more. Clueful, an app that policed your iPhone’s other apps for privacy violations, was pulled from the App Store this week, and both the company that made it and Apple are keeping their mouth shut about why.

What Clueful did, as The Huffington Post described back when it was released in May, was tell you exactly what sort of misbehavior your apps were up on your iPhone. Does the app you just downloaded access your address book? GPS coordinates? Social networking accounts? Clueful claimed to be “the world’s first and only app” to tell you so.”

More of article

How is Google Chrome doing on iOS?

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It has 1.5% of the market share. The thing is, its only been available for a few weeks and its already grown that much. Will Safari stay king on iOS though? My guess is yes. Most people will not download another browser when safari comes with the iPhone/iPad. I do not even download browsers either and just use the default on my Android device although maybe I should change.

Source

apple rumor: mini ipad and iTV?

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Looks like the usual Apple rumors are abound on the net. The latest though seems pretty reliable. Is apple working on a mini tablet and iTV? Would you buy either? I personally do like the size of my Kindle Fire vs the iPad size. While I like the bigger screen on the iPad, the Kindle just feels better in my hands because its a little smaller.

Rumor Article

Apple putting ‘eligible’ products back on the green list

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Well it looks like Apple realized taking their products off of the green list was a bad idea. So they are putting them (just eligible products) back on. But is it already too late? I highly doubt they will get the same press for putting them back on as they did when they took them off. And what does ‘eligible’ products mean considering all of their products used to be on the list?

Here is what they had to say:

“We’ve recently heard from many loyal Apple customers who were disappointed to learn that we had removed our products from the EPEAT rating system. I recognize that this was a mistake. Starting today, all eligible Apple products are back on EPEAT.”

Full letter from Apple

background of this story

Apple’s response after pulling all of their products off the green list

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Here is Apple’s response. This is a follow up what I posted yesterday: “Apple takes a comprehensive approach to measuring our environmental impact and all of our products meet the strictest energy efficiency standards backed by the US government, Energy Star 5.2. We also lead the industry by reporting each product’s greenhouse gas emissions on our website, and Apple products are superior in other important environmental areas not measured by EPEAT, such as removal of toxic materials. ” – Source