Apple’s promised Swift Playgrounds 1.2 update is out with localized support for Simplified Chinese, French, German, Japanese, and Latin American Spanish. The iPad app teaches coding skills for Apple’s Swift language so you can design you own apps for personal use or sale on the App store. It includes lessons and examples, along with templates to get you started on your own projects—and now you can learn in five more languages. Swift Playgrounds 1.2 is free and requires an iPad running iOS 10.0 or newer.
A Robotics Competition You Should Totally Check Out
If you love robots, there are a bunch of robotics competitions happening across the United States right now. Jeff Butts has all of the details about this steamworks-themed event pitting high school students against the clock and their opponents.
Coming Soon To Your iPhone: Over 70 New Unicode 10 Emojis
Unicode 10 will be launched in June and it will include a bunch of new, awesome emojis. There are 69 new emojis in total, and some or all of them may eventually make their way into iOS 11. Someone made mockups on Emojipedia in Apple’s style, let’s check them out.
Customizing the Services Menu Helps You Optimize macOS
Hidden within macOS is an often-ignored item that can really speed things up. In this Quick Tip, Jeff Butts explores the Services menu and how it can help you really optimize macOS.
If You Haven't Changed Your iCloud Password in the Past Two Years do it Now
Trying to extort money out of Apple by threatening to wipe out iCloud accounts and reset iPhones is a business model the Turkish Crime Family hacker team will likely learn is flawed at best, but there it is a great reminder to change your online passwords regularly. The list of iCloud logins the group has looks to be at least two years old, so if you haven’t changed your password more recently than that, it’s time right now.
App Store Quality Issues, Change Your iCloud Password - TMO Daily Observations 2017-03-24
Apple’s App Store has loads of apps, but that doesn’t mean they’re all great or easy to find. Dave Hamilton and the Maccast’s Adam Christianson join Jeff Gamet to discuss the quality issues they’re seeing on the App Store, plus they explain why changing your iCloud password right now is a good idea.
Apple Store Online, (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 7, New 9.7-inch iPad Available Now
As expected, Apple’s online store is back up and running, and you can buy the new (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 7 and 9.7-inch iPad today. That doesn’t, however, mean you can get one in your hands today—unless you’re looking for the red iPhone and can get to your local Apple retail store.
Apple Online Store Down Ahead of (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 7, New iPad Launch
Apple’s online store was replaced with a note saying “We’ve got something special in store for you” Friday morning, which is no surprise since today is they day the (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 7 and new 9.7-inch iPad go on sale. The online store will reopen at 8:01 AM pacific time.
Ztylus Kamerar Zoom Lens Kit for iPhone 7 Plus: $31.95
We have a deal for you today on the Ztylus Kamerar Zoom Lens Kit for iPhone 7 Plus. It includes a case and three lenses: Macro Zoom lens, Fisheye lens, and Telephoto lens. The case allows for quick changing of the lenses, and you can get it through our deal for $31.95. [Update: Our friend Ewen Rankin tweeted a note to me about his case having some problems. – Bryan]
Airpod Skins Add a Splash of Colorful Protection to Apple AirPods
Check out Airpod Skins, which the company described to me as “minimal color protectors for apple AirPods.” I’m sure there are folks who would be interested in helping to protect the finish of their AirPods, but I thought they simply look great. They’re a simple wrap available in a dozen colors, with some of those colors involving a fade from top to bottom. They’re priced at A$8.25 and are available now. Each order includes two sets, too.
