This week on Download, the podcast I produce with Jason Snell in the captain’s chair:
Microsoft is back in the news with another updated device, the topic of on-campus daycare in Silicon Valley raises questions about work/life balance, and patent trolls have been dealt a big blow by the U.S. Supreme Court.
And it’s a move that’s sure to raise eyebrows not just in Silicon Valley, but in Manhattan media circles as well. Morning Media has learned that Apple has given the job — a new position at the Cupertino-based company — to Lauren Kern, one of New York magazine’s most high-ranking editors and a former deputy editor at The New York Times Magazine.
It’s unclear at this point what this position will mean for Apple News, as the company and Kern declined to comment. I assume Apple is building more of editorial organization within Apple News, but how big it will be, and what it will do within the app is unknown, to me at least.
Two things do come to mind though.
First, Apple could be building a news team. I think this is pretty unlikely, but first-party reporting within Apple News could add value to the platform. This team could even generate video for Apple’s Always-Rumored-But-Never-Here TV offering. Getting into reporting can be expensive and risky. Moreover, it just doesn’t seem like a very Apple-like move to me.
What I think is more likely is the second option; this new team could be working to influence coverage seen in Apple News to a greater extent than what is happening now.
Facebook has been under pressure for influencing the top news trends seen by its users, as well as its shifting approach to fighting fake news. If Apple wades into these waters, it will have to deal with these issues at some point.
It’s very tricky business to exercise editorial control over news from outside sources. I’m very curious to see what — if anything — changes in Apple News in the future.
Walt Mossberg, in his final weekly column:
We’ve all had a hell of a ride for last few decades, no matter when you got on the roller coaster. It’s been exciting, enriching, transformative. But it’s also been about objects and processes. Soon, after a brief slowdown, the roller coaster will be accelerating faster than ever, only this time it’ll be about actual experiences, with much less emphasis on the way those experiences get made.
This column is thought-provoking and more than a little bittersweet. Our industry is saying goodbye to an icon.
Recently, I linked to (and backed) an Indiegogo project named Love Notes to Newton.
It’s by a filmmaker named Noah Leon. Here’s his pitch:
Newton was the first mass-produced touchscreen handheld computer made by Apple. It only lasted a few years on the market (1993 to 1998), but that wasn’t because it sucked! A large community of people still love Newton, and this film is an homage to the little device(s) by the people who still remember and even still use one.
I spent some time with Noah to talk about his work and this project. Our interview is below.
I wonder how many people ever actually ran into this problem:
The Newton Toolkit v1.0.1 and v1.5.1 are not compatible with Power Macintosh 9500 computers. There is an updater available from online services and the Internet which updates the Newton Toolkit to a beta version of 1.5.2. Newton Toolkit is a Newton software development program available through Apple Programmers and Developers Association (APDA).
Things like basketball and football are so mainstream. Maybe it’s time to stand out as at athlete in a more unique sport.
Apple today launched a new app development curriculum designed for students who want to pursue careers in the fast-growing app economy. The curriculum is available as a free download today from Apple’s iBooks Store.
App Development with Swift is a full-year course designed by Apple engineers and educators to teach students elements of app design using Swift, one of the world’s most popular programming languages. Students will learn to code and design fully functional apps, gaining critical job skills in software development and information technology.
Like with other recent moves, Apple has used this to highlight its impact on the American economy:
“We’ve seen firsthand the impact that coding has on individuals and the US economy as a whole. The app economy and software development are among the fastest-growing job sectors in America and we’re thrilled to be providing educators and students with the tools to learn coding,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Community colleges play a critical role in helping students achieve their dreams, and we hope these courses will open doors for people of all ages and backgrounds to pursue what they love.”
Since its introduction, Swift Playgrounds has been downloaded one million times. Apple has 1,000 schools that will use the Everyone Can Code Curriculum this fall.
Twenty years ago, Apple announced the creation of a subsidiary to run the Newton program:
The new company, to be named at a later date, will provide customers with market-driven products and technologies, based on the award-winning Newton operating system, in conjunction with its licensees, value-added resellers, and systems integrators.
The press release is complete with a quote from Dr. Gilbert F. Amelio, Apple’s Chairman and CEO:
Over the past year, we have seen the Newton Systems Group launch compelling products based on the Newton operating system. We believe that the time is right to establish the group as a focused entity. This decision allows the new subsidiary to pursue its business and create the marketing and operating strategies it needs to succeed.
This new company took over the Newton 2000 and eMate 300, and would later release the Newton 2100.
History can be unkind to these kind of things. Check out this bit:
“eMate 300 is part of Apple’s long-term strategy and vision for education technology, ” said Mike Lorion, vice president of Apple’s Education Division. “We will continue to aggressively market and support the product. We are looking forward to working closely with the Newton team on future versions of the eMate to continue to meet the unique requirements of educators and students.”
The eMate and MessagePad would be cancelled just ten months later in February 1998 by Steve Jobs.
This fortnight on Liftoff, Jason and I talk about lunar and solar eclipses in preparation of a total solar eclipse in North America coming up in August.
My thanks to our sponsor:
Stephen has launched a membership, Apple wants people to switch from Android and future hardware is starting to leak. Then, a roundup of the services we use to keep our companies running smoothly.
My thanks to our sponsors this week:
Screens, my favorite VNC client for the Mac, has been updated to version 4.0.
The update brings the Mac app up to date with its iOS cousin, supporting features like Curtain Mode to hide your remote actions from a user who is physically with the controlled computer and one-click passwords.
Screens 4 includes drag-and-drop file sharing and Touch Bar support as well.
Screens is available on the Mac App Store, directly on the developer’s website and on Setapp.
This week on Simple Beep, the guys talk about several Apple museums around the world. Really great stuff if you’re into old Apple gear like I am.