Apple's World Wide Developer's Conference returns to San Jose starting June 4

Apple's next WWDC (World Wide Developer's Conference) is slated to return to San Jose, California on June 4-8. Apple will take over the San Jose McEnery Convention Center to showcase the latest iOS, macOS, WatchOS, TVOS, HomeKit and HealtKit software innovations.

Some hardware is also expected at this event as it will mark the a year since the last iPad Pros were launched. Also expected are new MacBooks and quite possible the first glimpse into the much awaited Mac Pro.

Developers can apply for tickets now through March 22 at 10 a.m. PDT via the WWDC website (developer.apple.com/wwdc/tickets). Tickets are issued through a random selection process, and developers will be notified of application status by March 23 at 5 p.m. PDT. 

Students are an integral part of the Apple developer community. Up to 350 WWDC Student Scholarships are available this year, providing students and members of all STEM organizations an opportunity to earn a free ticket to WWDC. Students can now visit the the WWDC website for details on how to apply (developer.apple.com/wwdc/scholarships). 

New Switch update introduces tweaks to parental controls and ability to add social media friends

Nintendo has been busy updating its Switch and the latest one adds a few handy features. One is letting parents operate PIN entry using the joystick and button instead of using an on-screen keyboard and then some titles can be whitelisted for play beyond of the console’s restricted software settings. It is now also easier to add Twitter and Facebook friends who have Nintendo Accounts linked to them. The console also gets 24 new Arms and Kirby user icons. And it will start downloading games you’ve purchased on your PC or phone even if the system is asleep. Version 5.0.0 will also let the system notify you when pre-ordered games have been unlocked and it fixes an issue with the Switch hiding some older play activity data.

Source: Engadget

Help Spotify identify song genres with new feature

Spotify is now looking to tap its diverse and big userbase to help them “better understand how Spotify listeners interpret music” and give them insight on how to improve the listening experience. You can now suggest edits to metadata just by clicking the three dots next to any song, album, or artist when you're using the desktop app. Aside from describing music by genre or era, this new Line-In feature will let you describe things differently. But before that it will require you to answer a slew of surveys to test your music knowledge as well as describe the music you like. The edits you make will be considered as suggestions and will pass through different reviews and checks for accuracy before it is shared to other users.

Source: CNET

Hands on with the new ecobee Switch+ Alexa powered smart light switch

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

with the ecobee Switch+ you can make any home or apartment a truly smart home by integrating Amazon's Alexa and all its connected features on a structural level.

Smart speakers are the hottest consumer technology devices in Canada this year. We already have an ongoing turf war between Google Home, which has a year's head start in Canada (and was also partly developed in Waterloo, ON) and Amazon Echo, whose Alexa smart assistant leads the market in the US and which is available on a range of speakers, PCs and other devices.

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