New Google Spotlight Story reminds us of summer

It’s been three years since Google started releasing its immersive Spotlight Stories. This year, it gets a bit more playful with Rain or Shine. A cute tale of a young girl and what looks like a cursed pair of sunglasses. It’s cursed in the sense that every time Ella puts it on, it starts to rain around her. Directed by Felix Massie, it shows how Ella has been able to put the accessory to use.

These Spotlight Stories have been started by Google’s ATAP group and has featured work from talents like Fast & Furious director Justin Lin and Disney animator Glen Keane.

Source: The Verge

Apple's 'Bulbs' advert features all the innovations leading up to the MacBook Pro's Touch Bar

The new MacBook Pros with and without Touch Bar are now starting to become available, so it is only fitting that Apple released a clever new advertisement playing on great ideas an innovations (lightbulbs, if you will). The Touch Bar along with slimmer profile and inclusion of four multi-function Thunderbolt 3 ports, larger trackpad and flatter keyboard and wide-gamut Retina Display are just some of the key features of the new MacBook Pros. Here, the Touch Bar is being hailed as the most innovative and also the one most likely to spur on innovation in the users who learn to use it in their workflows.

Neat advert, but who's going to clean up all the broken glass?

Apple to offer free coding workshops in Retail Stores

Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering: “Coding is just like any language, the earlier you’re exposed the more successful you’ll be."

Apple today opened registration for Hour of Code workshops at all 487 Apple retail stores worldwide, from December 5 through 11 in celebration of Computer Science Education Week. Among the most popular events at the Apple Store, Hour of Code workshops teach the basics of computer science with Code.org’s programming tutorials. Apple and Code.org share the goal of giving every student the opportunity to learn computer science.

“Hour of Code embodies our vision for Apple stores as a place for the community to gather, learn and be entertained,” said Angela Ahrendts, Apple’s senior vice president of Retail. “We’re proud to introduce the Swift Playgrounds app into the workshops and honoured to again work side-by-side with Code.org on this incredibly important initiative. Hour of Code is one of the absolute highlights of the year for both our teams and the families that visit our stores.” 

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You can now use Skype without an account

Microsoft is making it easier for you to talk to the friend of yours who has been begging you to get on Skype. The app now lets you quickly chat or make voice or video calls without needing a Skype account. Just head to Skype.com (you need to use a web browser on a computer) and select start a conversation and add your name to sign-in and use the app as a guest. You’ll then get be given a unique conversation link you can share with a person or a group. Once they click that link, they’ll be able to join immediately. They can even join as guest if they’re using Skype for Web.

Guests have access to all the features free Skype accounts have, such as screen sharing and file sharing. Group chats are also made available to you. These conversations will be available for 24 hours and if you need to maintain access to the log, you’ll need to sign up for a free account.