Masters of Code takes over Montreal this weekend

The search for the next big tech innovation is coming to Montreal this weekend. The MasterCard Masters of Code global developer competition will give Canadian coders the opportunity to bring their ideas to life by partnering with MasterCard and a chance at the global grand prize of USD$100,000. MasterCard’s Masters of Code competition will challenge Canada’s best developers to create an application that makes it easier for people to learn, travel, commute, shop or pay for everyday items.

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Microsoft releases a more collaborative and secure Office 2016

Microsoft has updated its most important product family Office 2016. Designed around the cloud, collaboration and integration with various Windows 10 features (like Cortana, Windows Hello and others, it also offers some welcome design and user interface upgrades that can shift depending on where the applications are used (i.e. tablet mode, desktop mode).

Office 2016 delivers new versions of the Office desktop apps for Windows, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, OneNote, Project, Visio and Access. This is also the most secure version of Office and features Data Loss Prevention and Multi-factor Authentication. Office 365 subscribers should have access to the latest version and various SKUs for businesses and students should be made available soon.

Source: Microsoft

Apple issues refunds for iOS9 ad blocking app Peace

After gaining popularity and skyrocketing to the top of the iTunes charts, the Peace ad blocking app for iOS 9 was taken out of circulation by its developer Marco Arment. He didn’t like that it was the approach for blocking ads was “too blunt” and that all ads shouldn’t be treated the same. Initially, refunds for the pulled out app was done via request because developers can’t forcibly issue them. But now, Apple is moving forward with offering refunds for everyone. If you’ve bought the app, expect an email from Apple informing you of your refund. The processing should take a few days.

Source: Marco Arment | Via: The Next Web

Apple Music Festival venue gets ‘environmental makeover’

One of Apple’s goals is supposedly to “leave the world better than they found it.” That’s why even the venue they use for their annual Music Festival, London’s Roundhouse, has received an “environmental makeover.” According to Apple’s environmental head Lisa P. Jackson, “We’re making major upgrades to the lighting, plumbing, and HVAC systems; installing recycling and composting bins; arranging to turn used fryer oil into biofuel; buying renewable energy credits to cover the Roundhouse's September electricity use; and offering reusable water bottles instead of plastic ones.”

Apple says they expect that the changes they’ve made could reduce Roundhouse’s annual emissions by 60 tons. It’ll also save Roundhouse 60,000 gallons of water per year and divert over 1,600 kilograms of waste from landfills.

Source: MacRumors