Acer renews commitment to education with new batch of Chromebooks

Acer is ramping up its education-focused offerings at BETT (British Educational Training and Technology), a show that's focused on technology and education.

Acer debuted its first 12-inch Chromebooks, the Acer Chromebook Spin 512 and Acer Chromebook 512, for students and education customers. The new Chromebooks feature a 3:2 aspect ratio display — a ratio that falls between the ratio used in books and mobile media, and similar to using pen and paper.

The convertible Acer Chromebook Spin 512’s (R851TN) 360-degree hinge lets students use the Antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass2,3 display in four modes: clamshell, tablet, display and tent. An included dockable Wacom electro-magnetic resonance (EMR) stylus makes note-taking and sketching natural and can be conveniently stored in the device slot. The Acer Chromebook 512 (C851/C851T) features a traditional notebook design with touch and non-touch options.

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Yours could be the next 'Shot on iPhone' challenge winning photo

Apple is out to recognize the next great 'Shot on iPhone' photos and photographers.

From January 22 to February 7, Apple is looking for outstanding photographs for a Shot On iPhone Challenge.

A panel of judges will review worldwide submissions and select 10 winning photos, to be announced in February. The winning photos will be featured on billboards in select cities, Apple retail stores and online.

iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR bring innovations to photography, from sophisticated portraits with an adjustable depth of field, to Smart HDR which leverages multiple technologies — like faster sensors, an enhanced ISP and advanced algorithms — to bring more highlight and shadow detail to photos. It will be exciting to see what creative photographers will capture.

How to enter:

Post your best photo taken on iPhone to Instagram or Twitter with the #ShotOniPhone hashtag to participate in the the Shot on iPhone Challenge. Weibo users can participate as well using #ShotOniPhone#. In the image caption, note which model was used. Alternatively, you can also submit the photo in its highest resolution to shotoniphone@apple.com with the file format ‘firstname_lastname_iphonemodel.’ Photos can be straight from the camera, edited through Apple’s editing tools in the Photos app or with third-party software. Submissions for photos begins at 12:01 a.m. PST on January 22 and ends at 11:59 p.m. PST on February 7. You must be 18 years of age or older to participate, and this challenge is not open to Apple employees or their immediate families

Microsoft Education launches various products to battle dominant Chromebooks, including $40 Pen

Microsoft is serious about growing its presence in the educational market. The company teamed up with partners Lenovo, Dell and Acer to unveil more affordable education-focused Windows laptops and 2-in-1's. The company also unveiled a lower-cost version of its Surface Pen called the Classroom Pen which can work with Surface devices. 

The Classroom Pen is an education-only product, so consumers won't have an opportunity to buy these more affordable devices.

The educational market is a segment that Microsoft and Apple have been trying to retain a foothold in but which is currently dominated by Google's Chromebooks.

Apple released a more affordable iPad and with Pencil capability last year to remain relevant and Microsoft launched various products aimed at this market. The first was the Surface Laptop, then Windows 10 S and also the adorable Surface Go. With more affordable Windows devices now available, educators and teachers now have a variety of choice for educational computers.

Source: Thurrott

Apple CEO Tim Cook advocates for privacy in recent TIME Op-Ed

Photo by Gadjo Cardenas SevillaBy Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Today's leading technology companies and their CEO's look to provide leadership not just in the technology space but also in various moral and ethical areas. Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella is pushing ethics in AI and Machine Learning as guiding principles for the future.

Apple and its CEO Tim Cook have been loudly beating the drum in protection of user privacy which has culminated in an Op-Ed Apple took out on Time magazine with Cook weighing in on user's right to privacy and the many steps that government and regulation can protect these rights.

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