The beauty of AirPods Pro, 2nd Generation.

The beauty of AirPods Pro, 2nd Generation.

The latest version of Apple’s wireless earbuds is the AirPods Pro (2nd generation).

Up to 2x more Active Noise Cancellation than the previous one and Spatial Audio takes immersion to a remarkably level.

The new Apple‑designed H2 chip is the force behind AirPods Pro and its advanced audio performance.

It works in concert with a custom‑built driver and amplifier to deliver crisp, clear high notes and deep, rich bass in stunning definition — so every sound is more vivid than ever.

As for the Apple Airport, there is no recent news about a new version of it. However, you can use an Apple Airport Express to turn any speakers into Airplay speakers.

What is Spatial Audio?

Spatial audio is a technique that simulates a surround-sound setup using headphones. It creates the illusion of sound coming from different directions and distances, making the listener feel more immersed in the audio environment.

Spatial audio can be used for various purposes, such as enhancing video games, movies, music, or virtual meetings.

Apple’s spatial audio implementation combines the multi-dimensional Dolby Atmos format with their spatial audio processing to create that experience through Apple Music or a video streaming service.

When you use an iPhone or iPad with compatible headphones like AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, you can use head tracking to improve the experience even further.

It uses built-in gyroscopes to track your head and adjust the audio experience accordingly

A little history about Active noise cancellation (ANC)

Active noise cancellation (ANC) is a method for reducing unwanted sound by adding a second sound that cancels the first.

It is a feature in headphones, mobile phones, and vehicles that uses microphones and speakers to block outside noise. Some ANC systems can automatically adjust to the surroundings.

The basic principle of ANC is to create a sound wave with the same amplitude but with inverted phase (also known as antiphase) relative to the original sound.

The waves combine to form a new wave, in a process called interference, and effectively cancel each other out – an effect which is called destructive interference.

ANC can be useful for reducing periodic sounds, such as engine noise, or random sounds, such as traffic noise. However, it may not be very effective for cancelling out speech or music, as these sounds are more complex and unpredictable.

ANC also requires power to operate, which may affect the battery life of the device

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Featured image: Unsplash (Mohamed Nohassi): https://unsplash.com/photos/-0xMiYQmk8g

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What is Apple Vision Pro

What is Apple Vision Pro

Apple Vision Pro is a revolutionary spatial computer that seamlessly blends digital content with the physical world, while allowing users to stay present and connected to others.

It features a three-dimensional interface, a high-resolution display system, and a breakthrough design that integrates custom Apple silicon.

It was announced on June 5, 2023 and will be available early next year in the U.S.A

Why you should try Apple Vision Pro

There are many reasons why you might want to use Apple Vision Pro, depending on your needs and preferences. Here are some of them:

  1. You can enjoy an infinite canvas for apps that scales beyond the boundaries of a traditional display and introduces a fully three-dimensional user interface controlled by your eyes, hands, and voice.
  2. You can also use it as a portable 4K monitor for your Mac.
  3. You can experience entertainment in an immersive way, with movies, shows, and games that expand up to the perfect size while feeling like you’re part of the action with Spatial Audio.
  4. You can also play games that blend digital content with the physical world.
  5. You can capture and relive spatial photos and videos in 3D, then relive those cherished moments like never before with immersive Spatial Audio.
  6. You can also view your existing library of photos and videos at remarkable scale, and feel like you’re standing right where you took them.
  7. You can collaborate and connect with others in FaceTime, with life-size video tiles that expand in your room as new people join.
  8. You can also use apps to work on the same documents simultaneously with your colleagues
  9. You can enjoy a breakthrough design that integrates incredibly advanced technology into an elegant, compact form, resulting in an amazing experience every time you put it on.
  10. It features an ultra-high-resolution display system, custom Apple silicon, and a light seal that blocks out stray light.
10 new things announced at WWDC 2023 for developers

10 new things announced at WWDC 2023 for developers

Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2023 was jam-packed with exciting announcements for developers. Announcing a series of major and minor innovations at one of the most anticipated events in the tech industry.

Apple introduces a new Apple Vision Pro device as it ventures into the spatial computing world. New 15‑inch MacBook Air with M2, Mac Studio with M2 Max and M2 Ultra, and Mac Pro with M2 Ultra. There are now previews of iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS Sonoma, and watchOS 10. But that’s not all there are more improvements to make your everyday living comfortable, productive, and easy. Watch the video below for a quick tour of the new improvements and read on for more.

Here are 10 new things that were announced at WWDC 2023 for developers

iOS 17

new iOS17 features announced at WWDC 2023 for developers and apple users

Apple showed off a heap of new functionality coming to iOS 17 during this year’s installment of its annual developer conference. Here are some of the features:

Smarter ‘transformer’ word prediction model: iOS 17 introduces a smarter new ‘transformer’ word prediction model, with sentence-level autocorrection and improvements for the language model used for voice dictation.

New contact cards: As part of iOS 17, Apple has extended the same thinking to contact cards. As well as a bold full-screen image, when a contact calls, you’ll also get a depth-mapped caller name, and the ability to customize both the image and the font size and color.

Live voicemail: iOS 17 looks to take the experience of managing your voicemails even further, with live voicemail displaying a real-time transcript of the message that’s being left.

FaceTime messages: A small addition, but iOS 17 will let you leave FaceTime video messages, should whoever you’re calling be unable to pick up.

New functionality to Messages: iOS 17 looks to be bringing a sizable suit of new functionality to Messages, from search filters and inline replies to more easily navigate your chats, to inline location sharing.

Apple Vision Pro headset on display at WWDC 2023

Vision Pro VR headset

An Apple-branded augmented reality/virtual reality has been rumored for years and years, but it’s finally here. The final part of the WWDC keynote was dedicated to the Vision Pro AR headset.

15-inch MacBook Air

Apple announces a new 15-inch MacBook Air at WWDC 2023. The 15‑inch laptop comes with a Liquid Retina display and is powered by the M2 chip, with up to 18 hours of battery life.

New Mac Studio and Mac Pro

Apple also announced the new Mac operating system macOS Sonoma with widgets and game mode. The new Mac Studio comes with M2 Max and the new M2 Ultra, whilst the Mac Pro features M2 Ultra and PCIe expansion.

Journal app

Apple announces a new Journal app at WWDC 2023 that will be coming later this year. The Journal app will make personalized suggestions of moments for you to remember and write about. Using on-device machine learning based on your photos, music, workouts, and more.

These are just some of the exciting new things that were announced at WWDC 2023 for developers. The week-long event will feature other technical sessions, hands-on labs, and networking opportunities for developers from around the world.

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WWDC 2023: Apple’s latest innovations and updates for developers

WWDC 2023: Apple’s latest innovations and updates for developers

The annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is one of the most anticipated events in the tech industry, where Apple showcases its latest innovations and updates for its software platforms and developer tools. This year, WWDC 2023 will take place from June 5 to June 9 at the San Jose Convention Center in California and will feature a keynote presentation, technical sessions, hands-on labs, and networking opportunities for developers from around the world.

wwdc 2023 wwdc23 event invitation logo

Here are some of the highlights that attendees can look forward to this year at WWDC 2023:

iOS 17

The next major version of Apple’s mobile operating system will introduce new features and improvements for iPhone and iPad users, such as a redesigned home screen with widgets and app library, a revamped notification system with focus modes and summary, a universal control feature that lets you use a single mouse and keyboard across multiple devices, and enhanced privacy and security options with iCloud Private Relay and App Privacy Report.

macOS 12.5

The latest update for Apple’s desktop operating system will bring more continuity and compatibility with iOS devices, such as AirPlay to Mac, which lets you stream audio and video from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac, and Shortcuts for Mac, which lets you automate tasks with Siri or the Shortcuts app. macOS 12.5 will also include new features for Safari, such as tab groups and extensions on the App Store, and new features for FaceTime, such as SharePlay and spatial audio.

watchOS 8

The next version of Apple’s wearable operating system will offer more health and fitness features for Apple Watch users, such as a new Mindfulness app that helps you relax and focus with breathing exercises and reflections, a new Sleep app that tracks your respiratory rate and trends over time, and new workout types such as Tai Chi and Pilates. watchOS 8 will also support new watch faces and complications, such as a portrait face that uses your photos and a world time face that shows multiple time zones.

tvOS 15

The next update for Apple’s TV operating system will enhance the entertainment experience for Apple TV users, such as a new For All of You row that suggests shows and movies based on the preferences of everyone in your household, a new Shared with You row that shows content that your friends and family have shared with you via Messages or Mail, and a new HomeKit integration that lets you control your smart home devices from your TV screen.

iPadOS 15

The next major version of Apple’s tablet operating system will bring more productivity and creativity features for iPad users, such as a multitasking menu that lets you easily switch between split view and slide-over modes, a quick note feature that lets you jot down notes from any app with an Apple Pencil or keyboard shortcut, and a translate app that lets you translate text and speech in real-time. iPadOS 15 will also support new features for Safari, such as tab groups and extensions on the App Store, and new features for FaceTime, such as SharePlay and spatial audio.

Swift 6

The next version of Apple’s programming language will introduce new features and improvements for developers, such as async/await syntax that simplifies writing asynchronous code, actors that provide concurrency safety for shared mutable state, property wrappers that let you define custom behaviors for properties, and result builders that let you create DSLs with natural syntax.

Xcode 13

The next version of Apple’s integrated development environment will offer more tools and capabilities for developers, such as Xcode Cloud, which lets you build, test, and deliver apps in the cloud with continuous integration and delivery services, Swift Playgrounds 4, which lets you create full-fledged apps on your iPad with live previews and code completion, and TestFlight for Mac, which lets you beta test your Mac apps with feedback and analytics.

These are just some of the exciting things that attendees can look forward to this year at WWDC 2023. If you want to learn more about the event or register for it, visit the official website at https://developer.apple.com/wwdc23/.

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Microsoft Build 2023: The Future of Development

Microsoft Build 2023: The Future of Development

Microsoft Build is one of the most anticipated events of the year for developers who use Microsoft technologies and platforms. This year, Microsoft Build 2023 will take place from May 10 to May 12 and will be a hybrid event that combines online and in-person sessions. Build 2023 will offer a variety of sessions, workshops, keynotes, and networking opportunities for developers of all levels and backgrounds.

In this blog post, I will highlight some of the main themes and features that attendees can expect from Microsoft Build 2023, and how they can make the most of their experience at the event.

Microsoft Build Africa Microsoft Build 2023 digital event keynote

Microsoft Build 2023 Themes and Features

Build 2023 will focus on four main themes: cloud, AI, mixed reality, and collaboration. These themes reflect the current trends and challenges in the software industry, and how Microsoft is empowering developers to create innovative solutions for them.

Cloud

Microsoft Azure is the leading cloud platform for developers, offering a range of services and tools to build, deploy, and manage applications across multiple environments. At Microsoft Build 2023, attendees will learn about the latest updates and enhancements to Azure, such as Azure Arc, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Kubernetes Service, Azure Functions, and more. They will also get to see how Azure integrates with other Microsoft products and platforms, such as GitHub, Visual Studio, Power Platform, and Windows.

AI

Artificial intelligence is transforming every industry and domain with its capabilities to analyze data, generate insights, and automate tasks. At Microsoft Build 2023, attendees will discover how they can leverage Microsoft’s AI offerings to build intelligent applications that can see, hear, speak, understand, and interact with users and the world. They will also get to explore how AI can be applied to various scenarios and domains, such as conversational AI, computer vision, natural language processing, machine learning, cognitive services, and more.

Mixed reality

Mixed reality is the blending of physical and digital worlds to create immersive experiences that enhance human capabilities. At Microsoft Build 2023, attendees will get to experience how Microsoft is leading the way in mixed reality with its devices and platforms, such as HoloLens 2, Windows Mixed Reality, Azure Spatial Anchors, Azure Remote Rendering, and more. They will also get to learn how they can use mixed reality to create applications that can augment reality, simulate environments, train workers, entertain users, and more.

Collaboration

Collaboration is essential for developers to work effectively and efficiently with their teams and stakeholders. At Microsoft Build 2023, attendees will see how Microsoft is enabling collaboration among developers with its tools and platforms, such as Teams, Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, Yammer, Stream, and more. They will also get to learn how they can use collaboration tools to communicate better, share information faster, manage projects easier, and co-create solutions smarter.

Microsoft digital skills

Other highlights at Build 2023

Keynote speeches from Microsoft leaders and visionaries.

Microsoft Build 2023 will feature keynote speeches from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Chief Technology Officer Kevin Scott, Corporate Vice President of Developer Division Amanda Silver, and other prominent Microsoft executives and experts. They will share their insights and perspectives on the latest trends and innovations in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, mixed reality, quantum computing, and more. They will also showcase how Microsoft is empowering developers to create solutions that address the challenges and opportunities of the digital era.

Breakout sessions and workshops on various topics and technologies.

Build 2023 will offer a wide range of breakout sessions and workshops that cover various topics and technologies relevant to developers. Attendees can choose from sessions and workshops on Azure, .NET, Visual Studio, GitHub, Power Platform, Windows, Microsoft 365, Teams, Edge, Dynamics 365, and more. They can also learn from experts and peers on best practices, tips and tricks, case studies, and demos. Whether they are beginners or advanced developers, attendees can find sessions and workshops that suit their interests and skill levels.

Networking and community opportunities with other developers.

Build will provide ample opportunities for attendees to network and connect with other developers from around the world. Attendees can join online chats and Q&A sessions with speakers and moderators, participate in live polls and surveys, share their feedback and ideas, and join virtual meetups and social events. They can also interact with other attendees who share similar interests or backgrounds through the Microsoft Build Community Zone. Additionally, attendees can visit the Microsoft Build Expo Hall to explore the latest products and services from Microsoft and its partners.

Exclusive access to new announcements and resources from Microsoft.

Microsoft Build 2023 will be the platform for Microsoft to announce new products, features, updates, and initiatives that will shape the future of development. Attendees will be among the first to hear about these announcements and get exclusive access to new resources such as documentation, samples, tutorials, guides, videos, podcasts, blogs, and more. They will also be able to try out new tools and technologies through hands-on labs and challenges.

Tips on how to make the most of your experience

Plan ahead: Before the event starts, check out the agenda and register for the sessions and workshops that interest you. You can also download the Microsoft Build app to access your personalized schedule, get reminders, and stay updated on any changes or announcements.

Engage actively: During the event, participate in the live Q&A sessions, ask questions, and share your feedback with the speakers and moderators. You can also join online communities and social media channels to connect with other attendees, exchange ideas, and expand your network.

Explore broadly: After the event, watch the on-demand sessions and keynotes that you missed or want to revisit. You can also browse the resources and samples that are available on the Microsoft Build website,
GitHub, and Docs. to deepen your knowledge and skills on the topics that interest you.

Have fun: Last but not least, enjoy yourself at Microsoft Build 2023. You can also take part in the challenges, games, and contests that are organized throughout the event, and win prizes, swag,
and recognition.

Microsoft Build 2023 is a must-attend event for developers who want to learn more about Microsoft technologies and platforms, network with other developers, and get inspired by the possibilities of development. To register for Microsoft Build 2023, visit https://build.microsoft.com/.

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USIU student team qualifies for Microsoft Imagine Cup World Championship

USIU student team qualifies for Microsoft Imagine Cup World Championship

Kenya’s student team TAWI has qualified for the 2023 Microsoft Imagine Cup World Championship set to take place in May. The team emerged winners in the education category of the 2023 Imagine Cup world finals qualifying round. Beating 15 other teams to become the top-scoring team and 2023 Europe Middle East and Africa(EMEA) champions. They won USD5,000 in prizes.

Team TAWI also qualified from 48 competing global teams to be selected among the top 3 that will compete in the 2023 Microsoft Imagine Cup World Championship. Where they will compete for the Imagine Cup trophy, the grand prize of USD100,000 to develop their project, and a mentoring session with Microsoft Chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella.

Microsoft Imagine Cup World finalist from Kenya Team TAWI

Team TAWI consists of Muna Said Nomy, John Onsongo Mabeya, Syntiche Musawu, Applied Computer Technology, and Zakariya Hussein, Data Science and Analytics undergraduate students of the United States International University (USIU) – Africa in Nairobi, Kenya. Their innovative solution TAWI looks to make a difference in the lives of those who struggle with auditory processing.

The USIU student team will become the second from the institution to make it to the finals of the Microsoft student technology competition in three successive years. The former became the first student team from Africa to win the competition in its history.

The home-based software leverages real-time speech recognition technology to help children with Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) communicate more effectively. Instead of traditional hearing aids, TAWI uses earphones to amplify speech and cancel out background noise, making it easier for children with APD to engage in conversations and interact with others. It includes noise cancellation, sound amplification, speech-to-text conversion, and auditory training exercises.

The team will present TAWI at Microsoft Build 2023 where the Microsoft Imagine Cup World Championship takes place. They will compete against the winning teams from the Americas and Asia regions. Eupnea from the United States and CS-M Tool from Thailand, both from the Health category.

Student teams, Smart Farmer and iBoost from Kenya also emerged as EMEA winners in the Earth and Lifestyle categories respectively.

Hongera to these incredible young developers and all the best to Team TAWI in the championship!🎉

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UPDATE: 05/04/2023
– corrected the MEA winning prize value from USD50,000 to read USD5,000.
– corrected study program

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