Tech

Apple Swift Student Challenge to Launch in Feb-2024

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Apple Swift Student Challenge to Launch in Feb-2024

Apple has announced that the next Swift Student Challenge will launch in February 2024 with a new category recognizing 50 Distinguished Winners. The challenge invites students to create an innovative coding project using the Swift Playgrounds app.

Students will have three weeks in February 2024 to submit their app playgrounds. To be notified when the challenge opens, students can sign up at developer.apple.com.

Out of the 350 overall winners, 50 Distinguished Winners will be invited to Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, next summer. There, they will have the opportunity to connect with each other and the Apple team.

All winners will receive a one-year membership in the Apple Developer Program, which enables them to submit apps to the App Store and receive support from Apple.

New Category Recognizes Standout Submissions

The new Distinguished Winners category will recognize students for their outstanding submissions, which demonstrate exceptional creativity, technical skill, and problem-solving abilities.

Apple Releases New Coding Resources for Students and Educators

Apple is also releasing new coding resources for students and educators, including Swift programming tutorials and lesson plans. These resources are designed to help students learn Swift and develop the skills they need to participate in the Swift Student Challenge and beyond.

Apple Partners with Community Organizations

Apple is also working with community partners to offer dedicated Swift programming programs for students. These programs provide students with access to mentors, resources, and training to help them succeed in the Swift Student Challenge and pursue their coding goals.

Apple Encourages Students to Participate

Apple is encouraging all students who are interested in coding to participate in the Swift Student Challenge. The challenge is a great opportunity for students to learn Swift, develop their coding skills, and showcase their creativity.

How to Participate in Swift Student Challenge

To participate in the Swift Student Challenge, students must create an innovative coding project using the Swift Playgrounds app. The project can be anything from a game to an educational app to a tool that solves a real-world problem.

Once students have created their project, they can submit it to the Swift Student Challenge website during the three-week submission window in February 2024.

Judging Criteria

The Swift Student Challenge entries will be judged on the following criteria:

  • Creativity: Does the project demonstrate original thought and a unique approach to solving a problem?
  • Technical skill: Does the project demonstrate a strong understanding of Swift programming concepts and techniques?
  • Problem-solving: Does the project effectively address a real-world problem or challenge?

Prizes

All winners of the Swift Student Challenge will receive a one-year membership in the Apple Developer Program.

The 50 Distinguished Winners will also be invited to Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, next summer for a three-day experience. During their visit, they will have the opportunity to connect with each other and the Apple team and learn more about the latest Apple technologies.

Conclusion

The Swift Student Challenge is a great opportunity for students to learn Swift, develop their coding skills, and showcase their creativity. If you are a student who is interested in coding, I encourage you to participate in the challenge.

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Google Rolls Out New Features to Help Small Businesses

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Google

Google has announced new Shopping features that will help small businesses attract new customers and make it easier for shoppers to find them.

One of the new features is a “small business” attribute that merchants can add to their Google Business Profiles. This will allow their products and businesses to be labeled as “small business” in Search and Maps.

Another new feature is Product Studio, a set of AI tools that helps merchants create and manage product imagery. This includes an “experimental AI-powered scene generation feature” that can generate product images in any creative scene the merchant imagines.

Google is also expanding the information that shows in the knowledge panel for retailers. In select countries starting this month, the knowledge panel will start showing current deals, shipping and return policies, customer service information, and ratings and reviews.

These new features are part of Google’s ongoing effort to support small businesses. The company has said that it is committed to helping small businesses succeed online and reach more customers.

Here is a summary of Google’s new features:

  • Small business attribute: Merchants can add this attribute to their Google Business Profiles to have their products and businesses labeled as “small business” in Search and Maps.
  • Product Studio: A set of AI tools that helps merchants create and manage product imagery, including an “experimental AI-powered scene generation feature.”
  • Expanded knowledge panel for retailers: In select countries starting this month, the knowledge panel for retailers will start showing current deals, shipping and return policies, customer service information, and ratings and reviews.

These features are now available to all Merchant Center Next users in the U.S., and the expanded knowledge panel for retailers will be rolled out to more countries in the coming months.

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YouTube Tightens Global Crackdown on Ad Blockers

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YouTube

YouTube, owned by Google, has intensified its global efforts to crack down on users who use ad blockers on its platform.

According to Android Authority, more and more YouTube users are seeing a warning message asking them to either disable ad blockers and watch ads, or pay $14 for a YouTube Premium subscription.

In the past few weeks, more users with ad blockers installed have discovered that they are unable to watch YouTube videos.

The company has now launched a global effort to encourage users to either allow ads or try YouTube Premium, which includes YouTube Music.

A company spokesperson told The Verge that using ad blockers violates the platform’s terms of service. Ads support a diverse ecosystem of creators globally and allow billions to access their favorite content on YouTube,” the spokesperson said.

In June, YouTube confirmed that it was disabling videos for users with ad blockers. At the time, it was only a “small experiment globally.” In May, YouTube added unskippable 30-second ads to its TV app and later began testing longer but less frequent ad breaks on TV as well.

Last month, the streaming platform announced that it would be discontinuing its lower-cost “Premium Lite” subscription plan after a two-year pilot in select countries.

The company stated that it would no longer offer “Premium Lite” after October 25th.

YouTube’s “Premium Lite” plan, which costs $7.39 per month, was first introduced in select European countries in 2021. It offered ad-free viewing across YouTube’s spectrum of apps and formats, but it did not include other Premium features such as offline downloads, background playback, or any YouTube Music benefits.

The removal came after YouTube Premium raised its individual plan prices for the first time, with the plan now starting at $13.99 per month. Family plans were also raised to $22.99 per month late last year.

Analysis

YouTube’s crackdown on ad blockers is a sign that the company is taking the issue of ad revenue seriously. Ads are the primary way that YouTube creators are compensated for their work, and YouTube relies on ad revenue to keep its platform free for users.

However, many users are unhappy with YouTube’s decision to crack down on ad blockers. They argue that they are using ad blockers because they are concerned about their privacy and security, and because they find many ads to be annoying.

It is unclear how effective YouTube’s crackdown on ad blockers will be. Some users may simply find ways to circumvent YouTube’s new measures. However, YouTube’s decision to crack down on ad blockers is a sign that the company is committed to protecting its ad revenue and supporting its creators.

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Google Launches New .ing Domain for One-Word Websites

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google

Google has launched a new domain extension, .ing, which allows brands and businesses to create one-word websites. The .ing domain is now available for early access registration, but users will be required to pay an additional one-time fee.

The .ing domain is designed for a variety of purposes, including creating fun websites, giving to charity, designing beautiful products, or editing existing documents. Users can register for their unique .ing domain through partner companies such as GoDaddy and 101Domain.

The early access period for .ing domains will run until December 5th, with fees decreasing on a daily basis. On December 5th at 16:00 UTC, .ing domains will be publicly available at a base annual price through the registrar of choice.

Google is also working on a new .meme top-level domain, which is currently in a limited registration period. Early access to .meme domains will open on November 28th, and the domain will be available for registration beginning December 5th.

Google AI Chatbot Bard is Now Faster and More Responsive

Google’s AI chatbot Bard has been updated to be faster and more responsive. Responses will now show in real-time while in progress, and users will be able to skip responses that they think will not be useful.

This update makes Bard even more helpful and useful for users who need quick and accurate answers to their questions.

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Elon Musk Aims to Make X a Top Dating and Job Hiring Platform

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Elon Musk

Elon Musk has expressed his desire to soon make X into a top dating and job hiring platform. He believes that the platform’s focus on user posts would be a key differentiator, as it would allow users to get to know each other better before matching or hiring.

Musk also emphasized the importance of video live-streaming on the platform, particularly for sporting events and political events. He believes that this would give users a direct line to what is happening on the ground, without the filter of the media.

In order for X to succeed in these new endeavors, Musk said that the company needs to become a one-stop shop for users. This would involve integrating payments, messaging, video, and calling into a single app. He pointed to WeChat as an example of a successful platform that has achieved this integration.

Overall, Musk’s vision for X is ambitious, but it is also clear that he has a deep understanding of the needs of users. By focusing on user posts, video live-streaming, and integration, Musk believes that X can become a truly revolutionary platform.

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