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Minecraft: Education Edition and Coding

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The latest new feature in Minecraft: Education Edition makes it possible for students to learn how to code while playing the game.

Known as Code Builder, the feature is ]available now in beta for Minecraft: Education Edition. Code Builder is a tool that shows up in the game as a robot. Users can interact with the game through the robot using the learn-to-code platforms such as Tynker, Scratch and MakeCode.

The feature isn’t limited to those introductory platforms — Becker added that “you can go as far as you want with the tools that we provide in Code Builder.” For instance, people who know JavaScript can code directly in that language without the in-game robot.

Minecraft: Education Edition is open to students, teachers and staff at K-12 schools, colleges, universities, libraries, museums and other qualifying institutions. It is available on Windows 10 and Mac OS

Now FREE – iWork, iMovie and GarageBand

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Apple quietly rolled out updated versions of its iWork, iMovie and GarageBand apps on Mac and iOS today, making them free for all customers on both platforms.
Many customers already had free copies of these apps, as they came free with new Mac or iOS devices. The pricing change removes the requirement to have bought new Apple hardware to get the apps for free. This expands the apps’ reach to anyone using Apple devices, even if they didn’t but new new or are using older devices.

iWork is actually a suite of productivity apps — Numbers, Keynote and Pages to rival Microsoft Office and Google Docs. GarageBand and iMovie are more directed to consumer and education, for music and video editing.

Prior to the price change, the Mac versions of the iWork apps were $19.99 and the iOS versions were $9.99 each. iMovie and GarageBand for Mac were $14.99 and $4.99, respectively, and their iOS counterparts were $4.99 on the App Store.
Since late 2013, Apple had been bundling these apps with new devices or making them free to download.

Below is a list of the now free apps, along with the software version requirements needed to run the latest versions:

iWork Mac: macOS 10.12 or later
iWork iOS: iOS 10.0 or later
iMovie Mac: macOS 10.11.2 or later
iMovie iOS: iOS 9.3 or later
GarageBand Mac: macOS 10.10 or later
GarageBand iOS: iOS 10.2 or later

Skype Translation Services breaking down language barriers

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Microsoft, through Skype and its other translation services, is making it even easier for people to share information across the globe.  Skype Translator can help you communicate in 8 languages for voice calls, and in more than 50 languages while instant messaging.

With the advent of the internet, there are fewer barriers to communication than ever before. Distance is no longer a barrier to  talking to each other. Now, with more advancements in technology and software, language will soon not be an impediment either.

These innovations are not just useful for social or business purposes. More medical practitioners, scientists, teachers and leaders are collaborating  across the globe. Increased functionality from these services will allow such collaboration to be even more widely, and readily available with language no longer being the hurdle.

 

Microsoft Azure Services

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Microsoft Azure provides different technologies which enable you to build robust application, data and process integration solutions.

One of the core offerings for Azure integration is Logic Apps. These technologies together provide a very rich and fully-managed Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS). It is a very robust and powerful platform to put together and automate integration workflows. Logic Apps also provides the concept of server-less computing, in which you just focus on what you want to achieve, without worrying at all about servers, patching and scaling.

Logic Apps workflows, which can be easily arranged and executed graphically (via the Azure Portal or Visual Studio), are based on the Workflow Definition Language. These workflows provide abundent ways to process and manipulate data that can be obtained or pushed via different connectors.

The advantages of using Logic Apps include the following:

  • Saving time by designing complex processes using easy to understand design tools
  • Implementing patterns and workflows seamlessly, that would otherwise be difficult to implement in code
  • Getting started quickly from templates
  • Customizing your logic app with your own custom APIs, code, and actions
  • Connect and synchronise disparate systems across on-premises and the cloud
  • Build off of BizTalk server, API Management, Azure Functions, and Azure Service Bus with first-class integration support

 

The breadth and capability of many different Azure technologies and how they complement each other is what differentiates Azure against other iPaaS vendors.  Speak to out team about eStorm supporting your business with Microsoft Azure.

NEW iPad Range Announced

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Well finally we have some answers to the “What’s going on with iPad’s?” question.

Apple with very little pomp and ceremony announced the that the iPad Air 2, iPad Mini 2 and Mini 4 32GB are all now end of life and the lineup is pretty close to what we expected.

New iPad (5th Gen) in 32GB or 128GB (Space Grey, Silver, Gold) entry level device starting from $469 RRP

iPad mini 4 now only in 128GB capacity (Space Grey, Silver, Gold)

iPad Pro 9.7-inch or 12.9-inch.

Watch this space for availability and pricing from eStorm.

Microsoft Surface Pro 5???

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People are already very excited for the upcoming Microsoft Surface Pro 5. Reports have it that it will be out as early as  April along with Windows 10. This is not confirmed and is purely speculation with other rumours reporting October release dates. We here at eStorm are looking forward to Microsoft officially advising on it’s release (whenever it happens). Stay tuned for more news and updates.

To wet the appetite, here are the unconfirmed specs of the highly anticipated device. Microsoft Surface Pro 5 is expected to feature the Intel Kaby Lake Core i7 processor. The new chip will improve the device’s overall performance and save battery life as well. It will also be equipped with 16GB RAM and 512 GB internal storage. However, this is still unconfirmed as some sources claim that the device will have Qualcomm Snapdragon 365 processor.

Microsoft Surface Pro 5 will come with a rechargeable Surface Pen, new keyboard base and a lightweight aluminum body. Reports are rife that it will also have a 12.3-inch ultra HD/4K display, USB Type-C support and a robust battery life.

Professional Learning for Teachers and Students

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Today the effective use of technology, encompassing learning outcomes has become imperative for all schools. With so many financial demands on schools sometimes PD becomes the bottom of the list of to-do’s. What we see over and over is schools engaging in new technologies and software and going great guns for  a short period of time before the creative juices dry up. Keeping staff motivated and engaged is as much a struggle for teachers as it is for the students. eStorm can assist schools in planning a technology program that is not only customised for your school but will support your staff on this digital journey.

Our team comprises of professionals who have skills specific to their specialist area. We can support your school with coding using Sphero, Scratch and Swift. Robotics, Microsoft O365, Apple applications and device introductions.  We assist in technology support assisting teachers in achieving their goals. eStorm tailors workshops at our office in Stones Corner or we can organise half day and full day programs at your school.

Our programs are designed to increase competency with technology, to assist teachers in developing confident technology practices and work-flow solutions.

We can work with groups inside or outside the classroom, whole school auditorium style learning through to 1-1 mentoring.

If you are interested in attending our workshops or having a consultation please email me directly; [email protected]

 

 

Apple Teacher Program

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Apple just announced Apple Teacher, a new program created to support and celebrate teachers. The program provides a self-paced learning experience with tips, inspiration, news and learning materials to help unlock the magic of iPad, Mac and built-in apps in the classroom. Earn badges and an official Apple Teacher logo so you can share your achievement with the world. Sign up today!

To learn more and to sign up, visit the Apple Teacher website.

 

iOS 10.3 Beta 3: What Will The Update Include?

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The biggest feature to debut in the latest public beta is Find my AirPods—a feature that is sure to be welcome for early adopters of Apple’s wireless earbuds. Like ‘Find My iPhone’, the feature will illustrate the last place a user’s AirPods were active and connected to an iOS device. You will also be able to remotely prompt the earbuds to play a noise so they can be found easier.

Apple is revamping its user ID controls, giving users access to their most important information in a single menu. Users will be able to quickly access their contact information, security settings, payment information, iCloud settings, App Store settings, Family Sharing settings and more. This will all be available in the new profile section at the top of the Settings app.

The iOS 10.3 beta also brings a revamp that most users won’t realize, but will be an unseen convenience. Apple is switching its storage system over to the Apple File System, a universal file system Apple began implementing in 2016. It is optimized for flash and SSD storage and offers strong encryption tools to protect files.

In an effort to expand the amount of other devices and services iPhones and iPads can interact with, Apple has added new features to HomeKit, it’s connected home hub, and Siri, its voice-powered assistant. HomeKit now supports programmable light switches, and Siri will now be able to schedule rides with ride hailing services like Uber.

If all those new features have you wanting to update, you’ll want to make sure your device will be capable of making the jump. Here are the iOS devices that will be compatible with iOS 10.3.

  • iPhone 7
  • iPhone 7 Plus
  • iPhone 6s
  • iPhone 6s Plus
  • iPhone 6
  • iPhone 6 Plus
  • iPhone SE
  • iPhone 5s
  • iPhone 5c
  • iPhone 5
  • iPad Pro 12.9-inch
  • iPad Pro 9.7-inch
  • iPad Air 2
  • iPad Air

JAMF PRO your Apple MDM solution

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Give employees and students the tools they need to have more ah-ha moments at work and in the classroom. Designed to automate device management for you while driving end-user productivity and creativity, Jamf Pro (formerly Casper Suite) is the EMM tool that delights IT pros and the users they support by delivering on the promise of unified endpoint management for Apple devices.

~JAMF

eStorm has extensive experience supporting our clients with MDM solutions. Jamf Pro is one such tool that we believe outperforms other MDM’s particularly in the Apple space.

Hands-on, user-initiated or zero-touch deployment. Jamf integrates with Apple Device Enrollment Program (DEP), so you can automatically enroll and configure new Macs, iPads or iPhones remotely. Time-consuming imaging and manual configurations can now be a thing of the past. Together, Jamf and Apple DEP go beyond the basic mobile device management (MDM) capabilities to help you deliver a streamlined experience.

For this looking for a more hands on approach, Mac imaging lets you take part in a manual approach to deploying computers. Utilize Jamf Pro to build modular or monolithic images and deploy them fast. Or you can completely wipe the computer’s drive and start with a fresh image.

If you’re implementing a bring your own device (BYOD) program or managing devices already in use, user-initiated enrollment is the way to go. Through a webpage, allow users to self-enroll their devices into Jamf Pro. This is all done on demand and at the user’s discretion, easing the burden on the IT department.

Device management requires more than just the basics. Go beyond simple troubleshooting and keep devices up to date and secure – all while ensuring users have the resources, apps and services they need. Jamf Pro utilises key functions to provide a great user experience. Configuration Profiles allow you to define settings with iOS and macOS and distribute them to devices utilizing Jamf Pro. Easily apply Wi-Fi, VPN, email settings and more so users can seamlessly connect to the resources they need. Unique to macOS management with Jamf Pro, policies go beyond the basic device management capabilities of configuration profiles and help you install software and printers, manage local user accounts and conduct advanced management workflows. Run scripts on macOS utilizing the Apple device management capabilities of Jamf Pro. Scripts provide more flexibility than standard configuration profiles and open the door to infinite device management capabilities.

Jamf Pro is feature rich software that supports device, App, inventory, self service and security features that are unmatched on the Apple MDM platform. Speak to eStorm about Jamf Pro and how it can improve your staff or students experience and minimise IT department stress.