Google Just Launched Grasshopper, a Smartphone Game to Teach Adults How to Code

Grasshopper: Google’s effort to teach adults coding

It’s no doubt that with computers being used everywhere in today’s world that computer programming is the highest paid job that is out there today. While many learn computer programming as a way to further their careers others are less inclined to do so and one of the reasons could be, is that it is too complicated. Well, Google wants to change all that with Grasshopper.

For those who want to learn coding and do not know where to start, Google’s Grasshopper seems to be the Launchpad. Moving from one level to the other through programming, Grasshopper tries to build interest in coding through a simple- enough- to- understand- game. There are already a number of games out there for children to encourage them to learn coding but hardly anything for adults. The gaming world, when it comes to coding, seems to be more centered- around children as the target audience rather than adults.

How Grasshopper wants to increase interest in adults to coding?

Product developer for Grasshopper stated time, money and access as some of the main reasons why adults don’t want to learn coding. When you are a child coding may seem a fun activity but as you grow older it just becomes something that you have to study and then you become less inclined to do so.

Time becomes the main barrier to learn coding. With many people having hectic lifestyles, coding becomes a little difficult to fit into the picture. But Google hopes to change all that with Grasshopper. Being in the form of a game, Google hope that adults would be able to fit in learning coding in their breaks or when they come back home and just want to unwind.

What does Grasshopper involve?

Grasshopper does not make you a programming genius overnight but in the hopes of introducing you to the basics of programming, Grasshopper aims to help individuals find out if programming is for them or not.

The game includes learning the fundamentals of JavaScript and also a schedule for very time you wish to play Grasshopper, you can set up a schedule of reminders for everyday or every other day or even none at all.

To complete each puzzle all you have to do is enter code, for every line of code one part of the puzzle is solved. It is as simple as that. Besides this, Grasshopper also includes quizzes that help people in understanding the basic principles of the coding their following.

Grace who is a Grasshopper that helps users along the way, is named after Grace Hopper a computer industry pioneer.

Google is also partnering with Coursera and LaunchCode to help users who feel like coding is for them. Grasshopper, which teaches individuals the basics of JavaScript, would be the first step and then if people like what they are doing and want to learn more, they could sign up with LaunchCode or Coursera as the next option available to them.

Grasshopper will be available on both iOS and Android operating systems.

How to Reset Your Apple Watch

In today’s world we have smart TVs, smart phones, smart watches and many more smart devices. One such device is the Apple Watch. Apple watch connects with the iPhone and gives you all your notifications and runs apps.

There is a lot that one can do with an Apple Watch. It provides some exciting and amazing features which can help you from your health to even handling your finances. Apple WatchOS 4.0 feature connects with the iOS 11 feature of your iPhone that gives you a quicker access to your daily activities.

Interesting features of Apple Watch

-With an Apple Watch, you can answer a call by using it as a Bluetooth speaker phone. This becomes very useful when your hands are busy while working on a project. With the latest Apple Watch Series 3 that has LTE, one can make calls without your iPhone nearby.

- The Apple Watch Series 2 comes with a built-in GPS enabling you to track your runs. One can keep a track on the distance, speed and pace while running, walking or cycling. Your heart rate can be monitored with the help of sensors on the back of the Apple Watch. The data is stored in the Apple Health app on your iPhone.

-The Apple Watch has a dock of recent apps and information. With the Apple Watch dock you get a faster access to information.

-The Apple Watch helps you to stay in touch via messaging without actually taking out your iPhone. You can receive messages on your watch itself and reply with emojis, coined messages or with your voice.

-All your iPhone notifications can be displayed on your Apple Watch. These notifications can be controlled or configured keeping it to a minimum.

-With the help of the Apple Watch app on your iPhone you can add Apple Pay your Apple Watch. To make payments via Apple Pay double click the button below the crown to gain access to the Apple Pay app.

-You can use Siri on your Apple Watch. Some of the Siri features work only when you unlock your iPhone or switch to your iPhone. Siri can reply back to you with the Apple Watch Series 3 and there is no need to look at your watch.

Resetting your Apple Watch

In case you want to sell your Apple Watch, fix a problem, refresh your device or free up space from your internal storage, you may need to reset your Apple Watch. You should manually make a backup of all your data even though Apple may do it for you before you reset your Apple Watch. Those who have the Apple Watch Series 3 with LTE and have a data plan may have to reconnect the link through the network provider since resetting the watch can break the link.

In the first place you need to hold your Apple Watch near the iPhone that has been paired with the watch. Press the Watch app on your phone. There will be a menu below with an orange “i” next to the icon. Another menu below will appear. Click on the “Unpair Apple Watch” that appears in bright red. A warning will be given telling you that all your data will be lost if you go ahead with the “Unpair Apple Watch”. You will be asked your Apple ID password to continue. The disconnecting process will start and may take about 10 minutes. The Apple Watch will lose all the data and your iPhone will also be disconnected.

To reset the Apple Watch you need to erase your data. You then have to go to the Settings app on your watch and select Erase All Content and Settings. When clicking on the Erase All, the entire data is deleted and the Apple Watch is reset with the factory settings.

The Apple Watch Series 1 and Apple Watch Series 3 are currently selling in stores. The Series 3 is water resistant with an upgraded processor and built-in GPS. The Sport edition of the Series 1 is priced at $249 and the Apple Watch Series 3 is $329 for the 38mm face Sport version and $359 for the 42mm face Sport version.

Apple’s Latest Patent Ensures Your Screen Turns on to the Right Display Brightness

Apple Patent to reduce Display Brightness

Apple files many patents on a yearly basis or maybe even shorter, not that they work on all of these patents, but one of the patents that they have been constantly following up on has to do with a feature that will reduce display brightness. Recently Apple has been granted a patent that has to do with reducing display brightness or luminescence shock. This new patent, details how a device such as the iPhone would react in a dark environment or more specifically how the brightness of a screen would react in such an environment setting.

At present in any device when the lighting in a room changes or more selectively becomes darker, the phone’s screen takes a moment to adjust the brightness of the screen, according to the environment it is in. this temporarily causes something known as a “luminescence shock”.

How will Apple’s patent work to solve display Brightness? 

This temporary adjustment of the brightness of the screen to the environment that the phone is being used in can cause damage to the eye. Apple has now come up with a way by which that damage could be reduced or all together eliminated.

According to the patent that has been awarded to Apple, a phone or any other device’s display brightness will be selectively limited depending on the lighting in the environment.

What does the patent to limit display brightness detail? 

The tech in question would use the phone’s or device’s ambient light sensor to detect the level of brightness that is required from the display.

At present when you get a call or receive a message, the display takes a moment to adjust causing unwanted display brightness but in this case the phone’s ambient light sensor will detect the lighting in the environment and accordingly adjust the brightness emitting from the screen.

Another aspect of limiting display brightness is that a phone or device could work without an ambient light sensor too. The phone has to automatically reduce brightness whenever a call or message is received. There is no need of an ambient light sensor for this, the display brightness automatically shifts whenever a call or message is received. This too would be effective in reducing luminescence shock.

When was the patent to reduce luminescence shock filed? 

Apple has a tendency to file patents on various techs that it is working on and not really following up on them. What I mean by this is that the company takes to filing patents which do not really make their way on to a production line.

But in this case Apple seems to be serious with this patent to reduce display brightness. Apple filed this same patent in 2007 and since then it has followed through with it with the last one being filed in 2016 until the present one. This is something it seems that the company is serious on. Whether this tech will be advertised as a separate feature in up- coming Apple devices or simply just present in future devices is not known at present and another point in mind is that if this tech does find its way on to an Apple product, it could have the potential to reduce battery consumption as well.

Apple New iPad is the Best Tablet for Almost Everybody

iPad 2018: The iPad for the masses!

Apple’s iPads are maybe the most used tablet out there. It appeals to everyone and it gets the job done. Whether you are an adult or a child, whether you use your iPad for work purposes or just for entertainment, an iPad is something everyone can find useful. From the elderly to the young, iPads have become a common device in everyone’s household. While an iPad can be used for just about everything these days, it has become something that everyone can use.

Apple is now releasing another iPad without any number to follow this time. Coming as just iPad, this iPad has much of the same features as before, with the same size, weight and look to it. But as with everything new, there are a few features here and there that come in addition to the same old features. Otherwise how would you justify bringing in a new model when the old model is just as good.

Same old same old iPad:

Just like previous models, the iPad 2018 looks just like last year’s model. It has the same 2048 by 1536 pixel resolution, the same 9.7 inch display screen, with the same old bezels and the same old touch sensor in the same old place- the home button.

Looking at the physical dimensions, that is also the same 9.4 by 6.6 by .29 and if you’re wondering about the weight, well surprise surprise it’s the same- just over a pound.

Storage in the iPad 2018:

The iPad with no suffix as called by Apple and the iPad 2018 as called by me, is available in 32Gb or if you have a bigger wallet 128 Gb of internal storage. Comparing both models you will not see any noticeable difference, it’s just the same.

Camera in the iPad 2018:

The cameras too have not undergone any change since the last year, with the rear-end camera being an 8Mp camera with a f/2.4 lens and with 1080 HD video recording. The front facing camera in the iPad 2018 has a 1.2Mp camera and a f/2.2 lens with 720 HD video recording.

Other specs in the iPad 2018:

Besides all the other specs, the iPad 2018 also has Wi-Fi and 4.2 Bluteooth connectivity and a choice of 4G LTE cellular radio for use with GSM or CDMA networks.

Coming to the battery the iPad 2018 comes with a 32.4 watt lithium polymer battery that lasts for 10 hours. While the speakers and the home button placement remain all the same in the iPad 2018.

Finally, what’s new in the iPad 2018?

All new iPads come with an upgraded processor, this time around is no different either. The iPad 2018 comes with a A10 Fusion chip which is the same as in the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 plus.

This time, you can use the Apple touch sensitive pen with the iPad 2018, which in the past was only available to the higher end iPad Pro line- up.

Finally the price, the iPad 2018 will come at $329 for the 32Gb model and $429 for the 128 Gb iPad 2018 model. If you want to add LTE to the mix, then add $130 to the bill.

Top Strategies For Marketing Your New App

If you’ve spent countless hours developing your own unique app and perfecting it, it can be logically assumed that you want people to download and use it, right?

The problem is, simply designing an app and posting it to the app store doesn’t mean that people will download it. If no one knows it’s there, how can they download it?

This is where marketing comes in, and it’s tough to do because you’re competing with literally hundreds of thousands of other app developers.

So the question is, what strategies can you use to get your app to stand out amongst a crowded field?
Here are the top strategies for marketing your new app:

Achieve Organic Marketing Through A Durable Social Media Presence

A social media presence is 100% necessary in today’s world. Social media increases awareness about your brand, connects you with your audience, and is one of the most powerful communication tools to have ever existed.

On Facebook, for instance, you can gain followers, communicate with them in the comments, and join relevant app groups to spread your message.

Eventually, once you build strong enough of a presence, you can achieve what is called ‘organic marketing,’ or where you can promote yourself simply by having a presence on social media outlets such as Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.

What’s important is that you actually connect with your audience. Don’t just be promotional. Engage with them in the comments section to answer questions and respond to comments. Don’t let your posts and updates feel automated. Rather, write them in your own voice.

Write A Killer Description

 The description is often where developers skip over when marketing their app. This is a major mistake, because most people on the fence will read your description before deciding whether to download your app or not.

Your app description needs to accomplish several things, including:

• It must be of medium length (neither too long nor too short)
• It must have short paragraphs
• It must explain the benefits of your app to the user
• It must be written in an easy-to-understand manner
• The features of the app should be explained in the form of bullet points
• It should contain popular keywords

An excellent description is just one thing you can do to optimize your app for the apps tore, which we will talk about next.

Optimize Your App For The App Store

App Store Optimization (ASO) refers to the steps you can take to make your app more visible on the app store. Since the app world is so oversaturated, this is not something you can overlook.

Examples of the steps you can take to optimize your app include:

• Researching popular keywords and including them in your description
• Having a unique app name
• Including screenshots/video tutorial in your description
• Accumulating many 4-star and 5-star reviews

Reward Your Users

Ultimately, is there no greater marketing technique than simply to develop a loyal fanbase?

Of course, accumulating a base of loyal fans is easier said than done to begin with, but one of the best strategies you can use to make your fans more loyal is simply to reward them.

Send push notifications to those who have already downloaded your app informing them of updates, benefits, contests, and so on.

You can also send people rewards (such as access to paid features on your app for free) on their birthdays or on holidays.

Make More Apps

Finally, you can also gain visibility on the app store by simply creating more apps. You can also direct people who download one app to another through push notifications, links in the app, and internal banners.

The main idea here is that you treat app development like a business. If people are interested in one of your products, and if they like it, then it’s only natural that they should be interested in another as well.

In short, the more apps you create (and the more successful you are at using each of your apps to market the others) the more visibility you will gain.

Marketing Your New App

Developing an app is one thing, but marketing it is a whole different ball game.

Each of the options that I have mentioned today can be put together to build a thorough marketing strategy for your mobile app that does not require large financial outlays. As with all marketing strategies, you will find that each tactic requires a continuous time investment and active monitoring for maximum benefits.