The iPad's dramatic effect on special education

The iPad's dramatic effect on special education -

Teachers far and wide have already warmly embraced Apple's tablet for its wealth of educational possibilities, but a new VentureBeat article shows us a glimpse at how the iPad can be particularly beneficial for special needs students as well. Neil Virani, a teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District, received a grant that helped him put an iPad into the hands of every one of his students, and it's paying off.

Virani uses the iPads to provide more flexibility in how he teaches. Using a wireless camera along with the TabCam app, he can carry out lessons anywhere and have the video streamed directly to each students' tablet. Using this, he can stream lessons from around his classroom or even outside, which previously would not have been possible, being the sole instructor in class.

The content is stored and shared to video sites like YouTube where students can review parts they may have missed or didn't fully understand. Virani now has more time during class hours to carry out hands-on projects and lets the students view lecture material at home. Virani's method of teaching seems to be paying off, as he notes that every one of his students has shown improvement since being introduced with the iPad.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Samsung's Smart Watch Commercial Pays Homage to Early Apple iPhone Ad

Samsung's Smart Watch Commercial Pays Homage to Early Apple iPhone Ad - This weekend, Samsung began running new television ads for its Galaxy Gear smart watch. The ads, which have received positive feedback from critics, pay homage to the first ads from another revolutionary device: the iPhone.

The ad from Samsung uses movie clips from "Star Trek", "Dick Tracy", "Knight Rider", and others with actors using their watches to communicate. The clip ends with a normal person using their Samsung Galaxy Gear, referencing a long-running pop culture fascination with wrist phones.

Six years ago, Apple used a similar ad to introduce the iPhone during the 2007 Academy Awards, stringing together movie clips of characters answering the phone.


Apple is rumored to have a smart watch in development that would compliment existing iOS devices with biometrics and other feature integration. It is expected to be released sometime late next year.

(Via MacRumors : Mac News and Rumors.)

The Jony Ive-designed limited edition Leica M for (RED) camera

The Jony Ive-designed limited edition Leica M for (RED) camera -

Last month we told you that Jony Ive was working on a limited edition Leica M camera to be auctioned off for The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Well, that very limited edition camera -- there is only one -- has been unveiled.

According to Leica's Google+ post, the camera took 85 days to create and required a total of 561 models and nearly 1,000 prototype parts. Ive was assisted by his good friend and fellow designer Marc Newson on the project.

The camera "features a laser-machined aluminum body and an anodized aluminum outer shell," and has "a full-format CMOS sensor, high performance processor and new Leica APO-Summicron -M 50mm f/2 ASPH lens."

Provided you have very deep pockets, you can participate in the auction at Sotheby's on November 23, 2013 and the one-of-a-kind camera could be yours.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

1Password 4.0 for Mac: TUAW hands-on video review

1Password 4.0 for Mac: TUAW hands-on video review -

Whenever I get asked by my friends, family or clients for app recommendations, one of my longstanding go-to answers is 1Password by AgileBits. For those who are unfamiliar with this app, 1Password is a cross-platform, cross-device password and sensitive information management tool. This amazing application just got better with a complete overhaul that goes way deeper than simple cosmetics and frilly feature add-ons.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

The Things We Loved This Week: Amazon's New Kindle Fire and a Turntable With a Floating Platter

The Things We Loved This Week: Amazon's New Kindle Fire and a Turntable With a Floating Platter - We don't know much, but we know we love these items. And that may be all we need to know.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

Caturday: "So you think you're going to get some work done? Think again."

Caturday: "So you think you're going to get some work done? Think again." -

Park Junior is obviously in control of the situation here. By strategically placing his furry little body on the trackpad and keyboard, and confronting his human Theresa with that stare, he's made darned sure that she's not going to get any work done. Theresa says that "he was very displeased that I wasn't spending all of my time playing with him."

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Hotel Wi-Fi Sucks: Create Your Own Hotspot Using the Room's Ethernet Connection

Hotel Wi-Fi Sucks: Create Your Own Hotspot Using the Room's Ethernet Connection - Instead of dealing with spotty Wi-Fi connections and speeds that resemble early '90s dialup, use the hotel's ethernet connection.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

Amazon's Set-Top Box Competitor to Apple TV and Roku Launching Before Holidays

Amazon's Set-Top Box Competitor to Apple TV and Roku Launching Before Holidays - Amazon is developing a set-top box to compete with the Apple TV and Roku boxes, reports The Wall Street Journal. The box would be aimed primarily at users of its Amazon Prime Video streaming video service and could launch in time for the holiday season.

(Via MacRumors : Mac News and Rumors.)

NASA vet weighs in on 'Gravity': 'Spectacular realism'

NASA vet weighs in on 'Gravity': 'Spectacular realism' - Mark Uhran, a 28-year NASA veteran with the International Space Station, outlines his thoughts on "Gravity," the terrifyingly realistic new film about free drifting in space starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney.

(Via CNET News.com.)