Apple – Latest Press Info

Apple to build new campus in Austin and add jobs across the US<br/>New sites in Seattle, San Diego and Culver City, California<br/>Cupertino, California and Austin, Texas — Apple today announced a major expansion of its operations in Austin, including an investment of $1 billion to build a new campus in North Austin. The company also announced plans to establish new sites in Seattle, San Diego and Culver City and expand in cities across the United States including Pittsburgh, New York and Boulder, Colorado over the next three years, with the potential for additional expansion elsewhere in the US over time. <br/>The announcement caps a year of continued job creation. Apple added 6,000 jobs to its American workforce in 2018 and now employs 90,000 people in all 50 states. As announced in January, the company is on track to create 20,000 jobs in the US by 2023. In 16 states, Apple today employs over 1,000 people. <br/>“Apple is proud to bring new investment, jobs and opportunity to cities across the United States and to significantly deepen our quarter-century partnership with the city and people of Austin,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Talent, creativity and tomorrow’s breakthrough ideas aren’t limited by region or zip code, and, with this new expansion, we’re redoubling our commitment to cultivating the high-tech sector and workforce nationwide.” <br/>Austin Campus <br/>Apple’s newest Austin campus will be located less than a mile from its existing facilities. The 133-acre campus will initially accommodate 5,000 additional employees, with the capacity to grow to 15,000, and is expected to make Apple the largest private employer in Austin. <br/>“Apple is among the world’s most innovative companies and an avid creator of jobs in Texas and across the country,” said Texas Governor Greg Abbott. “Their decision to expand operations in our state is a testament to the high-quality workforce and unmatched economic environment that Texas offers. I thank Apple for this tremendous investment in Texas, and I look forward to building upon our strong partnership to create an even brighter future for the Lone Star State.” <br/>Jobs created at the new campus will include a broad range of functions including engineering, R&amp;D, operations, finance, sales and customer support. At 6,200 people, Austin already represents the largest population of Apple employees outside Cupertino. <br/>“Apple has been a vital part of the Austin community for a quarter century, and we are thrilled that they are deepening their investment in our people and the city we love,” said Austin Mayor Steve Adler. “Apple and Austin share a creative spark and a commitment to getting big things done. We share their commitment to diversity and inclusion. We’re excited they are bringing more middle-skilled jobs to the area. And we’re particularly gratified by their commitment to providing a great place to work for a large and growing number of America's veterans.” <br/>“Apple is truly a part of our Texas family,” said Williamson County Director of Administration Rebecca Clemons. “Apple’s vision on innovation, quality and simplicity align with the values here in Williamson County. We are both committed to continued job creation and outstanding quality of life. This new expansion is a perfect example of the astounding growth and opportunity that are possible when a company and a community work together.” <br/>The new campus will include 50 acres of preserved open space and, like all Apple facilities worldwide, its workspaces will be powered by 100 percent renewable energy. <br/>Nationwide Growth <br/>Apple plans to grow its employee base in regions across the United States over the next three years, expanding to over 1,000 employees in Seattle, San Diego and Culver City each, and adding hundreds of new jobs in Pittsburgh, New York, Boulder, Boston and Portland, Oregon. The company recently opened its newest office in Nashville, Tennessee and Apple’s Miami office is projected to double in size. <br/>Apple plans to invest $10 billion in US data centers over the next five years, including $4.5 billion this year and next. Apple’s data centers in North Carolina, Arizona and Nevada are currently being expanded. In Iowa, preparations are underway for the company’s newest <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2017/08/apples-next-us-data-center-will-be-built-in-iowa/" target="_blank">data center in Waukee</a>. All of the company’s data centers are run on 100 percent renewable energy. <br/>Apple’s Job Creation <br/>Apple is already responsible for creating and supporting more than 2 million jobs in all 50 states, including workers at 9,000 suppliers and manufacturers in the US. The booming App Store ecosystem is responsible for more than 1.5 million American jobs, bringing growth and opportunity from Atlanta to Anchorage, Alaska. <br/>Apple’s job creation efforts span a wide range of roles — from advanced design, engineering and research, to the most innovative retail, operations and customer support functions in the world. Apple operates retail stores in 44 states plus the District of Columbia, and has added 7,000 US retail jobs over the past five years. Apple plans to add more stores and reimagine the customer experience at many existing retail locations across the country. <br/>Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV. Apple’s four software platforms — iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay and iCloud. Apple’s more than 100,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it. <br/>Press Contacts<br/>Fred Sainz,Apple, sainz@apple.com ,(669) 227-0492<br/>Colin Johnson,Apple, colin_johnson@apple.com ,(408) 974-6284<br/>Apple Media Helpline,media.help@apple.com,(408) 974-2042<br/> […]

ECG app and irregular heart rhythm notification available today on Apple Watch<br/>Starting today, the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 marks the first direct-to-consumer product that enables customers to take an electrocardiogram right from their wrist, capturing heart rhythm in a moment when they experience symptoms like a rapid or skipped heart beat and helping to provide critical data to physicians. The irregular rhythm notification feature on Apple Watch can now also occasionally check heart rhythms in the background and send a notification if an irregular heart rhythm that appears to be atrial fibrillation (AFib) is identified. Apple worked with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a number of years to receive De Novo classification for the ECG app and the irregular heart rhythm notification, making the features available over the counter. <br/>Available today as part of a free update to watchOS 5.1.2, the ECG app¹ and irregular heart rhythm notification feature² will help users identify signs of AFib, the most common form of irregular rhythm. When left untreated, AFib is one of the leading conditions that can result in stroke, the second most common cause of death around the world. The CDC estimates AFib can affect up to two percent of the younger population and nine percent of those 65 years and older in the US. <br/>“Apple Watch has helped so many people around the world and we are humbled that it has become such an important part of our customers’ lives,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer. “With the release of these heart features, Apple Watch takes the next step in empowering people with more information about their health.” <br/>“We are confident in the ability of these features to help users have more informed conversations with their physicians,” said Sumbul Desai, MD, Apple’s vice president of Health. “With the ECG app and irregular rhythm notification feature, customers can now better understand aspects of their heart health in a more meaningful way.” <br/>ECG App <br/>New electrodes built into the back crystal and Digital Crown on Apple Watch Series 4 work together with the ECG app to enable customers to take an ECG similar to a single-lead reading. To take an ECG recording at any time or following an irregular rhythm notification, users launch the new ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 and hold their finger on the Digital Crown. As the user touches the Digital Crown, the circuit is completed and electrical signals across their heart are measured. After 30 seconds, the heart rhythm is classified as either AFib, sinus rhythm or inconclusive. All recordings, their associated classifications and any noted symptoms are stored securely in the Health app on iPhone. Users can share a PDF of the results with physicians. <br/>Irregular Rhythm Notification <br/>Using the optical heart sensor in Apple Watch Series 1 or later, the irregular rhythm notification feature will occasionally check the user’s heart rhythm in the background for signs of an irregular heart rhythm that appears to be AFib and alerts the user with a notification if an irregular rhythm is detected on five rhythm checks over a minimum of 65 minutes. <br/>“The role that technology plays in allowing patients to capture meaningful data about what’s happening with their heart, right when it’s happening, like the functionality of an on-demand ECG, could be significant in new clinical care models and shared decision making between people and their healthcare providers,” said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary organization focused on heart and brain health. “At the American Heart Association, we are committed to educating and empowering people to be proactive in all areas of their heart health and general well-being.” <br/>“The idea that wearables can be used by both patients and their health care providers to manage and improve heart health holds promise and should also be approached with caution to ensure information and data are used responsibly and in concert with other evidence-based tools and guidelines,” said C. Michael Valentine, MD, FACC, president of the American College of Cardiology. “The ACC, through its focus on innovation, is committed to exploring ways that new technologies can optimize patient care and outcomes.” <br/>The ECG app’s ability to accurately classify an ECG recording into AFib and sinus rhythm was validated in a clinical trial of around 600 participants. Rhythm classification from a gold standard 12-lead ECG by a cardiologist was compared to the rhythm classification of a simultaneously collected ECG from the ECG app. The study found the ECG app on Apple Watch demonstrated 98.3 percent sensitivity in classifying AFib and 99.6 percent specificity in classifying sinus rhythm in classifiable recordings. In the study, 87.8 percent of recordings could be classified by the ECG app. <br/>The irregular rhythm notification feature was recently studied in the Apple Heart Study. With over 400,000 participants, the Apple Heart Study was the largest screening study on atrial fibrillation ever conducted, also making it one of the largest cardiovascular trials to date. A subset of the data from the Apple Heart Study was submitted to the FDA to support clearance of the irregular rhythm notification feature. In that sub-study, of the participants that received an irregular rhythm notification on their Apple Watch while simultaneously wearing an ECG patch, 80 percent showed AFib on the ECG patch and 98 percent showed AFib or other clinically relevant arrhythmias. <br/>To enable these new heart features, customers will be taken through an onscreen setup flow that includes details about who can use these features, what the features can and cannot do, what results users may get, how to interpret those results and clear instructions for what to do if users are feeling symptoms that require immediate medical attention. <br/>watchOS 5.1.2 will be available for download today. More information on the ECG app can be found <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208955/" target="_blank">here</a> and more information on the irregular rhythm notification can be found <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208931/" target="_blank">here</a>. Medical professionals and providers can find more information on Apple Watch, the ECG app and irregular rhythm notifications <a href="https://www.apple.com/healthcare/apple-watch/" target="_blank">here</a>. <br/>¹ This feature is available on Apple Watch Series 4 in the US, Puerto Rico, Guam and US Virgin Islands, and requires iPhone 5s or later on iOS 12.1.1. The ECG app does not detect a heart attack, blood clots, a stroke or other heart-related conditions including high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, high cholesterol or other forms of arrhythmia. <br> ² This feature is available for Apple Watch Series 1 and later and requires iPhone 5s or later on iOS 12.1.1 in the US, Puerto Rico, Guam and US Virgin Islands. The irregular rhythm notification feature does not detect a heart attack, blood clots, a stroke or other heart-related conditions including high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, high cholesterol or other forms of arrhythmia.<br/>Press Contacts<br/>Lance Lin,Apple,lance_lin@apple.com,(408) 974-5036<br/>Nikki Rothberg,Apple,nrothberg@apple.com,(408) 974-4427<br/>Apple Media Helpline,media.help@apple.com,(408) 974-2042<br/> […]

Apple presents the best of 2018<br/>The Apps, Games, Music, Movies, TV Shows, Podcasts and More That Shaped Entertainment and Culture Around the World This Year<br/>As the year comes to a close there are so many unanswered questions: Who is Kiki, and does she love me? Should I start a podcast? Where is Donut County? Why didn’t Offred escape Gilead (again!)? Today, Apple reveals the Best of 2018, a global collection of top charts and selects from our editors across every category highlighting all of the amazing things to watch, read, listen to and play across apps, music, podcasts, books, TV and movies. It’s an invariable list of the who’s who and what’s what from the past year that is certain to help answer at least some of the most burning questions and make for fun conversation around any holiday dinner table. <br/>The App Store<br> <br/>This year, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/story/id1440852242?itsct=BESTOF_SC18_PT122_US_SI1440852242&amp;itscg=as10001" target="_blank">Battle Royale-style games</a> like Fortnite and PUBG Mobile dominated global gaming culture with exciting, last-player-standing action, while innovative apps like Fabulous, Shine, 10% Happier and Headspace expanded the practice of wellness around the world to make <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/story/id1438571562?itsct=BESTOF_SC18_PT122_US_SI1438571562&amp;itscg=as10001" target="_blank">self-care more accessible</a> than ever before. <br/><strong>Best Apps of the Year</strong> <br/>App Trend of the Year -&nbsp;<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/story/id1438571562?itsct=BESTOF_SC18_PT122_US_SI1438571562&amp;itscg=as10001" target="_blank">Self-care</a><br> Game Trend of the Year -&nbsp;<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/story/id1440852242?itsct=BESTOF_SC18_PT122_US_SI1440852242&amp;itscg=as10001" target="_blank">Battle Royale-style gaming</a><br> iPhone App of the Year - <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/story/id1438572731?itsct=BESTOF_SC18_PT122_US_SI1438572731&amp;itscg=as10001" target="_blank">Procreate Pocket</a><br> iPhone Game of the Year - <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/story/id1438572540?itsct=BESTOF_SC18_PT122_US_SI1438572540&amp;itscg=as10001" target="_blank">Donut County</a><br> iPad App of the Year - <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/story/id1438573233?itsct=BESTOF_SC18_PT122_US_SI1438573233&amp;itscg=as10001" target="_blank">Froggipedia</a><br> iPad Game of the Year - <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/story/id1438572836?itsct=BESTOF_SC18_PT122_US_SI1438572836&amp;itscg=as10001" target="_blank">Gorogoa</a><br> Mac App of the Year - <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/story/id1438573887?itsct=BESTOF_SC18_PT122_US_SI1438573887&amp;itscg=as10001" target="_blank">Pixelmator Pro</a><br> Mac Game of the Year - <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/story/id1438573677?itsct=BESTOF_SC18_PT122_US_SI1438573677&amp;itscg=as10001" target="_blank">The Gardens Between</a><br> Apple TV App of the Year - <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/story/id1438570482?itsct=BESTOF_SC18_PT122_US_SI1438570482&amp;itscg=as10001" target="_blank">Sweat</a><br> Apple TV Game of the Year - <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/story/id1438570482?itsct=BESTOF_SC18_PT122_US_SI1438570482&amp;itscg=as10001" target="_blank">Alto’s Odyssey</a><br> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/story/id1441483812?itsct=BESTOF_SC18_PT122_US_SI1441483812&amp;itscg=as10001" target="_blank">Favorite Watch Apps of the Year</a> <br/><strong>Charts</strong> <br/>iPhone users running iOS 11 and later will view iPhone charts below; iPad users running iOS 11 and later will view iPad charts.  <br/><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/story/id1438574124?itsct=BESTOF_SC18_PT122_US_SI1438574124&amp;itscg=as10001" target="_blank">Top Apps Charts</a><br /> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/story/id1438573893?itsct=BESTOF_SC18_PT122_US_SI1438573893&amp;itscg=as10001" target="_blank">Top Games Charts</a> <br/>Apple Music<br> <br/>To close out an extraordinary year, Apple Music’s editors have awarded highest honors to the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewMultiRoom?cc=us&amp;fcId=1441981146&amp;ls=1&amp;app=music&amp;at=1001ltS&amp;ct=rom_bestof2018&amp;itscg=30300&amp;itsct=rom_bestof2018" target="_blank">artists who truly represent the very best of 2018</a>. Drake owns the Artist of the Year category while country’s Kasey Musgraves scores Album of the Year for her dynamic <em>Golden Hour</em>. The fiery collaboration between Cardi B, J. Balvin and Bad Bunny made “I Like It” an easy choice for Song of the Year and Breakout Artist Juice WRLD has been giving everyone “Lucid Dreams” all year long. But these all-stars weren’t the only stars: Apple Music’s global year-end charts and editorial playlists are packed with the year’s biggest hits and favorites from all over the world. <br/><strong>Best Music of the Year</strong> <br/>Artist of the Year: Drake<br /> Breakout Artist of the Year: Juice WRLD<br /> Song of the Year: I Like It - Cardi B featuring Bad Bunny &amp; J. Balvin<br /> Album of the Year: Golden Hour - Kacey Musgraves <br/><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewMultiRoom?cc=us&amp;fcId=1441981146&amp;ls=1&amp;app=music&amp;at=1001ltS&amp;ct=rom_bestof2018&amp;itscg=30300&amp;itsct=rom_bestof2018" target="_blank"><strong>Charts</strong></a> <br/>Top 100 Global Songs<br /> Top 100 Global Albums<br /> <br/>Apple Podcasts<br> <br/>This year, investigative reporting underpinned the immersive storytelling of shows such as American Public Media’s <em>In the Dark</em>, <em>The New York Times’s</em> “Caliphate,” along with historical deep dives like Slate's<em> </em>“Slow Burn<em>.</em>”<em> </em>News and Politics grew as <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewFeature?id=1439382778&amp;mt=2&amp;ls=1" target="_blank">podcast</a> genres in 2018 with <em>The New York Times's</em> “The Daily” and Crooked Media’s “The Wilderness,” while celebrities and a healthy mix of independents topped this year’s new shows, including Dax Shepard’s “Armchair Expert<em>,</em>” “Oprah’s Master Class” and Parcast Network's “Conspiracy Theories” and “Unexplained Mysteries.”&nbsp; <br/><strong>Best Podcasts of the Year</strong> <br/>In The Dark<br /> Caliphate<br /> The Dream<br /> Everything is Alive<br /> Slow Burn<br /> Dr. Death<br /> Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard<br /> Bubble<br /> Bundyville<br /> A Very Fatal Murder<br /> Wolverine: The Long Night<br /> Serial<br /> The Daily<br /> This American Life<br /> 99% Invisible <br/><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewFeature?id=1439382778&amp;mt=2&amp;ls=1" target="_blank"><strong>Charts</strong></a> <br/>Top 25 Most Downloaded Podcasts of the Year<br /> Top 25 Most Downloaded New Podcasts of the Year  <br/>TV and Movies<br /> <br/>The <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/US/app/tv/id1174078549?mt=8&amp;app=tv&amp;cvs=edt.cvs.5be1f95e-9a98-4b11-a857-2cbe965ba4d6" target="_blank">movies and TV shows</a> of the year represent a rich mix of genres and topics ranging from indie, documentaries and animation to drama, horror and action. “Black Panther” and “Killing Eve” are the top picks of the year; they, along with other notable titles such as “Won’t You Be My Neighbor,” “Hereditary” and “Pose,” have been praised by critics and fans alike and fueled pop culture conversations and die-hard fandom around the world. <br/><strong>Best Movies of 2018 on Apple TV and iTunes</strong> <br/>Annihilation<br /> Black Panther<br /> Crazy Rich Asians <br /> Eighth Grade<br /> Green Book*<br /> Hereditary<br /> Incredibles 2 <br /> Minding the Gap<br /> A Star is Born*<br /> Won’t You Be My Neighbor<br /> *<em>available for pre-order</em> <br/><strong>Best TV Shows of 2018 on Apple TV App and iTunes</strong> <br/>The Americans<br /> Atlanta<br /> Barry<br /> The Expanse <br /> The Good Fight<br /> The Good Place<br /> The Handmaid’s Tale<br /> Killing Eve<br /> The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel<br /> Pose <br/>Apple Books<br> <br/>In 2018, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewFeature?id=1442158176&amp;mt=11&amp;ls=" target="_blank">Apple Books</a> launched as a brand new app, making it effortless for iPhone and iPad users to discover and enjoy books and audiobooks. This year Apple Books celebrates works from a diverse group of authors, including Tommy Orange's debut <em>There There</em>; Tayari Jones’s <em>American Marriage</em> that is both the Book and Audiobook of the Year; and Rachel Hollis's <em>Girl, Wash Your Face</em>. Politics dominated the U.S. charts this year with<em> Fire and Fury</em>, <em>Fear</em> and <em>A Higher Loyalty</em> all appearing in the top 10 best-selling nonfiction books. On the fiction front, readers remain rabid for books adapted for the screen, including Kevin Kwan’s <em>Crazy Rich Asians </em>and Gillian Flynn’s <em>Sharp Objects.</em> <br/>Book of the Year: American Marriage<br /> Best Nonfiction: The Library Book <br /> Best Mystery: The Witch Elm<br /> Best Thriller: Light It Up<br /> Best Bio/Memoir: Educated <br /> Best Romance: Too Wilde to Wed<br /> Best Science Fiction/Fantasy: Spinning Silver <br /> Best Feel-Good Fiction: When Life Gives You Lululemons<br /> Best Literary Fiction: There There <br /> Best Young Reader Book: Harbor Me <br/><strong>Best Audiobooks of the Year</strong> <br/>Audiobook of the Year: American Marriage<br /> Best Nonfiction: 21 Lessons for the 21st Century <br /> Best Mystery: Something in the Water<br /> Best Thriller: Long Road to Mercy <br /> Best Bio/Memoir: Becoming <br /> Best Business Audiobook: Dare to Lead <br /> Best Health, Mind, Body: Girl, Wash Your Face<br /> Best Family Audiobook: Rebound <br /> Best Humor: Calypso <br /> Best Historical Fiction: The Great Alone <br/><strong><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewFeature?id=1442158176&amp;mt=11&amp;ls=" target="_blank">2018 Apple Books Charts</a></strong> <br/>Top 100 Books Fiction<br /> Top 100 Books Non-Fiction <br/>Press Contacts<br/>Jessica Bass,Apple,jessica_bass@apple.com,(310) 895-6508<br/>Apple Media Helpline,media.help@apple.com,(408) 974-2042<br/> […]

The HIV-positive caregivers working to end AIDS in Africa<br/>Dotty Nyambok is an HIV Counselor at the Embakasi Health Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. She is halfway through her list of patients when two girls walk into her tent. <br/>Helima, 18, is here because she suspects she’s contracted HIV from her boyfriend, and her friend Winny has come to support her. <br/>Dotty begins a familiar ritual: She unwraps a sterilized needle, pricks Helima’s finger and drops blood onto a test strip. Then she sets the timer. 15:00, 14:59, 14:58… <br/>While they wait, Dotty asks Helima what she thinks will happen if she tests positive. With grim confidence, she answers, she will die. <br/>That’s when Dotty shares something of herself. It’s information she reveals when she senses someone is in desperate need of kindness and hope. <br/>“I’m HIV-positive,” Dotty says. “So when you have HIV you will continue living, because you will take your medication.” <br/>The girls exchange surprised, shy smiles in the tent at Embakasi, a facility whose HIV treatment services have been supported by Apple’s (RED) partnership since 2012. <br/>Since its founding by Bono and Bobby Shriver, (RED) has raised more than $600 million to support the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, $200 million of which has come from its partnership with Apple, the organization’s largest corporate donor. <br/>Last year, Kenya had 53,000 new cases of HIV. Young women are infected at twice the rate as young men. As high as these numbers seem, they’re a vast improvement from years ago. <br/>In 2000, a staggering 9.3 percent of all adults in Kenya were HIV-positive. At the same time, because the drugs were in short supply, World Health Organization guidelines stipulated that lifesaving antiretrovirals (ARVs) should only be administered once a patient’s CD4 count, which measures immune system health, fell below a very low mark. It meant patients had to be extremely sick to access ARVs, and for many, that was too late. <br/>5:27, 5:26, 5:25… <br/>That grim landscape was recent history when Dotty discovered she was pregnant in 2007, at age 19. During a prenatal visit, a clinician told Dotty she was HIV-positive, and pointed her to a treatment clinic two hours away. There was no counseling, no compassion, and no follow-up. <br/>The experience left her traumatized and in denial — she didn’t tell anyone about her status and didn’t seek treatment. <br/>Dotty’s son died in her arms at just six weeks old. He was buried in a cooking oil box — the smallest they could find. <br/>A few months later, Dotty went to the Embakasi Health Centre. <br/>It’s one of thousands of facilities in Kenya and seven other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa that began receiving support from the Global Fund in 2002. <br/>The Global Fund has helped to radically change access to HIV treatment, and provides 17.5 million people with ARVs — now available from the moment they test positive. As a result, Kenya has seen a 52 percent drop in new HIV infections since 2000. As of last year, just 4.8 percent of all adults were HIV-positive. <br/>“I decided to do counseling because I really don’t want what happened to me to repeat itself.” <br/>In 2009, Embakasi opened a special Comprehensive Care Clinic (CCC) for HIV patients that distributes ARVs, made possible largely from Global Fund grants. <br/>“The Global Fund and (RED) have made a huge impact in the lives of HIV-positive patients,” says Robina Anene Muli, who runs the Embakasi Health Centre. “Especially when it comes to testing kits, ARVs and other drugs — they provide 80 percent of our supplies and funding.” <br/>3:13, 3:12, 3:11… <br/>During her first year at Embakasi, Dotty was introduced to the Mentor Mothers, a group of peer educators who are HIV-positive and have given birth to HIV-negative babies after taking ARVs. The group was created as part of the CCC expansion, with Global Fund grants. <br/>After a few months of treatment, Dotty found out she was pregnant again. <br/>On November 7th, 2009, Dotty gave birth to a healthy baby boy. “Now I had a reason to live,” she says. “Because of Morgan. He saved my life.” <br/>When Morgan was six months old, Dotty applied to be a Mentor Mother at Embakasi. <br/>“I decided to do counseling because I really don’t want what happened to me to repeat itself,” says Dotty. “My purpose is to touch a heart — and if I diagnose someone I feel like we are then attached.” <br/>In many facilities, HIV-positive peer educators like Dotty are changing the way people live with HIV. <br/>“Peer educators are a vital piece of the most effective HIV treatment programs,” says Luisa Engel, Chief Impact Officer at (RED). “Their work ensures lifesaving information reaches the people who need it most, and they act as a powerful force against stigma.” <br/>Three years ago, Dotty started a new role at Embakasi, as an HIV Testing Counselor. Sometimes she takes an HIV test in front of her patients, to prove she has the virus and to show them that a full and vibrant life is possible. <br/>“I would like to see a different perception about HIV,” says Dotty. “And that’s what I hope to do when I disclose my status.” <br/>:03, :02, :01… <br/>Back in Dotty’s tent, Helima’s results are ready. She places the test strip in between examples of what a positive and negative result look like. <br/>“Tell me what you see and what it means,” says Dotty. <br/>“Negative,” says Helima. In an instant, the tension dissolves. After a chat about how to protect themselves, Dotty sends the girls off with warm goodbyes. <br/>On Dotty’s walk home that night, she picks up some meat to cook for dinner on the hotplate in the one-room apartment she and Morgan, now nine years old, share. <br/>After dinner, at 7:58 p.m., an alarm on Dotty’s phone sounds. It signals the start of a ritual they have repeated every night for the last two years — ever since Morgan was old enough to understand his mom’s illness. <br/>Morgan walks over to a small dresser, pulls out a bottle of pills and carefully taps one out. He hands the ARV to his mother, who swallows it with water. <br/>These are the frontlines of the war against AIDS in Africa. And this is how it is won, one expression of love, one act of kindness, at a time. <br/>Press Contact<br/>Apple Media Helpline,media.help@apple.com,(408) 974-2042<br/> […]

Apple launches app development program to support women entrepreneurs<br/>New Entrepreneur Camp Offers Immersive Technology Lab and More for Female App Developers who are Founders and Entrepreneurs<br/>Cupertino, California — Apple today announced the launch of the all-new Entrepreneur Camp, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to create new opportunities for app-driven businesses owned or led by women through an intensive technology lab, specialized support and ongoing mentoring. <br/>To be eligible for the program, applying app-driven businesses&nbsp;must be female-founded, co-founded or led and have at least one woman on the development team — as well as a working app or prototype and desire to leverage Apple technologies to benefit their mission. The program’s pilot session, beginning in January 2019, is now <a href="https://developer.apple.com/entrepreneur-camp/" target="_blank">accepting applications</a>.&nbsp; <br/>“Apple is committed to helping more women assume leadership roles across the tech sector and beyond,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We’re proud to help cultivate female leadership in the app development community with the new Apple Entrepreneur Camp, and we’re inspired both by the incredible work that’s already happening, and what’s sure to come.”&nbsp; <br/>“This is a program that matters,” said Gina Bianchini, investor and founder and CEO of Mighty Networks. “The new Entrepreneur Camp says Apple wants to invest its expertise in a different, richer, more diverse range of app developers and product experts in a meaningful way, and that is a big deal for the industry.” <br/>Entrepreneur Camp will hold sessions on a quarterly basis, with a cohort of 20 app companies accepted for each round. The pilot session will include 10 companies. <br/>Once accepted, each company will have the opportunity to send three attendees to Cupertino, California for a two-week immersive program at Apple’s campus, including one-on-one code-level assistance with Apple engineers, sessions on design, technology and App Store marketing, as well as ongoing guidance and support from an Apple Developer representative. Each participating company will also receive two tickets to the following year's WWDC. <br/>Female entrepreneurs continue to face challenges obtaining funding, training and support in the VC landscape — receiving $1.9 billion in funding in 2017 compared to $83.1 billion for men. Despite such obstacles, women-owned businesses are growing more than two times faster than the US national average, with women-led tech startups delivering a 35 percent higher return on investment than tech startups led by men.  <br/>For more information on Apple Entrepreneur Camp or to apply, visit <a href="https://developer.apple.com/entrepreneur-camp/" target="_blank">developer.apple.com/entrepeneur-camp</a>.  <br/>Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV. Apple’s four software platforms — iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay and iCloud. Apple’s more than 100,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it. <br/>Press Contacts<br/>Katie Clark Alsadder,Apple,kclarkalsadder@apple.com,(408) 974-9976<br/>Stephanie Saffer,Apple, ssaffer@apple.com ,(408) 974-5160 <br/>Apple Media Helpline,media.help@apple.com,(408) 974-2042<br/> […]

Apple brings coding education to more students for Computer Science Education Week<br/>Free Hour of Code Sessions Come to all Apple Store Locations Next Week<br/>Apple today unveiled new resources designed to bring coding education through the Everyone Can Code program to even more students around the world. Starting today, customers can register for thousands of free <a href="https://www.apple.com/today/collection/hourofcode/" target="_blank">Hour of Code</a> sessions, available at all Apple Store locations around the world from December 1 through 14. <br/>The company also introduced Swift Coding Club materials to help teach coding outside of the classroom with Swift, Apple’s easy-to-learn programming language used by professional developers to create world-class apps. And to help prepare and develop students for the workforce, the company unveiled new Advanced Placement curriculum and App Development with Swift certification. <br/>Today at Apple <br/>For the sixth year, Apple will host Hour of Code daily coding sessions through Today at Apple from December 1 through 14. The sessions will provide opportunities for people at a variety of skill levels to learn coding. Kids Hour sessions will help aspiring coders aged six to 12 explore coding with robots, while those aged 12 and above can attend sessions using Swift Playgrounds and iPad to learn coding concepts. <br/>More Ways to Introduce Students to Coding <br/>To celebrate Computer Science Education Week, Apple created a new&nbsp;<a href="https://apple.co/HOCFacilitatorGuide" target="_blank">Hour of Code Facilitator Guide</a>&nbsp;to help educators host sessions in their classroom using Swift Playgrounds and other iPad apps. Swift Playgrounds is available as a free download in the App Store in 15 languages, including English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese and Japanese. <br/>To teach coding outside of the classroom, a new <a href="https://apple.co/SwiftCodingClubKit" target="_blank">Swift Coding Club kit</a> gives teachers, students and club mentors the tools they need to start their own coding clubs. The new kit gives students aged 8 and up the ability to collaborate, prototype apps and explore how coding can make a difference in their communities using fun activities from Swift Playgrounds and App Development with Swift. <br/>Preparing Students for the Workforce <br/>The App Development with Swift curriculum gives high school and college students the critical skills they need to qualify for high-demand and high-skill jobs. In the next school year, Apple will release a free AP Computer Science Principles course syllabus and curriculum, giving high school students the opportunity to earn Advanced Placement (AP) credit for learning App Development with Swift. <br/>Students can also earn a certification that recognizes their knowledge of Swift, app developer tools and core components of apps. The App Development with Swift Level 1 certification exams are offered through Certiport Authorized Testing Centers worldwide. <br/>Apple and Education <br/>In 2016, Apple launched Everyone Can Code, a comprehensive program and curriculum to help students from kindergarten to college and beyond learn coding to solve problems and prepare them for the workforce. With teacher guides and lessons, students learn the basics on iPad with Swift Playgrounds, which uses real code to solve puzzles and control characters with just a tap. And App Development with Swift helps aspiring app developers build their first iOS apps. Today more than 5,000 schools, community colleges and technical colleges worldwide are using Everyone Can Code curriculum. <br/>Apple’s Everyone Can Code joins <a href="https://www.apple.com/education/everyone-can-create/" target="_blank">Everyone Can Create</a> as one-of-a-kind programs for teachers that help engage students in learning while building new skills in fun and meaningful ways. Designed to help unleash kids’ creativity, Everyone Can Create teaches students to develop and communicate ideas through drawing, music, video and photos on iPad. <br/>Press Contacts<br/>Ryan James,Apple, ryanj@apple.com ,(408) 862-5585<br/>Apple Media Helpline,media.help@apple.com,(408) 974-2042<br/> […]

Apple Champs-Élysées now open in Paris<br/>Apple Champs-Élysées opened this afternoon in Paris, welcoming thousands of customers along the world-famous shopping street. <br/>Press Contacts<br/>Nick Leahy,Apple, nleahy@apple.com, (408) 862-5012<br/>Abby Reisinger,Apple,areisinger@apple.com,(669) 227-3527<br/>Apple Media Helpline,media.help@apple.com,(408) 974-2042<br/> […]

Shot on iPhone X<span class="all-small-caps">R</span>: Users share portraits, landscapes and more <br/>Photographers around the world are capturing stunning images with iPhone X<span class="all-small-caps">R</span>, the newest member of the iPhone family. iPhone X<span class="all-small-caps">R</span> features an Apple-designed, state-of-the-art camera system that enables Portrait mode from a single lens, offering a sophisticated bokeh effect. Portraits look great on the wide-angle lens, even in lower lighting conditions.<br/>iPhone X<span class="all-small-caps">R</span>’s edge-to-edge 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display makes for a great viewfinder, and Smart HDR brings better highlight and shadow detail across photos. With the longest battery life in an iPhone ever, iPhone X<span class="all-small-caps">R</span> will be ready to snap that perfect shot.<br/>For tips and techniques to help capture great photos and videos on iPhone, visit <a href="https://www.apple.com/iphone/photography-how-to/" target="_blank">apple.com/iphone/photography-how-to</a>. <br/>Press Contacts<br/>Andrew Kelly,Apple,andrewkelly@apple.com,(669) 283-1423<br/>Fana Yohannes,Apple,fyohannes@apple.com,(408) 974-2246<br/>Apple Media Helpline,media.help@apple.com,(408) 974-2042<br/> […]

Final Cut Pro X introduces third-party workflow extensions<br/>Update Brings Extensions from Frame.io, Shutterstock and CatDV, Plus Other Features Including Batch Sharing, Video Noise Reduction and Comparison Viewer<br/>The latest update to Final Cut Pro X, available today on the Mac App Store, introduces workflow extensions that enable professional video editors to use third-party apps and services directly within the editing interface. <br/>Workflow extensions match the look of Final Cut Pro and integrate tightly into the app, allowing editors to drag media into Final Cut Pro libraries, sync playback between extensions and timeline, add clip markers and more. These extensions make it easy to use popular tools that enhance post-production including review and approval with Frame.io, stock footage browsing and purchasing with Shutterstock and media asset management with CatDV. Workflow extensions can be downloaded free from the Mac App Store starting today. Additional third-party extensions for Final Cut Pro will be available on an ongoing basis. <br/>The new version of Final Cut Pro also includes a number of features that are highly requested from pro video editors. Batch sharing allows a user to export multiple clips or projects in one step and is especially useful when transcoding dailies on set for quick turnaround or delivering multiple versions of a project. A new Comparison Viewer window lets editors view reference images while color grading to ensure a consistent look across their project. <br/>A new floating timecode window makes it easy for video editors and others in the editing room to follow along by displaying color-coded clip names, roles, project timecode and source timecode in a customizable, resizable display. High-quality video noise reduction minimizes artifacts in low light or archival footage. Editors can now create and deliver closed captions in SRT format or choose to burn them into their video for compatibility with a wide range of video websites. And improved marquee selection makes it quick to select individual clips or the entire secondary storyline which saves valuable time for common edit operations. <br/>Motion, the powerful motion graphics companion to Final Cut Pro, also gets an update today that adds a comprehensive set of color grading tools including color wheels, color curves, hue/saturation curves and custom LUTs. These tools match the professional color correction features found in Final Cut Pro and can now be used in Motion to fine-tune the look of titles and motion graphics. New filters in Motion include a customizable comic effect that instantly turns any image or video into a color or monochrome comic book illustration. And the new tiny planet filter lets motion graphics artists transform 360-degree video into beautiful spherical animations that can be keyframed to change over time. <br/>Compressor, the advanced encoding companion to Final Cut Pro, moves to a new 64-bit engine that takes advantage of all the memory in a user’s Mac for improved performance when encoding high resolution, high frame rate video. Compressor maintains support for 32-bit codecs, so editors can continue to work with key legacy formats. And the app now supports SRT closed captions, which is an important format for delivering captioned video to the web and international markets. <br/><strong>Pricing and Availability</strong> <br/>Final Cut Pro 10.4.4, Motion 5.4.2 and Compressor 4.4.2 will be available on the Mac App Store as free updates for existing users. New users can purchase the apps for <strong>$299.99</strong>, <strong>$49.99</strong> and <strong>$49.99</strong>, respectively. Education customers can purchase the Pro Apps Bundle for Education for <strong>$199.99</strong>, which includes all three pro video apps plus Logic Pro X and MainStage. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/" target="_blank">apple.com/final-cut-pro</a>. <br/>Press Contacts<br/>Starlayne Meza,Apple, starlayne_meza@apple.com ,(408) 974-3391<br/>Apple Media Helpline,media.help@apple.com,(408) 974-2042<br/> […]

Apple Champs-Élysées to open on famed Parisian avenue this Sunday<br/>Paris — Apple today announced its latest retail location, Apple Champs-Élysées, paying tribute to Paris’s rich history and creativity. Housed in a Haussmann-era apartment building, the inner courtyard has been transformed into Apple’s grandest Forum, dedicated to free Today at Apple sessions. <br/>Apple offers more than 18,000 Today at Apple sessions around the world every week, focused on creative passions like photography, music, coding and design. In the first week, Apple Champs-Élysées will host sessions with popular musicians, filmmakers, animators and more. <br/>“The energy in Paris is electric and it will be one of our premier cities for Today at Apple,” said Angela Ahrendts, Apple’s senior vice president of Retail. “I hope that everyone who visits Apple Champs-Élysées will be inspired to unlock their creative curiosity and learn something new.” <br/>A careful blend of historic and modern architecture, the store design honors the building’s past while introducing modern spaces. The facade and entryway have been meticulously restored and the Burgundy stone of the exterior has been carried throughout the building. French oak parquet floors line the upper levels, which aim to revive the building's original spirit by restoring the detailing and interconnected spaces of the quintessential Parisian apartment. <br/>“Working within a historic Parisian building is a great responsibility and a phenomenal opportunity,” said Jony Ive, Apple’s chief design officer. “Our first priority was to honor the history of the building, while thoughtfully updating it to create spaces both grand and intimate. The carefully interweaving layers are warm and light filled, celebrating the timeless spirit of the city.” <br/>Several of the design features also serve an environmental purpose. A sculptural roof light covers the courtyard, providing sunlight to the space below and generating renewable energy with integrated photovoltaic panels. An integrated rainwater collection system provides water for the bathrooms, trees and green walls. Like all of Apple’s facilities, Apple Champs-Élysées is powered by 100 percent renewable energy. <br/>More than 330 employees, including over 100 new hires, will welcome customers when the store opens Sunday. The group represents 15 nationalities and speaks 17 languages, with more than 200 employees joining from other Apple stores in Paris and around the world. Apple Champs-Élysées opens Sunday at 12 p.m. <br/>Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV. Apple’s four software platforms — iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay and iCloud. Apple’s more than 100,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it. <br/>Press Contacts<br/>Nick Leahy,Apple, nleahy@apple.com, (408) 862-5012<br/>Abby Reisinger,Apple,areisinger@apple.com,(669) 227-3527<br/>Apple Media Helpline,media.help@apple.com,(408) 974-2042<br/> […]