GAB’er Page: 1 October 9 , 2018

THE GAB’ER
Newsletter of the Greater Albany AppleByters: November,
2018
GAAB is celebrating its 35th year (2018-2019) with our informal meeting format.
The next meeting will be:

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

7:00 PM
at
Panera Bread
161 Washington Ave Ext, Albany, NY
A map can be found at the GAAB website at
http://applebyters.com/index.php/meeting-
information/meeting_map/
GAAB Meeting Agenda
Greetings and Dinner
Discussion: Topics presented by members and
News from Apple including Mac OS X and iOS Updates

GAAB Help Desk: Bring your questions

No Meeting in December because of the Holidays

Contact GAAB at our Website: 1

http://applebyters.com
GAB’er Page: 2 October 9 , 2018

Apple invents a next-gen Battery Design to better protect against Drops,

Weather Conditions and more

Posted by Jack Purcher on November 10, 2018 at 08:38 AM in 1. Patent Applications, Devices,
Components | Permalink

Earlier today Patently Apple discovered a next-gen battery patent application filed in Europe.
As devices get smaller, better battery designs must be able provide users with better
protection against every-day bumps, grinds and drops. The core of the invention focuses on
a battery design for next-gen Apple products such as the iPhone, iPad, MacBooks and Apple
Watch. In the bigger picture, Apple believes the basic principles of the battery design could
scale to cover cars and right on through to "space travel equipment."

Apple notes in their patent filing that batteries, battery cells, and more generally energy storage
devices, may be made from a host of materials. As battery-powered devices continue to
shrink, internal batteries that power them are forced into ever smaller form factors as well. In
one sense, a battery may be reduced in size by reducing capacity, or more specifically
reducing the amount of active material contained within the battery. However, as consumers
continue to expect longer time of use in smaller designs, the amount of active material within
a battery not only may be maintained, but designs may seek to increase both the volume
occupied by active material and the amount of power produced by the active material.
Because of the tension between volume within a battery and amount of space that may be
used for active material, space within the battery for other components may be constrained
even more.

In tandem with the physical reduction in device size is the more robust use of devices. From
phones, media players, and fitness devices, to wireless components that may be used in
conjunction with the devices, consumers are utilizing devices in daily activities that can expose
the devices to more intense conditions, including more routine bumping, dropping, weather

Contact GAAB at our Website: 2

http://applebyters.com
GAB’er Page: 3 October 9 , 2018

exposure, as well as almost constant use. This may require more robust designs and
components for both the general device and the battery contained within the device.

When the devices being powered are small, such as watches and fitness devices, or wireless
devices requiring dedicated batteries such as earphones and health monitors, more robust
designs can be difficult to produce when the scale of the battery may be a few millimeters or
less.

The present technology addresses many of these issues by incorporating features and
components that may produce more robust battery designs, while limiting volume occupied by
components aside from the cell material. Many of the batteries described may be on a scale
of a few millimeters or less, and internal components may be even smaller. By utilizing
particular components and configurations as described throughout the application, the present
technology may provide more robust designs that maintain high capacity for long periods of
use.

Although the remaining portions of the description will routinely reference batteries that may
be on a relatively small scale, it will be readily understood by the skilled artisan that the
technology is not so limited.

The present designs may be employed with any number of battery or energy storage devices,
including other rechargeable and primary, or non-rechargeable, battery types, as well as
electrochemical capacitors also known as supercapacitors or ultracapacitors.

Moreover, the present technology may be applicable to batteries and energy storage devices
used in any number of technologies that may include, without limitation, smartphones and
mobile devices, wireless accessories including monitors, earphones, and speakers, handheld
electronic devices, laptops and other computers, appliances, heavy machinery, transportation
equipment including automobiles, water-faring vessels, air travel equipment, and space travel
equipment, as well as any other device that may use batteries or benefit from the discussed
designs.

Apple's patent FIG. 1 below illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of an energy storage
device #100 which is a cylindrical battery which may be a rechargeable battery in
embodiments, although energy storage device #100 may also be a primary battery, such as
an alkaline battery. The batter may be partially or substantially cylindrical, although in certain
embodiments the energy storage device #100 may be rectilinear.

Apple's patent FIG. I below shows a schematic cross-sectional view of their newly proposed
battery design.

Contact GAAB at our Website: 3

http://applebyters.com
GAB’er Page: 4 October 9 , 2018

Contact GAAB at our Website: 4

http://applebyters.com
GAB’er Page: 5 October 9 , 2018

Apple's patent FIG. 5 above illustrates a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the new
battery design. The illustration includes a view of a lower portion of the battery including
housing #105, the set of electrodes #115, and second insulator #150.

Without second insulator, or some other insulative device, a short may occur during operation
or during an event such as a drop, which may deform the separator 118 and allow contact
between cathode active material and the housing

Lastly, Apple notes that the design for a battery could be rectangular but also may include a
rolled configuration, such as a jelly roll, stacked, prismatic or pouch-style cell in other
embodiments.

Apple's patent application was originally filed in Europe back in Q2 2018 and published last
Thursday November 8, 2018. Aspects of the invention are from Apple patents filed in 2017.
Considering that this is a patent application, the timing of such a product to market is unknown
at this time.

Some of the other Battery related Patents from Apple

01: Apple Granted a Patent for Solid-State Battery Technology for Portable Devices and
Beyond

02: Apple invents a new Battery Design that will Increase Performance while better Protecting
our Devices

03: New Apple Trend Shows Ongoing Research into Solid-State Battery Technology

04: Apple Revisits a Battery Charging System Patent to include Small Sport-Type
Headphones and more

05: The Race is on for Next Generation Fuel Cell Powered Devices

Compared: 2018 MacBook Air versus 13-inch MacBook Pro and

2017 MacBook Air
By AppleInsider Staff
Saturday, November 10, 2018, 09:16 am PT (12:16 pm ET)

Apple's brand new 2018 MacBook Air is the line's second major redesign since Steve Jobs
pulled the original out of a manila envelope more than 10 years ago. We compare the new
thin-and-light model to its predecessor, and the step-up to the 2017 13-inch MacBook Pro
without Touch Bar.

Contact GAAB at our Website: 5

http://applebyters.com
GAB’er Page: 6 October 9 , 2018

Comparing the sizes of the 2017 and 2018 MacBook Air

Like other Mac portables, MacBook Air is now offered in three different color options: silver,
space gray and gold. We selected the gold, a color that matches the gold stainless steel
Apple Watch Series 4 and gold iPhone XS, a nice touch for those who like their devices to
match.

Design

The 2018 MacBook Air looks extremely similar to the MacBook Pro, apart from a couple of
key attributes borrowed from the previous Air. The trademark tapered wedge shape is back
and continues to contrast against the more boxy slate design of the Pro. The new Air also
features a cutout in its lower case for grabbing and lifting the display open, a notch that looks
identical to the one on the previous MacBook Air.

One standout feature on the new 2018 MacBook Air is Touch ID. That arrives thanks to the
T2 Chip, which not only handles biometric authentication, but also SSD encryption, Hey Siri
support and more. Neither of the other MacBooks that we're comparing have Touch ID,
which is now limited to the new MacBook Air and Touch Bar MacBook Pros.

Other than that, everything else about the new MacBook Air is akin to MacBook Pro. From
the display to the keyboard, the speaker layout, the large force touch trackpad, the lack of a
backlit Apple logo and metal hinge design, the designs of the two laptops are eerily similar.

Contact GAAB at our Website: 6

http://applebyters.com
GAB’er Page: 7 October 9 , 2018

MacBook Air Trackpad comparison

Comparing the size of the new MacBook Air to the previous model, it's easy to see that new
version is quite a bit smaller, both in length and width. As far as the weight, the new Air is a
quarter of a pound lighter at 2.75 pounds.

At its thickest point, the new MacBook Air is around the same thickness as the previous
MacBook Air would be if its display was removed. The Air extends out a little bit longer than
last year's model, so its thinnest edge is slightly thinner.

Comparing the wedge and ports on the MacBook Air

The new Air is basically identical to the MacBook Pro when stacked one atop the other.

Contact GAAB at our Website: 7

http://applebyters.com
GAB’er Page: 8 October 9 , 2018

From the side, the wedge shape becomes apparent and makes Air appear thinner than it
really is; The Air is actually thicker than the Pro by .02 inches.

One thing we noticed while using the MacBook Pro since its last redesign in 2016 is that its
leading edge cuts into our wrists while typing. That does not happen with the new Air
because the wedge design tapers down to almost nothing. Further, the keyboard slopes
downward toward the user instead of maintaining a flat surface like the Pro.

MacBook Air is friendlier to the wrist when typing versus the MacBook Pro

Apple's push to streamline Mac I/O ports continues with the new Air. The older MacBook Air
has an abundance of ports, including an SD card slot, a Thunderbolt 2 port, two USB-A
ports, a headphone jack and of course, the MagSafe connector, while the latest iteration is
identical to the Pro in that it nets two Thunderbolt 3 ports and a headphone jack.

Performance

In a Geekbench 4 evaluation, the 2018 MacBook Air with 1.6GHz Intel Core i5 CPU with
4MB L3 cache scored turned in scores of 4,246 and 7,788 in single- and multi-core testing,
respectively. The 2017 13-inch MacBook Air scored 3,312 in single-core and 5,971 in multi-
core, while the 2017 13-inch MacBook Pro scored 4,524 in single-core and 9,554 in multi-
core.

Contact GAAB at our Website: 8

http://applebyters.com
GAB’er Page: 9 October 9 , 2018

Comparing MacBook Air Geekbench CPU results

Based on those results, the new Air is close to the Pro in terms of single-core performance,
and basically right smack in the middle of both devices in terms of multi-core performance.

One thing to think about is that the new MacBook Air's processor is Intel's 8th gen CPU, so it
should be faster at transcoding HEVC files despite scoring slower in benchmarks.

Looking at the Air's Intel UHD 617 Graphics with Geekbench 4's Metal test, the machine
scored 21,865 points compared to 17,970 on the previous Air and 30,961 on the MacBook
Pro. Interestingly, there wasn't that big of a difference between the MacBook Airs, but the
Pro expectedly saw around 40 percent better graphics scores.

Metal benchmarking results for the MacBook Air

Contact GAAB at our Website: 9

http://applebyters.com
GAB’er Page: 10 October 9 , 2018

Batteries and power adapters

The 2018 MacBook Air comes with a 50.3Wh battery compared to 54Wh on the previous Air
and 54.5Wh on the 13" MacBook Pro. Apple claims the Air's battery is good for up to two
hours of wireless web browsing, up to 13 hours of iTunes movie playback or up to 30 days of
standby time.

Both the 2017 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro run 15-watt dual-core processors, while the
new MacBook Air packs a 7W dual-core processor, so the new Air should be more battery
efficient than its stablemates.

The new MacBook Air comes with a 30W USB-C power adapter, which is slightly updated
from the old 29W adapter. It also comes with a USB-C to USB-C charging cable, so it looks
like MagSafe is quickly becoming a footnote in Mac history.

The previous MacBook Air came with a 45W MagSafe power adapter while the 13"
MacBook Pro comes with a 61W USB-C power adapter, more than double the wattage of
the adapter that comes with the new MacBook Air.

Displays

The biggest complaint about the previous generation MacBook Air was its display. The
resolution was a very low 1,440-by-900 pixels. It featured an LED-backlit TN panel, which is
known for having some pretty terrible viewing angles. Shifting the display to the side, the
colors and contrast start to get really washed out.

Contact GAAB at our Website: 10

http://applebyters.com
GAB’er Page: 11 October 9 , 2018

For 2018, MacBook Air gets a 13.3-inch Retina display with a 2,560-by-1,600 pixel
resolution.

Even though the 2018 MacBook Air has the same Retina resolution as the MacBook
Pro, it's actually lacking P3 wide-color gamut support. We didn't think that we would
be able to notice a difference, but just by having them side by side, the Pro boasts
more contrast and richer colors.

2018 MacBook Air vs 2017 MacBook Pro Color Reproduction Comparison

Contact GAAB at our Website: 11

http://applebyters.com
GAB’er Page: 12 October 9 , 2018

That's not the only difference we noticed. Laptop Mag found the new MacBook Air's screen
brightness is capped at 234 nits, while the 13-inch MacBook Pro averages 458 nits. Not only
that, but the previous generation MacBook Air measured in at 336 nits of brightness.

If you're a casual user, you'll most likely be very happy with the Retina display in the new
MacBook Air, but if you're somebody that often uses their laptop outside, or you do color
grading or photo editing, we would suggest going with the MacBook Pro.

Keyboards and trackpads

The new MacBook Air uses Apple's third-generation butterfly switch keyboard, similar to the
one that comes on the new 2018 MacBook Pros. The first and second generation butterfly
keyboards experienced issues with sticky or dead keys because dust and debris were able
to find their way into the mechanism and block the key contacts.

This new keyboard features a silicone barrier which helps prevent debris from making its
way under the keyboard. Because of the silicone, the keyboard has a different kind of feel to
it, softer and less "clicky," which we personally prefer, but some may not like it.

The previous MacBook Air featured the traditional chiclet-style keys, which we like, but to be
honest, the new keyboard is definitely better. You also get individually backlit keys on the
new Air, compared to global backlighting on the previous model.

The 2018 MacBook Air gets a Force Touch trackpad like the 13-inch Pro. Once you've
experienced this trackpad, it's almost impossible to go back to diving board trackpad that
came on the previous MacBook Air.

2017 MacBook Air vs 2018 MacBook Air Trackpad size

Contact GAAB at our Website: 12

http://applebyters.com
GAB’er Page: 13 October 9 , 2018

The new Air's trackpad is quite a bit larger than the 2017 model's trackpad, but is smaller
than the trackpad on the 2017 MacBook Pro by a decent amount, even though the exterior
dimensions are almost identical.

Audio

The new MacBook Air's speakers look identical to the ones on the 13-inch MacBook Pro, as
compared to the speakers on the previous MacBook Air which are actually hidden beneath
the keyboard.

MacBook Air speakers, compared

We ran a quick sound comparison and found that the new MacBook Air sounds noticeably
louder and more clear than the previous model, especially in terms of bass, which was
surprisingly punchy and deep.

However, the 13-inch MacBook Pros speakers blew the new MacBook Air out of the water.
They were noticeably louder and the highs were much more crisp and bright as well. Bass
seemed to sound equally good on both machines, but the new MacBook Air's overall quieter
mids and highs accentuated the bass.

Pricing and deals

Contact GAAB at our Website: 13

http://applebyters.com
GAB’er Page: 14 October 9 , 2018

Looking at pricing, Apple is still selling the previous MacBook Air for $999. The new
MacBook Air has an $1,199 MSRP, while both the 2017 13" MacBook Pro and 2017 12"
MacBook retail for $1,299. However, you can get the 2018 MacBook Air on sale for $1,149
or the 2017 13" MacBook Pro without Touch Bar for $1,199 from Apple authorized resellers,
putting both systems within $50 of one another.

The greatest savings, however, comes with the 2018 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar,
which is currently $150 off with coupon code APINSIDER when used with this shopping link
at Adorama. Adorama also will not collect sales tax on orders shipped outside New York and
New Jersey, further adding to savings for many shoppers.

To view the latest deals leading up to Black Friday, as well as up-to-date product availability,
be sure to visit our Mac Price Guides.
Topics:

Top 6 Educational Technology Trends Right Now

https://elearningindustry.com/educational-technology-trends-top-right-now
By Khushboo Jobanputra
May 30, 2018

Technology today is helping teachers to enhance their teaching beyond traditional text-
based learning and engage students with practical ways of learning. In this article, you will
find what kind of technologies will be used for education in the future for the betterment of
students.

ImageFlow/Shutterstock.com

Keeping Pace With edTech: The Top Educational Technology Trends

Education is increasingly becoming high tech. All the things that are happening in the world
of technology are directly impacting education and learning systems. Why this is bound to
happen, how our teachers, learners, and education systems as a whole are keeping pace

Contact GAAB at our Website: 14

http://applebyters.com
GAB’er Page: 15 October 9 , 2018

with them, is a big concern. Here we are going to introduce 6 high tech approaches to
education.

1. Custom Learning Experiences

Learning methodologies and experiences should never be the same for everyone, but the
earlier education systems could never accommodate the custom learning experience as
there were too many limitations. Thanks to modern technology in education, we can really
initiate custom teaching and learning methodologies and experiences in our present day
educational infrastructure. With modern gadgets and interfaces, now one can initiate
learning based on their need, preference, and availability.

Instead of the one-size-fits-all approach to classroom education, mobile apps development

for education unleashed a new way of need-based learning. For instance, a junior surgeon
now can seek guidance for a critical procedure during the operation right through his mobile
app.

2. Cloud Computing

More than any other technology, cloud computing unlocked the door of high tech education.
The anytime-anywhere accessibility of information stored in remote cloud servers of the
apps made it possible to access courseware and educational materials from any device and
from anywhere. You can continue reading a book and collaborate with other students and
teachers about your homework just through any device and at any time. Besides the ease of
access and collaboration, cloud-based education apps solved the problem of storing data as
well.

3. Speech-To-Text Options

A vast majority of devices and app platforms are now coming with virtual assistant apps and
features like Apple’s Siri. Such smart assistants responding to voice commands make
things even easier for learning. Moreover, the speech-to-text feature, coming with most
devices, makes note taking and writing even more comfortable and fast-paced.

4. Virtual And Augmented Learning Experiences

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality have come as s big boost to online education. Thanks
to VR and AR learners can actually get an immersive learning experience without needing to
move their legs too much. If you want to learn about space objects just by running a 3D
space video on your VR headgear, you can float in space while a background voice
continues depicting you the Milky Way in detail. Similarly, real-time broadcasting of critical
surgical operations allows medical students to learn through a more immersive experience.

Contact GAAB at our Website: 15

http://applebyters.com
GAB’er Page: 16 October 9 , 2018

5. 3D Printing

3D printing, which is also known as prototyping, allows students to learn with a more
tangible and physical experience. A student can easily shape his idea of an object thanks to
3D printers. With 3D printing, students can give shape to their imagination. In any institution,
3D printers will only help students to unleash their creative ideas and have more hands-on
experiences.

6. Learning Analytics

Thanks to the increasing pace of high tech adoption of the educational system, learning data
is increasingly becoming important to drive decisions and make decision-making procedures
easier. The huge volume of education information and data give birth to learning analytics,
as it is increasingly important to assess and evaluate student engagement, traction, and
learning output. In the near future, we can see learning analytics warning teachers about
certain issues, warning students about deadlines and their progress, etc. Eventually,
learning systems will dictate the way education is remitted by teachers and experienced by
learners. Learning analytics will boost learner engagement in education more than anything
else.

Final Word

These 6 high tech approaches have changed the entire traditional approach to education. In
simple words, technology has provided teachers and learners with a new and enhanced way
of interacting during the learning process. Yes! Technology has a profound impact on
today's youth.

Educational TechnologyEducational Technology TrendsFree Educational Technology

The best collection of eLearning articles, eLearning concepts, eLearning software, and
eLearning resources.

Contact GAAB at our Website: 16

http://applebyters.com