The death of college as we know it: Apple’s Schoolwork 2.0
Now, like never before, opportunities abound to participate in the radical and sudden transformation of the educational process. Apple had started the process with its Schoolwork app, but has accelerated the release of version 2.0 to make sure the company secures a strong foundation in the educational market. CNET
dis-rup-shun: Classroom apps are not new, nor are virtual classes. Millions of students and tens of thousands of teachers around the world, however, are now expert on the challenges and triumphs of online teaching and it is here to stay. As companies such as Apple redefine the learning experience to be Internet-centric and generally more convenient online, classrooms become unnecessary nice-to-haves. Colleges — meet your competition — it is headquartered in Cupertino, California and doesn’t lose.
Apple glasses — can they succeed?
Apple has been rumored for a handful of years to be producing smart glasses that combine AR into a new form factor. The latest rumor is the Apple Glass will cost $499 before prescription lenses. As CNET rightly points out, for Apple Glass to catch on and not befall the fate of Google Glass, the glasses must be comfortable, everyday accessories that replace our current glasses.
dis-rup-shun: Recall when you learned that Apple was going into the watch business. First reactions may have been doubt that Apple could pack sufficient technology onto a wrist and that the category was dying with younger people using smartphones to track time. Now Apple enjoys the largest share of smartwatches and the category is the highest growth segment of its product line. Let’s hope Apple can make glasses smart, and bring augmented reality to the everyday, not to mention making eyeware more exciting than even Warby Parker has done.
Clubhouse app, highly exclusive and highly valued
How does an app with only 1,500 users and no website get valued at $100 million? The answer is exclusivity. You have to know someone special to get access to this rarefied social network that hosts video discussions between such as MC Hammer, and venture capital titans Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz. Users can browse and enter virtual rooms where there may one or more celebrities available for chat. CNBC
dis-rup-shun: It’s all about access, and people are willing to pay handsomely to get access to influential people. This raises the question, if this app is successful at drawing a bigger audience, will the audience be getting the access they crave? Unlike essentially every other app, perhaps Clubhouse is not about scale, but is about paying high prices for access to inaccessible people.
Apple acknowledges the facial recognition problem
If you have been fighting your iPhone for facial recognition while you are wearing a mask, Apple understands, and has reduced the time between facial recognition failure and pop up of the keypad for code entry. CNBC
dis-rup-shun: While this is helpful, Apple users still have to struggle to attempt to unlock their phones to make a mobile payment while holding their groceries while masked. Using location tracking and AI, Apple should enable your phone to understand your behavior and remain unlocked as you navigate your regular grocery store or pharmacy — struggling to read your on-phone grocery list and make an electronic payment at checkout.