ExtraBITS for 8 July 2013
The dog days of summer roll on and so do our ExtraBITS. Apple’s Back to School sale is going on now, and it’s a great opportunity for teachers and students to save on Apple hardware. America’s Independence Day has come and gone, but if your neighborhood is like ours, the fireworks just won’t stop — we have a guide to take the best possible photographs of them. Finally, we highlight designer Christa Mrgan’s incisive critique of iOS 7.
Christa Mrgan’s Critique of iOS 7 — Christa Mrgan, a designer for Rogue Amoeba, has written a thorough critique of iOS 7 for Macworld. While she applauds Apple’s bold design choices, she points out several concerns with the design. Be sure to scroll down to read user Hamranhansenhansen’s long comment (click Show More), which features a well-argued defense of iOS’s previous skeuomorphic designs.
A Guide to Photographing Fireworks — Last week featured Independence Day in the United States, and that means fireworks! As beautiful as they can be, they’re tricky to photograph. Darren Rowse of Digital Photography School has a list of tips so you can take the best firework pictures possible.
Apple Launches Back to School Sale — Despite it being barely the end of the school year in some places, Apple’s annual back to school sale is now live, offering a $100 App Store gift card with the purchase of a Mac and a $50 card with the purchase of an iPad or iPhone. To qualify, you must be a college student, a student accepted into college, a parent purchasing for a college student, or a teacher of any grade level. Educational pricing also applies to Mac purchases, potentially saving you up to $200.