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In honor of Autism Acceptance Month, Apple released two videos featuring the life of a teenager named Dillan who uses Apple products to communicate and express his thoughts and creativity. Dillan is autistic and nonverbal, but he is insightful and creative with complex thoughts. Dillon has been using augmented and alternative communication apps for three years to help him communicate, and the videos show how integral the technology has become to his life.

With Apple’s Spring Event over and its new products, the iPhone SE and the smaller iPad Pro, on store shelves, it’s time to look to the future. What can we expect to see at WWDC in June? Hopefully everything the Spring event couldn’t provide (...Macbooks) as well as updates to iOS and OS X. Apple holds its Worldwide Developers Conference at the Moscone West convention center in San Francisco, California each year, and according to Macrumors, the only time frame potentially available at the convention center is June 13 to 17.

“Many people are telling us that the iPad Pro has become their primary computing device,” said Apple CEO, Tim Cook at last Monday’s Apple Spring Event. One question Tim, who? When the 12.9-inch iPad Pro was released last year, Cook said, “They will start using it and conclude they no longer need to use anything else, other than their phones.” Sure, that might be true depending on what you use your computer for; however, even then, there are major gaps between the two devices that have me rolling my eyes at another iPad and waiting for an updated Macbook.

Best 5 Features of iOS 9.3

By Conner Carey

A lot of people tell me that they are never the early adopters of new iOS updates, “I always wait at least three months.” I felt the same way before I started working for iPhone Life, but being immersed in all things iPhone has changed my perspective. If there were ever an update to download, iOS 9.3 is it. With new features like Night Shift Mode and Touch ID or passcode protection for the Notes app, there’s a lot to appreciate. Here’s the best five features iOS 9.3 provides and how to use them.

Between the ever-improving camera and amazing editing apps available, the iPhone has become more than just an amateur's tool for photography. If you’re someone who loves to take photos with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, consider entering this year’s IPPAwards, also known as The iPhone Photography Awards. There is a long list of categories photographers can choose from including Animals, Tree, Nature, People, Still Life, Events, Sunset, and more.

We all sat around the table as Tim Cook made his closing remarks saying, “this can’t be the end. It’s only been an hour. Is that it?” Beginning at 10 a.m Pacific Time, the Apple Spring Event was exactly what the rumors predicted with a couple unexpected features. Tim Cook began by addressing the ongoing controversy between Apple and the FBI stating, “we did not expect to be in this position, at odds with our government,” but, “We will not shrink from this responsibility.”

9.7-inch iPad Apple released today is the second iPad Pro. With over 1 million apps in the App Store for iPad and 600 million iPads active that are over five years old, Apple saw a market for a smaller laptop replacement. Even though the original iPad Pro is still fairly new, the iPad Pro line-up is clearly taking over. 

“The most powerful 4-inch iPhone ever.” Apple announces Special Edition iPhone with 64-bit A9 chip, giving it the same performance as the iPhone 6s but in a smaller package. So, the new iPhone will be faster than the iPhone 6s because of size alone. Plus, the iPhone SE will have improved battery life across the board. Apple has focused lots of attention on its camera with 12mp iSight camera, and it can capture Live Photos.  The iPhone SE has improved low light functions, slow motion functions, and can capture 4K video.

By now you’re aware of the fight on privacy and security taking place between Apple and the FBI. An iPhone 5c was recovered from the San Bernardino shooter after the terrorist attack back in December of 2015. In order to access the phone’s data, the FBI is citing the All Writs Act in its demand that Apple create a ‘GovtOS’ which would allow the agency to enter unlimited passcodes until the phone is unlocked. Tim Cook was recently interviewed by Time magazine on the matter, stating the whole ordeal feels like a “bad dream.”

Instagram is one of the few popular social networks that still shows content in chronological order. Soon, however, it’ll be adding algorithms for personalized social feeds. Similar to Facebook, Instagram will order the photos and videos based on “your relationship with the person posting and the timeliness of the post,” the company shared in a recent blog post.

True to my geek nature, I am more excited about Apple’s March event than a child on Christmas morning. And we’re less than a week away. Next Monday, March 21 Apple will (finally) hold its Spring event and introduce its first product line-up of 2016. Rumors have consistently predicted a 4-inch iPhone SE, smaller iPad Pro (or Air 3, who knows), additional Apple Watch bands, and one more thing. But Apple also loves to add a little spice to its announcements, so I’ve got my fingers crossed for a closing performance by Adele.

Richard Clarke, who led counterterrorism efforts for nine years during the Clinton and Bush administration says “Encryption and privacy are larger issues than fighting terrorism,” citing the example of the Obama administration which has said no to torture methods. NPR’s David Green then asks why he would compare the FBI’s request that Apple create an iOS backdoor to unlock the San Bernardino shooter’s iPhone with an extreme method such as torture, “that seems like a jump.” To which Clarke replied, “No, the point I’m trying to make is there are limits.”

On his show Last Week Tonight, John Oliver breaks down popular and often misunderstood subjects in factual and hilarious rants that take on any debatable topic and lays out all the cards. If you’ve been following coverage of the ongoing fight for iPhone encryption between Apple and the FBI, you’ll nod along, laugh, and gain further insight. If you haven’t, here’s your crash course. He begins, “You may not think about encryption much, but it is pretty fundamental to all of our lives.”

“Let us loop you in,” is Apple’s tagline for the March event, officially set to take place on March 21. Rumors as to whether the event would take place on March 15 or March 21 have been circulating for months and now we have our answer. On Thursday, Apple sent out its invitations to select press for its event in Cupertino, California. Apple is expected to debut the 4-inch iPhone SE and a smaller version of the iPad Pro.

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