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Apple's computers, smartphones, and other gear are all pretty cool, but lately Apple has been working building on its most outrageous and cool item to date: its new campus. The office building will be larger than the Pentagon and is designed with the latest technology. The building is longer than a mile in length and will house 13,000 employees in 2.8 million square feet of office space. Check out the video at the end of this post.

Taking the baton from Apple in the war on privacy, Microsoft is suing the Justice Department for the right to tell its customers when the government is looking at their emails. Microsoft receives thousands of government requests for emails and documents, and it wants to let its users know when the government is snooping on them. The lawsuit cites a violation of our Fourth and First Amendment constitutional rights.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

On Feb 25, Apple filed an official motion opposing the US court order for the company to help FBI unlock the iPhone 5c, recovered from the San Bernardino shooter. This controversial subject that has divided public opinion continues as more and more tech companies stand with Apple with even the United Nations coming to Apple’s defense. Last night, Craig Federighi, senior vice president of software engineering at Apple, published an op-ed with the Washington Post stating that to help the FBI would “slow our pace, reverse our progress, [and] puts everyone at risk.”

UN human rights chief, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein has warned “Pandora’s box” will be opened if the FBI can force Apple to comply with its demands. Following the San Bernardino shooting, the FBI recovered the shooter’s iPhone and filed a US court order which would require Apple to create a software to break into it. Apple has stated it never intended to create this iOS as the only way to protect data from the software is to never create it. Apple’s list of supporters has been growing with human rights groups and fellow tech companies coming to its defense. Now, the United Nations is standing with Apple too.

Apple has created an official Twitter support account, “We’re here to provide tips, tricks, and helpful information when you need it most.” Multiple other large companies use Twitter’s 140 character count to provide real-time support. @AppleSupport allows you to tweet the company regarding its products and services and get a direct reply back to your question. They’re even encouraging Direct Messages for further details on an issue.

Today, Apple’s general counsel Bruce Sewell will appear before the House Judiciary Committee. This is where the fight over whether or not the FBI should be allowed to force Apple to create a backdoor version of iOS comes to a head. Sewell will go up against a skeptical crowd including Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance and a number of House representatives who have been vocal supporters of the FBI’s stance in the past. Here’s the opening remarks Sewell will begin with and they’re worth the read.

We’re less than a month away from Apple’s first big event of the year. The latest rumors indicate Apple will hold its keynote event the week of March 21, instead of the previously thought March 15. Apple’s Spring event will likely be slightly smaller in scale; rumors indicate the company will hold the event at the Town Hall Auditorium on the 1 Infinite Loop campus. It was originally thought we’d see a new Apple Watch 2, but the rumor mill seems to now agree that will have to wait until September. Here’s everything you need to know about the products we do expect Apple to release in March.

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