Tag: Tim Cook

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Tim Cook Wishes Happy Holi With Picture Shot on iPhone

Tim Cook(twitter)

Cook shared an image on X, capturing the vibrant essence of the Holi festival, thanking Joshua Karthik, an award-winning photographer, for skillfully capturing the perfect shot….reports Asian Lite News

Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook extended wishes on Monday for the festival of Holi, conveying ‘Happy Holi’ to all who celebrate.

“Happy Holi to all who celebrate! Thank you @joshuakarthikr for sharing this beautiful #ShotOniPhone photo that captures the colorful festival,” Tim Cook said on X.

Cook shared an image on X, capturing the vibrant essence of the Holi festival, thanking Joshua Karthik, an award-winning photographer, for skillfully capturing the perfect shot.

Earlier in the day, US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti also extended Holi wishes to the people of India via a video message shared on X.

He said, “I want to wish everybody a very happy Holi. We have this amazing gujiyas, which has a little bit of an American twist with some pistachios in here, beautiful rose water. There’s no better way than to celebrate Holi across the Indo-Pacific together.”

Additionally, the Indian Embassy in US extended its greetings as well, wishing everyone a joyous celebration resplendent with colors and music, with festivities celebrating at Dupont Circle in Washington, DC.

In a video shared on X, the Indian Embassy in US captured the exuberant spirit of Holi celebrations. The video showcased a lively scene at DuPoint Circle, where people immersed themselves in the festivities, dancing joyously while playing with vibrant colors.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also extended wishes on the festival of Holi and called it a “joyful celebration of colour, love and new life.” He stressed that the message of renewal through the triumph of good over evil is an inspiration for the people of Australia.

In a statement, Albanese stated, “Happy Holi, Australia! Holi is a joyful celebration of colour, love and new life. The message of renewal through the triumph of good over evil is an inspiration for all Australians. For many Australians of South Asian heritage, Holi’s cultural and religious significance brings people together in celebration of their shared faith, history and heritage.”

Anthony Albanese recalled his Holi celebration in Ahmedabad in 2023. He said that he was honoured to experience the spectacular display of music, colour and traditional dancing.

“I was honoured to celebrate Holi in Ahmedabad, India, last year, and to experience the spectacular display of music, colour, and traditional dancing that define this lively tradition. However you mark the occasion this year – whether you gather with family and friends, eat, sing, dance or play with gulaal – I trust you will have a wonderful time,” Albanese said in a statement.

Last year, Anthony Albanese participated in Holi celebrations along with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and the Governor of Gujarat, Acharya Devvrat, at Raj Bhawan in the state capital Gandhinagar. (ANI)

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Education Lite Blogs

‘It has just grown from strength to strength’

The English medium BMC school is run by teachers and staff members who are part of The Akanksha Foundation, a non-profit organisation. The school currently has 470 students and 55 alumni, and each class has up to 40 students…writes Nishant Arora

Apple has always believed that education is the great equaliser for people and the tech giant will continue to expand education and skilling initiatives in India to connect more underprivileged kids to the mainstream, Apple CEO Tim Cook told on Wednesday.

Returning to India after seven years to launch Apple’s first own-branded retail store here, Cook paid a visit to Sitaram Mill Compound municipal school in Lower Parel area in Mumbai where Apple has integrated iPads and Apple TVs into the classrooms.

The English medium BMC school is run by teachers and staff members who are part of The Akanksha Foundation, a non-profit organisation. The school currently has 470 students and 55 alumni, and each class has up to 40 students.

“Since the founding of the company, we’ve been very focused on education. It’s very deep in our DNA. The programmes like this really make my heart sing because we can see our products live in a learning environment,” Cook told.

The Akanksha Foundation now runs 26 junior kindergarten through Grade 10 schools in economically-deprived areas in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur.

Student selection is done by lottery to ensure equity, and in addition to the core academic subjects, Akanksha places a strong emphasis on Socio-emotional and Ethical Learning.

Apple has sponsored their work since 2015. In addition to financial support, the company also helped them integrate iPad and Apple TV into their classrooms and several of their teachers have achieved Apple Professional Learning Specialist designation.

“You can clearly see how the learning cycles are accelerating these kids and the engagement that they bring is simply great. This education programme is something that really makes me happy and we would expand such programmes in India to help more kids leverage our technologies,” Cook noted enthusiastically, as local Mumbai trains continue to pass by.

Mandira Purohit is the school leader and has been with The Akanksha Foundation for 17 years.

According to her, iPads are helping kids develop creative and reading skills in a natural way and Cook’s first-ever visit to the school instilled a lot of confidence in not only kids but the entire teaching staff.

“iPads have changed the way teaching and learning is imparted here. We are sharing a lot of software skills when kids are working in groups or collaborating on various subjects. Moreover, Cook’s reactions to the kids as he visited their classrooms was very inspiring for all of us,” she told.

Cook also met Nirjala, an alumnus of the school who comes from a large family with six children that was heavily impacted financially by the pandemic.

Nirjala surprised her teachers by reaching the top 10 per cent of her class within two years. When she graduated two years ago, she was selected to be an alumni ambassador for her class, wherein she connects and coordinates engagement events for her classmates.

She represented Akanksha at a New York fundraiser hosted by Bollywood actor Boman Irani.

“It became so easy for us to learn with iPad and Apple TV in the classroom apart from books. Apps like Book Creator and iMovie and a host of other animation apps on iPad opened a new world for us,” Nirjala told Cook.

According to Chitra Pandit, Head of Communications and Development, they have been fortunate to have this Apple partnership going on since 2015.

“It has just grown from strength to strength. Next year. We’re going to have all our 26 schools with iPads and we can’t wait to see all our children learn in a better and effective way so that they can perform at higher levels like children from anywhere,” Pandit told .

For Cook, visiting the Sitaram Mill Compound municipal school was a heartening experience and the company will expand such initiatives to more schools and children in the country.

ALSO READ-Apple CEO impressed by 5-year-old Indian coding prodigy

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-Top News India News Tech Lite

Apple CEO impressed by 5-year-old Indian coding prodigy

Cook’s amazement at Ranvir’s talent led to an invitation for him to attend the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in early June…reports Asian Lite News

Five-year-old Ranvir Sachdeva is a testament to India’s immense potential in the realm of technology and coding. As a Grade 1 student in New Delhi, he is already an Apple Swift programmer, showcasing his skills to Apple CEO Tim Cook during the launch of Apple’s Delhi store, Khalsa Vox reported.

Cook’s amazement at Ranvir’s talent led to an invitation for him to attend the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in early June. This story of a young Indian coder not only highlights the incredible potential of India’s youth but also emphasizes the importance of coding in education. Ranvir’s father, Gurjot Sachdeva, beamed with pride as he described his son’s exceptional abilities in mathematics and logic. He also noted that at just five years old, Ranvir is the youngest child in his class, where most students are 6-7 years old. This prodigious talent is a source of pride for not only Ranvir’s family but also the broader Indian community, Khalsa Vox reported.

Tim Cook has long advocated for the inclusion of coding in school curricula, stressing its importance as a “global language” that can empower students to create world-class products and solve real-life problems. He believes that coding should be introduced at an early age in schools worldwide, including in India.

Cook’s statement that “if you only learn one language in your life, make it this one” underlines the transformative potential of programming knowledge, Khalsa Vox reported.

To support young coders like Ranvir, Apple has taken significant steps to distribute powerful applications to schools and institutions throughout India. This effort complements the company’s commitment to empowering developers through its App Accelerator in Bengaluru.

Apple’s support for India’s budding programmers is exemplified by Jaskaran Singh and Jay Firke, both winners of Apple’s ‘2022 Swift Student Challenge.’

Cook’s emphasis on coding education resonates with the incredible potential of India’s youth, who stand poised to shape the global technology landscape. The story of Ranvir Sachdeva, a five-year-old coder who has captured the attention of Apple’s CEO, serves as an inspiration for Sikhs, Indians, and aspiring programmers everywhere, Khalsa Vox reported.

With proper education and support, India is well-positioned to become a forerunner of tech genius minds, leading the charge towards a more innovative and interconnected world. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Chenab Bridge leaves Tim Cook in awe

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Business Education India News

‘Indian schools must embrace coding’

Apple CEO Tim Cook said that everyone should learn programming before they graduate from high school…writes Nishant Arora

Coding is the only global language and I wish that more Indian students, including girls, learn coding early in school days so that they can create world-class products and solve real-life problems as they grow up, Apple CEO Tim Cook has stressed.

In an interaction with IANS during his India visit last week, Cook said that coding is one thing schools worldwide including in India should embrace early in children’s lives.

“Coding is the only global language. It is a way to express yourself and arguably, we need more of that in the world and bring the world closer,” said Cook, who has always emphasised that coding should be taught as early as elementary school.

Cook told IANS that everyone should learn programming before they graduate from high school.

“It is the most important language you can learn. A programming language is a way to tap into your creativity and unleash it to the world,” he added.

The Apple CEO has always emphasised on including coding in school curriculum, saying a four-year degree is not necessary to be proficient at coding.

Apart from empowering developers via its Bengaluru-based App Accelerator, Apple has taken another significant leap: nurturing young talent in coding across schools and colleges in the country via powerful apps.

For young coders, Apple offers Swift which is a powerful open language that lets everyone build amazing apps.

Last year, Patiala-born Jaskaran Singh and Pune-based Jay Firke were among more than 350 students from 40 countries and regions who were selected as Apple’s ‘2022 Swift Student Challenge’ winner for showcasing extraordinary coding skills.

Singh developed a productivity app called ‘Nudges: Minimal To-Do’, which is available on the App Store.

Firke, 21, is a self-taught developer and learnt coding using online resources. Having studied at MacroVision Academy in Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh, he is focused on working in the AI and AR space and his submission with ‘PushARBall’ was completely AI driven.

The ‘Swift Student Challenge’ is part of Apple’s Worldwide Developers’ Conference (WWDC).

Moreover, Xcode is an integrated development environment (IDE) for macOS containing a suite of software development tools.

In Cook’s words, every kid should learn to code as coding is the most important second language they can learn.

“Coding is one of the most valuable skills a person can learn. It can open new doors, jumpstart careers, and help big dreams seem like achievable goals. Everyone around the world should have an opportunity to learn how to code,” according to the Apple CEO.

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-Top News India News

Chenab Bridge leaves Tim Cook in awe

Tim Cook is currently in India for the launch of two Apple stores. The first was launched in Mumbai on Tuesday while the second retail store was unveiled in Delhi on Thursday…reports Asian Lite News

On his visit to India, Apple chief executive officer (CEO) Tim Cook on Wednesday evening met Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at the Railway Ministry office in the national capital.

As Cook walked through the office of the Railway Ministry, he stopped to see the photograph of the Chenab Bridge right outside Vaishnaw’s cabin. Seeing the photo, Cook’s instant reaction was “Wow.”

In a video shared by Railway Minister Vaishnaw, he could be seen explaining to the Apple CEO the significance of the Chenab bridge which is currently under construction. He told Cook that the Vande Bharat train would be running on this railway bridge by December this year.

“This bridge connects the northern state of Kashmir. And this bridge is about 30 metres taller compared to the Eiffel Tower,” Vaishnaw told Cook. On this, the Apple CEO replied “Wow”.

Vaishnaw further said, “Again fully designed in India, we recently commissioned the railway track over it. And by December we will be running the Vande Bharat train on this.”

“Oh wow! that is special! Wow!” reacted Tim Cook.

Notably, Vande Bharat trains are one of the most ambitious projects of the Modi government with these semi-high-speed trains connecting the length and breadth of the country

“India laid about 5,000 kilometres of new tracks. 5000 kilometres of new tracks is like setting up a completely new network equivalent to what Switzerland has. Switzerland is about 5,200 kilometres. So, it is like setting up one whole new Switzerland rail line. That is the pace with which the country is working,” the Railway Minister said.

Tim Cook’s response was “That is amazing!”

On Wednesday evening during his meeting with the Railway Minister, the Apple CEO was presented with a special memento – a replica of the Vande Bharat train.

Taking to Twitter after the meeting, Vaishnaw said “Met with Tim Cook, CEO, Apple. Discussed deepening Apple’s engagement in India across manufacturing, electronics exports, app economy, skilling, sustainability and job creation, especially for women. Jointly charting a long-term and strong relationship.”

The Apple CEO met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. Minister of State for IT and Electronics Rajeev Chandrasekhar also met the tech giant’s CEO on Wednesday. Cook expressed confidence about a long-term working relationship with India.

Tim Cook is currently in India for the launch of two Apple stores. The first was launched in Mumbai on Tuesday while the second retail store was unveiled in Delhi on Thursday.

Viewing India as its long-term market, the iPhone manufacturer has expressed interest in expansion plans, including manufacturing the latest products.

Currently, the employment strength of Apple in India stands at 1 lakh. Sources said this is expected to go up to 2 lakh in the coming years. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Tim Cook opens Apple’s first retail store in India

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Business India News

Tim Cook set to unveil India’s first Apple store

Reports surfaced earlier this year that Cook-led Apple will quickly shift some of its China manufacturing to India and Vietnam in the next 2-3 years…reports Asian Lite News

As Apple firms up its plans to put India on its global manufacturing and retail map, the company’s CEO Tim Cook will be in India next week to inaugurate Apple’s brick-and-mortar stores in Mumbai and Delhi.

Reliable sources told IANS that Cook will inaugurate Apple’s own branded retail stores — at Jio World Drive Mall in Mumbai and at Select CityWalk mall in Saket, Delhi — that will be the first for the tech giant which has doubled down on its India growth plans.

Apple set another all-time revenue record for the India market in the quarter that ended December 31, 2022.

In the analysts’ call after posting its quarterly results, Cook said, “India is a hugely exciting market for us and a major focus.

“We brought the online store there in 2020. We will soon bring Apple Retail there,” Cook had announced.

Tim Cook(twitter)

“I’m very bullish on India,” he added.

According to the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), Apple’s ‘Make in India’ smartphone now constitutes 50 per cent of total exports.

Reports surfaced earlier this year that Cook-led Apple will quickly shift some of its China manufacturing to India and Vietnam in the next 2-3 years.

India is likely to produce 45-50 per cent of Apple’s iPhones by 2027, at par with China, where 80-85 per cent of iPhones were produced in 2022, according to estimates.

India accounted for 10-15 per cent of iPhones’ overall production capacity at the end of 2022.

Apple became the first smartphone player in India to have exported $1 billion worth iPhones in the month of December.

It currently manufactures iPhones 12, 13, 14 and 14 Plus in the country.

As Apple gears up to throw open the gates of its first branded retail store in India this month, its physical stores have left an indelible impression on millions worldwide.

For millions of Indians, visiting an Apple Store in the country will be a delightful experience. Those who have a constant yearning to be ‘delighted’ at Apple Stores at world-famous tourist spots, India will soon be on the Apple’s retail global map.

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Business

Tim Cook takes big pay cut

Tim Cook(twitter)

Cook’s base salary of $3 million and his annual cash incentive of $6 million will remain the same….reports Asian Lite News

Apple CEO Tim Cook has taken a huge pay cut of $35 million, or more than 40 per cent of his compensation, amid challenging global macroeconomic conditions.

According to a new regulatory filing in the US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), Cook’s pay will drop from $84 million in 2022 to $49 million in 2023, at his own recommendation, reports The Verge.

The pay change is entirely from an adjustment in his equity value.

In 2022, that value was estimated to be worth $75 million. However, that drops to $40 million this year amid the economic slowdown.

Cook’s base salary of $3 million and his annual cash incentive of $6 million will remain the same.

The compensation committee on Apple’s board acebalanced shareholder feedback, Apple’s exceptional performance, and a recommendation from Mr. Cook to adjust his compensation in light of the feedback received,” read the SEC filing.

“Cook actually made $99.4 million in 2022, according to the filing,” the report said.

Amid iPhone production challenges in China owing to Covid-related disruptions, Apple’s market cap has dropped $1 trillion from its peak a year ago.

Like many other tech companies, Apple has been hit by supply chain issues.

Its manufacturing in China has taken a hit due to a fresh wave of Covid infections in the only major economy combating such a crisis.

While Apple’s market value has declined significantly, other major technology companies have experienced steeper percentage declines.

Amazon and Facebook-parent Meta’s shares have fallen by about 50 per cent and 63 per cent, respectively, over the past year, said the report.

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Business Europe

Tim Cook urges employees to donate for Ukraine

Cook said that Apple is working to support their teams in Ukraine and across the region…reports Asian Lite News
Apple CEO Tim Cook has said that the tech giant will match employee donations two-to-one in an email sent to employees addressing the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

Cook mentioned that Apple will do so retroactively for donations made since February 25, reports The Verge.

“I know I speak for everyone at Apple in expressing our concern for all of those affected by the violence. With each new image of families fleeing their homes and brave citizens fighting for their lives, we see how important it is for people around the world to come together to advance the cause of peace,” Cook said in the email, which was obtained by the website.

“Apple is donating to humanitarian relief efforts and providing aid for the unfolding refugee crisis. We are also working with partners to assess what more we can do. I know that many of you are eager to find ways to support as well, and we want to help amplify the impact of your donations,” Cook wrote in the email.

“Starting today, Apple will match your donations at a rate of 2:1 for eligible organisations, and we will make this retroactive for donations to those organisations since February 25. Please visit the Employee Giving Portal to learn more,” he added.

Cook said that Apple is working to support their teams in Ukraine and across the region.

“In Ukraine, we have been in contact with every employee, assisting them and their families in any way we can. For our Ukrainian team members located outside of the country that may need support, please contact (email redacted). And for any employee who needs any support, please visit the People site for available resources,” Cook wrote.

The Apple CEO mentioned that the company has paused all product sales in Russia. Last week, Apple stopped all exports into its sales channel in the country. Apple Pay and other services have been limited.

RT News and Sputnik News are no longer available for download from the App Store outside Russia. And Apple has disabled both traffic and live incidents in Apple Maps in Ukraine as a safety and precautionary measure for Ukrainian citizens.

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