Portland area events calendar

Apple has officially announced its “Spring Loaded” event for April 20th, its first major product announcement of 2021. Unlike a lot of Apple’s events, its spring events tend to be a bit more scattershot: one year might see high-end iPads , another a more education-focused event , or a launch of a comprehensive service strategy . This year, rumors are pointing to a refreshed iPad Pro lineup , potentially with Apple’s first Mini LED panels — which would bring a big jump forward for the company’s tablet displays. But we could also see new AirPods, the company’s long-rumored AirTag trackers, a new iPad Mini, and more. The proceeding should kick off at 1PM ET on Tuesday, but if you’re looking for an early preview, here’s what you can probably expect to show up. iPad Pro It’s been over a year since Apple’s last refresh of the iPad Pro, and the 2020 model — a fairly iterative update to the 2019 version — is starting to get a little long in the tooth, especially compared to … [Read more...] about What to expect from Apple’s ‘Spring Loaded’ event

You've probably seen most of Marvel's films , but what about the TV shows? Timelines in the world of comics and movies can be more than a little confusing. And now, as we see Disney Plus launch its first Marvel series, things are about to get even more confusing. After more than a decade of movies, TV shows, shorts and post-credits scenes, there's a lot to work through in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And WandaVision has forced us to rethink how we've built this original list and what we thought we knew was -- and was not -- a part of the MCU . Editors' note, April 13, 2021: We've starting Phase 4, if Disney's Investor Day announcements are any indication (finally, maybe; well, who knows actually?), and we *still* have Black Widow to look forward to, coming July 9. Thing is, this beast of a timeline hasn't been updated in a while because, well, because there haven't been any film releases since the last round -- plus 2020 was hard, and no new releases … [Read more...] about MCU timeline: How to watch all 23 Marvel movies in the perfect order

The messaging app Snapchat is once again the focus of acquisition rumors as a new report claims that the company recently turned down a $3 billion offer from Facebook . According to sources in contact with The Wall Street Journal , Facebook made an offer of “$3 billion or more,” but Snapchat cofounder Evan Spiegel is opting to wait until 2014 in hopes of a better valuation for the company. See also: How to See When Someone Unfriends You on Facebook When contacted for comment regarding the acquisition report, a Facebook spokesperson told Mashable , "We don't comment on rumors and speculation." In October, the Journal put out a similar report , claiming that Facebook had offered to acquire Snapchat for $1 billion. Still another report in October indicated that Snapchat was looking to raise a round of funding that would value the company at roughly $3.5 billion. Snapchat did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Do you think Snapchat should … [Read more...] about Report: Snapchat Turns Down $3 Billion Offer From Facebook

Investor worries regarding the growing number of potentially overfunded tech companies seemed to have died down in recent months, but new information surrounding popular app Snapchat could renew talk of a tech bubble. Facebook offered $1 billion in a bid to acquire photo-sharing app Snapchat, according to The Wall Street Journal , citing sources briefed on the matter. Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel reportedly turned down the offer, although sources did not specify when the offer took place. See also: How to Change Your Facebook Relationship Status Without Alerting Friends That $1 billion number may sound familiar because it’s exactly what Facebook paid to acquire another photo-sharing app, Instagram , just last year. The deal was roundly lauded as a move that could help bolster Facebook's staying power, as it struggles to hold onto users who are growing tired of blogging about their lives, instead preferring to share photos via mobile apps. Similarly, acquiring … [Read more...] about Facebook Reportedly Offered $1 Billion to Acquire Snapchat

Environmentally friendly smartphone cases are rapidly proliferating as more companies are making an effort to manufacture products out of recycled or biodegradable materials. And sometimes cases are made out of both recycled plastic and plant-based materials that are biodegradable. Eco cases can look and feel slightly different from standard thermoplastic polyurethane, or TPU, cases -- particularly the wooden ones -- but most people wouldn't even realize you were using an eco-friendly case unless you told them. Many offer good drop protection and all the cases on this list are compatible with wireless chargers. Earth Day 2021 is April 22, and hopefully we'll see some sales on eco-friendly cases at that time. It's also worth noting that many of these cases are available for earlier iPhone models, including the iPhone 11 and iPhone XS , and many of those cases are discounted. Read more : Best iPhone 12 and 12 Pro cases Compostable option Torro Eco … [Read more...] about Best eco-friendly iPhone 12 and 12 Pro cases for Earth Day and beyond