MCCC Software Developer Academy Offers First Course In Pottstown

Pottstown, PA —Montgomery County Community College’s (MCCC) Software Developer Academy (SDA) will offer the first course in its new, part-time iOS Developer Program in Pottstown starting June 6.

The inaugural, seven-week course—iOS Application Development—will meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 6-10 p.m. at MCCC’s West Campus in the Sustainability and Innovation Hub, 140 College Drive, Pottstown. Optional, guided lab time will be available to students on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The course runs through July 28. To learn more, visit http://www.mc3.edu/sda.

Through a generous gift made to MCCC’s Foundation, students who are selected for admission into the inaugural course will receive full-tuition scholarship, valued up to $2,350. Supplemental hardware may also be provided based on need.

The iOS Developer Program is designed to prepare students to become entry-level mobile developers who are capable of creating applications for Apple devices such as the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. In the first course students will learn to use the appropriate programming languages and tools necessary to work as professional iOS developers.

“Our goal is for students to learn the skills they need to work as developers. But, just as important, they’ll also learn how to be positive and contributing members of the technical community, which is critical for their career development,” explained Assistant Professor of Computer Science Jason Wertz, who is coordinating MCCC’s SDA.

According to Wertz, the program is ideal for existing developers who are looking to change careers or for programmers who are new to the industry. To be considered for admission, applicants should have at least one year, or equivalent, of programming experience in a modern object-oriented programming language like C# or Java. This prerequisite can be met through work experience or coursework. Prior knowledge of iOS is not required.

Prospective students must complete an online application, available at http://www.mc3.edu/sda, as well as an in-person or video chat interview. Admission decisions will be made within a week of the interview.

Future courses in the iOS Developer Program will include Advanced iOS Application Development; User Interface, User Experience and Accessibility Design; Development Methodologies; Career and Personal Development; and Developer Essentials.

To learn more, visit http://www.mc3.edu/sda or contact Jason Wertz at jwertz@mc3.edu.

MCCC To Launch Full-Time Software Developer Academy In January

Blue Bell, PA —Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) invites students to unleash their digital creativity by enrolling in its new Software Developer Academy (SDA), set to launch in January.

Modeled after coding boot camps that are springing up in major cities across the country, MCCC’s SDA will immerse students in a 12-week, full-time program designed to kick-start their careers in software development while engaging them in the local tech community.

The SDA will offer a four-tract program in iOS mobile application development that will prepare students to become entry-level mobile developers capable of creating applications for Apple devices like the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.

The course is taught at MCCC’s Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, and runs Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., starting Jan. 25 and continuing through April 22. Students are required to attend full-time. To learn more, visit http://www.mc3.edu/sda.

According to the online boot camp directory Course Report, the average cost of attending a coding boot camp in the United States is close to $10,000. The cost for MCCC’s pilot SDA is $6,500—and that’s before factoring in scholarships and other forms of aid that may be available.

“We’re almost half the cost of other coding programs in the area,” explained Assistant Professor of Computer Science Jason Wertz, who is coordinating MCCC’s SDA. “Plus students benefit from being part of a campus community at an accredited college. It’s a great learning environment for this type of work.”

To help defray the cost of attending, scholarships are available through MCCC’s Foundation, and the program has been approved for Pennsylvania Career Link funding for individuals who qualify. Group pricing for employers may also be available.

In a recent study of 48 boot camps across the country, Course Report found that three-quarters of graduates were employed, with raises averaging 44 percent from their pre-boot camp pay.

“Our goal is for students to learn the programming languages and tools necessary to work as a professional iOS developer. But, just as important, they’ll also learn how to be a positive and contributing member of the technical community, which is critical for their career development,” said Wertz. “We’ll help students identify ways to keep themselves on track within their chosen career paths and develop an online presence that helps them present their expertise to others.”

To be considered for admission, applicants should have one year, or equivalent, of programming experience in a modern object-oriented programming language like C# or Java. This prerequisite can be met through work experience or coursework. Prior knowledge of iOS is not required. Prospective students must complete an online application, available at http://www.mc3.edu/sda, as well as an in-person or video chat interview. Admission decisions will be made within a week of the interview.

To learn more, visit http://www.mc3.edu/sda or contact Jason Wertz at jwertz@mc3.edu.

RadioShack Decline Belies Its Longevity

By Fort Worth Star-telegram

Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014, 9:00 p.m.

FORT WORTH, TX — During nearly a century in retailing, RadioShack has reinvented itself time and again as the American consumer moved from primitive radio kits to ever-sophisticated audio equipment, CB radios, and computers and wireless phones.

But now the Fort Worth-based consumer electronics pioneer finds itself tethered to a bygone era, with its 4,000 company-owned stores as much a burden as a benefit, its website delivering only modest returns in this cyber age and competitors — from behemoths such as Amazon.com and Wal-Mart to wireless providers — attacking on all fronts. The company warned recently that bankruptcy could be near if it can’t secure financing.

Just nine years ago, RadioShack enthusiastically opened its new $200 million headquarters, a complex of 900,000 square feet situated majestically on 38 acres on the banks of the Trinity River. With a 500-seat cafe, an open floor plan and a fitness center, it was supposed to help propel the chain to greater entrepreneurial heights.

Read more: http://triblive.com/business/headlines/6848703-74/radioshack-stores-company#ixzz3Ej79tvLU
Follow us: @triblive on Twitter | triblive on Facebook

Cold Winter, Cool Spring Bring Mixed Results For Lehigh Valley, N.J. Farmers

English: Apples on an apple-tree. Ukraine. Русский: Яблоня со спелыми плодами. Украина. Latina: Malus domestica (Borkh., 1803) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This winter’s cold temperatures that stuck around until late spring have curbed apple production at one local orchard, although local vineyards say the grapes are some of the best they’ve ever seen.

Tianna DuPont, an educator for sustainable agriculture at the Penn State Cooperative Extension, said the growing season started out about three weeks late, although recent warm weather is helping plants catch up.

Matty Matarazzo, the owner of Four Sisters Winery in White Township, expects a smaller than usual yield of apples this year. He said they’ll grow enough for the winery’s apple wine but not an abundant amount.

Bob Best, of Bests Fruit Farm in Independence Township, said the cool spring threatened his crops initially, but once the weather warmed up the produce started to grow.

Read more: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/breaking-news/index.ssf/2014/07/despite_cool_start_growing_sea.html

24th Annual PA Apple ‘N Cheese Festival This Weekend In Bradford County

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Bradford County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Saturday, October 5th, 2013  10am-6pm

Sunday, October 6th, 2013  10am-5pm 

Juried Crafts • Fine Arts & Photography Show • Quilts
Weaving Demo • Hand-blown Glass • Blacksmith Demo
Chainsaw Carving • Wine & Cheese Tasting
• Continuous Free Entertainment • Wood Turning
Apple Butter Making • Children’s Activities • Cider Pressing
Apple & Cheese Desserts • Apple Displays •Broom Making Demonstration 

 • 40 Palate Pleasing Food Vendors •

Festival Admission

Adults – $5.00

Children 13 – 18 – $3.00

Directions: http://www.paapplecheese.com/directions/index.html

Children 12 and Under – Free

Report: Sony To Axe 10,000 Jobs In Turnaround Bid

 

The logo of Sony is not considered a "work of authorship" because it only consists of text in a simple typeface, so it is not an object of copyright in respect to US law. However, this logo is still protected by trademark laws. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Japan’s Sony Corp. is cutting 10,000 jobs, about 6 percent of its global workforce, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Monday, as new CEO Kazuo Hirai looks to steer the electronics and entertainment giant back to profit after four years in the red.

The job cuts would be the latest downsizing in Japan Inc where companies from cellphone maker NEC Corp. to electronics firm Panasonic Corp. are trimming costs in the face of a strong yen and competition from rivals like Apple and Samsung Electronics.

TV makers in particular have been hit hard by the tough business climate as well as sharp price falls, with Sony, Panasonic and Sharp expecting to have lost a combined $17 billion in the fiscal year just ended.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/business/chi-sony-to-axe-10000-jobs-in-turnaround-bid-20120409,0,38906.story

Pottsgrove Manor, October 22 “An Apple a Day – the Colonial Way!”

Image via Wikipedia

Pottstown, Pennsylvania — Enjoy autumn at Pottsgrove Manor with “An Apple a Day, the Colonial Way” on Saturday, October 22^nd from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Pottsgrove Manor’s staff and volunteers will demonstrate some of the ways our colonial ancestors used apples. Learn how apples would be made into hard cider, and try your hand at working the cider press. Watch the colonial cooks as they make apple butter and other historic apple recipes. Young visitors can make themed crafts to take home.

At 1:00 pm, master gardener Jane Irvin-Klotz will present a talk called “Apples: They Built America,” which will explore the importance of apples to early Americans, including the man we know as Johnny Appleseed.

In addition to the demonstrations and activities, the first floor of the manor house will be open for self-guided tours, and the museum shop will be open all day. Apple cider and cookies will also be available for purchase.

A donation of $2 per person is suggested for this program.

Pottsgrove Manor, home of John Potts, colonial ironmaster and founder of Pottstown, is located at 100 West King Street near the intersection of King Street and Route 100, just off Route 422, in Pottstown,Pennsylvania.  Pottsgrove Manor is operated by Montgomery County under the direction of the Parks and Heritage Services Department. 

Regular museum hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. & Sunday, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Tours are given on the hour; last tour of the day begins as 3:00 p.m. Groups of 10 or more should pre-register by calling 610.326.4014. For more information and a full calendar of events, visit us on the web at http://historicsites.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor

or http://www.facebook.com/PottsgroveManor.

J.C. Penney Snags Apple Senior VP Ron Johnson – Look For Big Changes

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With just okay sales and growth, J.C. Penney has lagged behind competitors like Kohl’s and Macy’s.  J.C. Penney has taken a bold step into the light to try to reclaim more market share.

In November, Ron Johnson, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Retail will become J.C. Penney’s new CEO.  One only has to visit an Apple store to see what exciting changes may be in store for one of America’s most iconic retailers.  Apple stores are generally crowded!  Apple stores have customer-centric employees and make the most of current technology.  Imagine what applying these principles would do for your J.C. Penney shopping experience! 

Ron Johnson’s leadership has contributed to a record level of growth for Apple’s retail stores.  Johnson previously worked for Target.

To read the rest of the story from the New York Times, click here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/15/business/economy/15shop.html

City Of Reading Buys iPads For Some Employees

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An interesting article from the Central Pennsylvania Business Journal about Reading buying 11 iPads for some city employees as a cost saving measure.  Make sure to read the comments.  I suppose this would be considered a one time investment and would pay for itself over time.

http://www.centralpennbusiness.com/index.php?showpage=bloglists&url=thegadgetcube/?p=529