Iceland Soccer Team Continues to Surprise at Euro 2016

This is What’s Trending Today... International soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal said the Iceland soccer team at the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament was “not going to do anything.” His comments came after Iceland tied Ronaldo’s Portuguese team 1-1 in the first week of the tournament. Then Iceland tied Hungary. Then, it beat Austria. And Iceland advanced to the elimination rounds of the tournament. Few expected Iceland to make it that far. American comedian and television show host Stephen Colbert enjoyed the Icelandic announcer as he reacted to the game-winning goal against Austria. The announcer screamed, as if he could not believe what had happened. Colbert talked about the announcer’s excitement on his late-night television show. He joked that his show’s TV network, CBS, might want to consider hiring that announcer to add excitement to its sports programs.  Iceland faced mighty England on Monday. No one gave the team from Iceland a chance to beat England. After all, only a few players on the team are well-known outside of Iceland. England has players from famous teams like Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City. But on Monday, Iceland continued its unbelievable journey. Behind goals from Ragnar Sigurdsson and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, Iceland defeated England, 2-1. And soccer fans around the world are still reacting to Iceland’s “Cinderella story.” The phrase refers to the famous story of Cinderella. In the fairy tale, Cinderella is the overlooked beauty who catches the eye of the prince at a big party. In sports, the phrase is used for teams that unexpectedly win at major events. Before the game against England, Iceland had never won an elimination game at a major international tournament. Ahead of the tournament, England’s team was ranked 11th in the world. Iceland was ranked 34th. Iceland may be in the middle of a soccer revolution, says Vice Sports. The country has invested money in the sport in recent years. It has built more large buildings where teams can play soccer indoors. This is important in a place like Iceland, where the weather sometimes makes it impossible to play outdoors.  Before the tournament, Iceland was not seen as a contender for the European championship. One writer put together a silly explanation of how the team from Iceland was chosen. She said the team was made up of 23 men who had nothing better to do in June and July. But soccer fans now respect the team from Iceland. Many viewers enjoyed the way the players gathered to celebrate with their fans. They stood together, raised their hands above their heads, and clapped slowly before ending with a loud cheer.   Iceland’s players look like they have found a way to win, playing good defense and waiting for opportunities to attack. But they will be tested again on Sunday against the tournament’s host nation, France. Once again, many people think it will be difficult for Iceland to win against a team filled with international superstars. But after the win against England, anything seems possible. Iceland’s team manager said “now… every obstacle in their way is going to look smaller.” And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Mehrnoush Karimian-Ainsworth.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. His story was based partly on reports from The Guardian, ESPN and the Associated Press. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Who do you think (or hope) will win the Euro 2016 tournament? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   obstacle – n. an object that you have to go around or over : something that blocks your path superstar – n. an extremely famous and successful performer, athlete, etc. host – n. a group that organizes an event and provides the things that are needed for that event. clap – v. to hit the palms of your hands together usually more than once silly – adj. playful and funny elimination – n. the act of removing something (from a tournament) contender– n. a person who has a good chance of winning something in a contest

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Could Have, Would Have, and Should Have

From VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar. Today we will take a look at the modal verbs could have, would have and should have. These past tense modals are useful for expressing your present feelings about a past decision (or other action). Could have, would have, and should have are sometimes called “modals of lost opportunities.” They work like a grammatical time machine. The simple past just tells what happened. Past modals tell what could have, would have, and should have happened. To form these past modals, use could, would, or should followed by have, followed by a past participle verb. Use have for all pronouns; never use has or had to form a past modal. Here are some examples: She could have gone to any college she wanted to. I would have gone to the party, but I was tired. He should have told the truth about what he saw. Each of these modals has a slightly different meaning. We’ll look at each of them using examples from movies and popular songs. Could have We’ll start with could have. Could have means that something was possible in the past, but it did not happen. I could have gone directly to college, but I decided to travel for a year. Listen to this song by 1980s teen pop star Tiffany. The singer is thinking about past possibilities with her lost love. Could have been so beautiful Could have been so right Could have been my lover Every day of my life Native speakers often do not pronounce their past tense modals as clearly as Tiffany. Could have been usually gets contracted to could’ve been or even coulda’ been. Listen to Marlon Brando in the classic film “On the Waterfront.” Brando’s character, Terry Malloy, was once a promising young boxer. “You don’t understand. I coulda’ had class. I coulda’ been a contender. I could have been somebody—instead of a bum.” To form the negative with these modals, use not between could and have. Could not have means that something was impossible in the past. For example: She could not have been on that flight because I just saw her at work. ”Defense lawyers often use could not have to argue for a client’s innocence. A popular compliment in English is, “I couldn’t have said it better myself.” You can say this when you like the way somebody said something. It is a way to show strong agreement. Would have Let’s move on to would have. Would have is a bit more difficult because it has two common structures. The first is with but. I would have A, but I had to B. Use this structure to show that you wanted to do something in the past, but you could not.  I would have called, but there was no phone service.  I would have loaned you the money, but I didn’t have any. Would have also forms the result clause of a past unreal conditional. For example: If I had known they were vegetarians, I would have made a salad. You can always reverse conditional sentences. If would have comes first, there is no comma. I would have made a salad if I had known they were vegetarians. Past unreal conditionals are very complex; you can learn more about them on a previous episode of Everyday Grammar. Usually, would have suggests a bad feeling about the past. But not always. In this song by the band Chicago, the singer is surprisingly happy that his ex-girlfriend cheated on him. Her infidelity gave him the opportunity to meet someone else. And that someone else turned out to be his true love. If she would have been faithful If she could have been true Then I wouldn’ta been cheated I would never know real love I would've missed out on you Should have Finally, let’s look at should have. Should have means that something did not happen, but we wish it had happened. We use should have to talk about past mistakes. A worried mother might say, “I was so worried about you. You should have called!”  Should have is common in apologies. For example: I’m sorry that I’m late for work. I should have woken up earlier. You might remember Lieutenant Dan in the movie Forrest Gump. In the movie, Dan loses both of his legs in the Vietnam War. He would have died, but Forrest saved him. Listen for should have as Dan confronts Forrest. “You listen to me. We all have a destiny. Nothing just happens. It’s all part of a plan. I should have died out there with my men. But now I’m nothing but a cripple!” Should have can be used in a light-hearted way. In this song, country singer Toby Keith imagines how exciting his life would be if he had chosen to be a cowboy.   I should’ve been a cowboy I should’ve learned to rope and ride Wearing my six-shooter Riding my pony on a cattle drive I couldn’t have said it better myself. As you can see, these modals of lost opportunities offer a colorful way to talk about past choices. That’s all for this week. Join us next week for more Everyday Grammar. I’m John Russell. And I’m Dr. Jill Robbins. Adam Brock wrote this article for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   modal verb – n. a verb (such as can, could, shall, should, ought to, will, or would) that is usually used with another verb to express ideas such as possibility, necessity, and permission contender – n. a person who tries to win something in a game or competition bum – n. a person who is lazy or who does something badly compliment – n. a comment that says something good about someone or something vegetarian – n. a person who does not eat meat infidelity – n. the act or fact of having a romantic or sexual relationship with someone other than your husband, wife, or partner confront – v. to oppose someone, especially in a direct and forceful way cripple – n. a person who cannot move or walk normally because of a permanent injury or other physical problem six-shooter – n. a kind of gun (called a revolver) that can hold six bullets (often used to describe guns used in the old American West) cattle drive – n. the process of moving cows from one place to another  

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Report: Women Prisoners Tortured in Mexico

Five years ago, police stopped Veronica Razo on a street in Mexico City and took her to federal prison. She was beaten, tortured with electrical shocks and raped. Today, she is still awaiting the finish of her trial. She is one of a large number of women who were tortured after their arrest, according to a report by Amnesty International. The rights group said its report is based on meetings with or statements from 100 women who were jailed in Mexico. All of them reported torture or other abusive treatment, it said. Thirty-three reported being raped while in detention. Erika Guevara-Rosas is a human rights lawyer and Amnesty International’s Americas Director. She said the jailed women are victims of what she calls Mexico’s “so-called war on drugs.” “They are usually seen as easy targets by authorities who are often more eager to show they are putting people behind bars than to ensure they are finding the real criminals,” she added. Guevara-Rosas said that, in Mexico, “sexual violence” has become a routine part of how police question criminal suspects. Veronica Razo was charged with being part of a kidnapping ring. Amnesty International asked why it has taken so long for a court to decide her case. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto traveled to Canada this week for talks with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Barack Obama. The Mexican leader said his government is making progress on human rights. “Our government has made an important effort to advance issues related to human rights,” he said. “We still have work to do. However, I think we are moving in the right direction towards having human rights being fully respected.” The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported on the talks. It said Philippe Couillard, premier of Quebec Province, expressed concerns about human rights during a meeting with Pena Nieto on Monday. Couillard said that Mexico is “moving in the right direction.” When Razo was arrested, her daughter was seven and her son was 13, according to Amnesty International. They are now 13 and 18. Amnesty says the son is unable to go to college because of all the money it has cost to pay lawyers defending his mother. Amnesty International provides other examples of women it says were abused after their arrest. It said that Tailyn Wang was seven months pregnant when federal police officers broke into her house in 2014. The police took her to a police station. After being beaten and sexually abused by the police, she miscarried, Amnesty International said. The fetus was not yet viable and died. I’m Ashley Thompson.   VOANews.com reported on this story. Bruce Alpert adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   authorities – n. people who have power to make decisions and enforce rules and laws eager – adj. very excited to do something ensure – v. to make something sure, certain, or safe routine –​ adj. done very often​ ring – n. a group of criminals who plan and carry out crimes together advance – v. to move forward viable – adj. capable of living or of developing into a living thing  

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Olympic Chief: Zika Not Top Concern at Rio Games

Excitement is building for the 2016 Summer Olympics.   The opening ceremony will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on August 5. For months, news media have been reporting on Rio’s dirty water, mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus, transportation and security issues. That does not sound promising for a city expecting famous athletes, government leaders and visitors from around the world for the games. But during a recent visit to VOA’s headquarters in Washington, Olympic Organizing Committee chief Sidney Levy said something surprising: his top concern is not the Zika virus. Zika spreads to human beings through mosquito bites. Experts are especially concerned about infected mosquitoes biting pregnant women. They say this could cause microcephaly, which is linked to brain defects from birth. Sidney Levy said he has 4,000 people working to make Rio’s sports centers ready for the 2016 Olympics.  “Today, I have 4,000 people working for myself. In the fields, in the beaches in the parks, in t-shirts, and I have not a single case of Zika. So we really think this is not a threat.” Levy defended his claim. He said a study by researchers at England’s Cambridge University shows the likelihood of getting infected with Zika during August in Rio is one-in-1 million. Still, some athletes have expressed concerns about competing at the 2016 Olympics. The Irish golfer Rory McIlroy said recently he would not travel to Rio because he was worried about Zika. And a group of 150 doctors, scientists and bioethicists wrote a letter to the World Health Organization. They want the Olympics moved or postponed because of Zika. Levy said workers have been using insecticide products in the city for months and they will continue to do so during the games. Insecticides are designed to kill insects. Also, August is winter in Earth’s Southern Hemisphere. This should mean somewhat cooler temperatures and fewer active mosquitoes. With so many people coming into Brazil, Levy told VOA he is more concerned about security and transportation. The city of Rio de Janeiro has been making improvements to its public transport system. It has new underground rail lines, new roads, new light trains and buses. Levy said he thinks more than four times as many city residents will use public transportation after the games than before. “So when we decided to do the games, the main question is, ‘Why to do the games?’ Why go into that such complicated effort? And there is just one answer. Is for: ‘What can the games do for your city?’ That's what really the matter. And we decided to do a major transformation of the public transportation system in Rio de Janeiro. We decided that seven years ago, and we went for that." Rio is home to more than six million residents. About 500,000 more people are expected to visit there during the Olympics. City officials are preparing for the large number of arrivals. They also plan to use 85,000 security officers during the games. Only two years ago, the World Cup finals were played in Rio. And an estimated two million people crowded the city’s streets during the visit of Pope Francis. Sidney Levy said city officials learned from that experience and plan to use the same system to keep people safe. Levy seems happy with the way Olympic organizers prepared for the games. He said they kept working even when faced with other issues, such as the impeachment trial of Brazil’s president. But he admitted to being dissatisfied with one aspect of the Games preparation. The water of Guanabara Bay is still not clean. Some Olympic sailing events are to be held in the bay. Right now only 50 percent of the sewage flowing into those waters is being treated. Levy said he hoped the number would be closer to 80 percent. But there have already been two test sailing events. And none of the competitors got sick. "And we are able to run the competition. We will run the competition. No athlete is going to get sick. But we failed to clean the waters for the population." If the water is not clean in time for the Olympics, Levy says the sailing events will be moved to another area. I’m Dan Friedell. Jeff Swicord wrote this story for VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. How do you think the city of Rio de Janeiro is doing in preparing for the 2016 Olympics? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   sewage – n. waste material (such as human urine and feces) that is carried away from homes and other buildings in a system of pipes impeachment – n. the act of charging a public official with a crime done in office bioethicist – n. an expert in biology and medicine who understands the rules of good and bad behavior birth defect – n. a problem, disease or fault contracted before birth that makes a baby not perfect

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News Words: Genocide

The meaning of this news word carries weight when used to describe horrific events.

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US Government Using Social Media to Determine Terror Threats

  The United States government is increasingly using social media to investigate people who may represent a security threat to the country.   The latest example comes from the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection office. It wants to ask foreign visitors to provide information about their accounts on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. An optional – or non-required – question would be added to the form that people must complete before entering the United States. The form asks information like the person’s name, phone number, and countries they have visited since 2011. The proposed social media question would only concern travelers who do not need a visa to enter the United States.  Travelers from 38 countries are permitted to enter the U.S. without a visa. The Customs and Border Protection office said in its proposal that adding the question would affect about 24 million people. There is a 60-day comment period for the public to share their opinion about the proposal. Congress Also Proposing Social Media Bills U.S. lawmakers have also proposed bills concerning the use of social media for researching possible terrorism links.   Senator John McCain sponsored a bill that would require the Department of Homeland Security to look at internet activity and social media profiles of anyone seeking entry to the United States.  Senators Martin Heinrich and Jeff Flake sponsored a bill that would permit the Department of Homeland Security to “search open source information, including internet and social media postings” of people applying for a visa to enter the U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer has proposed a different plan to help officials search for possible terror links. He wants to reward people who send officials terrorism-related information from social media posts. Anyone whose information leads to the arrest of someone planning an attack in the U.S. would be paid money. Schumer’s proposal would make use of the Justice Department’s Rewards for Justice program. Schumer said that investigators need the public’s help. Schumer said he wants to award people who come forward with information anywhere from $25,000 to $25 million. In the House of Representatives, Congressman Stephen Fincher proposed a bill that centered on stopping prisoners from becoming radicalized.  His bill would require volunteers in federal prisons to provide their social media accounts during their background investigations.  Fincher called U.S. prisons a “breeding ground” for Islamic radicalization. Chris Hannas reported this story for VOANews.com. Mehrnoush Karimian-Ainsworth adapted the report for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.   ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story     optional – adj. available as a choice but not required sponsored – v. to introduce and support (a proposal) in a legislative assembly breeding ground – expression. a situation or place in which bad things can easily begin to develop We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.   

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Settlements, Recalls Announced For Volkswagen and Toyota

  Volkswagen’s emissions cheating will cost the company at least $15 billion in the United States alone. On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Volkswagen would make the largest-ever automobile buy-back offer in U.S. history. Reports that Volkswagen had cheated on emissions tests in the U.S. first came out late last year. Investigators found that the German automaker had installed software in its vehicles that produced false test results. It would reduce the cars' pollution levels during testing. So, the vehicles would wrongly pass U.S. pollution tests. Owners of about 500,000 Volkswagen automobiles in the U.S. will now be able to sell their vehicles back to the company for a fair price. The owners will also be paid up to $10,000 each. The car maker will also pay about $5 billion for U.S. programs that promote no-emission vehicles and reduce air pollution in general. The Volkswagen cars involved created 40 times more pollution than is permitted in most U.S. states. The scandal affected 11 million vehicles worldwide. Volkswagen must repair or buy 85 percent of the cars by June 2019 or else it will face more punishment. The settlement resolves the largest class-action lawsuit in U.S. automotive history. But the legal process is not yet over. Volkswagen and the Department of Justice have not decided what to do about the 85,000 other VW vehicles under investigation. Volkswagen also produces cars sold under the Audi and Porsche brands in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator Gina McCarthy said the most important thing is “getting VW’s vehicles off the road.” In a statement posted on its website, Volkswagen said the settlement is not an admission of liability. In other automotive news, the Japanese car company Toyota Motor Corporation announced a recall of over 3 million vehicles. Toyota says some cars have faulty airbags and failing emissions control units. The cars under recall are the Prius, Corolla and Lexus CT200h models produced as long ago as 2006. The recall is not linked to the Takata company. Takata is an airbag supplier responsible for recent recalls by many car companies. Airbag problems have affected over 100 million vehicles around the world. I’m Anne Ball.       Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on reports from VOANews.com, Associated Press and Reuters. Caty Weaver was the editor. What do you think about the automotive news? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   emissions – n. the pollution sent out by a car after its fuel ignites settlement – n. a lawsuit in which many people join together to sue because they all say they were harmed by the same person or group class-action – n. a lawsuit in which many people join together to sue because they all say they were harmed by the same person or group scandal – n. an occurrence in which people are shocked and upset because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong liability – n. the state of being legally responsible for something: the state of being liable for something recall – n. a request by a company for people to return a product that has a defect or problem

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Remembering Legendary Basketball Coach Pat Summitt

  This is What’s Trending Today: Pat Summitt led the women’s basketball program at the University of Tennessee for 38 years. Summitt started coaching the university’s women’s team while in her early twenties. Two years after being named head coach, she was co-captain of the United States women’s basketball team. That team won the silver medal at the 1976 Olympics. She later won a gold medal as the U.S. team’s coach. Summitt was one of the most influential and successful college basketball coaches ever. Her University of Tennessee teams won almost 1,100 games and eight championships. Many of her players went on to become coaches or to play professional basketball. Pat Summitt died on Tuesday. She was 64 years old. Five years ago, doctors found she had early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Americans have been reacting to her death. President Barack Obama released a statement. It said: “she outworked her rivals, made winning an attitude, loved her players like family, and became a role model to millions of Americans, including our two daughters.” In 2011, Pat Summitt announced that she had the disease and planned to retire from coaching. She left her position a year later. Summitt got her start in sports before the United States had laws requiring women and men to be treated equally in school sports. Sometimes she and her players would sleep in another team’s training area before a game because they did not have money for hotel rooms. But her success could not be ignored, and women’s basketball is now one of the most-watched college sports in the U.S. Kara Lawson played for Pat Summitt at the University of Tennessee. Lawson went on to play professional basketball and won an Olympic gold medal. Her reaction to Summit’s death was simple. She wrote “Gutted. I love you. Thank you.” Tennis great Billie Jean King broke gender barriers during her career. She wrote: “Pat Summit was an all-time great with a brilliant mind, a love of basketball and a deep loyalty to all around her.”  Abby Wambach was a star on the U.S. women’s soccer team for many years. She called Summitt “a hero of mine.” Becky Hammon is an assistant coach with the National Basketball Association’s San Antonio Spurs. She called Summitt “a true pioneer and one of the greatest of all time.” And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dorry Gundy.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Additional information came from a report on VOANews.com. George Grow was the editor. What do you think of the reaction to Pat Summitt’s death? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   attitude – n. the way you think and feel about someone or something rival – n. a person or thing that tries to defeat or be more successful than another role model – n. someone who another person admires and tries to be like gutted – adj. very sad or disappointed pioneer – n. a person who helps create or develop new ideas, methods, etc. gender – n. the state of being male or female

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June 29, 2016

A look at the best news photos from around the world.

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Comic Book Fans Form a Community at 'Awesome Con'

Movies and television with superheroes are popular all over the world. Both young people and adults love characters like Batman and Spider Man. But for some people, such characters and their stories are more than just simple entertainment. Every year, cities around the world hold events for people interested in super heroes, science fiction stories and the world of make-believe. These gatherings are often called comic book conventions, or comic “cons.” Two of the biggest comic cons in the U.S. are held in San Diego, California and New York City. Until recently, Washington, DC was among the cities in the U.S. without its own big event for superhero and science fiction lovers. This all changed in 2013 when Awesome Con first arrived in Washington. Ben Penrod has loved comic books, science fiction, fantasy, and all things nerdy throughout his life. Growing up in Annapolis, Maryland, Penrod worked in a store that sold comic books. He says this made his interest in nerdy media grow. "From there it just became an obsession. And I started making more friends who were into these types of things." Penrod bought and sold large comic book collections in his free time. He would often visit a store called Third Eye Comics. He then became friends with the owners. Together they decided that Annapolis needed its own comic book convention. So in 2011 Penrod and his partners organized the first Awesome Con in Annapolis. Over 7,000 people attended. "It was larger than anything I had ever done before. And it was scary. But it was also exhilarating." Penrod says these gatherings are a place people can come to share interests that may be considered non-traditional. In addition to comic book lovers, fans of video games and professional wrestling attend the event. Artists and creators of comic books and similar media come to comic cons to share their work with the public. Actors from movies and television shows come to meet their fans. Many people also wear costumes to look like their favorite characters. Dressing in such clothing is often called “cosplay.” Penrod says fans of almost everything are welcome. "I think it’s the sense of community. … It’s a chance to be around people who have similar interests and people who really understand them and get them. It’s a place to celebrate the things that you’re passionate about." Penrod chose to move the convention to the Mt. Vernon Convention Center in Washington, DC in 2013. He hoped the larger space would bring more people. In 2015, over 40,000 people attended Awesome Con. The number of people attending events like this shows how popular this kind of media is. Penrod suggests that any new television show or movie can succeed or fail because of the attention fans give. He also says more and more people are accepting nerdy culture. "I think nerdy is kind of becoming the new normal." I’m Pete Musto. Patrick Merentie reported and wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Pete Musto produced the video. George Grow was the editor. Now it’s your turn. What kinds of media do you like? Are there similar types of conventions that celebrate nerdy things in your country? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story superheroes – n. a fictional character who has amazing powers such as the ability to fly character(s) – n. a person who appears in a story, book, play, movie, or television show entertainment – n. amusement or pleasure that comes from watching a performer, playing a game science fiction – n. stories about how people and societies are affected by imaginary scientific developments in the future comic book – n. a magazine that is made up of a series of comic strips fantasy – n. a book or movie that tells a story about things that happen in an imaginary world nerdy – adj.  relating to interest in non-traditional subjects or behaving awkwardly around other people and usually has non-traditional clothes or hair obsession – n. a state in which someone thinks about someone or something constantly or frequently especially in a way that is not normal exhilarating – adj. causing someone to feel very happy and excited video game(s) – n. an electronic game in which players control images on a television or computer screen wrestling – n. a sport in which two people try to throw, force, or pin each other to the ground costume(s) – n. the clothes that are worn by someone such as an actor who is trying to look like a different person or thing passionate – adj. having, showing, or expressing strong emotions or beliefs

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Siri Comes to Mac Computers

Earlier this month, Apple announced new technology at its yearly Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). In the last Personal Technology report, we talked about the changes to Apple’s iPhone and iPad operating system. Today we will discuss changes for Mac computers, Apple TV and Apple Watch. We will also report on other news from Apple at the WWDC. OS X Operating System for Mac Computers The operating system for Mac computers is getting an update and a new name. Mac OS X is gone. Now it is called macOS. This year’s version of the operating system is called Sierra. Continuity The Mac computer will connect more with other Apple devices so tasks can be shared among devices. No more need for passwords to unlock your Mac. Auto Unlock will let you log into your Mac computer from your Apple Watch.   Universal Clipboard will let you cut or copy on one device and paste it onto another. This works for text, video and images. iCloud Drive will let users access their Mac desktop from another Mac computer and their iPhone. A new picture-in-picture feature will let users watch a video in one window and have another window open on a Mac. The video can be dragged to any size and position. Siri, Apple's voice assistant, is coming to Mac computers. Click the Siri button and ask it to find files, answer questions, play music, and send messages. Sierra macOS will be available for public testing in July. You can sign up at beta.apple.com to be a tester. The final version will be available as a free upgrade in the fall.   WatchOS Owners of Apple Watch will get the Watch OS 3 update to make the watch apps work faster. Watch OS 3 is set for release in the fall. Apps will now open from the Watch, without having to connect with an iPhone. Apps will load immediately, with information available when the app opens. Favorite apps will be stored in the Watch’s memory, and will update in the background to give current information when those apps are opened. Users will also be able to write on the screen with a new feature called Scribble. Write letters and they will be changed to typeface. Scribble works in English and Chinese. New watch faces were announced at the WWDC. Changing watch faces will be easier. A new SOS feature lets users place an emergency call from the Watch by pressing and holding the side button. The Watch will recognize where the user is and call the right number for that country. So it will call 911 for emergency services in the US, 999 in Hong Kong, and so on. Watch OS 3 also has a relaxation feature. The Breathe app supports deep breathing exercises. Users can set the amount of time they want to do the breathing exercises. The Watch can tap the user to help set a breathing speed. The app also shows the user’s heart rate. Wheelchair users will be able to measure their activity with the Apple Watch. Apple worked with experts to track activity of wheelchair users. Reminders will be changed to Time to Roll instead of Time to Stand.   tvOS Operating System for Apple TV Apple TV will get an update to its operating system this fall. Past versions of Apple TV had 80 channels, but the latest version has over 1300 channels and 6000 apps. Siri will search across apps for movies, TV shows and YouTube videos. tvOS will permit users to sign in once instead of signing in for each paid subscription app. Single sign-on also shows all of the apps available on Apple TV. The Remote app on the iPhone will be able to have all features that the Apple TV remote has, including Siri. You will be able to use your iPhone as a game controller.   Swift Playgrounds Swift, a coding language for apps that run on Apple devices, will be easier to learn with a new app from Apple: Swift Playgrounds. This app is designed for iPad and helps people learn to write code with Swift.             I’m Marsha James Carolyn Mohr wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. Are you interested in the updates to Apple operating systems? Which features are you looking forward to most? Are there any features that you would have liked that were not announced? Share your thoughts in the Comments Section below or on our Facebook page.   Words in This Story operating system - n.  the main program in a computer that controls the way the computer works and makes it possible for other programs to function task - n. a piece of work that has been given to someone : a job for someone to do text - n. data handled by a computer, cell phone, etc., that is mostly in the form of words access - v. to open or load (a computer file, an Internet site, etc.) drag - v. to move (items on a computer screen) by using a computer mouse code - v.  to change (information) into a set of letters, numbers, or symbols that can be read by a computer  

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