July 13, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

An Apple a Day Keeps the Coding Fresh!

By Michael Ray

Saturday, August 4, the Century City’s Apple store hosted a Kid’s Hour featuring a Sphero Maze Challenge. The event introduced basic coding, as well as a hands on demonstration of the round robot Sphero. The Apple Geniuses were on hand to help the young participants navigate through the maze.

Apple Geniuses demonstrating how to program the round robot Sphero.

The maze, constructed with numbered tape, featured a series of straightaways, sharp turns and fellow coders on the track. The Apple Geniuses guided the group of participants, aged eight to twelve, with one-on-one training. The training included how to use Sphero’s app, as well as tips for navigating the maze. Founded by Adam Wilson and Ian Bernstein, the duo has created an array of robots including Sphero, Ollie, and most recently, BB-8 from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Bernstein has stated “My passion is in electronics and robotics. Ever since I was 12 years old I have been building robots and in 2010 I started a company so I could work on cool stuff all the time!” His current robot project is Misty II, a programmable robot with speakers, facial recognition camera, USB ports and more.

An up-close look at Sphero.

Inside the Apple Store, the Kid’s Hour is just one several programs that is hosted throughout the week. An Apple Genius told Century City-Westwood News that the store was opened in November of 2017 and coincided with the release of the iPhone X. The new store is complete with a new design in that the “Genius Bar” has been replaced with a multipurpose space. The redesign is credited to Apple’s Senior Vice President of Retail, “with the goal of educating, inspiring, entertaining and enriching communities” according to the Ahrendts’ Apple Biography. From studio hours to workshops and classes the Apple Geniuses assist participants in understanding products, programs, and apps.

During the Maze Challenge, participants used an iPad to program the Sphero to navigate through series of twists and turns. According to a press release by Sphero, users can “Download SPRK lessons, learn the basics of programming, and actually have fun doing it. Then unleash Sphero’s inner robot and program like a pro using the MacroLab and OrbBasic apps.” The robot has a max rolling of speed of up to seven feet per second and is waterproof. The Sphero has several accessories, as well as internal lights and is compatible with multiple operating system. Sara S. from La Crosse, WI cited that her nieces and nephews had used Sphero in the previous year and so she decided to get one for them this summer. She wrote in her review of the Sphero, “they’ve showed me some of the things they learned in school and it’s incredible what these [seven] and [eleven] year olds can do with an app and a robot.” During the Maze Challenge, the Apple Geniuses guided the participants through the technical aspects of the maze and helped to calculate distance, speed and rotation of the robot. During training sessions like the Maze Challenge, people have an opportunity to have a hands on interaction with a specific device or software. An Apple Genius stated that the store also has sessions for other devices including the iPad and Apple TV.

Related Posts

County Health Leaders Decry Federal Policy Barring Undocumented from Programs

July 12, 2025

July 12, 2025

The officials argued the policy jeopardizes care for all residents, noting it could deter people—regardless of status—from seeking treatment  Leaders...

County Supervisors Move to Preserve Measure J Amid Charter Error

July 12, 2025

July 12, 2025

Measure J mandates that at least 10% of the county’s locally generated, unrestricted funds be allocated to community investments like...

Sen. Ben Allen Highlights Challenges, Economic Gains for LA28 Olympics

July 12, 2025

July 12, 2025

The remarks came during the first informational hearing of the Senate’s Special Committee on International Sporting Events State Sen. Ben...

Mayor Bass Issues Directive to Protect Immigrant Communities

July 12, 2025

July 12, 2025

The order expands access to city resources for affected families and requests records from ICE, including details on arrests Mayor...

Billy Wilder Theater to Screen Housing Struggle Short Films with Q&A

July 11, 2025

July 11, 2025

The program includes works by community organizers and filmmakers addressing housing struggles from LA to D.C. A free film screening...

(Video) Summer Camp at School of Rock West LA Turns Kids Into Rockstars

July 11, 2025

July 11, 2025

To Sign Up Now, Go To Schoolofrock.com Summer Camp at School of Rock West LA Turns Kids Into Rockstars To...

Chinese Bakery Hi Bake to Open First U.S. Store in Beverly Hills: REPORT

July 11, 2025

July 11, 2025

Hi Bake will offer a fusion of French and Asian pastries, including croissants filled with molten chocolate or wagyu beef...

L.A. Louver Marks David Hockney’s 88th with Exhibit

July 11, 2025

July 11, 2025

Hockney, a British artist born in 1937, gained fame with the British Pop Art movement and later became known for...

Suspect Arrested in Shoe Retail Theft Spree Across LA County

July 11, 2025

July 11, 2025

During the search, police recovered two firearms and a significant quantity of merchandise The Los Angeles Police Department’s Organized Retail...

California Seizes $476 Million in Illegal Cannabis

July 10, 2025

July 10, 2025

The operation, described as UCETF’s largest to date, involved support from multiple state agencies The state confiscated $476 million worth...

The Reservoir Play Opens at Geffen Playhouse

July 10, 2025

July 10, 2025

The play follows Josh, whose life is unraveling, as he receives unconventional support from his grandparents. Their unsolicited advice, judgments,...

Angelini Grill Opens Limited Run at Peninsula Beverly Hills

July 10, 2025

July 10, 2025

The menu includes tableside Dover Sole, lobster salad, and a signature pasta tasting A new culinary collaboration, Angelini Grill, launched...

Father-Daughter Authors to Host Book Signing to Aid Fire-Affected Women

July 10, 2025

July 10, 2025

Ten percent of proceeds from book and art sales will benefit the Pacific Palisades Rebuilding Fund, a nonprofit initiative created...

Metro Reports Crime Drop, Higher Rider Satisfaction, and Progress on Major Projects

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

The Authority said the drop in violent incidents—down to the lowest level since May 2019—coincided with more uniformed personnel and...

The Bar at Century Plaza to Celebrate National Caviar Day with Exclusive Tastings

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

The seven-hour event will feature exclusive caviar tastings and champagne pairings The Bar at Fairmont Century Plaza will host a...