There’s a lot happening in the world of Apple news this week. Following are the hottest articles for the week of August 14-18.
Apple sold an estimated 3.98 million Mac laptops in the second quarter of the 2017 calendar year for a quarter-on-quarter increase of 17.1%, according to TrendForce. The tech giant now ties for fifth place among the top global notebook brands, notes the market research firm.
Apple has set a budget of roughly $1 billion to procure and produce original content over the next year, according to the Wall Street Journal, and could acquire and produce as many as 10 television shows. The company has also hired Matt Cherniss, former president and general manager of WGN America, an American basic cable and satellite television channel owned by Tribune Broadcasting.
Apple and Aetna reportedly held secret talks last week to discuss bringing the Apple Watch to the company’s 23 million members. already offers an Apple Watch to 50,000 employees as part of its corporate wellness plan, but now wants to extend a free or discounted wearable device as a membership perk, according to CNBC.
Apple has at least considered making more cases along the lines of its iPhone 7 Smart Battery Case. The company has filed for a patent (number 9,735,595) for a “single piece case with a battery and a hinge.”
The Irish government will comply with the EU ruling to collect €13B (about $14.5 billion) in back taxes from Apple, but isn’t happy about the prospect. The country worries about being held accountable for any depreciation on the money, which will go into an escrow account if the tech giant should win an appeal at some point and need a refund.
