Dennis Sellers

<p class="">An <a href="https://www.analysisgroup.com/globalassets/insights/publishing/apples_app_store_and_other_digital_marketplaces_a_comparison_of_commission_rates.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple-commissioned study</a> by the Analysis Group, an economic consulting firm, was designed to compare the commission rates of Apple’s App Store with those of other app stores and digital marketplaces, and to evaluate the App Store commission and associated rules in the context of the business model used both by digital marketplaces and platforms in general.</p>

<p class="">Apple has launched a new <a href="https://developer.apple.com/programs/security-research-device/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple Security Research Device Program</a> for developers. The tech giant says it’s designed to help improve security for all iOS users, bring more researchers to iPhone, and improve efficiency for those who already work on iOS security.</p>

<p class="">Apple has updated <a href="https://www.apple.com/mac/garageband/">GarageBand</a> for macOS to version 10.3.5. It contains stability improvements and bug fixes and is available at the Mac App Store.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.boydcorp.com&esheet=52253048&newsitemid=20200722005028&lan=en-US&anchor=Boyd+Corporation&index=1&md5=7b0c22328c9d96bf35c0e6c1982ad5a5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Boyd Corporation</a> — which specializes in engineered materials, thermal management and environmental sealing solutions — has announced its commitment to Apple’s Clean Energy Program, which is focused on transitioning suppliers to clean, renewable energy.</p>

<p class="">The Autorit Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM), Italy’s antitrust authority, has opened an investigation into whether Apple and Amazon have engaged in anti-competitive cooperation in the sale of Apple products and Beats headphones, reports <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-italy-antitrust/italy-opens-antitrust-probe-into-amazon-apple-over-sale-of-beats-headphones-idUSKCN24N1A6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters</a>. (Beats Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Apple.)</p>

<p class="">A senior Australian lawmaker has blames Apple and Google for flaws with the country’s COVID-19 contact tracing app. However, Government Services Minister Stuart Robert disagrees and says that the COVIDSafe app is working “just as intended,” according to <a href="https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6173821945001" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sky News</a>.</p>

<p class="">In a note to clients — as noted by <a href="http://www.macrumors.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MacRumors</a> — analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that Semco, the best Korean lens supplier, and Sunny Optical, the best Chinese lens supplier, will enter the Apple lens supply chain in the second half of 2020 and 2021, respectively.</p>

<p class="">Eastern District of Texas Judge Rodney Gilstrap denied Apple's request to postpone an in-person jury trial in a patent lawsuit over 4G LTE technology, quoting poet Robert Frost in his reasoning why the trial should begin in two weeks despite the pandemic, reports <a href="https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/1294221/gilstrap-cites-poet-in-refusal-to-postpone-apple-patent-trial?nl_pk=ade0cf2b-ea3f-464b-bc93-d8e19277ac63&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Law360.</a></p>

<p class="">Apple has been granted yet another patent (number 10,719,214) that shows the company is at least toying with gesture recognition for a Mac. The new patent is dubbed “enhanced 3D interfacing for remote devices.”</p>

<p class="">Preparing your Apple Watch for resale? You’ll need to unpair it and erase its data. First, you’ll need to disconnect your devices.</p>

<p class="">Function101 has announced the <a href="https://function101.com/products/button-remote-for-apple-tv" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Button Remote for Apple TV</a>. It’s a replacement for the Siri Remote that comes with the Apple TV set-top box.</p>

<p class=""><a href="http://www.avangrid.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Avangrid Renewables</a> says it’s celebrating a growing renewable energy partnership, recognizing the newly-completed Montague Wind Farm, in Gilliam County, Oregon, and continued output of the Gala Solar project, in Crook County, Oregon. The facilities will supply renewable energy to Apple through power purchase agreements</p>

<p class=""><a href="http://www.aseglobal.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ASE Technology Holding</a> — a semiconductor packaging, test and system service provider — has joined the <a href="https://www.apple.com/environment/pdf/Apple_Supplier_Clean_Energy_Program_Update_2020.pdf"><span style="text-decoration:underline">Apple Supplier Clean Energy Program</span></a>, which is focused on transitioning suppliers to clean, renewable energy.</p>

<p class="">Deadline <a href="https://deadline.com/2020/07/grace-kaufman-role-a24-sky-is-everywhere-1202990272/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reports</a> Grace Kaufman has landed the lead role in Apple and A24’s The Sky Is Everywhere, an adaptation of the Jandy Nelson YA novel.</p>

<p class="">Apple is rumored to be working on its first Apple-branded over-the-ear headphones (as compared to those made by its Beats Inc. subsidiary) dubbed “AirPods Studio.” If/when they see the light of day, they may include the ability to detect headphone rotation based on a new Apple patent filing (number 10,721,550).</p>