Dennis Sellers

<p class="">Apple is introducing several new features for Apple News and Apple News+, including audio stories of some of the best feature stories from Apple News+, a daily audio news briefing hosted by Apple News editors, and curated local news collections beginning in five cities and regions and expanding to more areas in the future.</p>

<p class="">Consumers tentatively plan to spend a record amount to prepare students for school and college this year as they buy more laptops and computer accessories in anticipation that at least some classes will take place online because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a survey released today by the <a href="https://nrf.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">National Retail Federation</a>, a retail trade association, and Prosper Insights & Analytics, a research group.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2857563-1&h=3553750803&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.brydge.com%2F&a=Brydge"><span style="text-decoration:underline">Brydge</span></a> has announced a new line of MacBook Vertical Docks. They’re available for the 16-inch MacBook Pro (2019), 15-inch MacBook Pro (2016-2019), 13-inch MacBook Pro (2016-2020), and 13-inch MacBook Air (2018-2020).</p>

<p class="">The European Union's General Court on Wednesday overturned the European Commission's landmark 2016 finding that tax breaks Ireland granted to U.S. tech giant Apple gave it a competitive advantage, nullifying the order that Apple repay Ireland €13 billion (about US$14.8 billion), reports <a href="https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/1291914" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Law360 </a>(a subscription is required to read the entire article).</p>

<p class="">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,714,983) for a “near-field microwave wireless power system” that sounds a lot like its promised AirPower device that never saw the light of day.</p>

<p class="">With a fourth generation or better Apple TV (the set-top box) and tvOS 13, you can create folders in which you can collect similar apps.</p>

<p class="">Since Steve and I can’t cover everything, we’ll frequently offer a wrap-up of news items you should check out. First up: Apple has released the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u7EIiohs6U" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">official trailer</a> for upcoming comedy series "Ted Lasso," which will be available to stream on Apple TV+ starting August 14.</p>

<p class="">Apple’s WWII drama <em>Greyhound</em>, starring and written by Tom Hanks, has become the largest opening-weekend release ever for Apple TV+, including series that have bowed on the service, sources close to Apple told <a href="https://deadline.com/2020/07/tom-hanks-greyhound-apple-tv-opening-weekend-record-breaker-1202985492/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Deadline</a>.</p>

<p class="">The Ad Council has announced <em>Find Something New</em>, a national campaign created in collaboration with Apple, IBM and the White House, with support from more than 200 public, private and nonprofit members of Business Roundtable and the White House's American Workforce Policy Advisory Board (AWPAB).</p>

<p class="">OWC has announced that the US$119 <a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2856782-1&h=2438184287&u=https%3A%2F%2Feshop.macsales.com%2Fshop%2Fdocks%2Fowc-thunderbolt-3-mini-dock&a=Thunderbolt%E2%84%A2+3+mini+Dock" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Thunderbolt 3 mini Dock</a> is available to order now and will begin shipping the week of July 27. It’s smartphone-sized with no AC adapter needed.</p>

<p class="">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,712,777) for a magnetic attachment system that would not only allow iPads to connect to keyboards such as the Magic Keyboard, but also car mounts, exercise device mounts, and more. It would also allow two of the tablets to work in tandem.</p>

<p class=""><a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=fXcrCk-2BOj2h90VS1NSNfjfTvBvSU1-2BSbxelexJe7DOYwkixHbvXyDpg6N7xhkfflR4gAIsx3xV8dFMnUsmnXF0rbsz4bfLH3an2mI50fDX03OANC1D7XdAUm-2Fc1ZKjgRYOob-2FeWAjRnCnCHcURg4Mufge6UVX3VZa84A7TJSrCoWGtpW-2F-2B2L0BxPzEur1PbK3gZ2eqm7us9OrC23LcE43HPrbH3Fof6q2FKVF-2Fjxo2Pq1HletbNOebUAzJDHuE8-2FjYDm_I-2BXlUsPfrnJydjcnE-2BgVz3AB6IQz3NSdCHzh20HhTmnkjKzkSfgVz5p9fB2dZdeCeu-2BDkUkuSMFWw0UVVEGGoois4pHewFfDek-2FTbVUrUuLj5gFpVDzraSCdgc-2FxZxNYtjvTSZi3gFCbwm5VO6PyXYr2vI3np4CVBgboOb48l-2Fc66q6oQi0dEIPekueRgYKK7aWPvjyRZQbbYO2iprgSbucRrtLnAt5kTxRdJ2BTYUneaD6VIM9aKKBkGZoE082JQpu4bEdo22rJ4p4xKfxmBWDC6gU33qdkKlkJQ-2FrCpjsbsYxhFefJkuI4rKzYUHGOvj6fAtoKRX3xBbRhdvHSW26ES7N9pauottU3N8NVeK3Sl92ZB4HE2gOYR8XhYiQ2Xue3x3EBJIBeGqMqs6aU9rh0p2Hu8QqD87tW6ExGJec-3D" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gadget Guard</a>'s TechClean is a package of 100% plant-based wipes moistened with a sodium laureth sulfate solution (10% sodium laureth sulfate — ie, soap — and 90% water) which means you can clean any electronic device without causing damage. With the COVID-19 pandemic still in full swing, it’s a product you may wish to check out — though it’s on the pricey side.</p>

<p class="">Since Steve and I can’t cover everything, we’ll frequently offer a wrap-up of news items you should check out. First up: Apple’s Underdogs are back<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_pru8U2RmM" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> in a new video</a>, navigating their new normal with lots of unknowns but one reliable constant: Apple helps unleash their creativity and productivity even when they’re working from home. The Underdogs debuted lat year in a short film entitled “Apple at Work.”</p>

<p class="">Filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan says he’s getting ready to finish filming on the second season of his Apple TV+ series, <em>Servant</em>, reports <a href="https://www.darkhorizons.com/tv-news-servant-hanna-elba-lotus-paris/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dark Horizons</a>.</p>

<p class=""><em>Luther</em> star Idris Elba will produce series and films for Apple TV+ after striking a first-look deal with the streaming service, according to <a href="https://deadline.com/2020/07/idris-elba-first-look-deal-apple-1202983785/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Deadline</a>.</p>