Dennis Sellers

<p class="">The Apple Pencil 2 doesn't have a physical charge indicator or LED light. You check its current battery life on the iPad Pro to which it’s paired.</p>

<p class="">Your Apple Pencil 2 for use with the 2018 and later iPad Pro doesn’t need daily recharging unless you use it a LOT.</p>

<p class="">iOS 14 will require all apps to obtain user permission before tracking. And some folks aren’t happy about it.</p>

<p class="">In a note to clients — as noted by <a href="http://www.macrumors.com"><span style="text-decoration:underline">MacRumors</span></a> — Apple's upcoming "iPhone 12" will feature "high-end" lens arrays in the rear camera to improve image quality.</p>

<p class="">iOS 13 offers a Dark Mode that, in Apple’s words, “delivers a dramatic dark color scheme that looks great across the system and is easier on the eyes in low-light environments.”</p>

<p class="">In a new Apple Pay promotion, new users get US$50 in Daily Cash when using the Apple Card to pay for an Apple Service.</p>

<p class="">The HODINKEE Shop, a New York City-based watch retailer and watch review site, <a href="https://shop.hodinkee.com/blogs/journal/hodinkee-shop-apple-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">has announced</a> that it’s now an Authorized Apple Watch Retailer, as well as a retailer for a curated selection of Apple Watch accessories.</p>

<p class="">Your iPhone could eventually replace your driver’s license, passport, and more, as evidenced by a newly granted Apple patent (number 20200213295) for “providing verified claims of user identity.”</p>

<p class="">India’s additional scrutiny of imports from China has disrupted operations at plants owned by Apple supplier Foxconn in southern India, reports <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-china-ports/apple-supplier-foxconn-others-hit-as-india-holds-up-imports-from-china-sources-idUSKBN243118" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters</a>. Quoting three unnamed sources, the article says other foreign firms are also facing delays as tensions between the two countries build.</p>

<p class="">On the latest <a href="http://" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">episode of MacVoices</a> Mike Potter of ESC! Technologies wraps up the discussion of WordPress with a discussion of plugins and how they bring functionality to your web site.</p>

<p class="">Need some serious networking in your house or office, but don’t want to deal with the hassle of running and installing wires and cables? The US$99 <a href="https://www.zyxel.com/us/en/products_services/G-hn-2400-Mbps-Wave-2-Powerline-Pass-thru-Gigabit-Ethernet-Adapter-PLA6456/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Zyxel G.hn Powerline PLA6456</a> is a viable solution that, honestly, works a lot better than I expected it would.</p>

<p class="">Sony Pictures Co-President Chris Parnell is leaving Sony Pictures Television studio for Apple TV+, according to <a href="https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/sony-pictures-tv-studios-chris-parnell-apple-1234695826/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Variety</a>. He’ll serve as senior programming role on the domestic development team, reporting to Matt Cherniss, Apple’s head of scripted development and current programming.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-google/uk-regulators-take-aim-at-apples-search-engine-deal-with-google-idUSKBN242748" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters</a> reports that Google payments to Apple to be the search engine on Safari create “a significant barrier to entry and expansion” for Google’s rivals in the search engine market, the UK markets regulator said in a report.</p>

<p class=""><a href="http://www.parksassociates.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Parks Associates</a> reports the churn rate for over-the-top [OTT ]services increased from 35% in quarter one of 2019 to 41% in quarter one of 2020. During the COVID-19 crisis, more than two in five US broadband households have trialed an OTT service, and 8% of households have trialed four or more services, according to the research group.</p>

<p class="">Apple has acquired world rights to <em>Emancipation</em>, the film package with Antoine Fuqua directing Will Smith in a Willam N. Collage-scripted action thriller, reports <a href="https://deadline.com/2020/07/apple-emancipation-will-smith-antoine-fuqua-record-festival-deal-runaway-slave-peter-scourged-back-photo-william-n-collage-script-1202971626/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Deadline</a>. The article says it’s the largest film festival acquisition deal in film history.</p>