Dennis Sellers

<p>Apple has been granted a patent (number 9,710,944) for “electronic document thinning” that involves is iBooks Author software. iBooks is a free ebook app that allows you to read publications purchased at the iBooks Store. iBooks Author lets you create iBooks textbooks (as well as other types of books) for the iPad and Mac.</p>

<p>The rise of mobile technology has transformed the world in many ways, including the way users interact with email. Mobile email opens have nearly doubled over the past five years and more than half of emails are now opened on mobile devices, according to a new research report from email solutions provider Return Path.</p>

<p>Ninety-four precent of NordVPN’s <a target="_blank" href="https://nationalprivacytest.org/reports" rel="noopener noreferrer">National Privacy Test</a> respondents said they would ignore an email request from a bank asking for personal information. Yet statistics show that up to 45% of Internet users keep clicking on dangerous links or providing personal information where they shouldn’t.</p>

<p>Apple spent $2.2 million lobbying the Donald Trump administration in Washington D.C. between April 1 and June 30, 2017, according to a <a target="_blank" href="http://disclosures.house.gov/ld/ldxmlrelease/2017/Q2/300897564.xml" rel="noopener noreferrer">disclosure form</a> filed by the Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives — as noted by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.recode.net/2017/7/21/16008504/apple-amazon-google-record-lobby-trump-immigration-science-privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer">recode</a>. That’s almost double the moolah spent on lobbying from the same three month period in 2016.</p>

<p>Apple has announced thatDeirdre O’Brien, vice president of Worldwide Sales and Operations, has been named vice president of People, reporting to CEO Tim Cook. Now he and other Apple execs won't actually have to deal with people. </p>

<p>proDAD has brought its Mercalli SAL video stabilizer to the Mac after years of being Windows only. <a target="_blank" href="http://192.206.112.171/clickthrough/servlet/clickthrough?msg_id=8522797&adr_order=1409&url=aHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kcmVuYWxpbi5jb20vbWVyY2FsbGktc2FsLW1hYy8%3D" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mercalli SAL Mac</a> is a new, full-featured, stand-alone macOS native application. </p>

<p>A group representing major tech companies such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Facebook has aligned with Apple against Qualcomm by calling on regulators to reject Qualcomm's bid to ban the import of iPhones, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-qualcomm-idUSKBN1A52YS" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters.</a></p>

<p>Forget the (still unannounced) iPhone 8, we need rumors of 2019’s “iPhone 9.” Oh wait, here’s one:</p>

<p>When you test drive as many products as I do, it’s hard to run across earphones that stand out from the pack. However, the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.Pioneerrayz.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rays Plus </a>from Pioneer Home Entertainment U.S.A do just that.</p>

<p>Apple has filed for a patent (number 20170206873) for “dynamic music authoring.” Most likely involving future versions of GarageBand on macOS and iOS devices, the goal is to provide software that “allows users to create music at home.”</p>

<p>On a regular basis, <em>Apple World Today</em> posts a list of notable new apps or app updates that have been released. They may not necessarily be new, but they're popular and deserve mention. Here are today's picks.</p>

<p>Apple is is looking for full-time employees to work from home to provide customers with support for Macs, iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, Apple TVs and more, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/career/news/a45187/apple-is-hiring-work-from-home-positions/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Good Housekeeping</a>.</p>

<p>The State Farm insurance company has filed a lawsuit against Apple alleging a defective iPhone 4S caused a house fire in Wisconsin in 2016, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/17/07/20/state-farm-sues-apple-over-house-fire-allegedly-caused-by-defective-iphone" rel="noopener noreferrer">AppleInsider</a>. State Farm's suit names Xai Thao as a co-complainant who suffered more than $75,000 in damages related to the fire. </p>

<p>The AWT News Update is on a brief hiatus. In its place, I’ll offer a text-only (no podcast) summary of breaking stories with a tip o’ my hat to my former website, <em>Apple Daily Report</em>.</p>

<p>Apple has updated <a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/clips/id1212699939?mt=8" rel="noopener noreferrer">Clips</a>, its app that allows iPhone and iPad users to create “expressive videos.” It lets you combine video clips, photos and music into videos to share with friends through the Messages app, or on Instagram, Facebook and other social networks.</p>