Dennis Sellers

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has temporarily shut down all its retail stores in mainland China through Feb. 9 due to the Coronavirus, according to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/01/apple-temporarily-shuts-all-stores-and-offices-in-mainland-china.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CNBC</a>. It’s online store will remain open.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">As noted by <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MacRumors</a>, Apple is now offering an onsite repair option for customers in certain cities who need issues with their Apple devices addressed but aren't able to visit a repair shop or Apple Store. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">An Apple patent filing (number 2020034037) for a “device, method, and graphical user interface for simulating and interacting with handwritten text” suggests that Apple Pencil support could be coming to the iPhone. It also hints at improved handwriting recognition on the iPad, as well.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">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 this week’s picks.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/ewdl0s/new_tvos_ariel_screensavers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">As noted on Reddit</a>, Apple has released new underwater screensavers for the Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">HYLA Mobile, a provider of software technology and services for mobile device returns management and reuse solutions, has announced results from its analysis of the mobile device trade-in market for 2019. The report reveals that $2.378 billion was returned to U.S. consumers last year via mobile device trade-in programs—an increase of 4.7% from 2018. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for a patent (number 20200033560) that suggests the rumored "Apple Glasses” — an augmented reality (AR) head-mounted display (HMD) — could offer optional supplemental lens for those with vision problems.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple continues its spending spree to beef up content for its Apple TV+ streaming service. <a href="https://deadline.com/2020/01/cecily-strong-star-apple-series-musical-comedy-1202846820/"><span style="text-decoration:underline">Deadline</span></a> reports that the company is in final negotiations on a series order for a musical comedy project starring<em> Saturday Night Live</em>‘s Cecily Strong, from Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video, <em>Despicable Me</em> duo Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio, and Universal TV.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple says all users in the U.S. can now experience a redesigned Maps with faster and more accurate navigation and comprehensive views of roads, buildings, parks, airports, malls and more. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has canceled its contract with Project Maven, a Pentagon project to use artificial intelligence to analyze military drone photos, (<a href="https://www.theinformation.com/articles/apple-ends-ai-startups-work-on-project-maven-after-acquisition" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">according to</a> <em>The Information</em> (a subscription is required to read the entire article).</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">A new annual ranking of Fortune 100 companies shows many fail to include faith and religion as part of corporate diversity initiatives. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.i2cinc.com%2F&esheet=52165853&newsitemid=20200129005754&lan=en-US&anchor=i2c+Inc.&index=1&md5=df57495cdf49a70577680c892d4860f2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">i2c Inc.</a>, a provider of digital payment and open banking technology, together with <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.najm.ae&esheet=52165853&newsitemid=20200129005754&lan=en-US&anchor=Najm&index=2&md5=40dd90983349061c3017a8842a0cc1b8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Najm</a>, a provider of financial solutions, have introduced Apple Pay to Najm Prepaid cardholders in the Middle East. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Some iPad users are hoping that when iPadOS 14 arrives, there will be full support for mice and trackpads rather than the limited support Apple currently offers. A new patent filing (number 2020033912) suggests the tech giant is at least considering this.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for a patent (number 20200033815) for a “watch with optical sensor for user input” that hints at future Apple Watches that ditch the currentl Digital Crown for an optical one.  </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.strategyanalytics.com%2Faccess-services%2Fdevices%2Fmobile-phones%2Fsmartphone%2Fsmartphones%2Freports&esheet=52165959&newsitemid=20200129005865&lan=en-US&anchor=global+smartphone+shipments+held+steady+at+zero+growth&index=1&md5=772de295eed29e9f8fa74e11f81508d9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">global smartphone shipments held steady at zero growth</a> to reach 375 million units in the fourth quarter of 2019. Apple grabbed first position with 19%global smartphone marketshare.</p>