Dennis Sellers

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for a patent (number 20200019367) that shows the company is at least considering Mac laptops with touchscreens despite its constant denial that it plans such a device. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><em>Central Park</em>, a new animated Apple TV+ series will be showcased during the nine-day South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas from March 13-22, according to <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sxsw-2020-judd-apatow-returns-king-staten-island-apple-tv-debuts-central-park-1269968" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Hollywood Reporter</a>.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Another day, another lawsuit. Apple and Servant director/executive producer M. Night Shyamalan have been hit with a lawsuit over claims that the Apple TV+ series <em>Servant </em>is a facsimile of Francesca Gergorini's 2013 film <em>The Truth About Emanuel,</em> <a href="https://www.cbr.com/servant-shyamalan-apple-copyright-infringement/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reports CBR</a>.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has scooped up Xnor.ai, a Seattle startup specializing in low-power, edge-based artificial intelligence (AI) tools for $200 million, reports <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2020/exclusive-apple-acquires-xnor-ai-edge-ai-spin-paul-allens-ai2-price-200m-range/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GeekWire</a>. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has hired Lisa Ellman, a specialist in drone and aviation law and a partner at Hogen Lovells, as a Washington lobbyist, according to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-15/apple-taps-drone-specialist-to-lobby-washington-on-aviation" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bloomberg</a>.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Here we go again. <em>The New York Times</em> reports that Apple CEO Cook has <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/14/technology/apple-iphone-pensacola-shooting.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">privately assembled</a> Apple is privately preparing for a legal fight with the Justice Department to defend encryption on its iPhones.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Element Case has released the <a href="https://www.elementcase.com/?s=Holster&post_type=product" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Holster case </a>, a $24.99 smartphone case that's compatible with several models of the iPhone.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">STM Goods has released the $99.96 <a href="https://www.stmgoods.com/product/dux-grip-ipad-7th-gen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dux Grip</a>, a case is designed for the seventh generation iPad.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,534,452) for a “highly portable media device,” which related to similar patents dating back to 2005. The idea seems to be an Apple-developed solid state drive gadget that holds photos, songs, movies, etc., and which can be used with Macs, iPads, and iPhones with limited storage. The patent also mentions an accompanying app for such a device.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,532,428) for “interlocking flexible segments formed from a rigid material” that hints at upcoming Mac laptops (and other Apple devices) with innovation unibody designs designed to reduce weight and manufacturing costs.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple is now selling the <a href="https://www.apple.com/mac-pro/?afid=p239%7C321564&cid=aos-us-aff-ir" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">rack mountable Mac Pro</a> with pricing starting at $6499 (compared to $5,999 for the non-rackmountable model). </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">In a note to clients -- as noted by <a href="https://www.macrumors.com/2020/01/14/iphone-12-lineup-up-to-6gb-ram/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MacRumors</a> -- BS analysts Timothy Arcuri and Munjal Shah say Apple plans to release one 5.4-inch, one 6.7-inch, and two 6.1-inch iPhone models this year. While the analysts expect all four iPhones to be equipped with OLED displays, they believe other features like camera specifications and RAM will vary by model. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Lee Eisenberg, executive producer of the Little America series on Apple TV+, has signed a long-term contract with Apple and will launch a new production team for creating content exclusively for Apple’s streaming service, according to <a href="https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/little-america-lee-eisenberg-apple-overall-deal-1203466754/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Variety.</a></p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple is working on a 5G-enabled iPad with mmWave support, according to <a href="https://www.digitimes.com/index.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">DigiTimes</a> (a subscription is required to read the entire article).</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has has said “no” to a request from U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr to unlock iPhones owned by a Saudi Air Force cadet accused of killing three people at a naval base in Pensacola, Florida. The tech giant also denies the AG's claim that it has not provided "substantive assistance" in the investigation.</p>