Dennis Sellers

<p class="">Up to 11,000 free Apple iPads will be given to thousands of UK care homes to help residents keep in touch with relatives under government plans to prevent another surge in coronavirus deaths, reports <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-government-give-11-000-ipads-care-homes-so-residents-can-speak-families-b626520.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Independent</a>.</p>

<p class="">Three of Apple’s top contract manufacturers — Foxconn, Wistron, and Pegatron — plan to invest a total of almost US$900 million in India in the next five years to tap into a new production-linked incentive plan, reports <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-smartphone-manufacturing-idUSKBN26J1TY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters</a>, quoting two unnamed “sources familiar with the matter.”</p>

<p class="">Norway plans to develop a COVID-19 tracking app based on Apple and Google and Apple technology as part of its efforts to halt the spread of COVID-19, reports <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-norway-apps-idUSKBN26J1YC" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters</a>. Norway’s previous app was shut down in June and will be permanently scrapped.</p>

<p class="">Apple is expected to launch its new iPhone 12 series in South Korea earlier than its usual schedule and it works to attract more 5G users in the country, reports <a href="http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200928000880" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Korea Herald</a>.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roku.com%2F&esheet=52295642&newsitemid=20200928005142&lan=en-US&anchor=Roku%2C+Inc.&index=1&md5=2afc1615b4c6aa08064c7c61793863ac" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Roku, Inc.</a> says Roku OS 9.4 will start rolling out to Roku devices in the coming weeks. The Roku Channel is adding more ways to access all-in-one entertainment via a new dedicated mobile app for iOS and Android smartphones.</p>

<p class="">Apple and Billie Eilish have announced that the documentary feature film, “Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry,” directed by award-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler (“Belushi,” “The September Issue,” “The War Room”), will premiere in theaters and on Apple TV+ in February 2021. The documentary is from Apple Original Films, in association with Interscope Films, Darkroom, This Machine and Lighthouse Management & Media.</p>

<p class="">If your HomePod isn’t responding, you should unplug it from its power source, then plug it in again. If that doesn’t work — and ONLY if that doesn’t work — should you reset it to its factory settings.</p>

<p class="">At some point in time, most of us have probably spilled water, coffee, or a soft drink on our Mac or iPad keyboards, meaning we may have to clean them and let ‘em dry out. Apple has been granted a patent (number 10.784,062) for “ingress prevention for keyboards” for methods to make its keyboards more spill resistant.</p>

<p class=""><em>On the Rocks</em> — the upcoming Apple TV+ movie that’s getting good reviews and generated Oscar buzz for Bill Murray — is opening in key markets next weekend (Oct. 2) for a limited run followed by a debut on the AppleTV+ streaming service on Oct. 23, reports <a href="https://deadline.com/2020/09/on-the-rocks-release-date-sofia-coppola-bill-murray-movie-1234585406/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Deadline</a>.</p>

<p class="">In a deal that lands in the high $40 millions, Apple has acquired worldwide rights to Cherry, the first film directed by Anthony and Joe Russo since <em>Avengers: Endgame, </em>reports <a href="https://deadline.com/2020/09/cherry-tom-holland-apple-joe-russo-anthony-russo-major-film-deal-nico-walker-novel-cherry-ciara-bravo-oscar-season-1234585213/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Deadline</a>.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/butter-royale/id1464649839?mt=12&ign-itsct=ArcadeGameSpotlight&ign-itscg=10200" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Butter</a> is this week's addition to <a href="https://www.apple.com/apple-arcade/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple Arcade</a>, Apple’s US$4.99/month or $49.99/year game streaming service that has over 120 games,. It's available for the the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac.</p>

<p class="">And the battle is on: Facebook — which is one of the companies blasting Apple’s App Store policies — is seeking an option to make its Messenger app the default app for messages on iPhones, reports <a href="https://www.theinformation.com/articles/facebook-opens-new-fight-with-apple-over-messaging" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Information</a>.</p>

<p class="">Earlier this year, Apple acquired Scout FM, a startup that creates radio-like stations for podcasts, reports <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-24/apple-buys-startup-that-creates-radio-like-stations-for-podcasts?sref=MRDu5QV3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bloomberg</a>.</p>

<p class="">The espionage thriller <em>Tehran</em> premieres today on the Apple TV+ streaming service. The first three of eight episodes in the series are now available to watch and a new episode will roll out each Friday for the next five weeks.</p>

<p class="">In July, the European Union’s General Court ruled that the European Commission had failed to prove that the Irish government had given a tax advantage to the Apple. Now the Commission will now take the case to the highest court in Europe, reports <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/25/eu-appeals-against-apple-ruling-in-15-billion-tax-battle.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CNBC.</a></p>