Dennis Sellers

<p class="">Earlier today Epic Games <a href="https://www.epicgames.com/fortnite/en-US/news/the-fortnite-mega-drop-permanent-discounts-up-to-20-percent" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">announced</a> that it had introduced a new direct payment option in the Fortnite app for iPhone and iPad, allowing players to purchase 1000 V-Bucks for US$7.99 rather than $9.99 through Apple's in-app purchase mechanism. </p>

<p class="">Apple has filed for another patent (number 20200257362) for an “Apple Glove,” a “wearable interactive user interface.” It could be used with an augmented reality headset (such as the rumored “Apple Glasses,” a future Mac with a display that could detect and respond to hand gestures, or be used for typing on a “virtual keyboard.”</p>

<p class="">Apple doesn’t want users of the rumored “Apple Glasses” — an augmented reality/virtual reality/mixed reality head-mounted display — bumping into things. The tech giant has filed for a patent (number 20200258278) for “detecting physical boundaries.”</p>

<p class="">In quarter two of 2020 Mac laptop sales rose 21% compared to quarter two of 2019, according to the <a href="http://www.strategyanalytics.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Strategy Analytics</a> research group.</p>

<p class="">Apple has filed for a patent (number 20200253547) for a “monitoring system for assessing control of a disease state” that, involves, among other things, a “smart mattress.”</p>

<p class="">In a recent partnership with Reticle Research, Apple’s low code subsidiary, <a href="https://www.claris.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Claris</a> surveyed 323 SMB [small to medium business] executives in the U.S. and U.K. to find out the latest trends and attitudes toward Internet of Things [IoT].</p>

<p class="">Apple is preparing a series of bundles that will let customers subscribe to several of the company’s digital services at a lower monthly price, according to a report by <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-13/apple-readies-apple-one-subscription-bundles-to-boost-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bloomberg</a>'s Mark Gurman.</p>

<p class="">Russian Federal Anti-monopoly Service (FAS), Russia’s antitrust enforcer, says Apple abused its dominance by limiting the functionality of third-party parental control apps on its devices after rolling out its own pre-installed program with similar features, according to <a href="https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/1300557/russia-says-apple-abusing-dominance-with-app-store?nl_pk=ade0cf2b-ea3f-464b-bc93-d8e19277ac63&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Law360</a> (a subscription is required to read the entire article).</p>

<p class="">Gene Levoff, a former senior attorney at Apple will have to face allegations he traded the company's stock based on nonpublic information, after a New Jersey federal judge rejected his argument that insider trading is a crime that does not exist, according to <a href="https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/1300752/ex-apple-atty-can-t-shake-insider-trading-charges?nl_pk=ade0cf2b-ea3f-464b-bc93-d8e19277ac63&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Law360</a> (a subscription is required to read the entire article).</p>

<p class="">Since Steve and I can’t cover everything, we’ll frequently offer a wrap-up of news items you should check out. First up: Apple’s online store now provides a direct option to pay with the Apple Card at checkout.</p>

<p class="">Another day, another lawsuit. As noted by AppleInsider, non-practicing entity (in other words, a “patent troll”) VoiceAge EVS, LLC is suing Apple, claiming that the iPhones infringe on audio-related codecs.</p>

<p class="">As noted by <a href="http://www.macrumors.com"><span style="text-decoration:underline">MacRumors</span></a>, Apple leader Jon Prosser tweets that a new Apple Watch and (non-Pro) iPad will be announced in September, followed by an “iPhone 12” event in October.</p>

<p class="">The Brazilian Supreme Court has decided to receive a constitutional appeal and will judge whether Apple can use the "iPhone" trademark in Brazil, even if another company has submitted it first.</p>

<p class="">Apple has released iOS 13.6.1 and iPadOS 13.6.1. You can download the updates by opening the Settings, choosing General, then Software Update.</p>

<p class="">Robert Thomson, CEO of the Wall Street Journal’s parent company, says the WSFJ will continue its partnership with Apple News during the company's latest earnings call, the <em>New York Post</em> <a href="https://nypost.com/2020/08/12/wall-street-journal-will-stick-by-apple-news-news-corp-ceo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reports</a>. It helps introduce new readers to the publication (one of Apple’s original partners for the news streaming service), he notes.</p>