Dennis Sellers

<p>Apple is <a target="_blank" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-repair-exclusive-idUSKBN18Y0BF?utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=5937dde004d3014ae2a2ee5b&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter" rel="noopener noreferrer">bringing</a> its proprietary screen repair machines to third-party repair centers, according to <em>Reuters</em>. The “Horizon Machine” can fix screen cracks or repair broken sensors, which would prevent the user from using thumbprint authorization. </p>

<p>Apple wants its various devices to have enhanced self-testing capabilities. The company has been granted a patent (number 9,673,916) for an “electronic device with self-testing capabilities.”</p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="http://ctt.marketwire.com/?release=1311673&id=11838046&type=1&url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.promise.com%2f" rel="noopener noreferrer">Promise Technology</a>  has added four new models to its lineup of <a target="_blank" href="http://ctt.marketwire.com/?release=1311673&id=11838049&type=1&url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.promise.com%2fProducts%2fPegasus%2fPegasus3-Series" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pegasus</a> desktop RAID storage systems. The new Pegasus3 R4, R6 and R8 models feature more capacity -- 16, 36 and 64 (and 80) terabytes (TB), respectively -- and bring 40 Gb/s Thunderbolt 3 performance.</p>

<p>The 2017 Apple Worldwide Developer Conference still has two more days to go, and I still have some questions. They may have been answered at WWDC sessions, but, as I’m not a developer, I’m not privy to that info. Anyway, on to the questions:</p>

<p>Apple announced its HomePod smart speaker at WWDC 2017 this week, marking its entry into that market as well as its formal manifestation of the concept of an all-Siri voice-controlled smart home in the future. According to a report by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ihsmarkit.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">IHS Markit</a>, it’s “the most sophisticated audio product in the smart speaker race thus far.” Following is the research group’s reaction to the upcoming product (due in December for $350):</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 Music exec Bozoma Saint John is leaving Apple to work for Uber, according to <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/06/bozoma-saint-john/?ncid=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29">TechCrunch</a>, who reportedly confirmed the appointment through multiple sources at Uber. </p>

<p>Owners of fourth generation Apple TVs can beta test tvOS for the first time. Apple has expanded its Apple Beta Software Program to include the set-top box and tvOS 11. </p>

<p>Apple announced AirPlay 2 as part of iOS 11 announcements at WWDC 2017. It adds multi-room audio capabilities to AirPlay’s existing abilities. AirPlay 2 also enables the use of Siri to initiate and control playback to compatible speakers and devices (such as Apple TV).</p>

<p>In 2015 Apple filed a patent for an “Apple Ring.” And it’s back — kinda — in a new patent filing (number 9,672,702) for “thermal haptic alert notification.”</p>

<p>Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-06-05/apple-ceo-says-trump-advisory-councils-aren-t-productive" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Bloomberg</em></a> interview that he could not reveal details, but said Apple had provided prompt assistance to the UK authorities.</p>

<p>At this week’s Worldwide Developer Conference, Apple is urging developers to move all their apps to 32-bits as support for them is coming to an end.</p>

<p>Apple has tweaked the prices for its iCloud storage option. The 1TB (per month) option is gone, but the 2TB option price has dropped to $9.99. That’s the former price you’d pay for 1TB of storage.</p>

<p>President Trump may have pulled the U.S. out, but Apple, Amazon, Google, Lyft and Spotify are among hundreds of U.S. businesses teaming up with state and local regulators to pledge their support for the Paris climate agreement as part of a new campaign debuting today, reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.recode.net/2017/6/5/15741016/apple-google-donald-trump-us-paris-climate-agreement" rel="noopener noreferrer">recode</a>.</p>

<p>Overall, I was thrilled with the announcements at yesterday’s keynote that kicked off the 2017 Worldwide Developer Conference. New iMacs? Yay. (And did you notice how CEO Tim Cook said that the Mac was “in many ways the heart and soul of Apple.”</p>