Dennis Sellers

<p class="">It’s easy to listen to podcasts on a HomePod. There are hundreds of thousands of free podcasts to choose from.</p>

<p class="">Apple has filed for another patent (number 20200241641) for a “wearable electronic ring computing device.” The “Apple Ring” could be used to control, among other things, a Mac. At least eight other patents have been filed for or granted to the company.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/apple-demands-50-rent-cuts-for-uk-stores-k7klxmj8h" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">According</a> to <em>The Sunday Times</em>, Apple is pushing for huge rent reductions across its UK retail stores “despite its sales soaring to new heights during the lockdown.”</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-china-videogames/apple-removes-thousands-of-game-apps-from-china-store-research-firm-idUSKBN24X3KE" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters</a> reports that Apple has removed 29,800 apps from its Chinese app store on Saturday, including more than 26,000 games, according to data from research firm Qimai.</p>

<p class="">Apple has acquired <a href="https://www.mobeewave.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mobeewave Inc.</a>, a startup with technology that could transform iPhones into mobile payment terminals, according to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-01/apple-buys-startup-to-turn-iphones-into-payment-terminals" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bloomberg</a>, quoting unnamed “people familiar with the matter.”</p>

<p class="">In an email to Apple Card users about their August statements, Apple says "we understand that the COVID-19 situation poses unique challenges for everyone and some customers may have difficulty making their monthly payments.” As it has for several months, the tech giant is allowing cardholders who apply for aid to defer their August payments without incurring interest charges.</p>

<p class="">In March, the makers of Dark Sky <a href="https://blog.darksky.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">announced </a>the app had been acquired by Apple, though there was no info about the purchase price or details. Originally, the Android version was planned to be discontinued on July 1, but that was delayed a month. However, the discontinuation has now taken place.</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: the full Federal Circuit has declined to revisit a decision blocking Apple and Visa from appealing the Patent Trial and Appeal Board's "unfettered discretion" to throw out covered business method reviews of an e-wallet patent, reports<a href="https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/1296463/apple-can-t-get-fed-circ-to-rehear-unfettered-ptab-ruling?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="">Google has announced that the Exposure Notifications System (ENS) it developed with Apple has been updated. Since the ENS API [application programming interface] released in May, its developers have with “dozens” of public health authorities to understand how the API could be improved to help them better manage the COVID-19 pandemic while preserving privacy.</p>

<p class="">Grindstone Mountain 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="">Health Canada has released a new COVID-19 contact tracing app called COVID Alert based on work by Apple and Google, reports <a href="https://www.iphoneincanada.ca/app-store/canada-covid-alert-app-download/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iPhone in Canada</a>. It’s available for free at the <a href="https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/covid-alert/id1520284227" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">App Store</a>.</p>

<p class="">The smartphone market in Mainland China posted 25% quarter-on-quarter growth <a href="https://canalys.com/cosi/campaign/body/%20Urlhttps:/www.canalys.com/newsroom/China-smartphone-market-Q2-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">to reach over 90 million sell-in units in quarter two of 2020</a>, despite the market contracting 7% compared to the second quarter of 2019, according to the Canalys research group.</p>

<p class="">Apple has debuted a new gift card that can be used with products, accessories, apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, iCloud, and more. Previously, there were several cards for Apple Store hardware, the App Store, and iTunes (naturally, you can still use any such cards).</p>

<p class="">First up, let me just say that this review of the <a href="https://www.greenworkstools.com/coming-in-fall-2019-cuts-more-grass-than-your-current-mower-pro-60v-21-in-cordless-self-propelled-mower-with-5-0-ah-battery-and-charger" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Greenworks Pro 21</a> has nothing to do with Apple products or services — or any related third party products or services. However, with many folks working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic and with growing concern about protecting our environment, it seems timely.</p>