Dennis Sellers

<p class="">OWC’s update of the <a href="https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/owc-mercury-elite-pro"><span style="text-decoration:underline">Mercury Elite Pro</span></a> can help future proof your iMac, Mac mini, or Mac Pro when it comes to storage. It can do the same for laptops, but is better suited for desktops as it requires a dedicated power supply and can't run off a portable’s bus power.</p>

<p class="">On the new episode of <a href="http://www.macvoices.com/macvoices-20112-charlotte-henry-on-apples-response-to-covid-19-and-ten-years-of-the-ipad-part-1/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MacVoices,</a> Charlotte Henry of<em> The Mac Observer </em>examines Apple’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, not just from the monetary donations side, but also from the resources angle, and why Amazon, the streaming services and others are in the spotlight.</p>

<p class="">Apple has updated its COVID-19 app — introduced last month — with tips to help keep us sane during this trying, surreal time.</p>

<p class="">Some pundits don’t think Apple TV+ is doing very well (read <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2020/4/8/reelgood-apple-tv-has-192-of-the-tv-streaming-market" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">this</a> and <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2020/3/24/apple-tv-sees-just-a-little-boost-as-lots-of-folks-stay-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">this)</a>, but Wedbush analyst Dan Ives thinks Apple’s streaming video service currently has between 30 million and 40 million subscribers.</p>

<p class="">NASA is inviting video gamers and citizen scientists to embark on virtual ocean research expeditions to help map coral reefs around the world in an effort to better understand these threatened ecosystems. One tool they’re using is an iOS/iPadOS game.</p>

<p class="">Apple Music will launch a new initiative dubbed "Stream Local" on April 11, according to <a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/apple-music-streaming-local-south-african-music-amid-coronavirus-in-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Okay Africa.</a></p>

<p class=""><a href="http://www.lg.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">LG Electronics USA</a> has announced pricing and availability of 2020 8K LG NanoCell TVs, featuring 12 new models led by the 86-inch class Nano90 4K UHD model. They support Apple’s HomeKit and AirPlay 2.</p>

<p class="">Stanford University and Apple have <a href="http://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2020/04/priority-covid-19-testing-for-first-responders.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">partnered on a new iPhone app</a> that provides police officers, firefighters, and paramedics in the Bay Area with info and safety measures regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>

<p class="">Apple has filed for a patent (number 20200112195) for “inductive charging between electronic devices" that would its various devices to recharge each other.</p>

<p class="">Apple has filed for a patent (number 20200107785) for a “vital signs monitoring system” that hints at blankets or other coverings that would utilize the company’s technology and Health app to track how well you sleep.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-09/apple-ceo-to-take-covid-19-questions-at-company-wide-virtual-q-a"><em>Bloomberg</em></a>'s Mark Gurman reports that Apple is organizing a company-wide virtual meeting for later this month to allow employees to ask questions of the executive team led by CEO Tim Cook.</p>

<p class="">Apple has revealed “Ultimate Rivals” from Bit Fry Game Studios, Inc., a new sports game franchise that brings together athletes across hockey, basketball, football, baseball and soccer into a single officially licensed video game.</p>

<p class="">Apple has posted a macOS Catalina 10.15.4 supplemental update that, per Apple, improves the stability and security of your Mac.</p>

<p class="">Apple has released watchOS 6.2.1, which fixes a glitch that stopped an Apple Watch from participating in FaceTime Audio calls with devices running iOS 9.3.6 and earlier and OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 and earlier.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pipersandler.com%2F&esheet=52200862&newsitemid=20200408005477&lan=en-US&anchor=Piper+Sandler+Companies&index=1&md5=bf6c621bc4097996a5685304edff11bd" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Piper Sandler Companies</a>, an investment bank and institutional securities firm completed its 39th semi-annual Taking Stock With Teens survey, which highlights discretionary spending trends and brand preferences from 5,200 teens across 41 U.S. states with an average age of 16.2 years.</p>