Dennis Sellers

<p class="">Changes in Spotlight Search on iOS and iPadOS 14 beta, a significant update to its Applebot support page, and an increase in crawling from AppleBot signify that Apple may be launching a search engine soon, according to <a href="https://www.coywolf.news/seo/apple-search-engine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Coywolf and Jon Henshaw</a>, a site that covers new technologies, product updates, and more.</p>

<p class="">Apple, Google, Microsoft, Dell, and Tesla have urged a federal judge to toss a proposed class action seeking to hold them accountable for using cobalt mined by young Congolese children in their lithium-ion batteries, telling the court they have no control over the mines, reports <a href="https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/1304511/apple-google-fight-blame-for-child-labor-in-cobalt-mines?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="">Apple looks to increase sales of its AirPods range this year by a third, but will still lose some market share, according to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-27/apple-ceding-wireless-earbuds-market-share-even-as-airpods-grow?sref=MRDu5QV3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bloomberg</a>.</p>

<p class="">If you want or need a palm rest for working with your Mac, the US$25 <a href="https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-k2-walnut-wood-palm-rest" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Keychron K2 Walnut Wood Palm Rest</a> is an attractive one, though I wouldn’t mind if it were a bit slimmer (it’s 12.48 x 3.15 x 0.59 inches and weights 8.82 ounces.</p>

<p class="">Roberta J. Cordano, president of Gallaudet University, <a href="https://mailchi.mp/gallaudet.edu/gallaudetsmultifaceted-partnership-with-apple-inc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">has announced</a> that the university and Apple “have begun a multifaceted collaboration to make learning more accessible and expand both academic and career opportunities for Gallaudet students.”</p>

<p class="">Apple TV+ has unveiled a first look at a trio of documentary series that “celebrate humanity and the wonder of the natural world” and will premiere globally this fall.</p>

<p class="">TwelveSouth has introduced the BookBook Cover for iPad, a handcrafted leather cover for the Apple tablet and a keyboard such as the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro and Apple Smart Keyboard for iPad + iPad Air.</p>

<p class="">Sorry, Fortnite fans. <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/26/21402603/epic-fortnite-ios-mac-new-season-not-releasing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Verge </a>reports the Epic Games confirms the game’s new season won’t be available on Macs, iPhones, or iPads due to the “Epic vs. Apple” legal brouhaha.</p>

<p class="">Social Technologies, a company that sued Apple over allegedly infringing its "Memoji" trademark has appealed a district court decision that sided with the tech giant, reports <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/08/26/company-that-sued-apple-over-memoji-appeals-lower-court-decision" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AppleInsider</a>.</p>

<p class="">Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT says it will look into Apple and Google’s in-app payment systems over claims that they apply excessive commssions to app developers using their platforms, reports <a href="http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200826000930" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Korea Herald</a>.</p>

<p class="">Insight Enterprises, am integrator of “Insight Intelligent Technology Solutions for organizations of all sizes,” has introduced its <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.insight.com%2Fen_US%2Fcampaigns%2Fpartner%2Fapple%2Fenable-your-employees-to-do-more-with-mac.html&esheet=52273256&newsitemid=20200826005164&lan=en-US&anchor=Mac+Enablement+Program&index=1&md5=8001ab398aa96a9c96aa5b61b239607a" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mac Enablement Program</a>, a tiered offering designed to help organizations deliver the Mac devices employees want, while modernizing businesses’ digital workplace environment.</p>

<p class="">KLOAKr says it’s developed an app that keeps text messages secret by “cloaking” Apple's iMessages.</p>

<p class="">Smartphones are set to lead the ultra-wide bandwidth (UWB) market thanks to Apple's early UWB entry, according to <a href="http://www.abiresearch.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ABI Research</a>.</p>

<p class="">In an effort to retain current subscribers and woo new ones, Apple plans to add augmented reality (AR) content to its Apple TV+ streaming service, according to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-26/apple-plans-augmented-reality-content-to-boost-tv-video-service?sref=MRDu5QV3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a report</a> by <em>Bloomberg</em>’s Mark Gurman.</p>

<p class="">Anyone in the market for a replacement keyboard for a Mac should definitely consider version two of the US$69 <a href="https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-k2-wireless-mechanical-keyboard" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Keychron K2 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard</a>. I’m impressed with just about every aspect of its design. And version 2 is about $8 less than its predecessor.</p>