Dennis Sellers

<p class="">Apple has launched its annual <a href="https://www.apple.com/us-hed/shop/back-to-school" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">"Back to School" promotion</a> in the U.S. and Canada.</p>

<p class="">Apple has <a href="https://www.apple.com/shop" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">launched a program</a> by which you can now pay for new Apple products over time, interest-free with the Apple Card. Just select Apple Card Monthly Installments when you check out. The offer is only available for U.S. customers for now.</p>

<p class="">Apple has introduced a pair of upgrades to the 16-inch MacBookPro and the Mac Pro, reports <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/15/apple-adds-new-macbook-pro-graphics-option-and-mac-pro-ssd-upgrade-kit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">TechCrunch</a>.</p>

<p class="">Mophie’s US$99.99 powerstation wireless X — available now at <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=S-ixb87oFfyj2hMvD_0NSH82HUaPvESxIQdV3VLdWcVvX4qUAaqJzC08gh5gzUTii11NzEtfw6g-7wVvpTWwkHDTfLIam9Tsnx0pCpr2nbYuxbQDs3uA6c1cCDQUDmQ2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">mophie.com</a>, <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=qFtnbMbWCT9erTzex1ttBXv_dXeiWl8glz8CdWyFjc_yOL-q9r4D6ZVUvV1GweKMfzTf3Mhn0vQm17gb8B1oNKGVcALnFaW3wIBcc39SUpzUd23ZsFma-hLaQGBiShN4qGpSHZxY5ttOCTPHqrZF2DSFBLA-umZ2uwOpFraI50w-AO5Z7AieziEipR1OER7y" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">apple.com</a>, and, soon, in Apple retail stores — will be a must-have accessory for many iPhone users who travel a lot.</p>

<p class="">In a new Apple Pay promotion, Apple wants you to “make Dad’s day with Apple Pay.” (Father’s Day is Sunday, June 20).</p>

<p class="">If you work remotely (like everyone at the moment) you’re no doubt using various apps to help you communicate and collaborate. There are certainly plenty to choose from. The number of apps is growing at a rapid rate to help ensure it’s “business as usual” for companies around the world.</p>

<p class="">Apple today shared a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyjNEqpo4nc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">first look video </a>of "Little Voice," a romantic tale from the award-winning team of J.J. Abrams, Sara Bareilles, and Jessie Nelson that will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on Friday, July 10.</p>

<p class="">The U.S. House Judiciary Committee this week sent letters to Apple, Alphabet, Amazon and Facebook asking whether their CEOs — including Tim Cook — plan to participate in a series of antitrust hearings slated for July, reports <a href="https://www.axios.com/exclusive-house-probe-wants-big-tech-ceos-to-testify-in-july-2cbd0ad9-5dbd-4afc-a0bf-7f1092840fa0.html">Axios</a>.</p>

<p class="">Strategy Analytics has released the Wireless Smartphone Strategies (WSS) service report, <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.strategyanalytics.com%2Faccess-services%2Fdevices%2Fmobile-phones%2Fsmartphone-country-share%2Freports%2Freport-detail%2Fanalysis-global-smartphone-vendor-asp-and-revenue-share-by-region-q1-2020&esheet=52234289&newsitemid=20200612005066&lan=en-US&anchor=Smartphone+Vendor+ASP+and+Revenue+Share+by+Region%3A+Q1+2020&index=2&md5=b956011720b4804fe5811e235b012382" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Smartphone Vendor ASP and Revenue Share by Region: Q1 2020</a>. Despite average selling prices nudging upwards, wholesale revenues in the Western European region declined by -10% year-on-year on COVID-19 limited demand.</p>

<p class="">Apple has shared a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7clwrlPI64U" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">new trailer</a> on its YouTube channel for its upcoming documentary film "Dads," which will air on Apple TV+ on Father's Day, June 21.</p>

<p class="">Apple will reopen its retail stores in England and Northern Ireland on Monday, June 15. The tech giant has 32 stores in the former and one in the latter.</p>

<p class="">Sumo Digital’s <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/little-orpheus/id1446279575" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Little Orpheus</a> is this week's addition to Apple Arcade, Apple’s US$4.99/month or $49.99/year game streaming service. It's available for the the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac.</p>

<p class="">“Greyhound,” a World War II movie written by and starring Tom Hanks, will premiere on Apple TV on July 10.</p>

<p class="">Apple has discontinued iBooks Author and iTunes U. The former is a free ebook app that allows you to read publications purchased at the iBook Store. The latter provides tools for an instructor to bring a classroom together on the iPad.</p>

<p class="">Apple plans to launch a trade-in program for Macs next week at its retail stores in the U.S and Canada,, according to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-09/apple-to-launch-mac-trade-in-program-at-u-s-retail-stores" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bloomberg</a>. Quoting unnamed “people familiar with the matter,” the article adds that the tech giant informed retail employees that the new program will begin on June 15.</p>