Dennis Sellers

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple <a href="https://www.apple.com/today/collection/chicago-music-industry-summit/michiganavenue/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">has announced</a> the second annual Chicago Music Industry Summit starting Aug. 31 at Apple Michigan Avenue for a month of sessions with leaders in the local music scene. Apple describes the month-long event as a way to “connect with others and tap into creative resources to help further your career in music and the arts.”</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">A new survey from <a href="http://decluttr.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Decluttr</a>, a tech buy-back site and refurbished tech seller, reveals that one in four iPhone owners plan to purchase the new iPhone when it’s released, despite its rumored lack of updates. Even <em>after</em> learning about the few anticipated updates, 82% say they <span style="text-decoration:underline">still</span> intend to purchase Apple’s newest device. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Bill Stasior, who once headed Apple’s Siri development team, has left Apple to be one of Microsoft's vice presidents of technology, reporting to Chief Technology Officer Kevin Scott, per <a href="https://www.theinformation.com/articles/apples-former-siri-boss-joins-microsoft-ai-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Information</a>. At Microsoft, he’ll lead an artificial intelligence group, the article adds.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">According to <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2019/08/19/apple-arcade-subscription-price/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">9to5Mac</a>, Apple’s upcoming Apple Arcade game streaming service may cost $4.99 per month. The Sellers Research Group (that’s me) hopes the rumor is true. I was anticipating $6.99 per month.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple comes in at 16th place on Fortune’s <a href="https://fortune.com/change-the-world/2019/search/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">“Change the World” list,</a> which highlights companies that leverage their businesses to drive profit and to create societal good.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">For the first time, Apple Korea revealed on Monday figures for its local employment in South Korea, reports <a href="http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20190819000795" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Korea Herald</a>.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Impossible Foods has hired Ravi Thakkar, a former product manager at Apple, in the new position of vice president of Product Management.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Global sales of smart speakers continued to soar in the second quarter (Q2) of 2019, reaching 30.3 million units, nearly double the same period in 2018, according to the latest research from <a href="https://www.strategyanalytics.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Strategy Analytics</a>. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">From Aug.17-25, Apple is donating $10 to the National Park Foundation for every purchase made with Apple Pay at any Apple Store, on <a href="http://apple.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">apple.com</a>, or in the Apple Store app.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">On a regular basis, Apple World Today 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 this week’s picks.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple says upcoming changes to iOS will better protect the privacy of users. However, according to <em>The Information</em>, a group of app developers have told the tech giant that some of the changes will hurt their businesses, while accusing the company of anti-competitive behavior in the way it subjects its own software to the new rules.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Another day, another lawsuit. As noted by <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/08/16/apple-music-sued-by-non-practicing-entity-that-also-targeted-spotify-slacker"><em>AppleInsider,</em></a> a lawsuit leveled by the non-practicing entity of Post Media alleges Apple Music infringes on four patents covering methods of broadcasting audio files over shared networks. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.apple.com/jp/newsroom/2019/08/homepod-available-in-japan-starting-friday-august-23/">Apple say</a>s the HomePod will launch in Japan and Taiwan on Friday, Aug. 23. Pre-orders are being taken.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">In a note to clients — as noted by <a href="https://www.macrumors.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MacRumor</a><em>s, </em>analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the Apple Watch Series 5 will launch this fall with OLED displays supplied by Japan Display.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">In an article on its <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2019/08/apples-us-job-footprint-grows-to-two-point-four-million/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Newsroom web pag</a>e, Apple says it open a collective $60 billion dollars with 9,000 American suppliers in 2018, supporting 450,000 jobs.</p>