Dennis Sellers

<p class="">Zoom Video Communications, the video conference service and de facto platform for digital communication during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been hit with a proposed class action claiming the platform has failed to protect users’ personal information, according to<a href="https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/1258716/zoom-hit-with-proposed-class-action-over-privacy-concerns?nl_pk=ade0cf2b-ea3f-464b-bc93-d8e19277ac63&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Law360</a>. So maybe it's time for Apple to finally open source FaceTime.</p>

<p class="">According to the latest market share survey from <a href="https://netmarketshare.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NetMarketShare,</a> the market share for both Apple’s macOS and iOS dipped slightly last month.</p>

<p class="">Twelve South has released the US$49.99 <a href="https://www.twelvesouth.com/products/airbag-for-airpods?utm_campaign=AirBag%20(2020-04-01)&utm_medium=campaign-email&utm_source=email&_ke=eyJrbF9lbWFpbCI6ICJkZW5uaXMuc2VsbGVyc0BhcHBsZXdvcmxkLnRvZGF5IiwgImtsX2NvbXBhbnlfaWQiOiAiTVdqMmJOIn0=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AirBag</a>, a “micro-mini bag,” for Apple's AirPods and AirPods Pro.</p>

<p class="">Apple has updated iMovie update for iOS and iPadOS, adding trackpad and mouse support, new keyboard shortcuts, and more. It’s available at the Apple App Store.</p>

<p class="">After <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2020/3/31/apple-updates-pages-numbers-keynote-for-the-mac"><span style="text-decoration:underline">updating its iWork apps for macOS</span></a>, Apple has now done the same for the iOS/iPadOS versions of Pages, Numbers, and Keynote. All can be obtained at the Apple App Store.</p>

<p class="">Apple more than doubled its donation to China’s efforts to fight COVID-19 to over 50 million yuan ($7 million), according to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-apple/apple-doubles-china-donations-for-covid-19-recovery-efforts-idUSKBN21J45L" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters.</a></p>

<p class="">A required update is available for <a href="https://itunespartner.apple.com/books/tools" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iTunes Producer</a>, Apple’s free utility for authors to submit Bookstore book details, pricing, and files in one shot.</p>

<p class="">The makers of Dark Sky <a href="https://blog.darksky.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">say </a>the app has been acquired by Apple, though there’s no info about the purchase price or details. It’s a source of hyperlocal weather info with down-to-the-minute forecasts.</p>

<p class="">The <em>Wall Street Journal</em> <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-commits-to-paying-contractors-after-some-were-told-theyd-lose-work-11585667276" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reports</a> hundreds of contract workers were informed over the weekend by firms contracted by Apple that their jobs were suspended without pay and health-care benefits. However, that’s not the case, which should <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2020/3/31/teamsters-call-on-apple-tesla-to-stand-by-workers-during-covid-19-pandemic" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">allay concerns</a> of Teamsters Joint Council 7.</p>

<p class="">The Publix supermarket chain is rolling out support for contactless payments like Apple Pay and Google Pay, reports <a href="https://appleosophy.com/2020/03/30/publix-is-finally-getting-apple-pay/"><em>Appleosophy</em></a>.</p>

<p class="">Nomad — best know for making accessories for Apple products such as cases and charging accessories — is attempting to reach medical professionals, first responders, and those designated as essential workers.</p>

<p class="">Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus has spent most of his career working from home, so what is new to many us is his normal.</p>

<p class="">Apple is generally perceived as doing a good job in helping others during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, not everyone agrees, it seems.</p>

<p class="">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,609,485) for a “system and method for performing panning for an arbitrary loudspeaker set-up” that's designed to make it easier to pair HomePods, as well as create an addition “virtual loudspeaker.”</p>

<p class="">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,606,418) for “ultrasonic touch detection" in future Apple Pencils that would allow the device to detect hover events and transfer data.</p>