Dennis Sellers

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Global sales of smartphones to end users declined 2.7% in the first quarter of 2019, totaling 373 million units, according to <a href="http://www.gartner.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gartner, Inc</a>. Despite its absence from the U.S., Huawei maintained its ranking as the No. 2 smartphone vendor worldwide and continued to reduce the gap with Samsung, according to the research group.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has been granted another patent (number 10,290,520) that involves “smart clothing.” This one is for “fabric-based items with environmental control elements,” and also involves a “smart car seat” and/or chair.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has debuted a new iPod touch with enhancements to power, capability and communication. It’s the last remaining member of the iPod family.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Pegatron, one of the two Taiwanese companies that assemble iPhones and iPads, has signed a letter of intent stating it intends to invest 10-15 trillion rupiah (approximately US$695 million to $1 billion) in an Indonesian factory to assemble “chips for Apple smartphones,” reports <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-indonesia-pegatron-apple/pegatron-eyes-spending-up-to-1-billion-in-indonesia-to-make-chips-for-apple-official-idUSKCN1SY0TK" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Reuters</em></a>.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">I had really looked forward to Apple’s AirPower wireless charger, which <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2019/3/29/goodbye-airpower-we-hardly-knew-you-well-actually-we-didnt-know-you?rq=AirPower" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">turned out to be vaporware</a>. However, I’ve quit singing the AirPower blues now that I’m using the <a href="https://hellonomad.com/products/base-station-apple-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nomad Base Station Apple Watch Edition</a>.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple’s upcoming iPhones could connect to two Bluetooth speakers or headphones at the same time, according to the Japanese blog, <a href="http://www.macotakara.jp/blog/rumor/entry-37549.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Mac Otakara,</em></a><em> </em>as noted by <a href="http://www.macrumors.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>MacRumors</em></a><em>.</em></p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Another day, another lawsuit. <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/apple-accused-of-selling-itunes-customers-data/article27246661.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Bloomberg</em> reports</a> that Apple is being sued by customers who say the tech giant is unlawfully disclosing and selling personal info about their iTunes purchases as well as their personal data, despite the company’s advertising claim that “What happens on your iPhone. stays on your iPhone.”</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,296,126) for a “shape detecting input” device that hints at a touchscreen Mac. And it would “recognize” not only your fingers and a stylus, but other objects as well.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">On a regular basis, <em>Apple World Today</em> 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 has scooped up <a href="http://www.tueohealth.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tueo Health</a>, which makes an objective asthma status measurement solution designed to help parents monitor asthma symptoms in children using a mobile app and commercial breathing sensors, reports <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/24/apple-acquires-asthma-detection-start-up-tueo-health.htm"><em>CNBC</em></a>. It’s another move by the tech giant to add more health features to its products.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has released iOS 12.3.1. It provides bug fixes for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch regarding to Voice over LTE calls and Messages. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple is teaming up with Taco Bell for an “order ahead and avoid the line with Apple Pay” promo for its payment service. You can use the Taco Bell app and Apple Pay to get tacos for $1 through May 29. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">As noted by <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2019/05/23/apple-store-taipei-xinyi-a13-opening-soon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>9to5Mac</em>,</a> Apple is expected to open its second store in Taiwan soon. It will be located the Xinyi District of Tapei.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Another day, another lawsuit. As noted by <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/05/23/fresh-app-store-monopoly-lawsuit-arrives-after-us-supreme-court-ruling" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em></a>, following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, a new class action lawsuit accuses Apple of artificially inflating App Store prices through a monopoly on iOS app distribution.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">iAvatar, anyone? Apple has filed for another  patent (number 20160086386) for an “avatar creation and editing” that would allow users to create custom avatars (onscreen representations of a person) for use in online games and other applications. The other two patent filings are number 20160086386 and 9,576,400.</p>