Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,206,024) for “remotely controlling a hearing device.” The goal is to be able to apply settings on a hearing aid device before placing it on your ear.</p>

<p 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 style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has announced the availability of NBA models of its <a href="https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MUQ72LL/A/beats-studio3-wireless-headphones-nba-collection-lakers-purple" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones</a>. They’re available in six versions/colors and cost $349.95.</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has agreed to acquire Pullstring, a San Francisco-based startup that enables the design and publishing of voice apps with the goal of helping Siri better compete with Siri, reports <a href="https://www.axios.com/apple-voice-app-pullstring-080b45b6-bbb4-466f-b60a-b87c932e2f57.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Axios</em></a>, quoting unnamed “multiple sources.”</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">The Chinese-language <em>Economic Daily News</em> <a href="https://udn.com/news/story/7253/3645837" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">is reporting</a> that Inventec —  a Taiwan-based manner of mobile devices, notebook computers, and servers — is producing a new version of the AirPods that will come with a charging case and be available in black, as well as white.</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">HEX has released its <a href="https://yjwzdgkw1ni52av1-15147094.shopifypreview.com/collections/terra-collection" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration:underline">Terra Collection </span></a>of bags. The collection features coated polyester exterior treated for water resistance</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Another day, another lawsuit. <a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/399674339/Julia-Ireland-Meo-Deceased-Sues-Apple-via-Administrator-Ad-Prosequendum?campaign=VigLink&ad_group=xxc1xx&source=hp_affiliate&medium=affiliate" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration:underline">The lawsuit</span></a> is filed by Julia Ireland Men, the daughter of the late Bradley Ireland, and claims that he died after an apartment fire caused when his iPad burst into flames on Feb. 22, 2017. </p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><a href="http://urbanarmorgear.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Urban Armor Gear (UAG) </a>has debuted the Plyo Series, their first translucent iPad case. It offers lightweight materials and a minimal aesthetic.</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><span style="text-decoration:underline">Focal</span> has announced their next generation in-ear headphone, Sphear Wireless, which boasts an aptX compatible Bluetooth module.</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Future Mac blacklit keyboards may have adjustable white points, based on a new patent filing (number 20190051267) by Apple. White points are coordinates that serve to define the color "white" in image capture, encoding, or reproduction. Depending on the application, different definitions of white are needed to give acceptable results.</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">In July 2018, Apple announced the $699 <a href="https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HM8Y2VC/A/blackmagic-egpu" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Blackmagic eGPU</a>, an external GPU it developed with Blackmagic Design that’s based around a Radeon Pro 580 with 8GB of video memory. In October the two companies announced the the $1,199  <a href="https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/media/release/20181031-01" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration:underline">Blackmagic eGPU Pro</span></a>, an external graphics processor featuring the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 graphics processor.</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2019/02/behind-the-mac-creator-celebrates-his-literary-icon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">posted an article</a> on its Newsroom web page about how Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins uses his MacBook Pro and other Apple tech in his filmmaking</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has scooped up <a href="https://digitaltiger.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Data Tiger</a>, a UK startup focused on digital marketing, reports <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-14/apple-acquires-u-k-based-digital-marketing-startup-datatiger" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Bloomberg</em></a>. The company — which has perhaps 10 employees — boasts that it has “deep roots in the entertainment business” and employs “award wining designers and digital communications experts.”</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">The scuttlebutt this week is that Apple will debut its long-awaited video streaming service on March 25, along with a subscription news service to complement Apple News. Now <a href="https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/apple-video-service-summer-launch-1203140002/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Variety</em> is reporting</a> that Apple will preview some of its original series on that date, but the streaming service itself won’t launch until late summer or early fall.d</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">The <a href="http://www.canalys.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Canalys research group</a> estimates show that European smartphone shipments fell 4% in 2018 to 197 million units. In quarter four of 2018, shipments fell 2% to 57 million, though Chinese vendors gained significantly. </p>