Dennis Sellers

<p class="">Apple has filed for a patent (number 20200117149) for “modification of automated environmental behavior based on user routine” that hints at even more powerful HomeKit features for a “smart house.”</p>

<p class="">Apple is developing its own branded, over-ear wireless headphones with parts that can be swapped in and out in an effort to augment its AirPods biz with a higher-end audio product, according to a <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-16/apple-developing-high-end-headphones-with-interchangeable-parts" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">repor</a>t ,by <em>Bloomberg</em>’s Mark Gurman.</p>

<p class="">It was promised months ago, but now if you <a href="https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/mac-pro/tower">buy a Mac Pro</a> you can add a Radeon Pro W5700X graphics card with 16GB of GDDR6 memory viaApple's build-to-order options.</p>

<p class="">Apple has debuted <a href="https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MX572ZM/A/apple-mac-pro-wheels-kit" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a Mac Pro Wheels kit</a> for the Mac Pro. The $699 kit’s custom-designed stainless steel and rubber wheels are designed to make it easy to move your Mac Pro around.</p>

<p class="">Following the <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2020/4/15/apple-announces-2nd-generation-iphone-se-available-for-pre-order-on-april-17" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">announcement </a>of the second generation iPhone SE, Apple has discontinued the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. They were announced on September 12, 2017, alongside the higher-end iPhone X.</p>

<p class="">Terri Morgan, co-founder and principle designer for Luma Touch, and FiLMiC Founder and CEO Neill Barham have put together the Mobile Creators Summit to fill part of the gap left by the cancellation of NAB this year. They join host Chuck Joiner on a <a href="http://www.macvoices.com/macvoices-20116-filmic-and-luma-touch-join-forces-to-present-the-mobile-creator-summit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">new episode of MacVoices</a> to talk about the whats, whens, and hows of attending (hint: it is online and free).</p>

<p class="">Apps and social platforms are playing a key role in the new world of social distancing, which could be impacting the way consumers connect to them emotionally, according to MBLM (pronounced Emblem), the “brand intimacy agency.”</p>

<p class="">The new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro is now available to order on <a href="https://www.apple.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">apple.com</a> and begins arriving to customers next week. It costs $299 for the 11-inch iPad Pro model and $349 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro model and works with the new trackpad support introduced in iPadOS 13.4.</p>

<p class="">Twelve South has debuted the $29.99 ColorKit, which allows you to change the color of your Mac laptop.</p>

<p class="">ecobee Inc. has announced <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fecobee.com%2Fhaven&esheet=52202797&newsitemid=20200415005380&lan=en-US&anchor=Haven&index=1&md5=71c2bf59957e7b445bc8829b50ca91e4">Haven</a>, an intelligent home monitoring platform that purportedly eliminates the need for keypads, programming and single-use devices. With the touch of a button, ecobee users can upgrade their SmartThermostat and SmartSensors into a frictionless solution, according to Stuart Lombard, founder and CEO of ecobee.</p>

<p class="">ShiftCam — a global mobile photography gear company “designed by photographers, for photographers” — has announced its MultiLens Case for the iPhone 11 series is now available in the UK.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-germany-tech/apple-google-alliance-welcomed-by-european-coronavirus-app-platform-idUSKCN21X1FV?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtechnologyNews+%28Reuters+Technology+News%29" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters</a> reports that Chris Boos, who is championing the Pan-European Privacy Preserving Proximity Tracing (<a href="https://www.pepp-pt.org/"><span style="text-decoration:underline">PEPP-PT</span></a>) technology platform, thinks Apple collaboration with Google will make it quicker to get systems for tracing coronavirus infections up and running.</p>

<p class="">According to <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/trumps-new-advisory-group-on-reopening-economy-includes-tim-cook-mark-cuban-jerry-jones-2020-04-14" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MarketWatch</a>, Apple CEO Tim Cook is among 50 execs from various industries, as well as other leaders, appointed to President Trump's new advisory board.</p>

<p class="">On the <a href="http://www.macvoices.com/macvoices-20114-mike-schmitz-on-time-blocking-and-productivity-during-lockdown/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">new episode of MacVoices</a>, Mike Schmitz talks about productivity during these days of lockdown, and why it's okay not to be engaged in productive activities all the time.</p>

<p class="">A newly granted patent (number 10,617,358) shows that Apple wants the Apple Watch to be provide even more health features — including shark detection. After all, getting bitten by a shark could certainly be detrimental to your health.</p>