Dennis Sellers

<p class="">Shortcuts is a free app for iOS and iPadOS devices that runs complicated tasks. It’s a great app, so why isn’t there a Mac version?</p>

<p class="">Apple has filed for a patent (number 10,664,058) that shows it’s looking into methods for an iPhone to serve as a guidance device for the sensory impaired</p>

<p class="">Apple has released macOS Catalina 10.15.5 which sports a Battery Health Management feature.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://www.vulture.com/2020/05/fraggle-rock-reboot-apple-tv.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Vulture</a> reports that, weeks after debuting a handful of pandemic-produced shorts, that Apple has struck a deal with the Jim Henson Company to produce a formal reboot of the classic kids’ show, “Fraggle Rock,” complete with full-length episodes, for its Apple TV+ streaming service.</p>

<p class="">Apple’s iPhone 11 took over the mantle as the world’s most popular smartphone from the iPhone XR in the first quarter.</p>

<p class="">Apple will reopen about 100 more retail stores in the U.S. this week in California, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, and more states, according to <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2020/05/26/apple-retail-stores-reopening-us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">9to5Mac</a>.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/05/26/apple-fixes-bug-that-stopped-ios-apps-from-opening/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">TechCrunch</a> reports that Apple has fixed a glitch that was plaguing iOS and iPadOS, causing apps to fail to launch on iPhones and iPads.</p>

<p class="">Former Apple designer Richard Stringer is raising “money to launch a product that will compete with Apple,” reports <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90508816/ex-apple-designer-to-launch-a-product-that-competes-with-apple-itself?partner=rss&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss+fastcompany&utm_content=rss?cid=search" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fast Company</a>.</p>

<p class="">The Cowichan Valley School District on southern Vancouver Island in British Columbia is getting Apple iPads with free data plans from Rogers Communications, according to <a href="https://www.iphoneincanada.ca/carriers/rogers/rogers-apple-cowichan-valley-school-district-ipads/?utm_campaign=Feed:+iphoneincanada+(iPhone+in+Canada+-+Canada%27s+#1+iPhone+Resource)&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=feedburner" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iPhone in Canada</a>.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2813257-1&h=3580127458&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sandmarc.com%2F&a=SANDMARC" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SANDMARC</a> — a brand specializing in photography gear for iPhone, DJI and GoPro cameras — has launched a new filter system for the iPhone camera: the US$99.99 Motion Variable Filter.</p>

<p class="">The Society for Information Display has <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/society-for-information-display-unveils-2020-display-industry-award-winners-301064640.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">announced</a> the winners of its 26th Annual Display Industry Awards — and they include the Apple Pro Display XDR.</p>

<p class="">Some folks have been awaiting FaceID coming to the Mac. A newly granted Apple patent (number 10,664,048) for “user detection by a computing device” suggest that this is in the works. And not only for Macs, but even some “smart TVs.”</p>

<p class="">One of the complaints about Apple’s Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro (see my <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2020/4/27/apples-magic-keyboard-gets-the-ipad-pro-much-closer-to-a-laptop-alternative?rq=Magic%20Keyboard" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">review here</a>) — besides the price — is that there’s no place to stash an Apple Pencil. Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,664,012) hints that this could change in future iterations of the keyboard.</p>

<p class="">In a note to clients — as noted by <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MacRumors</a> — Jeff Pu, an analyst at Chinese research firm GF Securities says Apple plans to release several higher-end devices with mini-LED displays in 2021, including a new 12.9-inch iPad Pro in the first quarter, a new 16-inch MacBook Pro in the second quarter, and a new 27-inch iMac in the second half of the year.</p>

<p class="">Shenzhen-based Huawei unseated Apple as China’s top tablet brand in the first quarter of 2020 with a 40.2% market share, according to the <a href="https://www.scmp.com/tech/gear/article/3086058/huawei-bucks-downward-trend-unseat-apple-and-take-lead-chinas-tablet" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">South China Morning Post</a>. The iPad’s market share dropped from 42.5% to 35.1% year-over-year.</p>