Dennis Sellers

<p class="">Apple has seeded the second public betas of iOS 1.34 and iPadOS 13.4. The public betas are available on <a href="https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple’s Beta Software Program website</a>. Just remember that beta software, so proceed with care. Apple does public betas in order to increase the size of the pool of testers. The tech giant recommends keeping back-ups of your files before installing a public beta.</p>

<p class="">Production of Apple TV+’s Charlie Hunnam-starring “Shantaram” has been halted in Australia due to a writing backlog, <a href="https://variety.com/2020/digital/asia/apple-tv-charlie-hunnam-shantaram-production-halted-1203507731/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reports</a> <em>Variety</em>.</p>

<p class="">Apple has filed for a patent (number 20200058152) for a "video pipeline” for a mixed reality (MR) system that involves a “base station.”</p>

<p class="">There’s been rumors that Apple would bring Apple Pencil support to iPhones. A new patent filing (number 20200057556) for “handwriting keyboard for screen” — hints that this may happen — as well as Apple Pencil support for the Apple Watch.</p>

<p class="">Lawrence Gordon Tesler, the computer scientist behind copy and paste (and much more) has died at 74.</p>

<p class="">Apple is considering allowing iPhone and iPad users to set third-party mail and browser apps as defaults instead of the mobile operating system's preference for its own Safari and Mail apps, according to a <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-20/apple-weighs-loosening-restrictions-on-rival-iphone-music-apps" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bloomberg</a> report by Mark Gurman.</p>

<p class="">Whether you’re traveling, on your couch, or in the office, a dying battery can ruin your day. It's not the sexiest peripheral around, but Satechi’s <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__satechi.net_products_108w-2Dpro-2Dusb-2Dc-2Dpd-2Ddesktop-2Dcharger-23detail-2Dsection&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=-JpfIgqAwQzGV9ySZuMMIn1wBDcU86MLq943MKRaxorO6mnrUgXWI0DlZfHbiT7e&m=cN4WeGIxM_Uq1Jd675gDCesUbZytKdmlnf9D5B89w_M&s=ugVhb9JJWz9-OOJcM-zBbBpu0RhS0zBFcZwXM--DlCY&e=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">108W Pro USB-C PD Desktop Charger</a> has a variety of fast, convenient, flexible, and safe features.</p>

<p class="">Apple has announced that “Swan Song,” a new film starring two-time Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali (“Green Book,” “Moonlight”), will join its Apple TV+ original film slate along with a theatrical release. The film will be produced for Apple by Anonymous Content, and will go into production this spring.</p>

<p class="">Apple <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/02/19/apple-demands-pull-of-tell-all-app-store-book-over-confidentiality-issues" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">is taking legal action</a> against former german App Store manager Tom Sadowski and publisher Murmann Verlag to stop circulation of a book (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/App-Store-Confidential/dp/3867746427" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">App Store Confidential</a>) about his work, under allegations it reveals confidential "business secrets" that the author wasn't allowed to disclose.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">I can't afford one, but I'm intrigued by Sony’s US$3000 (and up)BRAVIA OLED A1E 4K HDR TV, particularly its “Acoustic Surface" speakers.</p>

<p class="">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,567,787) for “autofocusing images using motion detection” that promises enhancements to the ever-improving cameras on iPhones (and, to a lesser degree, iPads).</p>

<p class="">Apple has released watchOS 6.1.3, which fixes a glitch involving the heart rhythm notification feature of the Apple Watch.</p>

<p class="">In a note to clients — as noted by <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MacRumors </a>-- analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Shanghai-based manufacturing company Universal Scientific Industrial will begin supplying the system-in-package for Apple’s "Apple Tags” product that will arrive in the second or third quarter of the year. He thinks shipments will reach tens of millions of units by the end of the year.</p>

<p class="">The <a href="https://onelink.firstalert.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Onelink Safe & Sound by First Alert,</a> a smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarm with a home speaker, is now compatible with Apple AirPlay 2.</p>

<p class="">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,565,770) for a “communication system and method for providing a bionic virtual meeting room.” It involves iPhones, iPads, Mac desktops, Mac laptops, and the rumored "Apple Glasses.”</p>