Dennis Sellers

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Smart lighting company <a href="https://nanoleaf.me/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nanoleaf </a>has unveiled the Nanoleaf Learning Series, an all-in-one intelligent lighting system for your home. It “intuitively learns, senses and reacts to users needs - simplifying the smart home, minimizing any need for adjustments and manual controls (such as voice commands, app controls and scheduling) to go beyond simply a “connected” home to one that is truly smart,” according to the folks at Nanoleaf.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">You can now have emojis (well, some, at least) and other symbols engraved on an AirPod Charging Case. The engraving is free when you order the earbuds from Apple.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">I can't afford the Apple Pro Display XDR, so I sure can't afford a big ol’ 8K HDTV. But if you can, <a href="https://www.lg.com/">LG Electronics </a>will introduce its expanded 8K TV lineup next week at CES 2020 – eight TVs with new 77- and 65-inch class models joining LG’s existing 88- and 75-inch screen sizes. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but I'm sure it will beyond my budget.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to undo a Federal Circuit decision upholding a jury verdict ordering the company to pay $439 million for infringing VirnetX’s network security patents, saying the “grossly unfair” outcome hinged on “fundamental legal errors," reports <a href="https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/1230891/apple-tells-justices-439m-virnetx-verdict-is-grossly-unfair-?nl_pk=ade0cf2b-ea3f-464b-bc93-d8e19277ac63&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Law360</a> (a subscription is required to read the entire article.)</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for a patent (number 10,521,034) for “electronic devices with sidewall displays” that could involve iPhones, iPads, even Macs.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">A new Apple patent filing (number 2020200004337) dubbed “laptop computing device with discrete haptic regions" that hints at a Mac laptop with more touchscreen features, though not a touchscreen on the display itself.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Spurred by new device sales, first-time mobile users, and consumers “flush with gift card credit,” worldwide spending across the Apple App Store and Google Play on Christmas topped $277 million according to Sensor Tower <a href="https://sensortower.com/solutions/store-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Store Intelligence</a> estimates, with the former coming out the clear winner.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple shares hit a new all-time high today, reaching a closing price of $300. That's up from up from a low of $142.19 recorded on Jan. 3, 2019.  </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">This could result in some interesting new content on Apple TV+: in a new five-year deal, Richard Plepler’s new company, Eden Productions, will make television series, documentaries and feature films exclusively for Apple’s $4.99/month streaming service, reports <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/02/business/media/richard-plepler-apple.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The New York Times</a>. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Brydge has announced the <a href="https://www.brydge.com/products/brydge-pro-plus-for-ipad-pro?affiliate_id=21181&click_id=2959232192&utm_source=pepperjam&utm_medium=affiliate&clickId=2959232192"><span style="text-decoration:underline">Brydge Pro+</span></a>, a keyboard with an integrated trackpad for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (third generation) and 11-inch iPad Pro.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">WaterField Designs kicks off the new year with the new handcrafted <a href="https://www.sfbags.com/collections/laptop-backpacks/products/mezzo-laptop-backpack" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mezzo Laptop Backpack</a>. With its tapered shape and small frame, the $299 backpack is designed for carrying a laptop, tablet, and other office gear along with after-work gym garb. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for a patent (number 202000004416) for “virtual keyboard animation” that could mean enhanced virtual keyboards for the iPad and iPhone.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Future AirPods and AirPods Pro may make sure you’ve got each earbud in the proper ear. Apple has filed for a patent (number 10,524,040) for “headphones with orientation sensors.”</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for a patent (number 10,524,080) for a "system to move a virtual sound away from a listener using a crosstalk canceler” that hints at enhanced surround sound features in upcoming HomePods and Macs.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Recently the <em>Apple World Today</em> staff -- Steve Sande, Marty Stewart, and Yours Truly -- put our heads together to make our predictions for 2020. Here’s what my crystal ball shows:</p>