Dennis Sellers

<p>Well, this is interesting considering the <em>Consumer Reports</em> <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2017/1/12/consumer-reports-retests-and-now-recommends-2016-macbook-pros?rq=Consumer%20Reports" rel="noopener noreferrer">testing hoopla</a> over 2016 MacBook Pro’s battery life): Apple’s Mac laptops are the only current laptops to meet or exceed their makers' battery life according to a report by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.which.co.uk/news/2017/03/which-laptop-battery-tests-manufacturers-overstate/" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Which?</em></a>, a British testing publication.</p>

<p>The research group, Research and Markets, has launched its <a target="_blank" href="http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/3756485/apple-inc-usa-company-reports" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple Market Research Portal</a>, a subscription service that will provide visitors with the opportunity to browse a collection of company reports on Apple, as well as in-depth market research and analysis of activities in the consumer electronics, computer software, and online services industries.</p>

<p>With the 2016 MacBook Pro line, Apple ditched the beloved MagSafe connector, which disengaged with the slightest amount of pressure. This saved many Mac laptops from a disastrous plummet when someone accidentally snagged the power cable. However, a recent patent filing (number 20170093104) for a “magnetic adapter” hints that it could return.</p>

<p>Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, has <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/pschiller/status/847719929373577217" rel="noopener noreferrer">announced</a> the official opening of the company’s <a target="_blank" href="https://developer.apple.com/accelerator/" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS App Design and Development Accelerator</a> in Bengaluru, India. Tens of thousands of developers in India make apps for iOS, and this initiative will provide additional, specialized support for them, says Apple CEO Tim Cook. </p>

<p>Raaza has introduced BlipWall 1.0, a photography app for macOS. With it you can create desktop wallpaper from a random selection of your Facebook photos. </p>

<p>Apple's iOS 10.3 update, which was released this week, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-fixes-911-flaw-in-latest-ios-update-1490907451" rel="noopener noreferrer">has reportedly resolved a 911 flaw</a>. At issue was an iPhone feature allowing users to click on a phone number to immediately start a call.</p>

<p>Apple has hired Shiva Rajaraman, a veteran product manager from YouTube and Spotify, to help shape the company’s video strategy, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theinformation.com/apple-hires-former-youtube-exec-to-boost-video-effort" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Information</a>, citing three unnamed “people briefed on the hiring.” </p>

<p>Apple’s first Indonesian research and development (R&D) center is expected to begin operating in the second quarter in Tangerang, Banten, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/03/30/apples-first-rd-center-to-operate-in-second-quarter.html" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Jakarta Post</em></a>.</p>

<p>Australia will bar its banks from <a target="_blank" href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/apple-australia-idUKS9N1GE00H" rel="noopener noreferrer">collective bargaining with Apple</a> over access to the tech giant's contactless payments. That could set a global precedent, <em>Reuters </em>notes. </p>

<p>Apple has released the first public beta of its next update (10.12.5) for macOS Sierra. It’s a minor update that focuses on bug fixes and speed improvements.</p>

<p>Estimated retail revenues from recorded music in the U.S. grew 11.4% in 2016 to $7.7 billion in 2016, according to a report from the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.riaa.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA</a>). The primary driver of that growth was a doubling of paid streaming music subscriptions such as Apple Music, which helped the American music business experience its biggest gain since 1998. </p>

<p>If you want to buy displays and USB-C peripherals for the 2016 MacBook, scoop ‘em now as discounted prices end tomorrow, March 31. The new MacBook Pro has Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports, which have a different connector than that of USB-A devices and cables like the iPhone sync cable. </p>

<p>At the end of April, Apple plans to eliminate such retail store positions as business manager, business events lead, events coordinator, and events lead according to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.macrumors.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">MacRumors</a>, quoting an unnamed “source who shared the company's plans.” Sources within the company, not authorized to speak on Apple's behalf, have confirmed the reorganization in some stores with <a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/17/03/30/apple-to-cut-several-business-events-positions-at-retail-stores---report" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em></a>.</p>

<p>Call this a mini-review: earlier this month I <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2017/3/14/the-second-gen-gamevice-really-enhances-game-playing-on-ios-devices?rq=Gamevice" rel="noopener noreferrer">critiqued</a> the second generation of the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gamevice.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Gamevice</strong></a> controller, which has been upgraded with new buttons and thumb sticks,  on my iPhone 7 Plus. I found it to be great for certain games, but wondered if the 12.9-inch iPad Pro version would just too unwieldy to use.</p>

<p>If you wish you can record a FaceTime call with macOS Sierra. Here’s how to do it:<br />Open QuickTime on your Mac from your dock. It’s in the Applications folder. Or you can use the macOS LaunchPad. Or — my favorite method — you can tell Siri to “Open QuickTime.”</p>