Dennis Sellers

<p class="">Apple says it’s awarding US$10 million from its Advanced Manufacturing Fund to COPAN Diagnostics, which specializes in sample collection kits that play a critical role in COVID-19 testing. The Advanced Manufacturing Fund comes from Apple's U.S. investment pool.</p>

<p class="">On the new <a href="http://www.macvoices.com/macvoices-20130-how-long-should-tech-last-with-charles-edge-ken-ray-and-brett-terpstra-part-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MacVoices,</a> the second part of the discussion on “How Long Should Tech Last” with the panel of Charles Edge, Ken Ray, Brett Terpstra, and host Chuck Joiner gets into topics that include the costs of maintaining older hardware and software from both the end user as well as the manufacturer's perspective, backward compatibility, and how you should budget for replacement.</p>

<p class="">Another day, yet another lawsuit. <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/05/06/apple-sued-over-2016-macbook-pro-stage-lighting-issue" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AppleInsider </a>reports that Apple is the target of a class-action lawsuit claiming the tech giant concealed the so-called "stage lighting" issue experienced by some 2016 MacBook Pro owners.</p>

<p class="">Apple keeps beefing up the staff for its Apple TV+ streaming service. The tech giant has hired BBC factual controller Alison Kirkham as its new unscripted chief in the UK, reporting to creative director of worldwide video Europe, Jay Hunt, reports <a href="https://deadline.com/2020/05/apple-hires-bbc-factual-chief-alison-kirkham-1202927372/"><em>Deadline</em></a>.</p>

<p class="">Alena Smith, the creator of Apple TV+’s Hailee Steinfeld-led series Dickinson, has signed a multi-year overall deal with Apple, reports <a href="https://www.thewrap.com/dickinson-creator-alena-smith-signs-apple-overall-deal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Wrap</a>.</p>

<p class="">Apple has new iMac and AirPods updates that are “ready to ship” although no release dates have been set, according to reliable leaker, Jon Prosser. leaker.</p>

<p class=""><a href="http://www.peacocktv.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Peacock,</a> NBCUniversal’s new streaming service, announced it will be available on Apple devices, including the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD, when it launches nationally on July 15.</p>

<p class="">In the<a href="https://mblm.com/lab/brandintimacy-study/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> 2020 Brand Intimacy Study</a> by MBLM comes in third overall behind Amazon and Disney, but takes first place in the tech category.</p>

<p class="">Lamborghini will unveil the Huracán EVO RWD Spyder May 7 <a href="https://www.lamborghini.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.lamborghini.com</a> and use Apple’s AR Quick Look to show its latest V10 sports car directly to customers and fans. All you need is an iPhone or iPad with iOS/iPadOS 11 or hight an an A9 processor or later.</p>

<p class="">Australians running the Covidsafe contact tracing app on iPhones may not be recording all the data required if they don’t have the app running in the foreground or they are using an older model phone, according to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/06/covidsafe-app-is-not-working-properly-on-iphones-authorities-admit" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Guardian.</a></p>

<p class="">Another day, another lawsuit. Apple has been hit with a new class action lawsuit alleging its deliberately misled buyers by using a 2x2 MIMO antenna array in the iPhone XR while knowing it was "inferior" and "defective" compared to the 4x4 MIMO setup in the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, reports <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/05/06/apple-facing-second-lawsuit-over-iphone-xrs-inferior-2x2-mimo-antennas" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AppleInsider</a>.</p>

<p class="">Darren Eastman, a former Apple engineer who’s suing the company over allegations that he wasn’t properly credited on key patents, has added an additional eight patents to his lawsuit, reports <a href="https://www.theregister.co.uk/2020/05/06/apple_engineer_patent/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Register.</a></p>

<p class="">The <a href="https://nfc-forum.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NFC Forum</a>, the global standards and advocacy association for Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, announced that its Board of Directors approved and adopted the <a href="https://nfc-forum.org/our-work/specification-releases/specifications/nfc-forum-technical-specifications/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wireless Charging Specification (WLC)</a> that makes it possible to wirelessly charge small, battery-powered consumer and IoT devices with a smartphone or other NFC charging device at a power transfer rate of up to one watt.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://9to5mac.com/2020/05/06/airpods-pro-issue-crackling/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">9to5Mac</a> notes that Apple has now addressed potential issues that some AirPods Pro owners have experienced in two support documents which you can find <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211147" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a> and <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211157" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>. You can find details on the issues at the <a href="http://www.apple.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple Support Forum</a>.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://apple.news/ANDN2XMokSRm1A2YCxc0WsQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Variety </a>reports that the American Film Institute’s <a href="https://www.afi.com/movieclub/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AFI Movie Club</a>, daily selections of favorite films new and old to watch during quarantine, is now available directly on the Apple TV app — thereby making it easier to stream the titles from the app or pay Apple to rent or buy the titles.</p>