Dennis Sellers

<p>Yesterday, <em><a target="_blank" href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/hackers-we-will-remotely-wipe-iphones-unless-apple-pays-ransom" rel="noopener noreferrer">MotherBoard</a></em> reported that a hacker or group of hackers is trying to extort Apple over alleged access to a large cache of iCloud and other Apple email accounts. However, in a statement to <a target="_blank" href="http://fortune.com/2017/03/22/apple-iphone-hacker-ransom/" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Fortune</em></a>, Apple said that there have not been any breaches to its systems and that its user data is safe.</p>

<p>The annual <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bcgperspectives.com/content/interactive/innovation_growth_most_innovative_companies_interactive_guide/" rel="noopener noreferrer">50 Most Innovative Companies survey report</a> by the management consulting firm BCG (Boston Consulting Group) puts Apple in the top position for 2016. The Cupertino, California-based company has topped the list since 2014.</p>

<p>Apple is acquiring <a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/workflow-powerful-automation/id915249334?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4" rel="noopener noreferrer">Workflow</a>, an iOS tool that lets you hook together apps and functions within apps in strings of commands to automate tasks, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2017/03/22/apple-has-acquired-workflow-a-powerful-automation-tool-for-ipad-and-iphone/" rel="noopener noreferrer">TechCrunch.</a> Terms of the deal haven't been announced but the team behind the app — Ari Weinstein, Conrad Kramer, Ayaka Nonaka and Nick Frey — are coming to work for the Cupertino, California-based company.</p>

<p>Digital Anarchy's $149 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.digitalanarchy.com/Flicker/tutes.html#t12" rel="noopener noreferrer">Flicker Free plug-in</a> for Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro, and Apple's Final Cut Pro X gives video editors and visual effects artists a useful tool that fixes a wide range of footage affected with flicker or strobing. </p>

<p>On a regular basis, <em>Apple World Today</em> posts a list of notable new apps or app updates that have been released. They may not necessarily be new, but they're popular and deserve mention. Here are today's picks.</p>

<p>A hacker or group of hackers is apparently trying to extort Apple over alleged access to a large cache of iCloud and other Apple email accounts, reports <a target="_blank" href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/hackers-we-will-remotely-wipe-iphones-unless-apple-pays-ransom" rel="noopener noreferrer">MotherBoard</a>. Good luck with that, you hacks.</p>

<p>Marriott International Inc., the world’s biggest lodging company, is pitting Amazon’s Alexa against Apple’s Siri to be the voice-controlled platform of choice in its hotels, reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-22/amazon-s-alexa-takes-its-fight-with-siri-to-marriott-hotel-rooms" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bloomberg</a>.</p>

<p>In terms of shipments, the iPhone 6s from Apple bested all competitors for sales in 2016, according to new analysis from IHS Markit, a “critical information, analytics and solutions” firm.</p>

<p>The Apple Market Forum (AMF) — a conference for users, administrators, and managers in charge of running organizations based on Apple's devices and ecosystems — will take place in Silicon Valley this summer. </p>

<p>Agile Tortoise has announced Interact Scratchpad 1.0 for the Mac. The menubar app brings the popular natural language contact creation tools of Interact for iOS to macOS.</p>

<p>If you have more than one Mac, you need to check out ChronoSync from Econ Technologies. The $40 utility offers a way to synchronize or backup files and folders. And if you use ChronoSync, you'll also want to check out <a target="_blank" href="https://www.econtechnologies.com/chronoagent/overview.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">ChronoAgent</a>, a $15 utility that's recently been revved to version 1.5.</p>

<p>The global market for computer monitors is <a target="_blank" href="http://www.strategyr.com/MarketResearch/infographTemplate.asp?code=MCP-2262" rel="noopener noreferrer">projected to decline</a> to 121.8 million units by 2022 due to falling desktop sales and the rapid penetration of handheld computing devices. However, when consumers do buy a monitor, they’ll turn to larger screens (31-inches or more in size), according to IDC.</p>

<p>Apple has updated iTunes for iOS and tvOS to version 12.6, which lets you rent videos once and watch them on multiple screens. However, it requires iOS 10.3 and tvOS 10.2, both of which are in beta testing. I’d expect to see the finished versions arrive on Wednesday or Thursday.</p>

<p>Logitech has announced the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/ruggedcombo?wt.mc_id=global_news_ruggedcombo" rel="noopener noreferrer">Logitech Rugged Combo</a>, <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.logitech.com%2Fnews%2Fruggedcase&esheet=51529035&newsitemid=20170321005988&lan=en-US&anchor=Logitech%C2%AE+Rugged+Case&index=2&md5=7d315cad214f03aa65909b84dd58a9cd">Logitech Rugged Case</a> and <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.logitech.com%2Fnews%2Fruggedkb&esheet=51529035&newsitemid=20170321005988&lan=en-US&anchor=Logitech%C2%AE+Add-on+Keyboard+for+Rugged+Case&index=3&md5=8b1545036965cc8bea92318932810f2c">Logitech Add-on Keyboard for Rugged Case</a> for Apple's new 9.7-inch iPad.</p>

<p>Maybe I had my hopes too high, but today’s Apple announcements disappointed. A new 9.7-inch iPad. A (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. A new Clips app for iOS devices. All well and good — but underwhelming.</p>