Dennis Sellers

<p class="">Apple’s request for its Apple Watches to be excluded from tariffs on Chinese imports was approved by the U.S. Trade Representative, reports <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-23/apple-s-watches-excluded-from-u-s-s-tariffs-on-china-imports?utm_source=twitter&cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_medium=social&utm_content=business" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bloomberg</a>.</p>

<p class="">Two reports from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OFx6eMXe2c&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">YouTube channel iUpdate</a> and <a href="https://theverifier.co.il/45948/exclusive-apple-tvos-14-kids-mode-screen-time-appletvplus-for-kids/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Verifier</a>, an Israeli site, claim a new version of Apple TV (the set-top box, not to be confused with the Apple TV app or Apple TV+, the streaming service) will come with more storage and, on the software side, a "Kids Mode."</p>

<p class="">China's smartphone production dipped under 70% for the first time in 2019, according to <a href="https://www.counterpointresearch.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Counterpoint Research</a>.</p>

<p class="">Many people now confined to their homes, consumers might be looking for new gadgets to help occupy their time, so "it’s not a very bad time for the new iPad Pro to be released to the market,” Ethan Qi, senior analyst at Counterpoint Research., tells <a href="http://www.abacusnews.com/">Abacus News</a>.</p>

<p class="">Yikes! It seems that Apple has quietly increased the prices of build-to-order <a href="https://9to5mac.com/guides/mac/">Mac</a> models in several countries.</p>

<p class="">Through April 3, Apple is offering a 10% bonus for <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208687" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">adding funds to your Apple ID account</a> in the U.S., Canada, and certain other countries.</p>

<p class="">Shut in because of the coronavirus outbreak? Or just like great deals? Apple points out that there's lots of free ebooks and audiobooks available in its Books apps for Macs, iPhones, and iPads.</p>

<p class="">Apple has dropped its two-device limit on online purchases of iPhones, a check of its web stores showed on Monday, just days after changing the checkout procedure amid a coronavirus pandemic, according to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-apple/apple-scraps-curbs-on-online-buyers-of-iphones-amid-virus-outbreak-idUSKBN21A0SA"><em>Reuters</em></a>.</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 Apple plans a 6.7-inch iPhone (or two or three) for release later this year that will sport sensor-shift image stabilization and a larger camera sensor for even better photography features.</p>

<p class="">Could Apple’s AirPower return from the dead? The tech giant has resumed development of the project, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/jon_prosser/status/1241840738712895494" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">YouTuber and leaker Jon Prosser</a>.</p>

<p class="">The global wearables market is expected to grow 9.4% in 2020, reaching 368.2 million shipments according to new data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.idc.com%2Ftracker%2Fshowproductinfo.jsp%3Fprod_id%3D962&esheet=52189869&newsitemid=20200316005755&lan=en-US&anchor=Worldwide+Quarterly+Wearable+Device+Tracker&index=2&md5=be04e705d5b85e4d1c61206c91f9c045" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker</a>.</p>

<p class="">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,594,850) for “instrument cluster metadata to support second screen” that hints at future features for CarPlay — and perhaps the rumored “Apple Car.”</p>

<p class="">Apple has sent out a message to Apple Store users with info on how to keep on keepin’ on during the coronavirus crise. The first recommended apps "offer ways to get in a workout anywhere.”</p>

<p class="">Oprah Winfrey has launched a new Apple TV+ series on the pandemic titled <a href="https://deadline.com/tag/oprah-talks-covid-19/"><em>Oprah Talks COVID-19</em></a>, reports <a href="https://deadline.com/2020/03/oprah-interviews-idris-elba-about-coronavirus-diagnosis-on-new-apple-series-oprah-talks-covid-19-1202889568/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Deadline</a>.</p>

<p class="">iPhone users who ask Siri, Apple’s “personal digital assistant,” about COVID-19 can now get detailed information, reports <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/21/apple-updated-siri-to-help-people-who-ask-if-they-have-coronavirus.html"><em>CNBC</em></a>.</p>