Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Estimated retail revenues from recorded music in the U.S. grew 12% in 2018 to $9.8 billion in 2018, according to a report from the <a href="http://www.riaa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA</a>). </p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for another patent (number 20190065024) that involves the use of “smart gloves” or at least a finger device of some sort. The new filing is for “systems for modifying finger sensations during finger press input events.”</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has announced a series of new app integrations with Siri Shortcuts, according to <a href="https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-uses-siri-shortcuts-to-catch-up-to-alexa-google-assistant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>CNET.</em></a>. </p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=XzZTeneD3GRg3tAQa4UZTcS03TMcKNzPl6CP4veyukMWnHCwhN9vryVPMPGr6HyP" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration:underline">Jamf</span></a>, which specializes in Apple management, says Acadian Ambulance Service is using Apple and Jamf technology to empower its roughly 3,000 employees to deliver care across 74 counties and parishes in four states.</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Manufacturers ranging from Huawei to LG, Motorola, Xiaomi and others have announced foldable smartphones. Lots of folks, including Apple co-founder Steve “Woz” Wozniak think Apple should release on ASAP.</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Future Apple Pencils may have adjustable sizes. Apple has been granted a patent (number 20190064936) for an “adjustable handheld stylus.” The tech giant notes that styluses are available in a variety of shapes and sizes that are each intended to satisfy certain user preferences. However, while some shapes and sizes are advantageous for certain purposes, the same shapes and sizes can be less desirable for other purposes. </p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple is teaming up with Adidas — which makes footwear, sports, and casual apparel— for a new Apple Pay promo: use the latter’s mobile payment service in the Adidas app — available at the Apple App Store — and get 15% on your purchase.</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.strategyanalytics.com%2Faccess-services%2Fdevices%2Fwearables%2Fmarket-data%2Freport-detail%2Fglobal-smartwatch-vendor-market-share-by-region-q4-2018&esheet=51947836&newsitemid=20190227006074&lan=en-US&anchor=global+smartwatch+shipments+grew+an+impressive+56+percent&index=1&md5=61f23c443143e129e150fb081ec8d67e" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">global smartwatch shipments grew an impressive 56% </a>annually to reach a record 18 million units in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2018. Apple Watch maintained first position with 51% global smartwatch marketshare, while Samsung jumped to second place, overtaking Fitbit and Garmin.</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Plugable’s 10Gb USB-C (USB 3.1 Gen 2) <a href="https://plugable.com/products/usbc-nvme" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration:underline">NVMe SSD Enclosure</span></a> is, as far as I can tell, the first high performance NVMe enclosure to feature a completely tool-free, spring-loaded design for inserting and removing a compatible SSD. It’s compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux systems.</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Vulnerabilities in Thunderbolt has been disclosed by security researchers, with "Thunderclap" allowing a device connecting over Thunderbolt to acquire sensitive data from the host Mac, an issue that affects almost all Macs released since 2011, notes <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/02/27/thunderbolt-3-thunderclap-vulnerabilities-let-malicious-peripherals-attack-a-macs-memory" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em></a>.</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple is laying off 190 employees who worked in its Santa Clara and Sunnyvale self-driving car division dubbed “Project Titan,” the company said in a letter to the California Employment Development Department noted by the <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Apple-self-driving-car-layoffs-hit-190-employees-13649994.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>San Francisco Chronicle</em></a>. </p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">KeepSolid has released an update for their registration-free VPN service, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vpn-lite-without-registration/id1445553327?mt=12" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">KeepSolid VPN Lite</a>. The app is finally available on macOS. </p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">HITCASE has released the Ferra, a handcrafted, full grain leather drop resistant case for iPhone X, Xs, and Xs Max. </p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">I suggested this idea four years ago. It never came to fruition, but I still think it’s a timely idea: Apple should open small retail stores — Apple mini stores, if you will — in towns that are too small for the traditional, bigger Apple retail stores and Mac Specialists.</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for a patent (number 10,216,147) for a “tactile switch for an electronic device” — the device being an Apple Watch. The plan seems to be to add even more functionality to the smartwatch’s Digital Crown and screen.</p>