Dennis Sellers

<p class="">A White House advisory panel that includes Apple CEO Tim Cook will call for the government and private industry to work together to build new technological infrastructure to support future jobs and provide the underpinnings critical to a solid economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, according to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-white-house-jobs/white-house-panel-build-new-tech-infrastructure-for-future-jobs-idUSKBN22V0DA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters</a>.</p>

<p class="">Apple is acquiring older movies and shows for its Apple TV+ streaming service to build a back catalog of content that can better stack up against the huge libraries available on Netflix, Hulu and Disney+, reports <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-19/apple-buys-older-shows-for-tv-stepping-up-netflix-challenge" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bloomberg</a>, which says the service now has 10 million folks signed up.</p>

<p class="">Following four years of stability, customer satisfaction with cell phones climbs 1.3% to a new high of 80, according to the <a href="https://www.theacsi.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">American Customer Satisfaction Index</a> (ACSI).</p>

<p class="">The <a href="http://www.macvoices.com/macvoices-20137-glenn-fleishman-takes-control-of-zoom-part-1/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">latest episode of MacVoices</a><em> </em>serves up the first part of an interview with Glenn Fleishman, the author of the new <em>Take Control of Zoom</em> from Take Control Books.</p>

<p class="">Apple has given a straight-to-series order for an untitled four-part documentary series from filmmakers Brian Lazarte and James Lee Hernandez, directors of the docuseries <em>McMillion$</em>. Multiple bidders were in the mix and it was a seven-figure deal, according to <a href="https://deadline.com/2020/05/mcmillions-directors-apple-seven-figure-deal-docuseries-government-fraud-scandal-brian-lazarte-james-lee-hernandez-1202937459/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Deadline</a>.</p>

<p class="">Apple has released watchOS 6.2.5, which makes the ECG app and irregular hearth rhythm notifications on an Apple Watch Series 4 available in Saudi Arabia. It also provides new Pride watch faces.</p>

<p class="">A report at <a href="https://www.displaysupplychain.com/blog/iphone-12-and-foldable-galaxy-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Display Supply Chain Consultants</a> (DSCC) offers details on Apple’s upcoming iPhone 12 line-up. The report says there will be four different models: the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 (starting at US$649), the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Max (starting at $749), the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro (starting at $999), and the iPhone 12 Pro Max (starting at $1,099).</p>

<p class="">Apple journalist Mark Gurman <a href="https://twitter.com/markgurman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1262393215870816257&ref_url=https://www.macrumors.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">has tweeted</a> that Apple employees can now buy up to 10 HomePods (previously, the limit was two) with their discount, so “these things are clearly on the way out.”</p>

<p class="">France will tax big digital businesses such as Apple this year whether there’s progress or not towards an international deal on a levy, according to Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, adding such a tax has “never been more legitimate or more necessary,” reports <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-digital-tax/france-to-go-ahead-with-digital-tax-this-year-regardless-of-possible-international-deal-idUSKBN22Q25B" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters</a>.</p>

<p class="">FORTUNE has announced the 66th <a href="https://fortune.com/fortune500/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">FORTUNE 500,</a> its annual list of the largest corporations in the U.S., ranked by revenue for the 2019 fiscal year. Apple places fourth on the list compared to third place last year.</p>

<p class="">UBTECH Education has announced Camp:ASPIRE, At-home Summer Programs in Robotics & Engineering, designed to immerse children in hands-on STEM learning activities, design challenges, and creative fun with robots.</p>

<p class="">Apple says it <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-17/apple-says-nearly-100-stores-globally-have-reopened-their-doors?srnd=premium" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">plans to reopen several North American stores this week</a> that had been shut due to the pandemic, including more than 25 across the U.S. and 12 in Canada.</p>

<p class="">Apple has been granted a patent (20200152165) for “acoustic filler including acoustically active beads and expandable filler" that hints at even better speakers on iPhones, iPads, and Macs.</p>

<p class="">Another day, another lawsuit. Ubisoft Entertainment has sued Apple and Google, accusing the companies of selling a ripoff of its popular video game “Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege,” reports <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-16/ubisoft-sues-apple-google-over-alibaba-s-rainbow-six-ripoff" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bloomberg</a>.</p>

<p class="">With PRMac — which has been in the press release creation/distribution business since 1999 — shutting down April 30, Steve Sande and Yours Truly of <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple World Today</a> are launching PRApple.Media to fill the void.</p>