Dennis Sellers

<p class="">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,649636) for “systems and methods for enabling low-vision users to interact with a touch-sensitive secondary display such as the Touch Bar on some Mac laptops.</p>

<p class="">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 this week’s picks.</p>

<p class="">According to <a href="https://www.law360.com/articles/1274063" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Law360</a>, U.S. District Judge Edward J. Davila has preliminarily approved Apple's US$500 million deal to end multi-district litigation accusing the company of releasing updates that slowed down the performance of certain iPhones, but extended the final approval deadlines in light of the coronavirus pandemic.</p>

<p class="">KO_OP's <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/winding-worlds/id1435217827" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Winding Worlds</a> is this week's addition to Apple Arcade, Apple’s US$4.99/month or $49.99/year game streaming service. It's available for the the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and, yes, Mac.</p>

<p class="">Apple chip manufacturer TSMC has announced its intention to build and operate an advanced semiconductor fab in the U.S. with the mutual understanding and commitment to support from the U.S. federal government and the State of Arizona.</p>

<p class="">On Thursday in a note to clients, analyst and reliable Apple prophet, Mind-Chi Kuo, said the long-rumored Apple Glasses won’t arrive until at least 2022. However, equally reliable tweeter Jon Prosser <a href="https://twitter.com/jon_prosser?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1261265338727006208&ref_url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/05/15/sleek-apple-glasses-predicted-to-arrive-in-2021-in-conflicting-leak" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">has tweeted </a>that the augmented reality (AR) headset will arrive March-June 2021.</p>

<p class="">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,646,117) for "detecting activity by a wheelchair user.” It involves use of the Apple Watch for measuring the fitness and exercise activities of such users</p>

<p class="">Apple may have abandoned (for now) its plans for an <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2019/3/29/goodbye-airpower-we-hardly-knew-you-well-actually-we-didnt-know-you?rq=AirPower" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AirPower </a>charging system, but the company is still investigating wireless charging system and has applied for a patent (number 20200153278) for a “transmitter in an inductive power transfer system.”</p>

<p class="">President Donald Trump threatened on Thursday to impose new taxes on American companies that produce goods outside the U.S., <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china-taxes/trump-threatens-new-taxes-on-companies-that-make-goods-outside-united-states-idUSKBN22Q2HS">reports Reuter</a>s. Obviously, Apple is one such company.</p>

<p class="">Apple <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-14/apple-acquires-startup-nextvr-to-gain-virtual-reality-content" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">confirmed</a> to Bloomberg that it's scooped up NextVR, a live event streaming AR/VR company. No details on the acquisition, but it's expected to be in the US$100 million range.</p>

<p class="">Jamf is launching <a href="https://www.jamf.com/lp/redeploy-initiative/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jamf Nation Redeploy</a>, a global initiative to help connect organizations with unused Apple devices with organizations that have one of the following specified problems:</p>

<p class="">mophie, a ZAGG brand, has announced the US$99.99 powerstation wireless X, which is available now at <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=S-ixb87oFfyj2hMvD_0NSH82HUaPvESxIQdV3VLdWcVvX4qUAaqJzC08gh5gzUTii11NzEtfw6g-7wVvpTWwkHDTfLIam9Tsnx0pCpr2nbYuxbQDs3uA6c1cCDQUDmQ2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">mophie.com</a>, <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=qFtnbMbWCT9erTzex1ttBXv_dXeiWl8glz8CdWyFjc_yOL-q9r4D6ZVUvV1GweKMfzTf3Mhn0vQm17gb8B1oNKGVcALnFaW3wIBcc39SUpzUd23ZsFma-hLaQGBiShN4qGpSHZxY5ttOCTPHqrZF2DSFBLA-umZ2uwOpFraI50w-AO5Z7AieziEipR1OER7y" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">apple.com</a>, and, soon, in Apple retail stores.</p>

<p class="">In a note to clients -- as noted by <a href="https://www.macrumors.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MacRumors</a> -- analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the long-rumored Apple Glasses won’t arrive until at least 2020. He also says that Apple is working on two new iPad models.</p>

<p class="">Could an Apple Watch help detect if its wearer has COVID-19? As noted by <a href="https://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2020/05/can-a-smart-watch-detect-covid-19/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+uk%2Fgizmodo+%28Gizmodo+UK%29"><span style="text-decoration:underline">Gizmodo</span></a>, Stanford’s <a href="https://innovations.stanford.edu/#section-wearables"><span style="text-decoration:underline">Wearables Data Study</span></a> is trying to determine if the smartwatch and devices such as Fitbits and Oura Rings can do just that.</p>

<p class="">Apple has filed for another patent (number 20200150715) for an “expandable ring device” that hints at an Apple Ring that could be used to control, among other things, a Mac. At least seven other patents have been filed for or granted to the company.</p>