Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple and Samsung are the best of frenemies. Even as the two tech giants wage patent infringement warfare in court, Samsung Electronics has announced that it will offer iTunes Movies and TV Shows and Apple AirPlay 2 support on 2019 Samsung Smart TV models beginning this spring. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Future versions of Apple’s Maps app may may make it easier to hail ride hailing services such as Uber and Lyft. Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,168,164) for “integrating ride hailing services into a navigation application.”</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">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 style="white-space: pre-wrap;">According to <a href="https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/1115054/apple-escapes-class-action-over-security-flaw-fixes?nl_pk=ade0cf2b-ea3f-464b-bc93-d8e19277ac63&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Law360</em></a>, a California federal judge on Wednesday tossed a proposed class action alleging that fixes for the security bugs known as Spectre and Meltdown slowed down the processing speed of Apple devices.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeanbaptiste/2019/01/03/apple-issues-profit-warning-cuts-revenue-outlook-by-17-billion-amid-pricey-iphone-sales-drop/#39e24567267e" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a note to clients </a>Jean Baptiste Su, vice president and principal analyst at the consulting firm of Atherton Research predicts that Apple will release a re-designed iPhone X in 2019.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Sanho has unveiled the <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bhphotovideo.com%2Fc%2Fproduct%2F1450496-REG%2Fsanho_sahd319ag_hyperdrive_usb_type_c_hub.html&esheet=51920678&newsitemid=20190103005621&lan=en-US&anchor=HyperDrive+USB-C+Hub+for+the+iPad+Pro+2018&index=1&md5=768f0dafe01a91be308b64fe29ccd2ac">HyperDrive USB-C Hub for the iPad Pro 2018</a>, which it describes as the world’s first USB Type-C hub designed for the 2018 tablet.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Following Qualcomm’s <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2019/1/3/qualcomm-wants-a-permanent-injunction-against-iphones-sold-in-germany" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">posting of security bonds </a>to stop iPhone sales in Germany, Apple’s iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 models <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/04/qualcomm-patent-dispute-forces-apple-to-pull-iphone-7-and-8-from-its-stores-in-germany/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">are no longer on sale</a> in the tech giant’s retail stores in the country. However, German Apple retailer Gravis <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-qualcomm-court-gravis/german-apple-reseller-gravis-says-still-selling-iphones-7-8-idUSKCN1OX1D7" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">says it’s still selling</a> both models at its stores.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">First of all, let me say that I’m apparently not too bright. I recently sold something quite expensive on eBay and was to be paid via PayPal. A first time Bay seller, I got scammed, but good. Learn from my mistakes. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple’s Maps app and its Siri personal digital assistant may one day work even better together, especially on an Apple Watch. Apple has filed for a patent (number 20190003849) for “user interactions for a mapping application.”</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Patrick Gates — an Apple senior director of engineering who led development of iCloud, FaceTime, and iMessage during nearly 14 years at the the tech giant — has left to join a stealth startup founded by two other former Apple employees, notes <a href="https://www.theinformation.com/briefings/43789c" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Information</em></a>. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://eshop.macsales.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">OWC</a> has acquired Akitio, a maker of external computer storage products and accessories, with an emphasis on Thunderbolt 3 technology. OWC's Woodstock, Illinois facility will serve as worldwide headquarters for all OWC brands, including Akitio.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">mophie has announced ahead of CES the <a href="http://www.mophie.com/shop/powerstation-usbc-pd" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">powerstation PD</span></a> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">and</span> <a href="http://www.mophie.com/shop/powerstation-usbc-pd-xl" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">powerstation PD XL</span></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;">,</span> two universal batteries designed to charge popular smartphones at the fastest speed possible. d</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple says App Store customers set new spending records over the holidays, wrapping up a record-breaking year. App Store spending topped $1.22 billion between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Customers also spent over $322 million on New Year’s Day 2019 alone, setting a new single-day record.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">And it continues. Qualcomm has announced that it’s posted security bonds totaling €1.34 billion required for Qualcomm to be able to enforce the remedies ordered by the District Court of Munich on Dec. 20, 2018, after the court found that Apple is infringing Qualcomm's patented power savings technology used in smartphones. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We have the Apple Watch, so is it time for the “Apple Glove”? Apple has filed for a patent (number 20190004604) for a “finger-mounted device with sensors and haptics.”</p>