Dennis Sellers

<p>Global sales of smartphones to end users totaled nearly 408 million units in the fourth quarter of 2017, a 5.6% decline over the fourth quarter of 2016, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gartner.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gartner, Inc</a>. This is the first year-on-year decline since the research group started tracking the global smartphone market in 2004. </p>

<p>A <a target="_blank" href="http://loupventures.com/annual-apple-pay-review-adoption-jumps-but-still-a-long-way-to-go/" rel="noopener noreferrer">new survey</a> from Gene Munster's Loup Ventures finds Apple Pay’s year-over-year growth has been “impressive” with active users more than doubling. Still, the research group believes that only 16% of iPhone users have enabled the digital payment service.</p>

<p>Apple may have big gaming plans for their set-top box. As noted by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2018/02/apple-files-major-apple-tv-logo-trademark-update-focused-on-all-things-related-to-gaming-including-a-video-game-console.html" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Patently Apple</em></a>, the tech giant has updated their Apple TV logo trademark by adding all things related to gaming.</p>

<p>Get ready to rock. Apple has been granted a patent (number 20180053491) for a “travel guitar” that would work with an iPad or iPhone.</p>

<p>Apple is planning water-resistant AirPods with “Hey, Siri” support for later this year, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-22/apple-is-said-to-plan-upgrades-to-popular-airpods-headphones" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Bloomberg</em></a>, quoting unnamed “people familiar with the matter.”</p>

<p>A<a target="_blank" href="http://loupventures.com/smart-speaker-satisfaction-high-but-its-early-days/" rel="noopener noreferrer"> new survey</a> from Gene Munster's Loup Ventures found 89% of smart speaker owners are satisfied with their device. It also shows that Apple’s HomePod has 3% of the market, which is pretty impressive since it’s only been on sales since Feb. 9.</p>

<p>Apple sold an estimated 2.9 million Apple Watches in the U.S. during the fourth quarter, according to Counterpoint Research (as noted by<em> </em><a target="_blank" href="https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/verizon-takes-lead-apple-watch-sales-q4" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>FierceWireless</em></a>). And 975,000 units -- over a third -- were sold through the four major wireless carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint), with Verizon leading the way. </p>

<p>The House of Chanel is Apple’s <a target="_blank" href="https://stupiddope.com/2018/02/21/look-chanel-is-set-to-be-apples-next-music-partner/" rel="noopener noreferrer">newest music partner</a>. The French fashion company will join forces with Apple Music to release The Sound of Chanel, which will feature a curated set of playlists inspired by previous show soundtracks, with one serving as a “best of” playlist created by sound designer Michel Gaubert.</p>

<p>Apple Kärntner Straße, Apple’s first store in Austria, will open Saturday at 9:30 a.m. (local time) in the heart of Vienna. Nestled on the famous pedestrian shopping street between St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Vienna State Opera, the store will have 150 employees (who, together, speak 44 languages).</p>

<p>iHealth Lab’s <a target="_blank" href="https://ihealthlabs.com/blood-pressure-monitors/ease-bp3l/" rel="noopener noreferrer">iHealth Ease Blood Pressure Monitor</a> is a full-featured, FDA-approved blood pressure testing device. And it’s affordable at $39.99.</p>

<p>You can use Messages, Reminders, and Notes with your HomePod as long as it and your iOS device and HomePod must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network, and your iOS device must be the one you share your location from using Find My Friends.</p>

<p>Apple has released new public betas of iOS 11.3 and macOS 10.13.4. The public betas are available on <a target="_blank" href="https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple's Beta Software Program website</a>. Just remember that beta software is unfinished software, so proceed with care.</p>

<p>If you have a HomePod and a Mac and want to use them to their full combined potential, you need Rogue Amoeba’s $29 <a target="_blank" href="https://rogueamoeba.com/airfoil/mac/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Airfoil for Mac</a>. </p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/story/id1342204830?ign-mpt=uo%3D8" rel="noopener noreferrer">Alto’s Odyssey</a>, the sequel to Alto's Adventure, has arrived a day early. The $4.99 endless runner game for the iPhone and iPad was supposed to be available tomorrow. Here’s how the game is described: </p>

<p>A woman who had a stroke while on a FaceTime video call with her sister, says the technology saved her life, according to the <em><a target="_blank" href="http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-43125658" rel="noopener noreferrer">BBC</a>.</em></p>