Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Smart homes are the next big thing. You may not realize it yet, but somewhere your day will be easier because of it. Smart home technology is not only impacting the houses its installed into. Its reach stretches to other industries like business, science and even health care. Here is an infographic detailing the numbers and change caused by smart homes.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple Music will open a content creation office in Nashville, Tennessee’s historic May Hosiery complex in Wedgewood-Houston, reports <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2018/12/12/apple-music-open-offices-may-hosiery-site-wedgewood-houston-nashville-along-pandora-spotify/2293591002/?gps-source=ADFBAKWR&kwp_0=1079324&fbclid=IwAR0U1DokUUibBMnkb_a6rcg1TU2LhJ4ODa-O5EV2flkhkhau9iCYsapTZVQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Tennesseean</em></a>, quoting “officials close to the deal.”</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Jamf and MacTech are working together on each of their annual 2019 events — Jamf’s annual user conference (JNUC) and MacTech Conference 2019. The two events are swapping months from their normal schedules. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,162,475) for “interactive menu elements in a virtual three-dimensional space” that involves a content authoring toolbar online 3D content, most likely for the Mac.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for another patent (number 10,156,914) for an ambidextrous mouse for use with the Mac. The tech giant has been granted two such patents previously (numbers 20180032158 and 9,785,258).</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;">Commerce and Industry <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/suresh-prabhu-to-meet-apple-leadership-in-davos-over-india-manufacturing-plans/articleshow/67193569.cms" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Minister Suresh Prabhu says</a> he will Apple execs in Davos next month to discuss their plan about setting up manufacturing facilities in India. He added that talks are already on with the company, and the government can look at the demands of Apple Inc for setting up its manufacturing facility in the country. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A report from <em>China Business News </em>— as noted by <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/12/21/fifth-generation-ipad-mini-rumored-for-revival-in-early-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em> </a>— says Apple is preparing a new version of the iPad min for next year.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Future AirPods may include pressure sensing features. Apple has filed for a patent (number 20180367886) for “pressure sensing earbuds and systems and methods for the use thereof” with the goal of making better-better-fitting earbuds.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Ever tried to empty the trash on your Mac, only to be told that "Operation can't be completed because the item [file name] is in use." Sometimes it is in use, and you must halt the process that’s using the file or let it finish before taking out the garbage. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Blackmagic eGPU Pro, co-produced by Blackmagic and Apple, can now be <a href="https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HMQT2VC/A/blackmagic-egpu-pro" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">purchased from the online Apple Store</a>. It costs $1,199 and delivers Jan. 15-23.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple today announced that John Giannandrea has been named to the company’s executive team as senior vice president of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Strategy. He joined Apple in April 2018.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://loupventures.com/annual-smart-speaker-iq-test/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Loup Ventures tested </a>four smart speakers by asking Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant, and Cortana 800 questions each. Apple’s personal assistant shows big improvement over last year.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.corel.com/?utm_source=CORELnewsRelease&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=SMPRCOREL&utm_content=PRLL" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Corel Corp.</span></a> has acquired the <a href="http://www.parallels.com/?utm_source=CORELnewsRelease&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=SMPRCOREL&utm_content=PRLL" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Parallels</span></a> business, the company best known for its software for running Windows on Mac. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As reported by <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/12/20/apples-iphone-found-to-infringe-on-qualcomm-patent-in-german-court)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em></a>, Apple is facing another potential sales ban in Germany, as the German court in Munich has ruled that the company stands in violation of a Qualcomm patent.</p>