Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">They’re not as robust at the <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2018/12/4/audio-engine-2-little-speaker-big-sound" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Audio Engine 2+</a>, but the $120 Samson  <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.samsontech.com_samson_products_studio-2Dmonitors_media-2Done_mediaonem50_&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=AuqQIpA6K9PhF5wFpz2VwuJyw25o2Jpy3YjpFZvpzzQ&m=FJKGjrUIzSLrumACEGyKW3z1Wsb30sTR1-oPncQUq4g&s=PEbk7c-89aVkfGMy4ivvVF6BTNXAEb_VEg6ov6cGseY&e=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">MediaOne M50 Powered Monitors</span></a> are a full-range speaker solution at half the price. They’re certainly worth your consideration as a desktop speaker system.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Future versions of Apple’s Maps app may let you “peek ahead and behind” hints a new patent filing (number 20180348005). The invention would allow you to peek ahead or behind during a turn-by-turn navigation presentation that Maps provides while tracking a device (e.g., a mobile device, a vehicle, etc.) traversal of a physical route. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">You can save time when working on your Mac by using keyboard shortcuts. To use a keyboard shortcut, hold down one or more modifier keys while pressing the last key of the shortcut. For example, to use the shortcut Command-C (copy), hold down Command, press C, then release both keys.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Future Apple Watches may be able to keep the Digital Crown from performing inadvertent actions. Apple has filed for a patent (number 20180335891) for “rejection of false turns of rotary inputs for electronic devices.”</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;">Apple is beefing ups its health team with another high-profile hire: Jason Oberfest, the former CEO of Mango Health, according to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/07/apple-hires-mango-health-ceojason-oberfest.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>CBNC</em></a>.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Elago has released the <a href="https://amzn.to/2EjU3e6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">W5 Stand</a>, a retro Apple Watch stand that’s a tribute to the Nintendo gaming classic.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Since Steve and I can’t cover everything, at the end of each week day, we’ll offer this wrap-up of news items you should check out. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple’s iPhone Xr is he <a href="https://www.dxomark.com/apple-iphone-xr-camera-review/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">top-ranked single-camera</a> smartphone according to new tests by DxOMark, an independent benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of smartphones, lenses and cameras.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has acquired Platoon, a London-based creative services firm founded in 2016 by music industry veteran Denzyl Feigelson and LoveFilm co-founder, Saul Klein, according to <a href="https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/apple-acquires-ar-and-creative-services-company-platoon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Music Business Worldwide</em></a>.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s an old adage that says, “Cold hands, warm heart.” If that’s true, my heart must be a scorcher because my hands are always chilly when I’m outdoors this time of year. I’m a runner and now that cold weather is here, I wear gloves when I’m putting in my miles. Alas, wearing gloves makes it difficult to track my workouts with my Apple Watch.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Future versions of Apple’s Maps app may not only give you directions, but point out “points of interest” to you, per a patent filing (number 20180349451) by Apple.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple’s Touch Bar comes with a default set of shortcuts, depending on which app you're using. If you don't like the default options, you can add and remove buttons to customize the Touch Bar.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/02/world/middleeast/saudi-khashoggi-spyware-israel.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The New York Times</em></a> reports that a Saudi dissident close to the murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi has filed a lawsuit charging that the NSO Group, an Israeli software company behind the iPhone spyware tool known as Pegasus, helped the royal court take over his smartphone and spy on his communications with Khashoggi.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple is negotiating for the rights to adapt<em> Nevelot (Bastards</em>), a violent Israeli drama starring Richard Gere, reports <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/06/apple-pursuing-violent-israeli-show-nevelot-richard-gere-to-star.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>CNBC</em></a>.</p>