Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">OWC has announced the availability of the Mercury Helios FX 650, a Thunderbolt 3 external graphics processor chassis (eGPU) that transforms a MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac mini, iMac, or any Thunderbolt 3-equipped PC into a high-end graphics processing workstation. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">You can blame a lot of factors for Apple’s current woes,, but a big part of the problem is that the company’s products, as good as they are, are overpriced. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">OWC’s 72-piece <a href="https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/TOOLKIT72/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Advanced Toolkit </a> is designed to help folks like me service and repair our computers, tablets, and small household device. And it comes in handy even if you don’t necessarily have to use it to change memory in an iMac (more on that in a moment).</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Future versions of Apple’s Maps may offer better visuals for multiple points-of-view. The tech giant has filed for a patent (number 10,170,084) for “graphical representation generation for multiple points of interest” (P-O-Is). </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">At this week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Eve Systems has announced the Eve Energy Strip and the Eve Light Strip.</p>

<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>