Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple REALLY wants you to buy one of its new smartphones. It’s updated <a href="https://www.apple.com/shop/trade-in" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">its website</a> to promote a monthly payment option for iPhone Xr and iPhone Xs trade-ups in the U.S. </p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Russian certification agency Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) has certified new iPad models. Some of these could be variants of the rumored iPad mini 5 and two entry-level iPads with a 9.7-inch display, according to a <a href="https://www.mysmartprice.com/gear/apple-new-ipads-eec/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>MySmartPrice report</em></a> .</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">According to the latest research from <a href="http://www.strategyanalytics.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Strategy Analytics,</a> China smartphone shipments tumbled 11% annually to reach 108 million units in the fourth quarter of 2018. Huawei was the star performer, while Apple and Xiaomi lost ground, per the research group.</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Yesterday, <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=dJi0dzqeFLbywCovojwS_0QMrDnMRrnSkbYcXpUvCz1K4js3l1ITu4KH-OjCqdCx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration:underline">Jamf</span></a>, which specializes in Apple management solutions, <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2019/1/24/jamf-further-expands-into-identity-authentication-with-jamf-connect-integrations" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">announced</a> that it’s further expanding into identity authentication and security with <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=FtzWrx6FL7qmK6dkwdTwkGheoeaOxzehhPtXmVQG3Sc6usvPMhMYcIpJ9pgtf7KSA9PsZPZsI7-Y0ulI4nN3UKZ-Yc2dOZWDLroIWUAa91w=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration:underline">Jamf Connect</span></a>’s integrations with cloud-based identity providers such as Microsoft <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=yZgUBI1c0yGH4G8W-dpZkD6jMeXCO5ub1azLIcGtkRmayk4wfbnAOAzO_fxwI2gnQHs77B69B-AgPdllhmkyttDMJu6ct3ST0h4HOhWc9QA=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration:underline">Azure Active Directory</span></a>. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">WaterField Designs has introduced the Sutter Slim Backpack, a backpack for professionals that provides padded MacBook Pro and iPad compartments and balanced pockets to carry office essentials.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has restocked its online clearance store with iPhone SE models. I’ll continue my prediction that this means we’ll see an iPhone SE 2 introduced this year.</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Another day, another lawsuit. Rembrandt Wireless Technologies, Pennsylvania-based business technology company, is suing Apple for patent infringement involving the underlying technology used for Bluetooth, reports <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/01/24/apple-sued-over-bluetooth-communications-in-devices-going-back-to-iphone-3gs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em></a>. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) has released analysis of the results from its research on Apple for the fiscal quarter that ended Dec. 29, 2018. The research group found that the iPhone Xs and Xs Max models combined accounted for 26% of U.S. iPhone sales in Apple’s first fiscal quarter. The iPhone Xr, though not released until Oct. 26, 2018, accounted for 39% of sales for the entire quarter.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Tired of the irritating beeping noise when your carbon monoxide detector’s battery is low? Soon that could be a thing of the past with your iPhone and/or Apple Watch detecting and alerting you to dangerous gases.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-24/sonos-is-said-to-plan-headphones-in-move-outside-the-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Bloomberg</em></a>'s Mark Gurman has reiterated that Apple is planning its own over-ear headphones for as early as the second half of this year. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Personally, I prefer Apple’s iWork products (Pages, Numbers, Keynote), but  for those who feel otherwise, Office 365 is available for the first time on the Mac App Store, making it easy to download Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and other Microsoft apps. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Verizon-backed <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=Ayf9bZ6Afm7eoglZNVcu2yG16N46U8cWxPzy6EfReQGau2wAChCbSmyVj7toCWqx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Visible</span></a>, the “no contract, unlimited everything for only $40, digital mobile carrier,” says it’s now offering 0% APR financing on all iOS device sales, and no down payment required for qualifying members. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Your Apple Watch may soon provide even better workout-tracking features, especially for those tackling multiple activities such as a run followed by a swim. Apple has filed for a patent (number 20190025995) for “displaying a scrollable list of affordances associated with physical activities.”</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=dJi0dzqeFLbywCovojwS_0QMrDnMRrnSkbYcXpUvCz1K4js3l1ITu4KH-OjCqdCx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Jamf</span></a>, which specializes in Apple management solutions, says it’s further expanding into identity authentication and security with <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=FtzWrx6FL7qmK6dkwdTwkGheoeaOxzehhPtXmVQG3Sc6usvPMhMYcIpJ9pgtf7KSA9PsZPZsI7-Y0ulI4nN3UKZ-Yc2dOZWDLroIWUAa91w="><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Jamf Connect</span></a>’s integrations with cloud-based identity providers such as Microsoft <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=yZgUBI1c0yGH4G8W-dpZkD6jMeXCO5ub1azLIcGtkRmayk4wfbnAOAzO_fxwI2gnQHs77B69B-AgPdllhmkyttDMJu6ct3ST0h4HOhWc9QA=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Azure Active Directory</span></a>. With Jamf Connect, an end user can unbox their Mac, power it on and access their corporate applications after signing on with Azure Active Directory credentials.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple is teaming up with Under Armour — which makes footwear, sports, and casual apparel— for a new Apple Pay promo: use the latter’s mobile payment service in the Under Armour app — available at the Apple App Store — and save 10% on your purchase.</p>