Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Last week Apple and Amazon surprised folks by <a href="https://blog.aboutamazon.com/devices/alexa-play-bebe-rexha-on-apple-music">by announcing </a>that Apple Music subscribers will be able to enjoy Apple Music’s 50 million songs on Echo devices this holiday season. That’s good news for Apple’s streaming music service and for Amazon, but what does it mean for the HomePod and Apple TV?</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has updated Shortcuts, its iOS productivity app, to version 2.1.2. A free download at the Apple App Store it adds a "Post to Tumblr" action.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has introduced its first case for the iPhone XR. The <a href="https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MRW62/iphone-xr-clear-case" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iPhone XR Clear Case</a> is available for $39 at <span style="text-decoration: underline;">apple.com</span> and, presumably, Apple retail stores.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has rolled out iOS 12.1.2, macOS 10.14.2, and tvOS 12.1.2. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A rare Steve Jobs signed issue of <em>Macworld</em> magazine will be auctioned by Boston-based RR Auction.  The original issue of <em>Macworld</em> #1 from February 1984, signed and inscribed on the front cover in black ink, "to Matt, steven jobs” will be auctioned by Boston-based RR Auction.  </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple places 71st on Glassdoor’s list of the<a href="https://www.glassdoor.com/Award/Best-Places-to-Work-LST_KQ0,19.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> “2019 Best Places to Work</a>” in the U.S. That’s up from 84th last year.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In a note to clients — as noted by <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/12/05/health-tracking-airpods-faces-competition-from-google-and-amazon-suggests-ming-chi-kuo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em></a> — Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the AirPods are more than just earbuds for Apple and will become increasingly important" to the company. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">iFixIt is offering <a href="http://createsend.ifixit.com/t/r-l-jtsojy-xlkjygu-i/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">the Mac mini Late 2018 Memory Maxxer RAM Upgrade Kit</span></a>. For $164.99, you get a PC4-21300 16GB RAM chip; a spudger, opening tool; angled tweezers, precision bit driver, and 4mm precisions bits. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“Apple, tear down this wall!” What wall? The one between iOS and macOS.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,147,459) for “artistic style transfer for videos. It involves methods to easily apply different styles to videos crafted in its iMovie (macOS and iOS), Final Cut Pro X (macOS), and Clips (iOS) apps.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Mac’s Touch Bar is actually a second, mini-display. Which means you can take a screenshot of whatever it’s displaying.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has presented its <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2018/12/apple-presents-the-best-of-2018/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2018 global top charts</a> from its editors across apps, music, podcasts, books, TV, and movies.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Jon Callus, an Apple security expert, who was previously hired back in 2011, and then re-hired in 2016, is leaving the tech giant again, this time to join the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), according to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/aclu-apple-idUSL1N1Y9025" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Reuters</em></a>.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has ordered an AAU basketball drama series dubbed <em>Swagger</em> from NBA superstar Kevin Durant, according to <a href="https://www.thewrap.com/kevin-durant-swagger-apple-aau-basketball-drama-series/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Wrap</em></a>. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Lawyers behind a UK class-action style compensation litigation against Google for privacy violations have filed an application requesting permission to appeal against a recent High Court ruling blocking the proceeding, reports <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2018/12/04/google-you-owe-us-claimants-arent-giving-up-on-uk-safari-workaround-suit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>TechCrunch</em></a>.</p>