Dennis Sellers

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">The week kicks off with two intriguing rumors, one of which seems very unlikely, the other which sounds probable.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Great minds must think alike since Steve and I had two of the same products on our best-products-of-2019 list: the <strong>16-inch MacBook Pro</strong> and <strong>iPhone 11 Pro Max</strong>. I won't go into more detail; you can read my reviews <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2019/11/27/16-inch-macbook-pro-is-the-best-mac-laptop-ever-made?rq=16-inch%20Macbook" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a> and <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2019/9/23/better-battery-life-a-fantastic-camera-system-makes-the-iphone-pro-11-max-a-great-smartphone?rq=iPhone%2011%20Pro%20Max" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple w Apple wants to make the iPhone and iPad better devices for conference calling as evidenced by a new patent filing dubbed “portable multifunction device, method, and graphical user interface for conference calling.”</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for a patent (number 10,514,270) for “navigation peek ahead and behind in a navigation app" that hints are future features for its Maps app.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has been granted a patent for a "vital signs monitoring system,” which would, presumably, work with its HealthKit technology. And, perhaps, the Apple Watch although I couldn’t determine if Apple’s idea involves the smartphone and/or new hardware.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">If you're looking for a minimalist wireless car charger, Totallee’s <a href="https://www.totalleecase.com/products/wireless-car-charger" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wireless Car Charger </a>fills the bill. At $59, it's reasonably priced and, except for a tendency to spotlight fingerprints on its glossy surface, well designed.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for yet another patent (20190392830) — one of dozens — for a “method and system for representing a virtual object in a view of a real environment.” </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for yet another patent (number 20190393730) that hints that, though it scrapped plans for the AirPower device, it’s still looking into a next generation wireless charging system. The patent filing is dubbed "architecture of portable electronic devices with wireless charging receiver systems." </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Totallee’s $19 <a href="https://www.totalleecase.com/products/phone-ring-grip-holder" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Phone Ring Grip</a> is an iPhone accessory that some will find very handy, though it has limited appeal to me for two reasons, which I'll get to in a moment.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">According to <a href="http://www.counterpointresearch.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Counterpoint Research</a>’s Market Pulse, the iPhone XR was the top-selling model globally in the third quarter of 2019, capturing 3% market share.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has removed the ToTok messaging app from the App Store after an investigation by the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/22/us/politics/totok-app-uae.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New York Times</a> determined that it was actually a spying tool being used by the United Arab Emirates government to mass surveil its citizens. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple <a href="https://apps.apple.com/story/id1488144199" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">says</a> that from Dec. 24-29, you’ll find a new surprise every day on the App Store. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple is expected to debut a 5G-enabled iPhone next year (and perhaps a similarly equipped iPad), and the company won't be alone.Dozens of always-on 5G portables device models, notebooks, and ultrabooks will hit the market in 2020, and sales of these devices will exceed 10 million units by 2021, according to ABI Research.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">$49 is probably too high a price tag for a stocking stuffer, so let's consider WaterField Designs’ Leather Luggage Tag a nice Christmas present for the a family member or friend who travels a lot.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">In October, Blix, the company behind BlueMail — a free email app (pictured)  for iOS, Windows, Linux, and Android — and Followup —a patient communication service — sued Apple over its “Sign in with Apple” feature. Now it’s amended the complaint, according to <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/12/20/developer-blix-claims-new-evidence-of-app-store-monopoly-in-court-filing"><span style="text-decoration:underline">AppleInsider</span></a>.</p>