Dennis Sellers

<p>The AWT News Update is on hiatus while my compadre, Steve, takes a road trip. In its place, I’ll offer a text-only (no podcast) summary of breaking stories with a tip o’ my hat to my former website, <em>Apple Daily Report</em>.</p>

<p>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 today's picks.</p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sugarcodedapps.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sugar Coded Apps</a> has launched an iMessage Sticker Pack Christmas Promotion. The company now has 30 iMessage Sticker Packs and beginning on Dec. 1, they’ll be offering one selection for free in the App Store every day until Dec. 24.</p>

<p>This could be good news for the iPad: worldwide tablet shipments are expected to decline by 12% in 2016, rounding out the year at 182.3 million shipments, according to a new forecast from the International Data Corporation (<a href="http://www.idc.com/">IDC</a>) <a href="http://www.idc.com/tracker/showproductinfo.jsp?prod_id=81">Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker</a>. The research group expects the market to rebound in 2018 though growth will remain in the low single digits as detachable tablets slowly gain traction.</p>

<p>Two patent filings at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office show that Apple is at least considering future Apple Watches with round displays. Patents number 20160351107 and 20160351098 are both for an “electronic device having a display with curved edges.” The goal: “provide improved displays such as circular displays or other displays with curved edges.”</p>

<p>Apple plans to use drones and new indoor navigation features to improve its Maps app, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-12-01/apple-said-to-fly-drones-to-improve-maps-data-and-catch-google" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bloomberg</a>, quoting unnamed “people familiar with the matter.”</p>

<p>Apple has debuted Apple Pay in Spain. According to Apple's regional <a href="http://www.apple.com/es/apple-pay/">website</a>, Apple Pay in Spain will initially support cards from partner institutions Banco Santander, Carrefour, Ticket Restaurant and American Express. As with past international introductions, Apple Pay partner Mastercard is opening up its vast payments network for the Spanish debut.</p>

<p>Been getting some strange invites for your iCloud Calendar? You’re not alone, and Apple has released a statement, saying it is working to address the issue by identifying and blocking suspicious invite senders. </p>

<p>According to the latest market share survey from <a target="_blank" href="http://netmarkeshare.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">NetMarketShare</a>, the market share for macOS rose, but that for iOS dipped again in November.</p>

<p>Indexes from <a target="_blank" href="http://www.fiksu.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fiksu DSP</a>, the data-fueled mobile marketing technology company, reveal that mobile ad costs are on the rise, a result potentially due to iPhone 7 adoption, as well as early holiday ad spend. Fiksu’s indexes track year-over-year and monthly metrics, measuring cost per thousand impressions (CPM) and cost per purchaser (CPP) across mobile RTB advertising.</p>

<p>The AWT News Update is on hiatus while my compadre, Steve, takes a road trip. In its place, I’ll offer a text-only (no podcast) summary of breaking stories with a tip o’ my hat to my former website, <em>Apple Daily Report</em>.</p>

<p>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 today's picks.</p>

<p>Here’s some irony for you: now that <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2016/11/21/apple-reportedly-discontinuing-its-airport-express-the-airport-extreme-airport-time-capsule-line?rq=AirPort" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple is apparently abandoning</a> the AirPort Express, the AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Time Capsule, the company ranks highest in overall satisfaction among wireless router manufacturers in a new study by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.jdpower.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">J.P. Power.</a></p>

<p>Netflix confirmed in a tweet — as noted by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/11/30/netflix-finally-adds-offline-mode/94659494/" rel="noopener noreferrer">USA Today</a> — that subscribers can download some of their favorite programs instead of just streaming ‘em via a broadband connection.</p>

<p>Inside the App, a site designed to help you find the best apps online, has created a cool infographic that shows the main differences between the iPhone 7 and Google Pixel. </p>