Dennis Sellers

<p>This should be good news for Apple's iBookstore (and perhaps the iPad): over the next two years, ebooks are set to surpass print in the U.S.</p>

<p>Global smartphone shipments are expected to grow 7.2% on year to 1.42 billion in 2016 and another 7% to 1.52 billion units in 2017, according to the latest estimate by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20161012PD200.html?chid=2" rel="noopener noreferrer">Digitimes Research</a>. Apple will be the sole non-Asia brand among the top-20 smartphone brands in 2017, while all the remaining 19 vendors will come from Asia, including 11 from China, the report says.</p>

<p>Apple <a target="_blank" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-shenzhen-idUSKCN12C0BZ" rel="noopener noreferrer">has announced plans</a> to open a research and development center in the southern city of Shenzhen, China, in 2017. This follows a similar plan for a center in Beijing.</p>

<p>Finally! A screen protector that I can apply on my iPhone without leaving a horde of bubbles, something that drives me nuts. This screen protector is Kanex’s EdgeGlass, which provides edge-to-edge protection for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. </p>

<p>You can use a variety of gestures to interact with your Apple Watch. When you touch the screen, your watch uses Force Touch technology to sense how hard you press. </p>

<p>Apple was <a href="http://fortune.com/2016/05/12/apple-invests-1-billion-into-chinese-ride-sharing-company/">previously not considered</a> to have received a seat on the board of directors as part of its investment in the Chinese company. It's now being <a href="https://www.theinformation.com/apple-took-board-seat-at-didi-chuxing">reported</a>, however, that one was secured within the weeks following the deal.</p>

<p style="margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px">Apple, you might want to give us some Mac upgrades ASAP. Mac sales are continuing to slide, according to data from two research groups.</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>With Samsung officially <a href="http://seekingalpha.com/news/3213272-samsung-halts-production-galaxy-note-7">terminating</a> all sales and exchanges of its Galaxy Note 7 device, Drexel Hamilton analyst Brian White <a href="http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2016/10/11/apple-rising-samsung-note-7-collapse-means-another-8m-iphone-7-sales-says-drexel/">estimates</a> an eight million boost to iPhone unit sales in calendar year 2016. </p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="http://temkingroup.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Temkin Group</a> has released a new research report, <em>Net Promoter Score Benchmark Study, 2016</em>”, based on a study of 10,000 U.S. consumers. The Net Promoter Score (NPS) measures the likelihood of consumers to recommend a company to their friends and family, using a scoring range from -100 to +100.</p>

<p>Samsung said today that it <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/samsung-to-permanently-discontinue-galaxy-note-7-smartphone-1476177331" rel="noopener noreferrer">will permanently discontinue production and sales of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphone</a> over defective batteries — including ones in replacement handsets the company had subsequently sent to customers following a recall of original devices.</p>

<p>Darrel Hayden of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.courierstrack.in" rel="noopener noreferrer">CourierTracks</a> — a site where you can track and trace international couriers, packages, parcels, and mail — has designed an infographic titled “Apple vs. Google” for <em>Apple World Today</em>. It illustrates comparative facts and figures of the tech giants. </p>

<p>Your iMac might someday provide wireless power to your iPhone, iPad, and other devices. Apple has filed for a patent (number 9,466,989) for “wireless power utilization in a local computing environment.”</p>

<p>I’ve long been a fan of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.twelvesouth.com/product/backpack-for-imac" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twelve South’s BackPack for iMa</a>c, a sturdy shelf designed for an iMac or Apple display. However, if you need something bigger, the FLOAT Shelf <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hand/1415843320?token=ec81a4b1">debuts on Kickstarter</a> today. I received an advance unit and like what I see.</p>

<p>Apple would prefer you exhaust all other options in dealing with an issue before you make a Genius Bar reservation. And the company has made it a bit more difficult to schedule a Genius Bar appointment at your local Apple retail store. Here’s how it used to work with an accompanying graphic from iMore.com:</p>