Dennis Sellers

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Smart speaker market share data from <a href="http://www.canalys.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Canalys </a>shows China reached 10.6 million units by growing nearly 500% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2019, overacting the U.S. as the top smart speaker market. And the report puts Apple and the HomePod into the “Other” category for sales.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Another day, another lawsuit. As noted by <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/05/20/apples-icloud-and-itunes-targeted-in-patent-infringement-suit" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider,</em></a> Data Scape Limited is suing Apple for violating a data sync patent by way of iCloud, iTunes, and the various devices that use these services.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">According to a <a href="https://tidbits.com/2019/05/20/apple-debuts-lgs-all-new-23-7-inch-ultrafine-display/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Tidbits</em> report</a>, Apple is selling an “apparently new” 23.7-inch LG UltraFine Display at its retail stores — or at least some of them.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Transcend has released a new portable SSD, the ESD350C, that’s compatible with macOS, Windows and Android devices. Featuring a USB Type-C port and supporting the USB 3.1 Gen 2 interface, the drive can be used with devices equipped with USB Type-C or USB Type-A ports. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Adonit’s Pro 4 is described as a passive, non-Bluetooth stylus with a precision disc for “note takers, mobile gamers and artists” so they can sketch, write and navigate on any touch screen surface. It’s targeted to, among others, iPhone (XS Max, XS, XR, X, 8, 8 Plus) users.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple, Dell,. and two other U.S. tech companies are set to give up their preferred shares in Japanese chip maker Toshiba Memory Holdings Corp. for more than $4 billion under a refinancing plan, reports <em>T</em><a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/toshiba-memory-to-buy-out-shares-from-apple-dell-11558348574)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>he Wall Street Journal</em>,</a> quoting unnamed “people familiar with the plan.”</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple is considering an “intelligent list reading” feature for Siri, its personal digital assistant, as evidenced by a new patent filing (number 20190147880).</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">The slow death of traditional TV has long been predicted after the surge in digital rivals, but research from Ovum — as noted by <a href="https://www.rapidtvnews.com/2019051456048/ovum-traditional-tv-must-change-radically-to-thrive.html?utm_campaign=top-us-tv-providers-lose-a-record-1-3mn-subscribers-in-q1&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter_2115#axzz5nzwFvpSQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>RapidTV News</em> </a>— suggests that such services can fine tune to survive the onslaught.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">May 10th saw the U.S.-China trade dispute escalating yet again as the U.S. continues to hike tariffs on US$200 billion worth of Chinese imports, going from 10% to 25%. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">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 this week’s picks.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">I’m glad to see Apple show the Mac some love. Apple has posted a new <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ny-MGNf301k" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">"Behind the Music" video</a> in the United Kingdom that promotes music creation tools on the Mac. (Why the United Kingdom only? I have no idea.)</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Another day, another lawsuit. As noted by <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/05/17/over-the-rainbow-composers-estate-sues-apple-others-over-pirated-music-sales" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em></a>, Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Pandora are being sued by the estate of composer Harold Arlen, who wrote such songs as “Over the Rainbow” from <em>The Wizard of Oz</em> film. The lawsuit claims the firms created a "music piracy operation" that distributes unlicensed and unauthorized versions of copyrighted songs. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">AutoMile for macOS (10.10 or later) is a handy tool for tracking your auto mileage It's built for quick data entry using drag 'n drop and conveniently supports keyboard shortcuts.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for another patent (number 20190142341) for a self-tightening (and loosening) band for the Apple Watch. The band would be used to measure and record health data.</p>

Since Steve and I can’t cover everything, at the end of each week day, we’ll offer this wrap-up of news...