Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple is the driving force in the premium smartphone market, with a new Counterpoint Research report — as noted by <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/12/31/apples-iphone-continues-its-domination-of-the-premium-smartphone-market" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em></a> —suggesting the growth in the quarter was driven by new iPhones, along with new flagship launches in China by local vendors. Counterpoint says Apple captured a 47% share of the premium segment in the period, followed by Samsung with 22%, Huawei with 12%, Vivo at 5%, Oppo with 5%, and Xiaomi at 3%. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">iOS 12 is now installed on 78% of devices released in the last four years, according to new data at the Apple <a href="https://developer.apple.com/support/app-store/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">App Store support page</a> for developers. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8492003/ebro-darden-apple-music-global-editorial-head-hip-hop-r-and-b" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Billboard</em></a> reports that Hot 97 (WQHT) New York morning personality and Apple Music Beats 1 anchor host Ebro Darden has been appointed Apple Music’s global editorial head of hip-hop and R&B. In this newly designated role, he’ll manage a team of hip-hop and R&B editors in developing editorial strategies for artists, albums and song releases in the U.S. and globally, the article adds.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve stared into my crystal ball once more, and here’s what I’m foreseeing for Apple’s Mac/macOS plans in 2019.</p><p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"></p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple’s iPhones and iPads led in new device adoption over Christmas, according to <a href="http://www.localytics.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Localytics</a>. The analytics and marketing platform says “we discovered that Christmas shoppers were heavily focused on obtaining Apple products this year: iPads have become a mainstay of the holiday season and the iPhone Xr’s momentum shows no sign of decreasing.”</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve stared into my crystal ball, as I always do this time of year. Here’s what I’m foreseeing for Apple’s iPad, iPhone, and iOS plans for 2019.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">My crystal ball is sometimes cloudy (hey, I predicted that the MacBook Air would be discontinued). However, here’s what I foresee for Apple’s AirPods, HomePod, AirPower, and Apple Watch products this year.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Future Apple devices (Macs, iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, etc.) may use your biometric data to pair with each other. The tech giant has been granted a patent (number 10,171,458) for “wireless pairing and communication between devices using biometric data.”</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">According to the latest market share survey from <a href="http://netmarkeshare.com/">NetMarketShare,</a> the market share for both macOS and iOS was up last month.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Happy New Year wishes from the gang at <em>Apple World Today</em>. We’re taking the day off, but will be back in the full swing of things on Tuesday, Jan. 2. And we hope your 2019 gets off to a fantastic start.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As the year draws to a close, the <em>Apple World Today </em>staff has listed our favorite Apple products of 2018. Well, Marty and I have. Steve’s list is coming later. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Future iPhones, iPad, and Magic Touchpads for the Mac may be able to perform specific actions based on how much pressure is applied to certain areas of their touchscreens. Apple has filed for a patent (number 10,162,447) for “detecting multiple simultaneous force inputs to an input device.”</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,162,578) for “delay of display event based on user gaze.” If it ever sees the light of day, it could mean iOS and macOS devices that don’t update pop-up notifications until the Apple device “knows” that you’re looking at it.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Sony, the biggest maker of camera chips used in smartphones, is boosting production of next-generation 3D sensors after getting interest from customers including Apple, reports <a href="https://www.bloombergquint.com/technology/sony-boosts-3d-camera-output-after-interest-from-phone-makers#gs.jKAfoDo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Bloomberg</em></a>.  The chips will power front- and rear-facing 3D cameras of models from several smartphone makers in 2019, the article adds.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Another day, another lawsuit. Israeli radio broadcaster and voice artist Galit Gura-Eini, the voice of Waze’s first female navigation directions in Hebrew, is suing Apple for using her voice for Siri without permission, according to <a href="https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3753038,00.html)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>CTech</em></a>. </p>