Dennis Sellers

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Remember the briefcase? Sure you do. Since many folks -- including my buddy, J. Scott Anderson, who came up with the idea for this op-ed -- do their work with an iMac/iPad/iPhone combination, I wondered a few years ago what type of carrying accessory would be more appropriate than the old briefcase.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">The Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant platforms will take an almost equal share of the global smart speaker market this year, according to the latest forecast from <a href="http://www.strategyanalytics.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Strategy Analytics</a>. The report says that Apple’s Siri-equipped HomePod is way behind with only 6% market share, but has “plenty of room for growth.”</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;">Apple has won a lawsuit over a FaceTime eavesdropping bug. Houston lawyer Larry Williams III sued the tech giant, claiming that the glitch allowed an unknown person to listen in on sworn testimony, reports <a href="http://www.macrumors.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>MacRumors</em>.</a></p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Eastern Europe will have 26.19 million SVOD [subscription video on demand] subscriptions by 2024; up from 10.02 million recorded by end-2018, according to new data from <a href="http://www.researchandmarkets.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Research and Markets</a>.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple manufacturer, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, has started production of a new chip for Apple’s 2019 iPhones launching later this year, reports <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-10/apple-partner-tsmc-starts-building-chips-for-next-gen-iphones" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Bloomberg</em></a>, quoting unnamed “people familiar with the matter.”</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">A new study reveals 2019 may be a tipping point when it comes to cord cutting and offers in-depth analysis in cities across the country.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.coolholdings.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cool Holdings</a> has announced that it’s entered into a definitive agreement to purchase all of the outstanding capital stock of Simply Macfrom its parent company GameStop.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.urbanarmorgear.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Urban Armor Gear</a> (UAG) has launched their newest iPad Pro case, the Scout Series, a MIL-SPEC case that offers  Apple Smart Keyboard Folio compatibility. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">It’s hard for me to find the right-sized watchband for my Apple Watch, at least ones with perforations for adjusting the tightness. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for a patent (number 20190136423) for “weaving equipment with a strand modifying unit.” Perhaps the company plans to introduce a line of smart clothing that it will produce itself.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple is teaming up with several companies for a “springtime savings” promo for Apple Pay. You can use the mobile payment service to get special offers when shopping on the web May 9-22.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">As noted by <a href="https://www.businessworld.ie/news/Apple-is-Ireland-s-largest-company-with-sales-of-119bn-572338.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Business World</em>,</a> The 2019 edition of The Irish Times Top 1,000 Companies has been released and Apple tops the list.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has previewed its newest retail location at the Carnegie Library on Mount Vernon Square. The company says this is its most extensive historic restoration project to date, restoring and revitalizing the Beaux-Arts style building once home to Washington, D.C.’s Central Public Library. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Future iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches — and perhaps Macs — may sport more tactile feedback. Apple has filed for a patent (number 20190138102) for a “device, method, and graphical user interface for providing tactile feedback for operations performed in a user interface.”</p>