Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As noted by <a href="http://www.macrumors.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>MacRumors</em></a>. Apple has added 2018 models of the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar <a href="https://www.apple.com/shop/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/macbook_pro/15" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">to its refurbished store</a> in the U.S. for the first time.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s still hope for a big uptick in HomePod sales. According to a major new consumer survey by <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.strategyanalytics.com&esheet=51886687&newsitemid=20181022005596&lan=en-US&anchor=Strategy+Analytics&index=1&md5=c009e3342a0cbb31ca288f77d7831611" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Strategy Analytics</a>, the most popular smart speaker model in the U.S. is the Amazon Echo, which accounts for 23% of all smart speakers in use. Including all its models, Amazon accounts for 63% of smart speakers in use, while Google accounts for 17% and Apple 4%. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In a note to clients — as noted by <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/10/22/iphone-xr-pre-order-demand/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>9to5Mac</em></a> — Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that, though stock of the iPhone Xr, remains good, the smartphone is outpacing the 2017 sales of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In a note to clients — as noted by <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/10/22/apple-looking-at-2-billion-from-search-ad-business-alone-by-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em></a> — Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi predicts that Apple’s Search Ad business will generate $500 million this fiscal year and $2 billion by 2020.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Eighty-two percent of teens surveyed by the Piper Jaffray firm say they own an iPhone, and 86% say their next phone will be an iPhone, reports <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/82-percent-of-american-teens-own-an-iphone-piper-jaffray-survey-2018-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Business Insider</em></a>.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple is the most popular private company to work for in Britain, according to new data released by job site Indeed — as noted by <a href="https://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/apple-pick-of-the-bunch-as-uk-s-most-popular-private-employers-revealed-1-4817957" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Scotsman</em></a>. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Can’t afford Dolby Atmos speakers? Well, then check out Fluance’s <a href="https://www.fluance.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=AB40" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AB40 High Performance Soundbase</a>, a solid accessory for a TV connected to your Apple TV and set-top box. It provides a convincing surround sound effect without the need for multiple speakers, a subwoofer, amplifiers or wiring. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Universal Clipboard feature in macOS Mojave and iOS 12 allows you to copy content, including text, images, photos and video from one Apple device and paste it in another. For example, you can browse a recipe on your Mac and paste the ingredients right to the grocery list on your iPhone.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for a patent (number 20180300357) for “dynamic location search suggestions based on travel itineraries” that would allow your iPhone to make recommendations based on your travel plans.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,101,002) for a “light fixture with fabric layer having printed dots” — in other words, the light fixtures in its retail stores.</p>

<p 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 style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The iPhone Xr is available for pre-order today. To celebrate, Apple has posted the first ads for its smartphone on the company’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/Apple" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">YouTube channel.</a></p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Uniloc has sued Apple for the … hmmm, I can’t keep track. But patent troll files a lawsuit against the tech giant about once a week, it seems.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The China Consumer Association wants Apple to compensate folks over a recent data security issue that affected a number of consumers in China who said they had suffered financial losses after having their Apple IDs stolen. The consumer group aid in a statement on its website that Apple should compensate consumers in full, according to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-china/china-consumer-group-raps-apple-after-id-thefts-idUSKCN1MT1BO" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Reuters</em></a>.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has announced the $29 <a href="https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MU9J2/apple-watch-magnetic-charging-cable-03m?fnode=80" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple Watch Magnetic Charger to USB-C Cable</a>. It’s available now.</p>