Dennis Sellers

<p>Apple has filed for a patent (number 20160264304) with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office for a “bag.” More precisely: a paper bag that may include a container formed of white solid bleached sulfate paper with at least 60% post-consumer content.</p>

<p>Apple has <a href="https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-says-it-has-sold-out-of-initial-quantities-of-iphone-7-plus/">confirmed</a> initial quantities of the iPhone 7 Plus have sold out — in all colors. The jet black iPhone 7 has also sold out globally.</p>

<p>Apple ditched the headphone jack on the iPhone 7/7 Plus, and it may be planning to do the same with Macs. As noted <a href="https://twitter.com/Dan_Masterson/status/776174747868618752">on Twitter</a>, Apple is surveying some MacBook Pro customers to see if they use the laptop's headphone jack.</p>

<p>A report by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) — as noted <a target="_blank" href="http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Policy-Politics/Japan-report-finds-Apple-Google-hinder-app-sales-competition" rel="noopener noreferrer">by Nikkei</a> — says Apple and Google engage in practices that undermine competition in the smartphone app market by making the most of their control over distribution channels.</p>

<p>Apple has hired former Time Warner Cable exec Peter Stern as a vice president working on cloud services, which includes the technology company’s subscription offerings such as Apple Music and a potential streaming television service, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-hires-former-time-warner-cable-executive-peter-stern-1473887487?mod=e2tw" rel="noopener noreferrer">the Wall Street Journal.</a></p>

<p>The Digital Crown on the Apple Watch is Apple's answer to the crown found on mechanical watches. On traditional watches, the crown is used to set the date and time on a wristwatch. There are various ways you can use it in watchOS 3.</p>

<p>The Total War series has always been one of my favorites, starting with Rome: Total War way back in 2004 (where have the past 12 years gone??). Like many Apple loyalists, my patience deserted me and I played the series first through Boot Camp, and then Parallels. </p>

<p>Swiss watchmaker Swatch has successfully opposed Apple's registration of the trademark "iWatch" in the UK. The UK's Intellectual Property Office (IPO) upheld Swatch's oppositionSwatch Group AG took action against Apple for registering the "iWatch" as a trademark in 2014, according to the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-37350870" rel="noopener noreferrer">BBC News</a>. </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>VMWare has launched VMFusion 8.5 and VMFusion 8.5 Pro, and there’s a <a target="_blank" href="http://tinyurl.com/zoja2oa" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-day sale underway </a>that let’s you save 15% or more.</p>

<p>Apple is trading up 8% since last Friday and is realizing the highest share price levels it's seen in five months. While the company's <a href="http://seekingalpha.com/news/3206153-tim-cook-berates-european-commission-message-european-community">Irish tax complications</a> took focus at the end of August, favorable <a href="http://seekingalpha.com/news/3208435-apple-plus-3-percent-carrier-iphone-7-pre-orders-encouraging">iPhone 7 demand</a> along with the release of Apple Watch Series 2 and other developments disclosed at the company's event last week have left the matter sidelined as investors look toward the future.</p>

<p>Apple CEO Tim Cook discussed augmented reality/virtual reality technologies this morning during an <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/exclusive-apple-ceo-tim-cook-prefers-augmented-reality/story?id=42064913">ABC News interview</a>. He said that, in his opinion, augmented reality (AR) is the larger of the two, “probably by far, because this gives the capability for both of us to sit and be very present talking to each other, but also have other things visually for both of us to see.”</p>

<p>More than 200,000 websites -- including small and large retailers -- plan to support Apple Pay on their sites in coming weeks, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.computerworld.com/article/3119735/mobile-payments/apple-pay-coming-to-200-000-plus-websites-not-just-in-store-or-in-app.html)" rel="noopener noreferrer">reports Computerworld</a>. Many of the sites include online retailers using e-commerce platforms run by Shopify, Demandware and IBM.</p>

<p>Twitter has launched a new, free Twitter app that will allow owners of an Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV or Xbox One to “consume the best of Twitter.” </p>

<p>Apple has added more stock to the online reservation program for its Apple Upgrade Program members, and return calls promised by Apple customer care to resolve ordering issues have started, reports <a href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/09/14/iphone-upgrade-program-members-have-stock-available-apple-support-call-backs-ongoing">AppleInsider</a>.</p>