Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has released the first public betas of macOS 10.14.4, iOS 12.2, and tvOS 12.2.</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple is planning a subscription service for games, according to <a href="https://cheddar.com/videos/apple-plans-gaming-subscription-service-sources" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Cheddar</em>,</a> quoting five unnamed “people familiar with the matter.”</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">In 2018, Apple spent $60 billion with 9,000 American component suppliers and companies, an increase of more than 10% from the year before, supporting more than 450,000 jobs, according to <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2019/01/component-manufacturing-drives-apple-us-job-creation" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a press release </a>on the company’s Newsroom webpage.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Yes! I finally have a holster big enough to hold my iPhone Xs Max when it’s protected by the HitCase Splash (see <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2019/1/14/hitcases-splash-has-just-about-everything-i-look-for-in-an-iphone-case?rq=HitCase" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">my review here</a>). The holster case is <a href="http://www.simple.be/answer/400" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Answer 400</a> from <a href="http://simple.be/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">simple.be</a>. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple wants to make its Home app even more dependable by having its “suggest” which accessory device control certain features and hardware. The tech giant has filed for a patent (number 20190028549) for “using in-home location awareness.”</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">You can allow other folks to control your Home accessories if you wish. You and the people you invite need to be signed into iCloud and have iOS 11 or iOS 12.  You also need to be at your home or have a home hub set up in your home.</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">In a note to clients — as noted by <a href="http://www.macrumors.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>MacRumors</em></a>,  Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the worst is almost over in regards to dipping iPhone sales, especially if the China-U.S. trade war doesn’t intensify.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,184,586) for “self-energizing sealing mechanisms” with the goal of making iPhones and Apple Watches even more water-resistant.</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;">In an <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2019/01/share-your-best-photos-shot-on-iphone/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration:underline">updated press release</span></a>, Apple says it will pay the photographers who win the “Shot on iPhone” contest <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2019/1/22/apple-launches-shot-on-iphone-challenge" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">announced earlier this week</a>. The contest celebrates “the most stunning photographs” captured on an Apple smartphone.</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.addigy.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Addigy </a>— which makes a management web app and platform for Macs and iOS devices — will hold its 2019 partner summit in Miami, Florida, from March 6-8. </p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple REALLY wants you to buy one of its new smartphones. It’s updated <a href="https://www.apple.com/shop/trade-in" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">its website</a> to promote a monthly payment option for iPhone Xr and iPhone Xs trade-ups in the U.S. </p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Russian certification agency Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) has certified new iPad models. Some of these could be variants of the rumored iPad mini 5 and two entry-level iPads with a 9.7-inch display, according to a <a href="https://www.mysmartprice.com/gear/apple-new-ipads-eec/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>MySmartPrice report</em></a> .</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">According to the latest research from <a href="http://www.strategyanalytics.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Strategy Analytics,</a> China smartphone shipments tumbled 11% annually to reach 108 million units in the fourth quarter of 2018. Huawei was the star performer, while Apple and Xiaomi lost ground, per the research group.</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Yesterday, <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=dJi0dzqeFLbywCovojwS_0QMrDnMRrnSkbYcXpUvCz1K4js3l1ITu4KH-OjCqdCx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration:underline">Jamf</span></a>, which specializes in Apple management solutions, <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2019/1/24/jamf-further-expands-into-identity-authentication-with-jamf-connect-integrations" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">announced</a> that it’s further expanding into identity authentication and security with <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=FtzWrx6FL7qmK6dkwdTwkGheoeaOxzehhPtXmVQG3Sc6usvPMhMYcIpJ9pgtf7KSA9PsZPZsI7-Y0ulI4nN3UKZ-Yc2dOZWDLroIWUAa91w=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration:underline">Jamf Connect</span></a>’s integrations with cloud-based identity providers such as Microsoft <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=yZgUBI1c0yGH4G8W-dpZkD6jMeXCO5ub1azLIcGtkRmayk4wfbnAOAzO_fxwI2gnQHs77B69B-AgPdllhmkyttDMJu6ct3ST0h4HOhWc9QA=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration:underline">Azure Active Directory</span></a>. </p>