Dennis Sellers

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">If you’re interested in Apple’s Smart Battery Cases for the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max, you’ll have to wait until July for them to be delivered, according to Apple’s online store. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Target is recalling some of its "heyday" branded Lightning cables. According to the <a href="https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2019/Target-Recalls-USB-Charging-Cables-Due-to-Shock-and-Fire-Hazards" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">recall notice</a>, the metal around the cord can become electrically charged if it contacts the USB wall charger plug prongs while charging, posing shock and fire hazards.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has issued an AirPort Base Station firmware update with security fixes for its late, lamented line of routers and backup devices. Both firmware versions can be downloaded and installed via Apple's AirPort Utility on Macs or iOS devices.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has hired a former Walt Disney exec for its Apple TV+ streaming service, which will debut this fall. According to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-30/apple-hire-of-disney-video-executive-highlights-talent-rivalry" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Bloomberg</em></a>, Chiara Cipriani started with Apple as a director of video services in early May.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Let the Apple Car rumors roll on. Apple has been granted a patent (number 20190164344) for a “system and method for interactive screen projection” for a vehicle.</p>

Since Steve and I can’t cover everything, at the end of each week day, we’ll offer this wrap-up of news...

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/leap-motion-once-a-virtual-reality-high-flier-sells-itself-to-u-k-rival-11559210520" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Wall Street Journal</a> reports that Leap Motion is being sold to a company named UltraHaptics for $30 million. The article says that Apple tried to purchase Leap on two different occasions, but Leap co-founder David Holz made some very anti-Apple comments that soured the deal.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">According to the latest figures published by<a href="http://www.idc.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> IDC</a>, the overall tablet market in EMEA [Europe, the Middle East and Africa] declined 10.9% year-over-year [YoY], shipping 9.7 million units in the first quarter of 2019. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Many pundits predict that Apple will debut a foldable iPhone in 2020 or beyond. The tech giant has filed for a patent (number 20190163233) for “electronic devices with cover layers mounted to displays” that hints at not only foldable smartphones — with OLED screens, no less — but laptops and tablets, as well.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Global shipments of wearable devices reached 49.6 million units during the first quarter of 2019 (1Q19), up 55.2% from the previous year according to data from the International Data Corporation (<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.idc.com&esheet=51991839&newsitemid=20190530005132&lan=en-US&anchor=IDC&index=1&md5=54dca0a4962be15d1ab2cf7336f7a9c8">IDC</a>) <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.idc.com%2Ftracker%2Fshowproductinfo.jsp%3Fprod_id%3D962&esheet=51991839&newsitemid=20190530005132&lan=en-US&anchor=Worldwide+Quarterly+Wearable+Device+Tracker&index=2&md5=b7a45e95353c19d71960c419a1759ff0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker</a>. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">According to the International Data Corporation (<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.idc.com%2F&esheet=51991871&newsitemid=20190530005212&lan=en-US&anchor=IDC&index=1&md5=243191f7010a174ba09ff19a15548c59" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">IDC</a>) <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.idc.com%2Ftracker%2Fshowproductinfo.jsp%3Fprod_id%3D37&esheet=51991871&newsitemid=20190530005212&lan=en-US&anchor=Worldwide+Quarterly+Mobile+Phone+Tracker&index=2&md5=e16e5deb624149b5f751970b4b689c3d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker</a>, global smartphone shipments will face another challenging year in 2019 with volumes forecast to decline 1.9% from 2018. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">The newest iPad Pro case from <a href="http://www.urbanarmorgear.com/">Urban Armor Gear</a> (UAG) is the Scout Series, a rugged case that offers Apple Smart Keyboard Folio compatibility. In fact, it requires the use of the Folio.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Powerbeats Pro UK, French and German pre-orders begin on Friday. Although Apple’s local websites only say “coming soon,’” the Beats websites for the three countries have been updated to say that the in-ear headphones will be available for pre-order in May, says <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2019/05/29/powerbeats-pro-uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>9to5Mac</em></a>.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">mophie has announced a new line of universal batteries for everyday portable power. Available in four capacities, the <a href="http://www.mophie.com/shop/powerstation-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">powerstation</a> (pictured), <a href="http://www.mophie.com/shop/powerstation-mini-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">powerstation mini</a>, <a href="http://www.mophie.com/shop/powerstation-xl-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">powerstation XL</a>, and <a href="http://www.mophie.com/shop/powerstation-xxl-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">powerstation XXL</a> each feature multiple charging ports, including a shared USB-C input and output port.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.texture.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Texture</a>, the digital news service that Apple acquired in March 2018, has no officially shut down, and Apple is directing users/readers to it Apple News+ service.</p>