Dennis Sellers

<p>Real estate industry insiders in Seattle, Washington, are buzzing that a “large California company” is looking for a big piece of office space in the area and rumor has it that it’s Apple, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.geekwire.com/2016/apple-rumored-to-be-taking-a-big-bite-out-of-seattle-area-office-market-with-potential-expansion/" rel="noopener noreferrer">GeekWire</a>. The Cupertino, California-based company already has a small presence in the city, having leased one floor and part of another at the downtown Two Union Square office tower last year.</p>

<p>Apple continues to court favor with India. With the country's Independence Day around the corner, Apple is celebrating the occasion by having a special featured section highlighting apps from Indian developers on the App Store, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/apple-independence-day-by-highlighting-apps-indian-developers/story/236088.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">Business Insider</a>.</p>

<p>This year Apple Music secured the exclusive rights for the first week of availability for three albums that all ended up debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums ranking, despite the fact that they were only accessible via one platform, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2016/08/11/apple-music-has-now-sent-three-albums-to-number-one-this-year/#b95430f649d9" rel="noopener noreferrer">Forbes</a>. Future’s <em>EVOL</em>, Drake’s <em>Views</em>, and DJ Khaled’s first chart-topper, <em>Major Key</em> have all kicked off in the top spot.</p>

<p>While working as a product design engineer for the iPhone/iPod at Apple, Andrew Pletenetskyy found that his frequent traveling made it impossible to look after his indoor garden. After several failures with auto-watering solutions available on the market, he decided to solve this problem on his own. </p>

<p>An Bord Pleanala, an independent appeals review board, has granted approval for Apple’s 850 million euro Apple data center and a related electrical substation in Athenry, Ireland, reports <a target="_blank" href="https://9to5mac.com/2016/08/12/apple-irish-data-center-decision-approved/" rel="noopener noreferrer">9to5Mac</a>. Apple planned to start building the data center on a 500-acre site before the end of 2015. However, it was delayed when unhappy Irish citizens lodged formal complaints with the Irish government.</p>

<p>Feral Interactive's newest game, Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse, is one of the best platformers I've played in some time. It evokes the storybook feel of classic Disney fairytales in its lush graphics and vivid colors.</p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="https://apps.leapmotion.com/apps/sortee/osx)" rel="noopener noreferrer">Flow Studio's Sortee</a> is a game that works with the Mac-compatible <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2016/8/11/leap-motion-control-is-intriguing-and-fun-but-not-quite-ready-for-prime-time" rel="noopener noreferrer">Leap</a>, a 3D motion controller. It's a fun game that will keep you occupied sorting objects for longer than your arms will hold out.</p>

<p>Iran is preparing to allow local companies to import iPhones for the first time to try to curb the huge market in smuggled Apple products. The trade ministry has requested licenses from the country’s Trade Promotion Organization for nine Iranian companies to import iPhones, according to the <em>Tasnim New</em>s agency. </p>

<p>The Chinese anti-monopoly agency has approved the $3.8 billion merger between Apple manufacturing partner Foxconn and display technology company Sharp, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/08/11/apple-partner-foxconns-38b-sharp-buyout-approved-by-china" rel="noopener noreferrer">AppleInsider.</a></p>

<p>Apple has hired on one of the co-founders of Flipboard, Evan Doll, as a director of health software engineering according to a <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/evandoll">LinkedIn profile</a> update <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-08-11/apple-rehires-flipboard-co-founder-for-health-software-role">discovered</a> by <em>Bloomberg</em>. He’s been at Apple for two months.</p>

<p>Seventy-six percent of retailers plan to accept Apple Pay, Apple’s mobile payment service, by the end of 2017, compared with 59% for PayPal, according to a <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fnrf.com%2Fresources%2Fretail-library%2Fthe-state-of-retail-payments-2016%3Futm_source%3DNRFNews%26utm_medium%3D08-09%26utm_content%3DPaymentsStudy_Report%26utm_campaign%3DSmartBrief&esheet=51399807&newsitemid=20160810006029&lan=en-US&anchor=State+of+Retail+Payments+2016&index=2&md5=689bf18ace2828e6949fd5107cdb0422">State of Retail Payments 2016</a> study by the National Retail Federation and Forrester research group. Others face an uphill battle, with 53% saying they have no interest in Venmo, 43% not interested in Alipay and 38% with no interest in Pay With Amazon.</p>

<p>Logitech has introduced the $99.99 <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.logitech.com%2Fnews%2FPopStarterPack&esheet=51399993&newsitemid=20160811005277&lan=en-US&anchor=Logitech+Pop+Home+Switch+Starter+Pack&index=1&md5=ae80449ba6fc679deb1fe663153dcaea">Logitech Pop Home Switch Starter Pack</a> and $39.99 <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.logitech.com%2Fnews%2FPopAdd-on&esheet=51399993&newsitemid=20160811005277&lan=en-US&anchor=Pop+Add-On+Home+Switch&index=2&md5=eee5aa9a6d198aa8f53f74b3fbadc17a">Pop Add-On Home Switch</a>. The former is compatible with a range of lighting and smart home products including lighting, door locks, and blinds from companies like LIFX, Phillips Hue, Lutron, and INSTEON, and you can mix and match product controls on an individual switch.</p>

<p style="margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px">Apple is considering other wearable devices beyond the Apple Watch. The company has filed for a patent (number 20160228025) for a “method of detecting the wearing limb of a wearable electronic device.” An Apple Ring or Apple Pendant, anyone?</p>

<p>Apple will open a retail store in the World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday, Aug. 16, at 12 p.m. It will be the company’s eighth store in the Big Apple.</p>

<p>If you love Sandvox as a replacement for Apple’s late, lamented iWeb app— and lots of you obviously do — you may also wish to check out <a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/1pB8mKR" rel="noopener noreferrer">EverWeb</a> from RAGE Software.</p>