Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple continues to beef up its plans for augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) products. The tech giant has been granted a patent (number 20180268237) for a “method and system for determining at least one property related to at least part of a real environment.” The goal to improve the capturing of moving objects in real life for use in an AR/VR scene.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Actor Chris Evans — best known as “Captain America” in the Marvel movies — has signed on to star in and executive produce the limited series “Defending Jacob,” which has been ordered straight-to-series at Apple, reports <a href="https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/chris-evans-defending-jacob-apple-series-1202951682/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Variety</em></a>.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has released the first public beta versions of iOS 12.1 and tvOS 12.1 for testing. The public betas are available on <a href="https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple's Beta Software Program website</a>. Just remember that beta software, so proceed with care.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Since Steve and I can’t cover everything, at the end of each week day, we’ll offer this wrap-up of news items you should check out.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for a patent (number 20180267584) for “integrated inductive charging in a protective cover.” It hints at future iPad covers with wireless charging. Once I would have thought it involved AirPower, but Apple’s long-promised wireless charger seems to have vanished into the void.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Scoshe’s <a href="https://www.scosche.com/usbc-and-usba-power-delivery-home-charger?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&adpos=1o1&scid=scplpScosche+HPDA2C8&sc_intid=Scosche+HPDA2C8&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqoiupZ7A3QIVjJ-fCh0BsAadEAYYASABEgLX8vD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">PowerVolt 3.0</a> is an 18W USB-C Port for fast charging speed for two devices such as an iPhone and iPad. It’s small, portable, and does what’s expected of it.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">iOS 12 adds the ability to create “Memoji" characters that can be created and customized right within Messages by choosing from a set of inclusive and diverse characteristics to form a unique personality.  To create your own:</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple wants you to know that everyone really loves the iPhone Xs and Xs Max. The tech giant has rounded up reviews of the new iPhones on its <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2018/09/iphone-xs-and-iphone-xs-max-the-reviews-are-in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">newsroom page</a>.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=1rnk5VjPE2-OmwsAksnbgMBtKAVqXmVH82R-VvYXyzyDINAMjR7rrD-MgBHX9v2YmavOuwyY41YVGhWObYqjaQ==" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Jamf</span></a>, which specializes in management solutions for the Apple ecosystem, has acquired <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=EpQAReE-sKVTz5lNRSinbGj-CD2gAkyoWOeNN-6VNVw6V4rqsCdLP0cv3N9GQ-mb1x9HJ922YUuC7T63msoF_g=="><span style="text-decoration: underline;">NoMAD</span></a>, an open source and commercial set of software products designed to simplify the Mac administration process. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has the highest percentage of employees who say they have delayed starting a family due to high cost of living (69.11%) while Oracle has the least (44.94%), according to a new survey by <a href="http://blog.teamblind.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Blind’s Work Talk Blog</em></a>, an “anonymous community app for the workplace.”</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.jackmorton.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jack Morton</a>, a “brand experience agency,” has launched its first global Experience Brand Index, a survey of 6,000 consumers across the U.S., United Kingdom and China. Apple did well.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">According to the latest quarterly research from <a href="http://www.strategyanalytics.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Strategy Analytics</a>, global smart speaker shipments reached 11.7 million units in the second quarter (Q2) of 2018. And there’s a bit of good news for the HomePod, which, per most estimates, is seeing underwhelming sales.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Shipments of the upcoming Phone XR are expected to ramp up to 20 million units in October, reports <a href="http://www.digitimes.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>DigiTimes</em></a>, quoting unnamed industry sources in Apple's smartphone supply chain.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.crresearch.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">C + R Research </a>researched Google search volume by looking at more than 500 keywords to find the most popular brands, musicians, and influencers in 25 college towns across the nation. Apple was on the list of “exceptionally popular brands in college towns.”</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I love to read and hope you do, too. If you’re an avid reader, Macally’s <a href="https://us.macally.com/products/rechargeable-clip-on-led-book-reading-light-booklight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BOOKLIGHT</a> is a good investment at $24.99. </p>