Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for a patent (number 20180321826) for “image data for enhanced user interactions” when using avatars.</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;">As noted by <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/11/15/apple-new-refurbished-store/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>9to5Mac</em></a>, Apple has given its <a href="https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished#ntf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Certified Refurbished Online Store</a> a visual overhaul. The new site design features larger images, easier navigation between various categories, and more. This new design seems to have gone live sometime this week.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">macOS Mojave has a feature called Optimized Storage. It frees up space when your Mac starts getting full by storing infrequently used items in iCloud and reminding you to delete used app installers, and even clearing out duplicate downloads, caches, logs and more. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Twelve South has announced 2018 versions of its <a href="https://twelvesouth.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2bf022ba0607d963e90d546c2&id=9ca5360267&e=4cec9fbb29" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">BookBook</span></a>, <a href="https://twelvesouth.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2bf022ba0607d963e90d546c2&id=2a43338d8b&e=4cec9fbb29" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Journal</span></a>, and <a href="https://twelvesouth.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2bf022ba0607d963e90d546c2&id=375a3404d1&e=4cec9fbb29" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">SurfacePad</span></a> for the iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, and iPhone Xr.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for another patent (number 20180329456) for an “electronic device” with a wraparound display, which at least hints at the possibility of a foldable iPhone. It’s Apple’s 11th patent regarding such technology.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple tops the Nice List by <a href="http://www.lastpass.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">LastPass</a> for companies whose e-commerce sites are the most secure. Also making the list are Best Buy, Home Depot, Amazon, and the Qurate Retail Group. On the Naughty List of the least secure retailers are Costco, Macy’s, eBay, Walmart, and Wayfair.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The <a href="https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-xr/">iPhone Xr is</a> <a href="https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-iphone/iphone-xr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">available SIM-free</a> in the U.S. This means you can buy it unlocked and obtain a SIM from your carrier of choice.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has received an “A+” from Mind the Store, a coalition that focuses on tracking toxic chemicals in consumer products. That’s up from the tech giant’s grade of “A” in 2017.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple is enlisting Oscar-winning indie studio A24 to produce a slate of films for its growing entertainment division, according to <a href="https://variety.com/2018/film/news/apple-a24-films-1203029800/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Variety</em></a>. It’s a “multiyear agreement” and involves multiple films. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The latest update (version 10.4.4) to Final Cut Pro X, Apple’s professional video editing software for macOS, introduces workflow extensions that enable professional video editors to use third-party apps and services directly within the editing interface. It’s available now at the Mac App Store,</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple is the most popular brand of wearable devices, according to <a href="https://clutch.co/it-services/resources/wearables-connect-internet-of-things-technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">new research from Clutch</a>, a B2B [business-to-business] ratings and reviews firm. The Apple Watch (41%) is the wearable device that the most people own, ahead of FitBit (35%) and Samsung (21%) devices.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple jumps into the number one spot as the Most Valuable US brand, with a brand worth of $316 billion on the strength of devices combined with services , according to the latest BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable US Brands ranking, announced by <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.wpp.com&d=DwMF-g&c=zdK58V2JKULZdB8nuBRpog&r=Q0WgIBe5Xw87AlCGKS9GxKqB4y5BrIiF4f9CjO56gS9IasEIJcVJqYC0VAfRIGga&m=bQLOfQEcB-_MYmDBhiZV952NqCyC3Vw3eKuHfqmv7H4&s=U8B4QRCQH6HN0drAgZWO_vK32M6Ca7fO9enH_yEnX7o&e=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WPP</a> and <a href="http://www.millwardbrown.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kantar Millward Brown</a>. The tech giant placed second in last year’s rankings.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple is “aggressively hiring” engineers in Qualcomm’s home base of San Diego, seeking designers to develop wireless components and processors that would further weaken the chipmaker’s chances of again supplying chips for the iPhone maker’s future devices, according to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-11-15/apple-recruiting-chip-engineers-to-work-in-qualcomm-s-backyard" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Bloomberg</em></a>.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple wants your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch to be able to get back to Wi-Fi quickly if they have cellular/Wi-Fi connectivity. The company has filed for a patent (number 20180332506) for “fast return to Wi-Fi.”</p>