Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Sony, the biggest maker of camera chips used in smartphones, is boosting production of next-generation 3D sensors after getting interest from customers including Apple, reports <a href="https://www.bloombergquint.com/technology/sony-boosts-3d-camera-output-after-interest-from-phone-makers#gs.jKAfoDo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Bloomberg</em></a>.  The chips will power front- and rear-facing 3D cameras of models from several smartphone makers in 2019, the article adds.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Another day, another lawsuit. Israeli radio broadcaster and voice artist Galit Gura-Eini, the voice of Waze’s first female navigation directions in Hebrew, is suing Apple for using her voice for Siri without permission, according to <a href="https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3753038,00.html)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>CTech</em></a>. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Urban Armor Gear (UAG) has launched its new Metropolis Series Case for the new iPad Pro 10.5 and 12.9-inch models at a price of $59.95 and $89.95, respectively. I tested <a href="https://urbanarmorgear.com/products/metropolis-series-ipad-pro-12-9-inch-3rd-gen-case" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the latter</a> and found it to be very rugged — but with one major “gotcha” for folks like me.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has applied for a patent (number 20180368559) for “electronic devices with input-output devices” that involves added functionality for Apple Watch bands and iPhone/iPad cases.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple’s $29 replacement battery replacement for those with an iPhone 6 or later ends Dec. 31, so act now if this applies to you. This involves the “Batterygate” brouhaha, a class action that alleged that Apple's iOS software updates for the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, SE, 7, and 7 Plus were provided to iPhone users under the pretense that the software updates were necessary to deliver enhanced security and performance. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Declutter has released their “<a href="https://www.decluttr.com/blog/2018/12/20/2018s-most-unwanted-what-did-americans-sell-most-this-year/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Most Unwanted List</span></a>” which is compiled of the top 10 most traded-in/sold items of 2018. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for a patent (number ) that hints at the turn of the late, lamented MagSafe adapter. This is the company’s third such patent filing; the first being number 20170093104 in March 2017, and the second being number 20170133787 in May 2017.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple will begin assembling its top-end iPhones in India through the local unit of its manufacturing partner Foxconn as early as 2019, the first time the Taiwanese company will have made the product in the country, reports <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-india-exclusive/exclusive-foxconn-to-begin-assembling-top-end-apple-iphones-in-india-in-2019-source-idUSKCN1OQ0M6?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtechnologyNews+%28Reuters+Technology+News%29" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Reuters</em>,</a> quoting an unnamed “source familiar with the matter. The article doesn’t specify which “top-end” models that entails, however.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Last month my <em>Apple World Today </em>compadre, Steve Sande, <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2018/11/14/phonesoap-wireless-wirelessly-charge-and-sanitize-your-iphone-at-the-same-time?rq=PhoneSoap" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reviewed </a>the PhoneSoap Wireless, a $99.95 device that not only wirelessly charges your iPhone, but sanitizes it with a strong blast of ultraviolet C (UV-C) light at the same time. He loved it, but longed for a wireless version.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Another day, another lawsuit. Apple has been sued by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintiv/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fintiv</a>, a Texas company that is apparently a “patent troll.” The company claims Apple Pay infringes upon an acquired Korean patent they own.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple and Huawei managed to increase their smartphone market shares in Taiwan's handset market in November, according to data compiled by local channels and reported by <a href="https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20181225PD204.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>DigiTimes</em></a>. All other vendors saw their market shares retreat.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A new report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (<a href="https://www.cirpllc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CIRP</a>) — as noted by <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/12/26/iphone-xr-holiday-sales/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>9to5Mac</em></a> — says the iPhone Xr accounted for 32% of iPhone sales in November.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">According to a December survey of 1,000 people <a href="https://www.recode.net/2018/12/13/18106455/best-of-2018-data-charts-tech-end-year-list-amazon-facebook-juul-moviepass-elon-musk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">conducted earlier this month</a> by research company Toluna, 40% of respondents said that of all tech companies they trust Facebook the least with their personal information. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Smart homes are the next big thing. You may not realize it yet, but somewhere your day will be easier because of it. Smart home technology is not only impacting the houses its installed into. Its reach stretches to other industries like business, science and even health care. Here is an infographic detailing the numbers and change caused by smart homes.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple Music will open a content creation office in Nashville, Tennessee’s historic May Hosiery complex in Wedgewood-Houston, reports <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2018/12/12/apple-music-open-offices-may-hosiery-site-wedgewood-houston-nashville-along-pandora-spotify/2293591002/?gps-source=ADFBAKWR&kwp_0=1079324&fbclid=IwAR0U1DokUUibBMnkb_a6rcg1TU2LhJ4ODa-O5EV2flkhkhau9iCYsapTZVQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Tennesseean</em></a>, quoting “officials close to the deal.”</p>