Dennis Sellers

<p>Apple Pay today has expanded to new banks and credit unions in the U.S., UK, Australia, Russia and China.</p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-15/apple-plans-first-canadian-dollar-bond-to-reward-shareholders" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bloomberg</a> reports that Apple has sold $1.96 billion in senior unsecured seven-year bonds in Canada. The funds will go towards stock buybacks and dividends.</p>

<p>Apple and other tech firms have submitted a amicus brief in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court, expressing concerns about warrantless police access to cellphone location data, notes <a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/17/08/15/apple-facebook-google-others-sign-brief-concerned-about-warrantless-location-tracking" rel="noopener noreferrer">AppleInsider</a>.</p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.netbase.com&esheet=51669363&newsitemid=20170815005415&lan=en-US&anchor=NetBase&index=1&md5=ad1eb8216f1534ed94f758e5c69d44bd" rel="noopener noreferrer">NetBase</a>, which specializes in enterprise social analytics, has released its “3rd Annual NetBase Brand Passion Report: Top 100 Global Brand Love List.” Not surprisingly, Apple is i the top 10 of the “most loved global brands.”</p>

<p>Samsung led the <a target="_blank" href="https://client.canalys.com/content/getcontent.php?id=4498" rel="noopener noreferrer">smartphone market in Central and Eastern Europe in Q2 2017</a>, shipping 4.9 million units, a year-on-year increase of 14%, according to Canalys. This was due to strong demand for Galaxy A and J series products, which have been updated this year, adds the research group.</p>

<p>Lakehorn AG has introduced Video File List 1.0 for macOS. The app is used to find out more about any collection of movies files. </p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.sfbags.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">WaterField Designs</a> has announced the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sfbags.com/products/air-porter-carry-on-bag" rel="noopener noreferrer">Air Porter</a> travel bag and Air Caddy duo, which are designed to facilitate in-case laptop charging, accelerate time through TSA security, and maximize in-flight leg room while maintaining easy access to essential tech, travel and personal items. </p>

<p>Apple has at least considered making more cases along the lines of its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MN012LL/A/iphone-7-smart-battery-case-white?fnode=99" rel="noopener noreferrer">iPhone 7 Smart Battery Case</a>. The company has filed for a patent (number 9,735,595) for a “single piece case with a battery and a hinge.”</p>

<p>Apple sold an estimated 3.98 million Mac laptops in the second quarter of the 2017 calendar year for a quarter-on-quarter increase of 17.1%, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://press.trendforce.com/press/20170815-2930.html?utm_medium=BelowLink&utm_source=BusinessWire_Press_EN_20170815&utm_campaign=PR_News" rel="noopener noreferrer">TrendForce</a>. The tech giant now ties for fifth place among the top global notebook brands, notes the market research firm.</p>

<p>Responding to questions from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Qualcomm has <a target="_blank" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-qualcomm-idUSKCN1AU256?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews" rel="noopener noreferrer">disclosed</a> further details about the impact of an ongoing dispute with Apple.</p>

<p>StarTech’s $405 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.startech.com/Cards-Adapters/Laptop-docking-stations/thunderbolt-3-docking-station~TB3DK2DPPD" rel="noopener noreferrer">Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station with Full Power Delivery</a> is one of the first (perhaps the first) docking stations on the market that provides full power delivery for Thunderbolt 3 enabled Mac and Windows platforms, so it’s perfect for Thunderbolt 3-equipped MacBook Pros. What does “full power delivery” mean? The StarTech device packs a 170W power adapter for efficient powering and charging (up to 85W).</p>

<p>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 today's picks.</p>

<p>In a note to clients — as noted by <a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/17/08/14/lte-apple-watch-will-keep-current-form-factor-be-offered-alongside-standard-versions" rel="noopener noreferrer">AppleInsider</a> — KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the upcoming Apple Watch Series 3 — expected in September —will offer LTE cellular connectivity, but won’t sport a new form factor, as some have rumored. </p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/14/apple-aetna-secret-meetings-to-bring-apple-watch-to-millions-more.html" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>CNBC</em></a><em> </em>reports that Apple and Aetna held secret talks last week to discuss bringing the Apple Watch to the company’s 23 million members.</p>

<p>Sony Electronics has announced its XAV-AX200 and MEX-GS820BT in-car audio systems, which sport support for Apple’s CarPlay. Both will be available by year’s end, but pricing hasn’t been announced. </p>