Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">With around 20% of U.S. households owning a voice assistant device, there’s a huge opportunity for growth for the likes of Apple (with the HomePod), Amazon, and Google this Christmas, according to the latest market figures from <a href="http://kantarworldpanel.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kantar Worldpanel ComTech</a>. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Running out of space on your Mac. You can help free up space by moving your Photos library to an external drive. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://variety.com/2018/biz/features/variety-film-tv-music-predictions-2019-1203087313" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Variety </em>is predicting</a> that Apple will buy Sony Studios next year as it “will finally recognize it could use some Hollywood expertise as it tries to catch up with <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Netflix</span>’s and Amazon’s streaming services.” Don’t hold your breath; the Sellers Research Group (that’s me) says this ain’t gonna happen. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has revamped its <a href="https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">App Store Review Guidelines</span></a>, so you can now gift in-app purchases to others at the Apple App Store. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">MacTech, which produces live events such as MacTech Pro and MacTech Conference, has announced its lineup of cities and dates for its 2019 regional, one-day events. MacTech’s regional event series, called MacTech Pro, is designed specifically for consultants, techs, and IT Pros who support others using Apple technologies.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">OWC is offering their 72-piece <a href="https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/TOOLKIT72/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Advanced Toolkit </a> to help users service and repair their computers, tablets and small household devices, including Apple, PC, Chromebook, gaming or printer/copier devices. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apparently, Apple’s rules apply to every company and individual but itself. The tech giant has used the push notification of one of its native iOS apps to push one of the company’s ads to at least some users, though not everyone received it.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Kwilt<strong> </strong>has launched the Kwilt2 ($79) and Kwilt3 ($149), two platform-agnostic devices that turn any USB memory key or external drive into a personal cloud at home where you can offload photos and videos from smartphones, cameras and other devices and access their content whenever you wish. They work with macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android OS.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for a patent (number 10,158,191) designed to make its iPhones and iPads even more water resistant, perhaps even waterproof, by providing a “vacuum sealed connector” for Lightning, USB-C ports, and other ports.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has rolled out a new <a href="https://geo.itunes.apple.com/books-toolbox/en-us?" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple Books Marketing Toolbox</a> for members of its Affiliate Program. The company says the new marketing toolbox includes a variety of marketing assets to make it easier for affiliates to earn commission, as we as a new audiobooks widget.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Williamson County, Texas, leaders have unanimously (5-0) approved a taxpayer-funded incentive package for Apple that could be worth up to $16 million, solidifying the tech giant’s plan to invest $1 billion in a new campus in North Austin and add up to 5,000 jobs, reports the <a href="https://www.statesman.com/news/20181218/williamson-county-approves-16-million-incentive-package-for-apple" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Austin Statesman</em></a>. The company is also in line to get up to $25 million in incentives payments from the state-run Texas Enterprise Fund, the article adds.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Macally has launched a new <a href="https://us.macally.com/products/btsolarkeysg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">solar powered wireless keyboard series </a>with built-in solar panels that constantly charge the internal lithium-ion battery under indoor or outdoor light.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Satechi has released the <a href="https://satechi.net/products/aluminum-imac-stand" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Type-C Aluminum Monitor Stand Hub</span></a> for the iMac and iMac Pro. It features seven built-in ports and an ergonomic design designed to enhance and maximize desk space, while providing convenient access to peripheral devices.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple is teaming up with Nike for an Apple Pay promo. You can get a $20 promo code from the sports company when you spend $100 or more in the Nike app.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for a patent (number 10,156,029) for a “fabric control device.” It hints that the company has looked into “smart” clothing that could include touch sensors and the ability to control other Apple devices.</p>