Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple’s Touch Bar comes with a default set of shortcuts, depending on which app you're using. If you don't like the default options, you can add and remove buttons to customize the Touch Bar.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/02/world/middleeast/saudi-khashoggi-spyware-israel.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The New York Times</em></a> reports that a Saudi dissident close to the murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi has filed a lawsuit charging that the NSO Group, an Israeli software company behind the iPhone spyware tool known as Pegasus, helped the royal court take over his smartphone and spy on his communications with Khashoggi.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple is negotiating for the rights to adapt<em> Nevelot (Bastards</em>), a violent Israeli drama starring Richard Gere, reports <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/06/apple-pursuing-violent-israeli-show-nevelot-richard-gere-to-star.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>CNBC</em></a>.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Microsoft <a href="https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2018/12/06/microsoft-edge-making-the-web-better-through-more-open-source-collaboration/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">has announced plans</a> to adopt the Chromium open source project in the development of Microsoft Edge on the desktop “to create better web compatibility for our customers and less fragmentation of the web for all web developers.”</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Restaurants throughout San Francisco are now offering complimentary holiday gifts via a new augmented reality feature from <a href="http://www.chefsfeed.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ChefsFeed</a>, which provides ways to discover where to eat and drink based on the recommendations of professional chefs.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">watchOS 5.1.2 is coming later today and will introduce the ECG app (for the Apple Watch Series 4). It marks the first direct-to-consumer product that enables customers to take an electrocardiogram right from their wrist, capturing heart rhythm in a moment when they experience symptoms like a rapid or skipped heart beat and helping to provide critical data to physicians.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for a patent (number 20180350345) for “systems and methods for name pronunciation.” If realized, it would allow Siri, the company’s personal digital assistant, help us pronounce names that are unfamiliar to us.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has applied for a patent (number 2018034699) for an “augmented reality interface for facilitating identification of arriving vehicle.” It sounds like it could be a boon for Uber and Lyft drivers and passengers.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Now that Apple is surely considering [sarcasm intended] my suggestion of an “AppleOS” that would replace both the iPad Pro version of iOS and macOS, it needs the perfect device to take advantage of this next gen operating system. And — as I bet you knew — I have just the idea: the Apple Pad.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Ireland: The Supreme Court will sit in Galway next March to hear an appeal over whether An Bord Pleanála breached its legal obligations in how it approved the first phase of Apple’s planned €850 million data centre in Athenry. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Last week Apple and Amazon surprised folks by <a href="https://blog.aboutamazon.com/devices/alexa-play-bebe-rexha-on-apple-music">by announcing </a>that Apple Music subscribers will be able to enjoy Apple Music’s 50 million songs on Echo devices this holiday season. That’s good news for Apple’s streaming music service and for Amazon, but what does it mean for the HomePod and Apple TV?</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has updated Shortcuts, its iOS productivity app, to version 2.1.2. A free download at the Apple App Store it adds a "Post to Tumblr" action.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has introduced its first case for the iPhone XR. The <a href="https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MRW62/iphone-xr-clear-case" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iPhone XR Clear Case</a> is available for $39 at <span style="text-decoration: underline;">apple.com</span> and, presumably, Apple retail stores.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has rolled out iOS 12.1.2, macOS 10.14.2, and tvOS 12.1.2. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A rare Steve Jobs signed issue of <em>Macworld</em> magazine will be auctioned by Boston-based RR Auction.  The original issue of <em>Macworld</em> #1 from February 1984, signed and inscribed on the front cover in black ink, "to Matt, steven jobs” will be auctioned by Boston-based RR Auction.  </p>