Dennis Sellers

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Today Plugable launched <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__plugable.com_products_ud-2Dcube_&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=Ow4aPy9cQd3igcFvmMGyfG9-O_-GjrDliLiWOH5EUvlQNQHoxZFegoMc_GhVhFyE&m=hS8haqcqFPdCn8goMNf16JhDflr211Ee6mZPCoVpvLE&s=6cswIeXJjnNtYIbLmMIJdhTo5uaKKBxxXPjVzcUnOrM&e="><span style="text-decoration:underline">The Cube</span></a>, a $79.99, portable (2.5 x 2.3 x 1.4 inches) USB-C mini docking station. I received an advance copy, so have had almost a week to play around with it — and I’m impressed.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Since Steve and I can’t cover everything, at the end of each week day, we’ll offer this wrap-up of news items you should check out.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">One modem expert arrives at Apple, another departs. This weekend <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2019/4/28/apple-lured-away-intels-lead-5g-modem-developer-in-february" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">it was reported</a> that Apple poached Umashankar Thyagarajan, Intel’s lead 5G modem developer, earlier this year just weeks before ditching the chipmaker for Qualcomm, after Apple and Qualcomm <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2019/4/22/analyst-apple-likely-to-ship-200-million-iphones-in-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">settled their long-running legal battle</a>. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">A survey of Internet users in the U.S. and UK show that more than 40% "do not trust many of them [U.S. tech giants] to lawfully manage their data,” reports <a href="https://www.zdnet.com/article/survey-trust-in-tech-giants-is-broken/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>ZDNet</em></a>.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple’s upcoming 2019 iPhone models will "likely" include a faster 18W USB-C power adapter and a Lightning to USB-C cable in the box, according to Japanese blog <a href="http://www.macotakara.jp/blog/rumor/entry-37401.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mac Otakara</a> (as noted by <a href="https://www.macrumors.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>MacRumors</em></a>).</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">According to a new <a href="https://advertise.bingads.microsoft.com/en-us/insights/2019-voice-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Microsoft Market Intelligence study</a>, although the Amazon Alexa is widely known and advertised in the U.S. it’s not the most popular digital voice assistant. Apple’s Siri and the Google Assistant tied for first place with 36% of respondents having used each.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">SpriTec Software's SuperTab, a Mac utility application designed to enhance and extend the Mac's built-in Command-Tab Application Switcher, has been called a "floating Finder" — and with good reason. It provides Finder features and an app launcher at your fingertips. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">For a long time I wanted an iMac with a built-in TV tuner and one capable of direct cable or satellite input. I doubt that's going to happen, but, about four years ago, one pundit predicted that we'll see "smart" TVs merging more with personal computers, perhaps even evolving into a "tabletop" system.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">According to <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2019/04/28/apple-poached-intel-5g-leader-weeks-switch-rival-qualcomm/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Telegraph</a>, Apple poached Intel’s lead 5G modem developer earlier this year just weeks before ditching the chipmaker for Qualcomm, after Apple and Qualcomm <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2019/4/22/analyst-apple-likely-to-ship-200-million-iphones-in-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">settled their long-running legal battle</a>. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has recently removed several parental control apps from the App Store, because they put users’ privacy and security at risk. The tech giant says it’s important to understand why and how this happened and has issued a <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2019/04/the-facts-about-parental-control-apps/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">statement about it here</a>.</p>

<p class="" 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 class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">When Apple’s Apple TV+ steaming service arrives this fall, I’ll give it a try. However, unless I’m pleasantly surprised, it won’t incorporate the a la carte streaming service I’ve long wanted. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">My lovely wife loves to print recipes she finds on-line. She learned the hard way that you don't simply hit "print" when you see one you like. The first (and last) time she did this, about 40 pages printed (the entire cooking web site, not just the recipe she saw), as she went about her business unaware that the Epson printer was spitting out page after page after page. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Guess we’ll be seeing the results of the new blood on Apple’s Industrial design team. Three members — Rico Zorkendorfer, Daniele De Iuliis, and Julian Hönig — are departing or have departed, according to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/turnover-hits-apples-famed-industrial-design-team-11556225563" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Wall Street Journal</a>. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Another day, another lawsuit. <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/04/25/iphone-personal-hotspot-tech-violates-networking-patent-lawsuit-claims" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider </em>reports</a> that Wyoming-based WiNet Labs, is suing Apple for allegedly infringing on a networking patent with its "Personal Hotspot" feature found in iPhone and iPad. </p>