Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple is always looking for ways to improve photography on the iPad and, especially, the iPhone. Now the company has been granted a patent (number 10,136,048) for a user interface for camera effects.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">macOS Mojave offers a convenient — and fun — Picture in Picture (PiP) feature. You can “float” a video window from Safari or iTunes over your desktop or a full-screen app. It’s easy to implement on a MacBook Pro with Touch Bar.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Earlier this year, Apple “quietly acquired” an artificial intelligence startup, Silk Labs, according to <a href="https://www.theinformation.com/articles/apple-acquires-ai-device-startup-silk-labs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Information</em></a>. Details on the deal haven’t been revealed.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple is in discussions with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide portable electronic health records to military veterans, “a partnership that would simplify patients’ hospital visits and allow the technology giant to tap millions of new customers,” reports <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-in-talks-to-give-veterans-access-to-electronic-medical-records-1542755703" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Wall Street Journal</em></a>, quoting unnamed “people familiar with the effort and emails reviewed.”</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I won’t hold my breath for this to happen, but the Open Data Institute (ODI), a data advocacy group, says Apple, Google, Uber, and other tech companies should share their mapping data.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Americans have rising concerns with social media platforms and a growing majority wants big social media companies regulated, according to <a href="https://www.axios.com/america-sours-on-social-media-giants-1542234046-c48fb55b-48d6-4c96-9ea9-a36e80ab5deb.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a new poll</a> conducted by Survey Monkey for “Axios on HBO.”</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">According to the latest report by <a href="http://www.trendforce.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">TrendForce</a>, the global notebook shipments for the third quarter of 2018 are estimated to increase slightly by 3.9% quarter-over-quarter, reaching 42.68 million units. However, Apple’s Mac laptop line declined by 24.3%, according to the research group.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has been pushing the Apple Watch as a health accessory for some time now. That will apparently continue as the tech giant has been granted a patent (number 10,132,680) for “UV dosimetry and exposure alert” that would allow the smartwatch to help you manage your exposure to the sun.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Total War: Warhammer II is now out on the Mac. It’s <a href="https://feralinteractive.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=27ffb222c33986fdd91dd51b2&id=1fa2a1eedb&e=590294a69b" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">available to buy from the Feral Store</span></a> for $59.99.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.sfbags.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WaterField Designs</a> has announced four leather desk accessories in time for the holidays. The Leather Charging Valet, Desk Pad, Mouse Pad, and Stylus Pencil Case are artisan-crafted from full-grain leather.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,133,725) for “learning new words” with the goal of helping its iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS devices learn new words for use in Messages and Siri.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Would someone shut this patent troll down? Uniloc has sued Apple for the umpteenth time. This time, per <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/11/19/apple-sued-over-facetime-auto-expiring-voice-messages-technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em></a>, the claim is that technology used in FaceTime and iMessage, infringe on property initially developed by HP and Philips. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.satechi.net/index.php/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Satechi</span></a> has released its latest wireless charging solution: the Aluminum Type-C PD & QC Wireless Charger, which powers the newest smartphones, such as the iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">If you’re looking for a no-frills iPhone case that’s reasonably priced and helps the environment, I suggest buying one from Rareform, a California-based company that takes used billboards and saves them from being sent to the dump. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I have a friend with vision problems who can’t read his emails. Thankfully, Siri can do it for him. </p>