Dennis Sellers

<p>Apple spent $2.2 million lobbying the Donald Trump administration in Washington D.C. between April 1 and June 30, 2017, according to a <a target="_blank" href="http://disclosures.house.gov/ld/ldxmlrelease/2017/Q2/300897564.xml" rel="noopener noreferrer">disclosure form</a> filed by the Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives — as noted by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.recode.net/2017/7/21/16008504/apple-amazon-google-record-lobby-trump-immigration-science-privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer">recode</a>. That’s almost double the moolah spent on lobbying from the same three month period in 2016.</p>

<p>Apple has announced thatDeirdre O’Brien, vice president of Worldwide Sales and Operations, has been named vice president of People, reporting to CEO Tim Cook. Now he and other Apple execs won't actually have to deal with people. </p>

<p>proDAD has brought its Mercalli SAL video stabilizer to the Mac after years of being Windows only. <a target="_blank" href="http://192.206.112.171/clickthrough/servlet/clickthrough?msg_id=8522797&adr_order=1409&url=aHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kcmVuYWxpbi5jb20vbWVyY2FsbGktc2FsLW1hYy8%3D" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mercalli SAL Mac</a> is a new, full-featured, stand-alone macOS native application. </p>

<p>A group representing major tech companies such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Facebook has aligned with Apple against Qualcomm by calling on regulators to reject Qualcomm's bid to ban the import of iPhones, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-qualcomm-idUSKBN1A52YS" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters.</a></p>

<p>Forget the (still unannounced) iPhone 8, we need rumors of 2019’s “iPhone 9.” Oh wait, here’s one:</p>

<p>When you test drive as many products as I do, it’s hard to run across earphones that stand out from the pack. However, the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.Pioneerrayz.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rays Plus </a>from Pioneer Home Entertainment U.S.A do just that.</p>

<p>Apple has filed for a patent (number 20170206873) for “dynamic music authoring.” Most likely involving future versions of GarageBand on macOS and iOS devices, the goal is to provide software that “allows users to create music at home.”</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>Apple is is looking for full-time employees to work from home to provide customers with support for Macs, iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, Apple TVs and more, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/career/news/a45187/apple-is-hiring-work-from-home-positions/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Good Housekeeping</a>.</p>

<p>The State Farm insurance company has filed a lawsuit against Apple alleging a defective iPhone 4S caused a house fire in Wisconsin in 2016, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/17/07/20/state-farm-sues-apple-over-house-fire-allegedly-caused-by-defective-iphone" rel="noopener noreferrer">AppleInsider</a>. State Farm's suit names Xai Thao as a co-complainant who suffered more than $75,000 in damages related to the fire. </p>

<p>The AWT News Update is on a brief hiatus. In its place, I’ll offer a text-only (no podcast) summary of breaking stories with a tip o’ my hat to my former website, <em>Apple Daily Report</em>.</p>

<p>Apple has updated <a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/clips/id1212699939?mt=8" rel="noopener noreferrer">Clips</a>, its app that allows iPhone and iPad users to create “expressive videos.” It lets you combine video clips, photos and music into videos to share with friends through the Messages app, or on Instagram, Facebook and other social networks.</p>

<p>Apple is secretly working with Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL), a Chinese battery manufacturer on automotive battery research and development, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.yicaiglobal.com/news/apple-secretly-pursues-automotive-battery-rd-china-may-become-carmaker" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Yicai Global</em></a>, a Shanghai-based news group. </p>

<p>Apple takes the top spot in global profits (again), according to Fortune's annual ranking of U.S. companies shaping the world.</p>

<p>FxFactory has released a new Final Cut Pro X plugin called <a target="_blank" href="https://fxfactory.com/info/xeffects3dvideowalls/" rel="noopener noreferrer">XEffects 3D Video Walls</a>. Developed by partner Idustrial Revolution, it allows the user to add moving video or still images to video walls in 3D space. </p>