Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has released the seventh developer betas of iOS 12, macOS Mojave, tvOS 12,  and watchOS 5. However, as noted by <a href="http://www.macrumors.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>MacRumors</em></a>, the tech giant has removed Group FaceTime from the iOS 12 and Mojave betas, saying it “will ship in a future software update later this fall.”</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Look for new 12-inch MacBooks sometime in September or October. The Sellers Research Firm (that’s me) says that October is more likely as September will be the month Apple unveils new iPhones and iPads. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.parksassociates.com/360view/360view-independent-living" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Parks Associates research</a> shows 19% of U.S. broadband households now own two or more connected health devices such as an Apple Watch, a modest increase from 16% in mid-2017.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.moshi.com/codex-15-onyx-black#onyx-black" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Codex</a> from Moshi is a TSA checkpoint-friendly carrying case that allows you to use your MacBook Pro without removing it from the case. That’s useful, but I find the designer carrying case a bit limiting.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple patent involves future iPhones and (maybe) iPads with smaller bezels that offer devices with displays of the same size as current models in smaller form factors. It’s expected that 2018 iPhones will ship in 5.8- and 6.5-inch sizes in OLED, with a lower-priced ($700-$800) 6.1-inch device with an LCD screen coming, as well.</p>

<p 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 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 style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Doug Field — who left Tesla in May after overseeing Model 3 production — has returned to Apple, working in Bob Mansfield’s project “Titan” group, reports <a href="https://daringfireball.net/2018/08/doug_field_returns_to_apple" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Daring Fireball</em></a>. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Though it’s rather plain and bland compared to Apple’s late, lamented Thunderbolt Display, the <a href="http://www.apple.com/shop/product/HKN62LL/A/lg-ultrafine-5k-display" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">LG UltraFine 5K Display</a> is the best external monitor for use with a new MacBook Pro. It’s pricey at $1,299, but it does support True Tone when connected to one of the new laptops (when the lid remains open) and works with the new Blackmagic eGPU.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Twelve South’s <a href="https://www.twelvesouth.com/product/bookarc-for-macbook-pro-retina" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BookArc</a> allows you to run your setup from the power of your Mac laptop while in closed clamshell mode. It’s a great product — as long as you don’t wish to use the Touch Bar.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has ordered a half-hour scripted comedy from Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day, reports <a href="https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/charlie-day-rob-mcelhenney-apple-comedy-series-1202901078/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Variety</em></a>, two of the stars of "It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia."</p>

<p 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 style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple is almost assuredly working its own augmented reality/virtual reality headset, but it may have plenty of time to perfect the product. Consumers are becoming accustomed to AR technology on their smartphones through apps such as Snapchat and Pokémon GO. Yet AR headsets such as Google Glass and Microsoft HoloLens remain a niche product with sales barely into the hundreds of thousands of units, according to new data from <a href="http://www.strategyanalytics.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Strategy Analytics.</a></p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple is well known for its powerful advertising. Dating back to the 1984 Super Bowl ad, the Think Different campaign of the 1990s, and the Get a Mac campaign of the 2000s, the company’s ads have been hailed as revolutionary. But Apple’s most recent iPhone ads are a big departure in both tone and focus.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for a patent (number 20180225662) for “document importation into  secure element” that would allow you to use your iPhone in lieu of a traditional paper passport.</p>