Dennis Sellers

<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>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple places 71st on Glassdoor’s list of the<a href="https://www.glassdoor.com/Award/Best-Places-to-Work-LST_KQ0,19.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> “2019 Best Places to Work</a>” in the U.S. That’s up from 84th last year.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In a note to clients — as noted by <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/12/05/health-tracking-airpods-faces-competition-from-google-and-amazon-suggests-ming-chi-kuo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em></a> — Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the AirPods are more than just earbuds for Apple and will become increasingly important" to the company. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">iFixIt is offering <a href="http://createsend.ifixit.com/t/r-l-jtsojy-xlkjygu-i/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">the Mac mini Late 2018 Memory Maxxer RAM Upgrade Kit</span></a>. For $164.99, you get a PC4-21300 16GB RAM chip; a spudger, opening tool; angled tweezers, precision bit driver, and 4mm precisions bits. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“Apple, tear down this wall!” What wall? The one between iOS and macOS.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,147,459) for “artistic style transfer for videos. It involves methods to easily apply different styles to videos crafted in its iMovie (macOS and iOS), Final Cut Pro X (macOS), and Clips (iOS) apps.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Mac’s Touch Bar is actually a second, mini-display. Which means you can take a screenshot of whatever it’s displaying.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has presented its <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2018/12/apple-presents-the-best-of-2018/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2018 global top charts</a> from its editors across apps, music, podcasts, books, TV, and movies.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Jon Callus, an Apple security expert, who was previously hired back in 2011, and then re-hired in 2016, is leaving the tech giant again, this time to join the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), according to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/aclu-apple-idUSL1N1Y9025" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Reuters</em></a>.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has ordered an AAU basketball drama series dubbed <em>Swagger</em> from NBA superstar Kevin Durant, according to <a href="https://www.thewrap.com/kevin-durant-swagger-apple-aau-basketball-drama-series/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Wrap</em></a>. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Lawyers behind a UK class-action style compensation litigation against Google for privacy violations have filed an application requesting permission to appeal against a recent High Court ruling blocking the proceeding, reports <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2018/12/04/google-you-owe-us-claimants-arent-giving-up-on-uk-safari-workaround-suit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>TechCrunch</em></a>.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://crunchbase.com/organization/epic-games-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Epic Games </a>— an American video game development company that creates games such as Fortnite and offers its game engine technology to other developers — plans to launch a desktop games store built to take on Valve’s Steam Store.</p>