Dennis Sellers

<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>Another day, another lawsuit. China-based, material producer Hebei Hengbo Fine Ceramic Material is suing Apple for breach of contract and demands a jury trial for disagreement with the tech giant over terms of a contract for high purity alumina melt stock, a material used to produce sapphire glass, notes <a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/18/01/22/apples-sapphire-curse-strikes-again-as-glass-material-manufacturer-sues-over-breach-of-contract" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em></a>. Such glass is used in some Apple Watch screens, Touch ID fingerprint sensors, and protective covers for rear-facing cameras on iPhones.</p>

<p>Apple has rolled out Apple Music for Artists, a dashboard designed to provide acts with hundreds of data points that provide analytical insight into their fans’ listening and buying habits, reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/digital-and-mobile/8095359/apple-bows-apple-music-for-artists-to-provide-acts-with" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Billboard</em></a>.</p>

<p>German stock exchange operator Deutsche Boerse <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-deutsche-boerse-index-tech/deutsche-boerse-creates-index-using-algorithm-to-track-ai-leaders-like-apple-idUSKBN1FB1WF?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtechnologyNews+%28Reuters+Technology+News%29">has launched</a> the AI STOXX Global Artificial Intelligence Index, which uses an algorithm to select 200 companies that are early AI innovators. Not surprisingly, Apple is on the list. </p>

<p>The iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X comprised about 61% of iPhone sales in the U.S. according to a new consumer study from CIRP — as noted by<a target="_blank" href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/01/22/iphone-8-8-plus-x-sales-iphone/" rel="noopener noreferrer"> 9to5Mac</a>. That sounds good, but it’s lower than the 72% share iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus took in the same quarter in 2017.</p>

<p>In a note to clients — as noted by <a target="_blank" href="//appleinsider.com/articles/18/01/22/iphone-x-seen-as-strategic-success-for-apple-as-3d-sensing-cameras-remain-2-years-ahead-of-competitors" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em></a> — KGI Securities Ming-Chi Kuo says the iPhone X, though not selling as well as expected, has been a "strategic success" for Apple due to long-term competitive advantages such as Face ID and the TrueDepth cameras.</p>

<p>In 2014 Samsung announced the ATIV One 7 Curved (in the first image below), the first curved all-in-one computer. I don’t think the model sold particularly well. However, I’d love to see this idea incorporated into an iMac because I have no doubt that Apple could do a better implementation.</p>

<p>The Elbi philanthropy app now supports Apple Pay. The app “brings together people, brands and charities to make philanthropy simple and rewarding.” Now users can make $1 micro-donations with Apple’s mobile payment system.</p>

<p>The <em>VeeR VR Blog</em> has rounded up the <a target="_blank" href="https://veer.tv/blog/top-8-free-augmented-reality-apps-for-your-iphone-that-are-actually-useful/" rel="noopener noreferrer">“Top Free Augmented Reality Apple That Are Actually Useful"</a>. In this article, The VR bloggers include different kinds of AR apps that they’ve tried.</p>

<p>Momenta B.V. has introduced <a target="_blank" href="https://agenda.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Agenda</a>, its debut application for macOS (10.12 and higher). Agenda is a date-focused note taking app for planning and documenting projects. </p>

<p>Apple CEO Tim Cook, a graduate of Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a member of the university’s Board of Trustees, will deliver Duke's commencement address on Sunday, May 13, 2018, President Vincent Price announced.</p>

<p>Apple and Malala Fund announced that Apple will become the fund’s first Laureate partner, enabling a significant expansion of Malala’s effort to support girls’ education and advocate for equal opportunity. Led by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai, Malala Fund champions every girl’s right to 12 years of free, safe, quality education.</p>

<p>Apple has filed for a patent (number 2018002321) for a “mobile device with applications that use a common place card to display data relating to a location” on iOS devices such as the iPhone and iPad.</p>

<p>If you have not-so-hot spots in your home or small business in which your wireless network is weak, Amped Wireless' <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ampedwireless.com/tap-ex.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">TAP-EX extender</a> is a decent investment at $89.99 (originally it was $119.99). Not so much for multi-level apartment complexes and big businesses.</p>

<p>There are four ways to view items in a Finder window in macOS High Sierra: as icons, as a list, in columns, or in Cover Flow view. To choose a view, use the View buttons at the top of the Finder window. In the four views, there are additional ways to customize how your items are displayed.</p>