Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">According to <a href="https://deadline.com/2019/01/jj-abrams-bad-robot-new-deal-near-disney-warner-bros-universal-apple-1202536008/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Deadline</em></a>, Apple is among those vying to lure JJ Abrams and his Bad Robot banner away from Paramount. However, the tech giant is probably a long shot as other potential contenders include Universal, Disney, Warner Brothers, Netflix, and Amazon.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s no surprise, but job openings at Apple with the term "Health" in their titles have been on a steady rise in 2017 and accelerated this fall into winter, according to new data from <a href="https://media.thinknum.com/articles/apple-health-hiring-spree/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Thinknum</em>.</a></p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has given the green light to a 10-episode season of an untitled science fiction series created and co-written by Simon Kinberg (pictured) and David Weil, reports <a href="https://deadline.com/2019/01/simon-kinberg-david-weil-apple-science-fiction-tv-series-deal-10-episode-commitment-x-men-dark-phoenix-1202536718" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Deadline</em></a>. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2019/01/17/apple-watch-johnson-johnson-team-up-study-reduce-stroke-risk/2595420002"><em>USA Today</em> </a>reports that Apple and Johnson & Johnson are teaming up on a study to determine whether the Apple Watch Series 4, in conjunction with an app from the pharmaceutical company, can accelerate the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As I’ve said numerous times, I don’t think Apple will ever release an Apple-branded automotive. However, if I’m wrong, such a vehicle could sport a holographic display.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Future Mac laptops could sport a trackpad that could pair with an iPhone and provide extra power — or vice versa. Apple has filed for a patent (number 20190018450) for an “electronic accessory device” that could “extend and expand usefulness of a portable computing device.”</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">mophie has embraced the USB-C PD spec for fast charging with its new <a href="http://www.mophie.com/shop/powerstation-usbc-pd" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">powerstation PD</span></a> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">and</span> <a href="http://www.mophie.com/shop/powerstation-usbc-pd-xl" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">powerstation PD XL</span></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;">,</span> two universal batteries designed to charge popular smartphones at the fastest speed possible. The former ($59.95) proves 6,700mAh of juice, while the second ($79.95) serves up 10,050 of battery power. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple's most recent proxy statement, filed earlier this month, shows the company spent $310,000 on personal security for CEO Tim Cook in 2018. But that's a fraction of other tech giants' expenditures, says <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/millions-silicon-valley-spends-security-execs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Wired</em></a>.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/jason-katims-apple-overall-deal-1203109679/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Variety</em> </a>reports that Jason Katims — writer, producer, and playwright — is departing his longtime home at Universal TV for a new multi-year overall deal at Apple. The tech giant is expected to debut a streaming service at some point this year.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">iPhone sales may be slow in China, but Chinese customers are driving Apple’s App Store business. In fact, China accounted for nearly 50% of all app downloads in 2018, pushing the global downloads count to reach a record 194 billion, according to research firm <a href="https://www.appannie.com/en/insights/market-data/the-state-of-mobile-2019/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">App Annie </a>— as noted by <a href="https://venturebeat.com/2019/01/16/app-annie-china-drove-40-of-mobile-app-spending-and-nearly-half-of-all-downloads-in-2018/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>VentureBeat</em> </a>.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The original Mac evangelist, Guy Kawasaki, will be one of the keynote speakers at <a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2348469-1&h=4269825753&u=http%3A%2F%2Ftagsummit.com%2F&a=The+Summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Summit</a>, the largest technology industry showcase in Georgia, returns Feb. 11-12, 2019 to Cobb Galleria in Atlanta.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple is reportedly talking with at least private Medicare plans about getting Apple Watches into the hands of millions of people over the age of 65. It makes a lot of sense for Apple to do that, health experts told <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/15/apple-talking-to-private-medicare-plans-about-subsidizing-apple-watch.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>CNBC</em></a>, since it could prevent expensive doctor or hospital visits.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The <a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2348189-1&h=2432765166&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.electran.org%2F&a=Electronic+Transactions+Association" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Electronic Transactions Association</a> (ETA), the the global trade association representing more than 500 payments and technology companies, says Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of internet services, will deliver the keynote address at <a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2348189-1&h=4096720409&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.electran.org%2Fevents%2Fetatransact%2F&a=TRANSACT" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">TRANSACT</a> , the world's largest payments technology event.  </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Sprint customers can now use Apple Business Chat to message an agent, learn about Sprint plans and more. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for a patent (number 10,182,337) for “intermittent out of service recovery on an accessory device.” The goal is to reduce the amount of power used by items such as the iPhone and improve battery life.</p>