Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Researchers at Stanford University's School of Medicine have completed enrollment of a large-scale study using the Apple Watch to determine whether a wearable technology can identify atrial fibrillation. The <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2018.09.002">study rationale and design</a>, published in the <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/american-heart-journal"><em>American Heart Journal</em></a>, describes the design of this unique clinical trial, the largest screening study on atrial fibrillation ever done.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Twelve South has released a redesigned <a href="https://www.twelvesouth.com/product/compass-pro" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Compass Pro</a> for the new iPad Pros. The new model has a wider and more stable footprint to support even the largest of iPads (12.9-inch) in either portrait or landscape mode.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The 2018 iPhones are such old news (no angry comments please, that’s sarcasm), that it’s time to start looking ahead to next years’s models. In a note to clients — as noted by <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/11/01/upgraded-truedepth-camera-coming-to-2019-iphone-lineup-better-range-finding-in-ipad-update" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em></a> — Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says next year’s Apple smartphones will boast an improved Free ID system.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> <a href="https://browser.geekbench.com/v4/cpu/10581888" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Geekbench benchmark</a> results show that the high-end iPad Pro rivals the latest 15-inch MacBook Pros with Intel Core i7 CPUs. Which means that it’s not of “if,” but “when” Apple introduces Macs with processors the company itself makes.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As noted by <a href="https://www.cultofmac.com/572441/pilot-repair-program-vintage-macs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Cult of Mac</em></a>, Apple is expanding its pilot repair program for vintage Macs. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.fleetsmith.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Fleetsmith</span></a>, a provider of secure, automated Apple device management, has announced two new product features designed to enhance visibility, compliance, and security of corporate Apple devices. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">If  you’ve been hoping for an iPad with mouse support or a Mac with a touch interface, a new Apple patent filing (number 20180314291) is for “transitioning between modes of input” including “a mouse-based interface, and a low-resolution input mode, such as a touch-based interface.”</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">According to the <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/f9e8ccc2-dd84-11e8-9f04-38d397e6661c" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Financial Times</em></a><em> </em>(a subscription is required to read the article), Apple may invest in iHeartMedia to drive more users to Apple Music.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://slickdeals.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Slickdeals</span></a>, a crowdsourced shopping platform, asked 1,000 iPhone users and 1,000 Android users about their unique behaviors, lifestyle choices, personality traits, and spending habits. They found that iPhone uses spend about $101 each month on tech purchases.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Wallet app in iOS 12 allows you to store data from rewards cards, passes, and more, along with your Apple Pay info.  Some passes automatically appear at the right time or place because they include information based on time or location. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The <a href="http://www.pixelmator.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pixelmator Team</a> is planning to release a brand new app for the iPad: a collection of nondestructive, desktop-class color adjustments, a set of machine learning-enhanced film emulation presets, a Repair tool to remove unwanted objects from photos, support for editing RAW images, and more.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The mophie charge stream desk stand is now available at <a href="http://www.mophie.com/shop/wireless/charge-stream-desk-stand" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">mophie.com</span></a> for $69.95. It’s part of the charge stream family of wireless charging products, including the vent mount, powerstation wireless, and powerstation wireless XL, pad+, pad mini, and travel kit. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">UBS expects the Apple Watch market to grow even more next year with a 40% year-over-year increase to about 33 million watches. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has offered to buy the augmented-reality startup, Leap Motion “multiple times, most recently in the spring of 2018,” according to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-leap-motion-acquisition-talks-fell-through-2018-10?r=UK&IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Business Insider</em></a>, quoting unnamed “people familiar with the matter.”</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple Pay appears to be gaining customers and making gains in areas from mobile apps to physical stores thanks to more installed equipment in stores and a new feature called Apple Pay Cash, according to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-30/apple-pay-struggles-to-meet-heady-expectations" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Bloomberg</em>.</a></p>