Dennis Sellers

<p>Apple's will open its fifth store in Hong Kong on June 30, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/06/23/apple-to-open-fifth-hong-kong-store-on-june-30-as-chinese-expansion-continues" rel="noopener noreferrer">AppleInsider</a>. The <a href="http://www.apple.com/hk/en/retail/newtownplaza/">New Town Plaza</a> outlet will launch at 10 a.m. local time next Thursday in the Sha Tin district. Operating hours will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.</p>

<p>More than 300,000 people have signed <a href="https://action.sumofus.org/a/iphone-headphone-jack/">a petition</a> urging Apple not to ditch the headphone socket from the next version of the iPhone, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-36606220" rel="noopener noreferrer">notes the BBC</a>.</p>

<p>Some pundits paint the Apple Watch as a failure, but that’s not the case. In the first quarter of 2016, worldwide revenue for wearable devices surged 133% to nearly $6 billion (at retail) year-on-year, fueled by connected watches, notably as Apple Watch passes its first birthday, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.futuresource-consulting.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Futuresource Consulting</a>. </p>

<p>Whenever Apple FINALLY gets around to updating the 27-inch Thunderbolt Display, perhaps it will be even bigger and perhaps curved. Of course, the same could be said for an iMac update.</p>

<p>Apple files for — and is granted — lots of patents by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Many are for inventions that never see the light of day. However, you never can tell which ones will materialize in a real product, so here are today’s patent highlights:</p>

<p>There’s nothing eye-popping or revolutionary about the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.incase.com/shop/macbook-sleeves/icon-sleeve-with-tensaerlite-for-mb-12/" rel="noopener noreferrer">InCase ICON Sleeve with Tensaerlite</a> for the 12-inch MacBook. It’s a solid sleeve that provides complete surface and side protection.</p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.akitio.com/network-storage/cloud-hybrid" rel="noopener noreferrer">Akitio's Cloud Hybrid</a> — a hybrid enclosure that combines a personal cloud network attached storage and USB 3.0 direct access storage -- is a solid solution for those looking to store and share large files across a network. However, it takes a of tinkering to set it up correctly, especially on a Mac.</p>

<p>The University of Oxford conferred honorary degrees on nine “distinguished figures” at the annual Encaenia ceremony on June 22, including Apple Chief Design Officer Jony Ive. Here’s what the institution had to say about him:</p>

<p>Folks have been wondering why the iOS 10 beta kernel was left unencrypted. Now Apple tells <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/22/apple-unencrypted-kernel/" rel="noopener noreferrer">TechCrunch</a> that this was done deliberately to streamline system performance. </p>

<p>Still think that there's no room for growth or innovation on the Mac? Well, to the naysayers I must point out that there's plenty of room for both.</p>

<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>Writing for <a target="_blank" href="http://www.pcmag.com/commentary/345453/apple-should-spin-off-the-macintosh" rel="noopener noreferrer">PC Mag</a>, the controversial John C. Dvorak says that Apple should spin off the Mac into its own company. Sorry, but that’s a bad idea — and it certainly won’t happen.</p>

<p>Shenzhen Baili, the Chinese company <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2016/6/17/beijing-intellectual-property-office-the-iphone-66plus-copies-bailis-100c-phone?rq=Baili" rel="noopener noreferrer">that won a Beijing patent office ruling</a> that the iPhone 6 copied its own Baili 100C smartphone (pictured), apparently is no longer operating.</p>

<p>Apple’s universal search feature for the fourth-generation Apple TV now supports A&E, History, Lifetime, Cooking Channel, DIY, Food Network, Travel Channel FYI, and HGTV. Unfortunately, the universal search list is pretty much limited to those in the U.S. </p>

<p>Apple has added 44 new institutions to the banks and credit unions supporting Apple Pay in the U.S. You can view the full list on Apple’s <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204916">website here</a>.</p>