Dennis Sellers

<p>Apple has joined the Alliance for Open Media as a founding member, reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-online-video-compression-av1/#ftag=CAD-09-10aai5b" rel="noopener noreferrer">CNET</a>. The group’s initial project – AOMedia Video – pursues a new, royalty-free video codec specification and open source implementation based on the contributions of Alliance members and the broader developer community, along with binding specifications for media format, content encryption and adaptive streaming.</p>

<p>The global smart speaker market is poised to grow to 56.3 million shipments in 2018, as the technology prepares itself for accelerated adoption in the consumer market, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.canalys.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Canalys</a>. Amazon and Google are expected to remain in the lead with their Echo and Home products respectively, but will face increased competition as new vendors such as Apple enter the race, adds the research group.</p>

<p>Another day, another lawsuit. But this it’s Apple that’s suing. French publication<em> </em><a target="_blank" href="https://www.thelocal.fr/20180104/apple-takes-french-tax-activists-to-court-over-store-protest-in-paris" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Local</em></a> reports that the tech giant has filed a lawsuit against the Attac activist group after about 100 of its supporters occupied the tech giant's flagship store (pictured) in Paris last month, protesting alleged "wide-scale tax evasion" by the firm.</p>

<p>Apple has filed for a patent (number 2018001734) for “climate control” in a vehicle. More evidence of an upcoming “Apple Car” or hints at future features in CarPlay. I’d bet on the latter.</p>

<p>Qoppa Software has packaged its PDF technology in a free PDF reading application for the Mac: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.qoppa.com/pdfstudioviewer/" rel="noopener noreferrer">PDFStudio Viewer</a>. </p>

<p>After <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2018/1/3/a-design-flaw-in-intels-chips-could-spur-apple-to-develop-its-own-mac-processors" rel="noopener noreferrer">clarification </a>that what was initially reported as an Intel chip bug also affects AMD processors and ARM-based chips, an <a target="_blank" href="https://developer.arm.com/support/security-update" rel="noopener noreferrer">ARM Processor Security Update</a> lists processors known to be susceptible. These include the Cortex-A8, Cortex-A9 and Cortex-A15.</p>

<p>In a note to clients — as noted by <a target="_blank" href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/01/04/apple-foreign-cash-repatriation/" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>9to5Mac</em></a> — the GBH research firm says Apple is is likely to take advantage of the tax break on repatriated overseas cash to bring back around $200 billion of its $252 billion foreign cash hoard. Here’s part of their prediction:</p>

<p>I’ve long been a fan of Pixelmator (<a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2015/10/16/pixelmator-for-os-x-is-a-powerful-image-editor-for-the-rest-of-us?rq=Pixelmator%20Pro" rel="noopener noreferrer">see my review here</a>), my graphics editing program of choice. Now the Pixelmator Team has kicked things up a notch with Pixelmator Pro, which includes a modern single-window interface, nondestructive, GPU-powered image editing tools, machine learning-enhanced editing features, and more. </p>

<p>Using the Disk Utility in macOS High Sierra, you can create a blank disk image for storage. A disk image (.dmg file) is a file that looks and acts like a mountable device or volume. You can fill an empty disk image with data, then use it to create disks, CDs, or DVDs.</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>Barclay analysts think the <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2017/12/28/the-korea-communications-commission-wants-apple-to-explain-batterygate" rel="noopener noreferrer">“Batterygate”</a> brouhaha could cost Apple $10.29 billion, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-battery-controversy-10-billion-lost-iphone-sales-2018-1" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Business Insider</em></a>. They think the fiasco would result in as many as 16 million lost smartphone sales by the tech giant.</p>

<p>A state agency in Sao Paulo Brazi says that Apple must notify consumers about its iPhone battery replacement program, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-brazilian-agency-requires-apple-to-inform-consumers-on-batteries-2018-1" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Business Insider</em></a>.</p>

<p>Apple is developing a new original drama series entitled <em>Are You Sleeping</em>, starring Octavia Spencer, reports <em><a target="_blank" href="http://variety.com/2018/tv/news/are-you-sleeping-octavia-spencer-reese-witherspoon-apple-development-1202652263/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Variety</a></em>. Created and written by Nichelle Tramble Spellman, the series will be produced by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine and Chernin Ent/Endeavor Content.</p>

<p>As noted by <a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/18/01/03/apple-opens-up-developer-fee-waivers-to-us-nonprofits-schools-government" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em></a>, Apple has started promised fee waivers for its Developer Program. Certain eligible groups can avoid paying the $99 per-year fee the tech giant normally requires.</p>

<p>Metal chassis makers, including Taiwan-based Casetek Holdings, China-based AAC Technologies and Singapore-based Hi-P Electronics, are expected to join the race to compete for smartphone chassis orders from Apple in 2018, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20180103PD210.html" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>DigiTimes</em></a>.</p>