Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has hired Sterling Crimson, best known for building a paint app for mobile VR headsets, reports <a href="https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/apple-cyber-paint-app-sterling-crispin-1202890174/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Variety</em></a>. The article says he’ll be working as a prototyping researcher at the tech giant.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">According to a translated report from Taiwanese publication <a href="https://money.udn.com/money/story/5612/3279500" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Economic Daily News</em></a> — as noted by <a href="https://www.macrumors.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>MacRumors</em></a> — the successor to the MacBook Air will pack an Intel Kaby Lake processor. Makes sense as the release of the Cannon Lake chip, which would have been a logical choice, has  been delayed again. However, the Sellers Research Group says the new laptop won’t be dubbed a MacBook Air.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">According to new data from <a href="http://www.emarketer.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">eMarketer</a>, Apple's share of smartphone users in the U.S. will remain basically static in 2018, accounting for a 44.6% share. The research group predicts that, by comparison, Android will account for 53.3% of U.S. smartphone usage in 2018. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">New data from <a href="http://www.juniperresearch.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Juniper Research</a> shows that, driven by payment cards and mobile wallets, in-store contactless payments will reach $2 trillion by 2020, representing 15% of the total point of sale transactions. The research group predicts that the mobile contactless payments market will be driven by Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay and other “pay wallets.” </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for a patent (number 2018026766) for a “physical activity and workout monitor” that involves the current and future versions of its iOS and watchOS Workout app.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Samsung’s $69.99, <a href="http://www.samsontechcom" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">QH4 4-Channel Headphone Amplifier</a> lets you distribute audio to up to four individual headphones, each with its own volume control making it perfect for tracking multiple performers in a studio, podcast recording or recreational music listening.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A new report from the Japanese site  <a href="http://www.macotakara.jp/blog/rumor/entry-35399.html"><em>Macotakara</em></a>— as noted by <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/07/27/2018-ipad-pro-headphone-jack-more/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>9to5Mac</em></a> -- says the upcoming iPad Pro will drop the headphone jack, adopt Face ID, and move the Smart Connector the to lower rear side – close to the Lightning connector.  The Sellers Research Group (that’s me) says the latter isn’t going to happen.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">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 this week’s picks.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">One of these days we’ll have an iPhone that’s truly waterproof without having to add a third-party case. Apple is working on this, as evidenced by a newly granted patent (number 10,034,073) for a device having a “composite acoustic membrane.”</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Since Steve and I can’t cover everything, at the end of each week day, we’ll offer this wrap-up of news items you should check out.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple is closing a deal for the rights to turn the Terry Gilliam-directed film “Time Bandits”<em> </em>into a TV series. <a href="https://deadline.com/2018/07/time-bandits-apple-tv-series-deal-terry-gilliam-anonymous-content-paramount-television-mrc-1202435077/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Deadline</em></a> reports that series will be developed as a co-production between Anonymous Content, Paramount Television and Media Rights Capital. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Japanese site <em>Macotakara</em> — as noted by <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/07/27/apple-repair-japanese-flood-iphone-ipad-mac-free/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>9to5Mac </em></a>— says that, in a support article, Apple announced that it will repair any iPhones, Macs, iPads, and iPods that were directly damaged by the floods that swept through Japan this month. Normally, the company’s repair policies don’t cover water damage.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Another day, another lawsuit. California-based SpeakWare accusing Apple of …. what else? …. patent infringement. According to <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/07/26/new-patent-lawsuit-targets-apple-over-voice-control-tech-in-siri--homekit-enabled-devices" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em></a> alleges infringes a patent dubbed "Hands-Free, Voice-Operated Remote Control Transmitter.”</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has applied for a patent (number 20180213126) for “touch accommodation options” that would touch accommodations to users with tremors or other fine motor impairments to improve the accuracy of such users' touch inputs on touch-sensitive surfaces such as the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">If you’re looking for a cool-looking, wireless, portable (about 4 x 7 inches and weighing about a pound) speaker that packs decent sound for its size, give a listen to the $39.99 <a href="https://limitlessinnovations.com/tikitunes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">TikiTunes</a>. </p>