Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">At one point I thought that the perfect combination of Apple computing gear was a 5K iMac for most of my work and a 12.9-inch iPad Pro as my “back-up” Mac and laptop replacement for the few times I’m traveling. And, indeed, this does work most of the time, at least for me. But for a lot of folks the best set-up could easily be a new 15-inch MacBook Pro coupled with a 27-inch LG Ultrafine 5K display.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Imagine an iMac or a new Apple display with a base that provides inductive power charging for an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or AirPods. In other words, a Mac desktop with a built-in <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2018/6/21/apples-airpower-will-reportedly-debut-in-september-alongside-new-iphones?rq=AirPower" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AirPower.</a> Of course, the long-promised wireless charging pad has yet to see the light of day, but still….</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 has scooped up the rights to create a new TV series based on Min Jin Lee's bestselling 2017 novel "Pachinko," according to <a href="https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/pachinko-min-jin-lee-apple-series-1202897821/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Variety</em></a>. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple is taking a small step to make it easier for enterprises to move from Windows systems to Macs. As noted by <a href="https://www.computerworld.com/article/3295858/apple-mac/apple-really-wants-your-next-pc-to-be-a-mac-and-the-timings-right.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Computerworld</em></a>, the challenge for Windows users upgrading to Macs has been in bringing all the data across to the new system. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Fantom Drives has announced the new G-Force 3.1 external flash storage suite for use with throughput intensive video and creative applications. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">WaterField Designs has introduced the <a href="https://www.sfbags.com/products/tech-folio-gear-case" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tech Folio</a>, a premium case to organize electronic accessories and a 10.5-inch iPad or similarly-sized tablet. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Current iMacs have really good speakers, but they could be better. A newly granted Apple patent (number 10,045,461) hints that the company is working on this by including built-in subwoofers with air cooling. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Logitech has announced the $69.99 <a href="http://www.logitech.com/news/powered/stand" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Logitech POWERED Wireless Charging Stand</a>. Designed in collaboration with Apple, it’s a wireless charging stand for use with the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X that allows you to charge and use your smartphone simultaneously.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">After comparing five different mobile payment platforms, <a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/digital-payments/mobile-p2p-payment-services-review/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Consumer Reports</em></a><em> </em>says Apple Pay Cash is the best person-to-person payments service. It compared Apple’s service to others, weighing security, privacy, support, and more.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The ability to make requests on a HomePod via the “Hey, Siri” command can be very useful. However, it can also be irritating.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Humphrey Bogart reportedly said, "The only thing you owe the public is a good performance." So let's forget the Scientology stuff. Let's ignore the speculation on his hair (or lack of it) and his sexuality. And let's admit that John Travolta — who has lots of movies available for rent or sale on iTunes — is the most interesting actor around.</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;">The global tablet applications processor (AP) market declined 6 % year-over-year to reach $445 million in the first three months of 2018, according to Strategy Analytics Handset Component Technologies service report, “<a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.strategyanalytics.com%2Faccess-services%2Fcomponents%2Fhandset-components%2Fmarket-data%2Freport-detail%2Ftablet-apps-processor-market-share-q1-2018-intel-and-qualcomm-gain-share&esheet=51848660&newsitemid=20180806005470&lan=en-US&anchor=Tablet+Apps+Processor+Market+Share+Q1+2018%3A+Intel+and+Qualcomm+Gain+Share&index=1&md5=6aaf4e049601c00e636726963ed732da" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tablet Apps Processor Market Share Q1 2018: Intel and Qualcomm Gain Share</a>.”</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Google Play provides over three times as many downloads as the iOS App Store in Russia, though in 2018, the U.S., Russia, and Turkey all experienced significant growth of iOS downloads, according to Newzoo’s 2017 Global Mobile Market Report.</p>