Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has released watchOS 5.0.1. It fixes a glitch that wouldn’t let users close their Activity rings, as well as dealing with a charging issue.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Another day, another lawsuit. As noted by <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/09/27/apple-accused-of-unsavory-business-practices-in-memoji-trademark-lawsuit" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em></a>, Apple is being sued by a company called Social Tech for the use of the “Memoji” name for its iOS 12 app.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has received <a href="https://fccid.io/BCG-E3220A" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">approval from the FCC</a> today to sell the iPhone XR in the U.S., ahead of pre-orders on Oct. 19. The iPhone XR will be available in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB models in white, black, blue, yellow, coral and (PRODUCT)RED starting at $749 from <a href="https://www.apple.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">apple.com</a> and Apple Stores, and is also available through Apple Authorized Resellers and select carriers (prices may vary).</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has released <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/app/logic-pro-x/id634148309?mt=12" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Logic Pro X 10.4.2</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/app/mainstage-3/id634159523?mt=12" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MainStage 3.4</a>. They’re available at the Mac App Store. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has regained the top position in the global smartphone market, according to new data from <a href="http://www.researchandmarkets.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Research and Markets</a>. The report finds that global mobile phone market volume reached 1.96 billion units in 2017, similar to that in 2016.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has been granted a patent for a desktop system (an iMac seems the most likely candidate) that identifies different individuals using Face ID, then adjusting landscape and portrait modes on the display (which would be touch compatible), desk chair height, and more to each individual’s needs.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">If you’re like me, when planning a business trip, I have more gear than I can comfortable stuff into my MacBook Pro case. That’s where WaterField Designs’ $149 <a href="https://www.sfbags.com/products/tech-folio-gear-case" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tech Folio Plus</a> comes in handy. It’s a 13 x 10 x 2 inch gear organizer designed to protect a variety of electronic accessories, as well as fitting in an iPad (even a 12.9-incher). It opens like a book via waterproof zippers. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple Chief Design Officer Jony Ive has been awarded the Cambridge Union Society's Stephen Hawking Fellowship. He was announced as the second person to receive the honor created in 2017 in partnership with its namesake, according to <a href="https://www.varsity.co.uk/science/16135" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Variety</em></a>.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">macOS Mojave introduces new Finder Quick Actions that let you  perform quick edits to files without having to open the apps associated with them. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A rare, fully functional Apple-1 computer sold for $375,000, according to Boston-based RR Auction. The Apple-1 was originally conceived by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak as a bare circuit board to be sold as a kit and completed by electronics hobbyists, their initial market being Palo Alto’s Homebrew Computer Club.This Apple-1 is one of only 60-70 remaining of the original 200 that were designed and built by Jobs and Wozniak that originally sold for $666.66.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">If you’re a photo buff, you’ll love Skylum Software’s Aurora HDR 2019, the fourth major version of the award-winning tool. It’s a HDR photo editor that’s equally at home for pro photographers and amateurs.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,085,083) for a wireless headset (think AirPods) carrying case with a digital audio output port. Such a case seems designed for Apple’s long-long-delayed AirPower wireless charger should it ever see the light of day.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.tomsguide.com/us/iphone-xs-iphone-xs-max-battery-life,review-5773.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Tom's Guide</em></a> has published the results of a battery comparison test pitting the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max against other smartphones. Surprisingly, he finds that, despite Apple’s claims, the 2017 iPhone X beats the new iPhones in battery test life.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.loupventures.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Loup Ventures</a> estimates that Apple has grown to 34% of the global payment music streaming market from 30% in September. And the research group says the service has room to grow with just 45 million subscribers out of 780 million active iPhone users (6%) paying for the service.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple does well in the <a href="http://www.theacsi.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">American Customer Satisfaction Index</span></a>'s 2018 Appliance and Electronics Report. Among personal computer (PC) makers, the tech giant remains in the lead, unchanged at an ACSI score of 83 (out of 100). </p>