Dennis Sellers

<p>A new report from <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gartner.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gartner, Inc.</a> says that global smartphone sales will continue to slow and will no longer grow in double digits. </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>Apple has sold a 30-year U.S. dollar bond in Taiwan at a yield of 4.15%, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-bonds-idUSKCN0YT08M" rel="noopener noreferrer">reports Reuters</a>, quoting unnamed sources. The company plans to raise between $1 billion and $1.2 billion in the first issue of debt on the island.</p>

<p>Apple has added the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.alexanderwang.com/us/music_section" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple Music Fashion channel</a> to its streaming platform containing songs curated by designer Alexander Wang. </p>

<p>If you're tired of having to mouse back to the top of your Mac's screen to access an app's menu bar options, Alice Dev Team has the solution for you: MenuMate.</p>

<p style="margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px">If you have a 12-inch Apple MacBook, you might as well display it with style. One way to do so is with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.twelvesouth.com/product/ghoststand-for-macbook" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twelve South’s GhostStand</a>.</p>

<p>The AWT News Update is on hiatus while my compadre, Steve, takes a road trip. In its place, I’ll offer a text-only (no podcast) summary of breaking stories with a tip o’ my hat to my former website, <em>Apple Daily Report</em>.</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 style="margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px">Apple jumps from fifth place in 2015 to third place in the <a target="_blank" href="http://fortune.com/fortune500/" rel="noopener noreferrer">2016 FORTUNE 500</a>, in which companies are ranked by total revenues for their respective fiscal years. Included in the survey are companies that are incorporated in the U.S. and operate in the U.S. and file financial statements with a government agency.</p>

<p>As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve always had an appreciation for fine wood, which is why I’m a big fan of the products from <a href="http://t.ymlp50.com/ueheataejuyyaiamejaxawjuqw/click.php">Grovemade</a>, a designer of handcrafted wooden and leather accessories. In March the company introduced newly redesigned trays for Apple’s latest versions of the Magic Keyboard and Trackpad, so now my desktop set-up is complete.</p>

<p>The 19th century proved to be one of the most turbulent times in the history of the Japanese Empire. After the events of Total War: Shogun 2, Japan enjoyed a prosperous 200 years of peace. That changes with <a href="https://www.feralinteractive.com/en/mac-games/shogun2twfots/dlc/#dlc6">Total War: Fall of the Samurai</a> ($39.99, from Feral Interactive) for Mac OS X 10.9.5 and higher.</p>

<p>Has this ever happened to you: Your iPhone SPONTANEOUSLY MADE A PHONE CALL FOR NO APPARENT REASON? Friends say, "I'm returning your call," EVEN THOUGH YOU KNOW YOU DIDN'T CALL THEM? You see phone numbers in your Recent Calls list BUT YOU KNOW YOU DIDN'T DIAL THEM?  </p>

<p>The Indian government is expected to allow Apple to open its own retail outlets in the country without any sourcing requirement for two-to-three years as it tries to work out an arrangement under which the company will agree to local purchases once it gets a stronger toehold in the country, reports the <a target="_blank" href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/Apple-may-get-2-3-years-breather-on-sourcing-norm/articleshow/52612612.cms" rel="noopener noreferrer">Times of India</a>. </p>

<p>Johnson & Johnson — best known for baby powder and band-aids — has replaced Apple as <a target="_blank" href="http://www.barrons.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Barron’s Most Respected Compan</a>y. In fact, Apple slipped to number three, according to the magazine.</p>

<p>Apple’s share of the U.S. K-12 market has fallen to new lows, according to data released by researcher <a target="_blank" href="http://futuresource-consulting.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Futuresource Consulting</a>. iPads accounted for only 17% of institutional educational purchases in the first quarter of 2016, while Mac laptops accounted for only 4%. In 2013, iPads accounted for nearly 40% of K-12 institutional purchases. </p>