Dennis Sellers

<p>Apple has built an augmented reality (AR) team of hundreds of engineers “combining the strengths of its hardware and software veterans with the expertise of talented outsiders” and is “very serious about AR,” reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-20/apple-s-next-big-thing" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bloomberg</a>, quoting unnamed “people with knowledge of the company’s plans.”</p>

<p>Alien Orb Software has introduced Screen Commander 1.0, a screen blanking utility for macOS. Developed for users with multiple displays, it lives in the menubar as a small icon and provides screen blanking options at the click of the mouse.</p>

<p>Everimaging has introduced GoArt 1.0, a photo editor for macOS. It lets you take a photo and apply artistic filters based on the works of art.</p>

<p>It’s easy for your Mac’s desktop to become cluttered, just as a physical desktop can. If this happens, you can create additional desktops, called spaces, to organize the windows. When you work in a space, you see only the windows that are in that space.</p>

<p>Brainshark’s <a target="_blank" href="http://www.slideshark.com/Products/For-Business.aspx" rel="noopener noreferrer">SlideShark for Mac</a> enables business professionals to instantly access, show and share up-to-date PowerPoints, and track presentation views and activity. SlideShark Anywhere is available as part of the app's business version, SlideShark Team Edition. It allows you to broadcast your slides in real time over the web to remote or in-person meeting attendees who can join from any device. </p>

<p>In the past <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2016/5/30/if-youre-a-movie-buff-you-need-can-i-stream-it?rq=Can%20I%20Stream%20It%3F" rel="noopener noreferrer">I’ve reviewed</a> Can I Stream It? and liked it. Perhaps Apple should buy the service or else launch a similar one.</p>

<p>Who knows if Apple will ever release an augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR headset, although there have been patents for (what I’ve dubbed) <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2017/3/14/patent-report-iglasses-macs-with-gesture-recognition-future-carplay-systems?rq=iGlasses" rel="noopener noreferrer">“iGlasses</a>. However, new device launches, an expanding array of content for both consumer and enterprise users, and lower price points will propel the worldwide augmented and virtual reality headset device market at a breakneck pace, says the IDC research group. </p>

<p>Apple has been granted another patent (number 20170076077) involving facial recognition. This one is dubbed “locking and unlocking a mobile device using facial recognition.”</p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.fantag.live" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fantag</a>, a company that specializes in mobile video technology, has hired John Stone as its chief operating officer (COO). Among his many posts in the tech world, he served as a vice president at Apple, reporting directly to CEO Tim Cook, after the company acquired PowerSchool, a startup Stone co-founded in 1999 and which today serves 100 million users in 70 countries. </p>

<p>If you buy an iPhone you now have up to one year to purchase AppleCare+ for the device, compared to 60 days previously, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.macrumors.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">MacRumors</a>. This means you can now add AppleCare+ to an Apple smartphone as long as it remains within its standard one-year limited warranty period. </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>As noted by <a target="_blank" href="https://9to5mac.com/2017/03/17/apple-music-ambassador-program-details/" rel="noopener noreferrer">9to5Mac</a>, Apple has launched an Apple Music “Ambassador” marketing campaign, recruiting students and offering them perks in exchange for promoting its music streaming service and recruiting others in a <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MusicForEveryMinute?src=hash" rel="noopener noreferrer">“Music For Every Minute” promo.</a></p>

<p>Soverain Software, a “patent troll,” <a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/17/03/16/infamous-patent-troll-soverain-software-targets-apple-products-and-services-in-new-lawsuit" rel="noopener noreferrer">has filed a complaint</a> against Apple in the Eastern District Court of Texas for alleged infringement of IP relating to Internet-based services. The company claims Apple infringes its data extraction and network management patent portfolio. </p>

<p>Apple shares hit a record closing high in Nasdaq trading Thursday, reaching $140.69. That beats the company’s previous all-time closing high of $140.46 — which was accomplished earlier this week.</p>

<p>Apple has announced plans to set up two new R&D centers in China. The hubs will be located in Shanghai and Suzhou, following previous plans to open two centers in Beijing and Shenzhen.</p>