Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.engagementlabs.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Engagement Labs</a>, a data and analytics firm that focuses on the social ecosystem and its impact on business, has released its TotalSocial ranking of the top consumer electronics brands in the U.S. based on social influence.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Job-hunting site Comparably, which allows employees to anonymously review and rate their employers, has sifted through its five million+ employee reviews to come up with its annual list of the best paying large companies, reports <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Business Insider</em></a>. Apple is number six on the list with a median salary of $151,239.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Another day, another lawsuit. As noted by <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/09/28/apple-sued-by-ex-engineer-over-find-my-iphone-patent-credit-stock-revocation-after-being-fired" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em></a>, Darren Eastman, a former Apple engineer, is suing the tech giant for failing to include his name as an inventor of five patent applications filed by the company, including the ideas behind the "Find My iPhone" and Apple's Passbook technology. </p>

<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>