Dennis Sellers

<p>Apple<a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/17/12/20/apple-responds-to-reports-of-worn-battery-forcing-iphone-cpu-slowdown" rel="noopener noreferrer"> has responded</a> to claims that it purposefully slows down older iPhone models to promote sales. The company says that the slowdown is actually due to worn batteries, which are more likely to exist in older phones. In a statement to <em>AppleInsider,</em> the company said:</p>

<p>Yikes! Not only are <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2017/12/18/next-official-date-for-airpods-availability-jan-5" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple’s AirPods again in short supply</a>, but, as noted by <a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/17/12/20/apple-tv-4k-sells-out-at-amazon-hours-after-launching" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em>,</a> the Apple TV 4K has already sold out at Amazon only hours after it began selling the set-top box.</p>

<p>Apple plans to allow developers to release universal apps that work across the macOS and iOS as early as next year as part of the company’s “Marzipan” project, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-20/apple-is-said-to-have-plan-to-combine-iphone-ipad-and-mac-apps" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Bloomberg News</em></a>. The apps will work with a touchscreen or mouse and trackpad depending on whether it’s running on the iPhone and iPad operating system or on a Mac, the article adds, quoting unnamed “people familiar with the matter.”</p>

<p>Several banks on the Polish market have been technically prepared to introduce Apple Pay for a long time now. Now the mobile payment service may be coming to the country soon, according to a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cashless.pl/in-english/3540-apple-pay-will-finally-arrive-in-poland-five-banks-including-alior-bz-wbk-and-mbank-are-in-negotiations" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Cashless</em> article</a>.</p>

<p>Analyzing early adopter reviews of Apple's iPhone X from major online retailers, a new report from the Consumer Sentiment Analysis (CSA) service at<a target="_blank" href="http://www.strategyanalytics.com" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Strategy Analytics</a> has found that its camera is the major driver among positive ratings and in particular, the front facing camera which allows Apple's new security feature, Face ID, is a key market differentiator.</p>

<p>The overall wearables market is expected to grow from 113.2 million shipments in 2017 to 222.3 million in 2021 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.4%, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) <a target="_blank" href="http://www.idc.com/tracker/showproductinfo.jsp?prod_id=962" rel="noopener noreferrer">Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker</a>. And smart watches, led primarily by the Apple Watch, are expected to ship 71.5 million units by 2021, up from 31.6 million in 2017. </p>

<p>Australia’s first ever Apple Global Flagship Store will open at Federation Square (pictured) in Melbourne, delivering more public space, visitors and events to Victoria, and creating hundreds of local jobs.</p>

<p>The ONOTONE concrete series for iPhone and MacBook is here, and it’s handmade with real cement.</p>

<p>Feral Interactive has announced that Life Is Strange: Complete Season, the complete first season of the episodic adventure game, is <a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/life-is-strange/id1090369664?mt=12" rel="noopener noreferrer">out now on the Mac App Store</a> for $17.99. It requires macOS 10.11 or higher.</p>

<p>I love my AirPods, but, darn it, they’re constantly hiding from me. Thank goodness I ran across the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/AirPods-Lunies-Anti-lost-Protective-Charging/dp/B06XCZYH3Q?tag=imoreb-20&ascsubtag=UUimUdUnU42313YYwYg" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lunies</a>. The $11 accessory protects the wireless earpods and their case, and cuts down on the chance of your losing them.</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>Another day, another lawsuit. Apple is being sued for its App Store logo by a Chinese clothing brand called Kon that has a similar logo, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://phoneradar.com/apple-sued-chinese-company-copying-app-store-icon-design-asked-apologize/" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Phone Radar</em></a> — as noted by <em><a target="_blank" href="https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/19/16795334/kon-apple-lawsuit-app-store-logo-sex-pistols" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Verg</a>e</em>.</p>

<p>If you’re thinking about signing up for the Moviepass subscription service, you should proceed with caution. My experience says that you could lose your money and that their customer service is horrible.</p>

<p>Perhaps some <em>AWT</em> readers can help me figure this out: Apple has been granted a patent (D805311) for the “ornamental design for a chair.” But as you can see from the graphic, it’s not like any chair I’ve ever seen.</p>

<p>Face ID is one of the big selling features of the iPhone X. And it may be coming to Macs and iPads if  a newly granted Apple patent (number 9,846473) ever becomes reality.</p>