Dennis Sellers

<p>Apple says it’s temporarily stopped buying cobalt (used in lithium ion batteries) mined by hand in Congo while it continues to deal with problems with child labor and harsh work conditions. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/business/batteries/congo-cobalt-mining-for-lithium-ion-battery/" rel="noopener noreferrer">A Washington Post investigation</a> last year detailed abuses in Congo’s artisanal cobalt supply chain, showing how miners labored in hazardous, even deadly, conditions. </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>What most people don¹t know is that by shutting down your laptop improperly you are computers to age faster. An electrical surge can cause severe internal damage, potentially killing your computer. To lessen the potential for an electrical surge anddeal with other computer related stress issues for a Mac, do the following:</p>

<p>Global shipments of personal computing devices (PCDs) — comprised of traditional PCs (a combination of desktop, notebook, and workstations) and tablets (slates and detachables) — are forecast to decline from a total of 435 million units in 2016 to 418.2 million units at the end of the forecast period in 2021, according to the <a target="_blank" href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.idc.com%2Ftracker%2Fshowproductinfo.jsp%3Fprod_id%3D1541&esheet=51516693&newsitemid=20170227005843&lan=en-US&anchor=Worldwide+Quarterly+Personal+Computing+Device+Tracker&index=1&md5=c58f53cac0573a111126bb57154a2e1e" rel="noopener noreferrer">Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker</a> from International Data Corporation (IDC). This represents a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -0.8%.</p>

<p>Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the next big growth areas for the mobile industry according to a <a target="_blank" href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ihs.com%2Fevents%2Fmobile-world-congress%2Foverview.html&esheet=51515720&newsitemid=20170224005254&lan=en-US&anchor=white+paper&index=1&md5=9a4ba9c3dd43db62a7483f8a0731ff9b" rel="noopener noreferrer">white paper</a> released by IHS Markit, which specializes in critical information, analytics and solutions.</p>

<p>The AWT News Update is on hiatus while my compadre, Steve, takes a 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>A rare NeXTWORLD Expo poster signed by Apple founder and CEO Steve Jobs will be auctioned by Boston-based RR Auction. The color 24 x 30 poster promoting the inaugural NeXTWORLD Expo held at San Francisco's Civic Auditorium and Brooks Hall on Jan. 22–24, 1992, is signed in the upper border in black ink by Jobs. </p>

<p>Senior Apple executives — including Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services— have reached out to some of Hollywood’s most successful TV and film producers recent about going to work for the tech giant, according to the <a target="_blank" href="http://nypost.com/2017/03/02/apple-execs-vying-for-original-movie-tv-deals/" rel="noopener noreferrer">New York Post</a>. The article claims the Cupertino, California-based company is looking for a “transformative acquisition and not just a deal to buy TV shows.”</p>

<p>T-Mobile really, really wants your business. Starting today, anyone who brings their number to the wireless carrier can get an iPhone 7 – or iPhone 7 Plus for $100 – after trade-in and rebate. This screaming deal is available for new and existing customers, but it only lasts through Thursday, March 16.</p>

<p>Triple Aught Design has debuted the <a target="_blank" href="http://store.tripleaughtdesign.com/Transport-Sleeve" rel="noopener noreferrer">Transport Sleeve</a> for Mac laptops and iPads. The main compartment is accessed via an L-shaped zipper in both vertical or horizontal orientations. </p>

<p>Apple will use its own Authentec algorithm combined with Privaris glass identification technology to redesign a new fingerprint ID solution instead of Synaptics' Natural ID touch fingerprint sensor or Qualcomm's Sense ID fingerprint technology for its OLED “iPhone 8,” reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20170302PD209.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">DigiTimes</a>, quoting unnamed “industry sources.”</p>

<p>The Creative Pro User Group Network says the <a target="_blank" href="http://supermeet.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">16th Annual Las Vegas SuperMeet</a> will take place on Tuesday, April 25, 2017, in the Pavilion Ballroom at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. </p>

<p>Do pop-up ads annoy you as much as they annoy me? If so, you can stop ‘em fro popping in macOS Sierra’s Safari web browser. Here’s how:</p>

<p>ABBYY FineReader Pro for Mac allows you to easily edit, share, archive and search through your documents by turning them into popular electronic file formats, as well as copy and quote text from scans, PDFs and digital photos. By providing accurate text recognition, intelligent reconstruction of layout and formatting, and a straightforward interface, FineReader Pro for Mac offers a reliable alternative to manual retyping.</p>

<p>The AWT News Update is on hiatus while my compadre, Steve, takes a 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>