Dennis Sellers

<p>Back up, back up, back up. No matter what Apple hardware you’re using, you need multiple copies to make sure no valuable data is lost. Among items to back up: your calendars on your Mac.</p>

<p>Remember the Mac keyboard used by H.G. Wells when he wrote <em>War of the Worlds</em>? Neither do I, but if Macs had been around then, their keyboards would probably have looked something like the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.aziocorp.com/webe/html/products/index.aspx?kind=12" rel="noopener noreferrer">AZIO Retro Classic</a>, which is packed with modern features in its vintage typewriter-inspired design.</p>

<p>When you say “Hey Siri” do multiple Apple devices reply? If so, you need to know how a device responds to the command when there’s more than one gadget nearby that supports "Hey Siri.”</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>In response to Apple’s release of its <a target="_blank" href="http://email.prnewswire.com/wf/click?upn=mG6wLADgfMPhcsxlE2l7w1D6XSIAa-2F7Gho3v4aYBQHDpA12f41A0d8WvP-2FxNd40LCaUW2KuxpcE-2FY07ihcr68rf-2FgKv-2FAWptUlPRKrcogNEeqkb7zeo9SKrj1D1ggIN1Z4XnSuvc0-2BIW13uvWNPrYGlknp7o4ntOiUoDT-2BomK-2B6t5xWx5Luq04T3KlovadzbIf0frrmcjPRCCpjdRyyT3jJL4Pt-2FIcNHqNPCkdtS6-2F323cjQi2uKe2mBHBxVKsIH_vr4CQd6f5d5U92w1G2ot038qxj2d-2BHc-2FraM9ysVslbM2GuwFWb6WaJjYDeKtis-2FvkaPnx5B6ULWfAw69WyvRaAb97Ml0UD-2B-2FxeJlx65cI-2Fyk6vjr5ROcK2aZstdLmywHbDQnOcjBaZcFBzDJd6ovJsVNylaCjq5h-2BU8gwtXmhuEL78ijTGiEAqOCQ7EKBbALF3OjSfUoym-2FIlDrqhpWHadwn6v8BGbIRkHJ0MbrmUi1Hx-2BWPG41vy-2BHMOIU1oPqVH8D771tb9YRFIVPAbehPyuA6uNO6lvWI0RKZnkfSyDf34Nfh-2B3Elwgqhxs-2Bt0KAI" rel="noopener noreferrer">2018 Environmental Progress Report</a>, announcing, among other things, the company's new recycling robot, <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2018/4/19/apple-debuts-daisy-a-new-iphone-disassembling-robot" rel="noopener noreferrer">"Daisy,"</a> Greenpeace USA Senior IT Sector Analyst Gary Cook issued the following statement:</p>

<p>Earth Day 2018 will be celebrated this Sunday, April 22. In honor of it, Apple has announced that for every device received at Apple stores and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.apple.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">apple.com</a> through the Apple GiveBack program through April 30, the company will make a donation to the non-profit Conservation International, which uses science, policy and partnerships to protect the natural world people rely on for food, fresh water and livelihood. </p>

<p>Apple’s iPhone has become a key factor for global economic growth, claims the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.imf.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer">International Monetary Fund</a> (IMF), a report by the organization that fosters “global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, international trade, high employment, and sustainable economic growth” around the world. However, that could be changing.</p>

<p>Despite continued rumors that a merger of macOS and iOS is in the works, Apple CEO Tim Cook said mobile devices and desktop/laptop computers should remain in separate worlds with their own operating systems, according to the <em><a target="_blank" href="https://www.smh.com.au/technology/users-don-t-want-ios-to-merge-with-macos-apple-chief-says-20180416-p4z9t9.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sydney Morning Herald</a>.</em></p>

<p>A <a target="_blank" href="https://seekingalpha.com/news/3346811-taiwan-semi-trims-revenue-outlook-softer-smartphone-demand" rel="noopener noreferrer">miss and dim guidance</a> from Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) — which pointed to a "very high-end smartphone" as part of demand softness -- is dinging Apple while other chipmakers move down.</p>

<p>Studio19 has debuted the Solo E500T and E500X-EQ speakers that are built using patented Dual Pressure Air Compression (DPAC) “super-bass” technology and Enhanced 360° Optimized Sound.</p>

<p>America's top companies are investing in solar in record amounts, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association's brand new <a href="http://www.seia.org/solarmeansbiz"><em>Solar Means Business 2017</em></a> report, which tracks on-site commercial solar installations and ranks top corporate solar users. Apple is among the companies honored.</p>

<p>Apple has filed for a patent (number 20180108346) for a “method and apparatus for discovering trending terms in speech requests,” part of an effort to improve Siri, its personal digital assistant.</p>

<p>Apple is teaming up with McDonald’s offering an order of free medium fries with any purchase made by Apple Pay users using the restaurant chain’s <a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mcdonalds/id922103212?mt=8&ls=1&app=iTunes" rel="noopener noreferrer">free mobile app</a>.</p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-18/qualcomm-cutting-jobs-to-live-up-to-promise-of-slashing-costs" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Bloomberg</em> </a>reports that Qualcomm is slicing around 1,500 jobs in California as part of a broader workforce reduction aimed at meeting a commitment to investors to pare costs by $1 billion.</p>

<p>Apple has applied for two more patents involving water resistant improvements for its various devices — the iPhone being the most obvious candidate for such enhancements.</p>