Dennis Sellers

<p>Ireland’s Public Accounts Committee will begin collecting €13 billion (about $14.5 billion) from Apple in March, with payments expected to continue through September, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.rte.ie/news/2018/0118/934185-apple-tax/" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>RTÉ</em></a>.</p>

<p>Apple has filed for a patent (number 20180019371) for “Quantum dot spacing for high efficiency displays,” which promises quantum dot pixel displays on all its devices. The displays would offer “pure color,” provide a faster response time, and use less energy. And, eventually, they’ll come to the Mac.</p>

<p>Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and other companies are urging the Trump administration to preserve a program that allows the spouses of some high-skilled immigrants to work in the U.S., reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.recode.net/2018/1/18/16902722/tech-high-skilled-immigration-spouses-h4-visa" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Recode</em></a>.</p>

<p>Apple plans <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/17/ios-update-will-let-users-decide-to-slow-down-older-iphones-or-not.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">to release</a> a software update to iOS that will allow users to control whether or not their iPhones are automatically slowed down. he update will let users turn off the option at the risk that the phone might automatically restart due to an aging battery.</p>

<p>Apple has agreed to lease a 128,000 square-foot building in Culver City, California, according to <em><a target="_blank" href="https://therealdeal.com/la/2018/01/16/apple-snags-another-128k-sf-in-culver-city-sources/" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Real Deal</a></em>. Terms haven’t been disclosed.</p>

<p>It’s been a cold, snowy, winter here in Nashville, Tennessee — and we still have a couple of months to go!. There’s always a chance that, if my neck of the woods ices over, the power will go out. If that happens, I’ll pack my 27-inch iMac 5K in my LaVolta Carry Case, head to a place where there’s working electricity, and carry on with my chores for <em>AppleWorld Today</em> (you’re welcome).</p>

<p>You can tag files and folders in macOS High Sierra to make them easier to find. Tags work with all your files and folders, whether you store them on your Mac or keep them in iCloud.</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>The AWT News Update is on a one-day hiatus while my compadre, Steve, takes care of some personal busines. 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>Apple has landed a 10-episode comedy series executive produced by and starring Kristen Wig, the <em>Saturday Night Live </em>grad and movie actress (<em>GhostBusters, Downsizing), </em>according to<em> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/kristen-wiig-star-apple-comedy-series-reese-witherspoon-1075242?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=THR%20Breaking%20News_2018-01-17%2009:15:00_lgoldberg&utm_term=hollywoodreporter_breakingnews" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Hollywood Reporte</a></em><a target="_blank" href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/kristen-wiig-star-apple-comedy-series-reese-witherspoon-1075242?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=THR%20Breaking%20News_2018-01-17%2009:15:00_lgoldberg&utm_term=hollywoodreporter_breakingnews" rel="noopener noreferrer">r</a><em>. </em>The project, inspired by Curtis Sittenfeld's upcoming short-story collection <em>You Think It, I'll Say It</em> and produced by Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine banner.</p>

<p>Someone is attaching Apple shuttle buses that carry employees to and from San Francisco to the company’s Cupertino headquarters, according to an internal Apple email thread viewed by <a target="_blank" href="http://mashable.com/2018/01/17/apple-shuttle-attacks/#Mu7YwMpmqmqE" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Mashable</em></a>. Apparently, “rubber rounds” — rubber or rubber-coated projectiles that can be shot from either standard firearms or dedicated riot guns — are being fired at the vehicles, sometimes breaking windows.</p>

<p>Apple is among the companies that added the most debt last year to to finance either acquisitions or stock repurchases, says S&P Dow Jones Indices, reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.investors.com/news/technology/att-apple-amazon-top-bond-issuers-ahead-of-rising-interest-rates/" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Investor’s Business Daily</em></a>.</p>

<p>Apple has announced a new set of investments to build on its commitment to support the American economy and its workforce, concentrated in three areas where the tech giant has had the greatest impact on job creation: direct employment by Apple, spending and investment with Apple’s domestic suppliers and manufacturers, and fueling the app economy that the company created with iPhone and the App Store. </p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/cheesecakeufo" rel="noopener noreferrer">Abraham Masri</a> has shared a link on Twitter that can freeze a recipient’s iOS or macOS device, and possibly restart it, when sent in a text message.</p>

<p>VoIP-Pal.com Inc., which earlier beat back Apple’s challenges to two patents for Voice over Internet Protocol technology, on Friday characterized as "absurd" the company's bid for sanctions after it alleged VoIP-Pal tainted Patent Trial and Appeal Board proceedings with a series of behind-the-scenes communications, reports <em><a target="_blank" href="https://www.law360.com/articles/1001158/voip-pal-says-apple-s-sanctions-bid-at-ptab-absurd-" rel="noopener noreferrer">Law360</a></em>.</p>