Dennis Sellers

<p>Apple is amending the App Store guideline that banned apps created using templates and other app generation services. When the company revised its policies earlier this year, the move was meant to reduce the number of low-quality apps and spam. </p>

<p>If you want better audio than most HDTVs speakers, and don’t have the room for a surround sound system, check out the Sony HT-XT2 2.1 Channel Sound system. It works great with the Sony XBR-X900E, which is the TV <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2017/12/15/sonys-xbr-x900e-series-tv-is-a-great-companion-for-the-apple-tv-4k" rel="noopener noreferrer">I recommend</a> for owners of the Apple TV 4K. </p>

<p>If you install the Mac operating system on an external hard drive, thumb drive, or other storage device, your Mac can start up from that device instead of your built-in startup disk. First, make sure that your storage device is properly formatted.</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>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>