Dennis Sellers

<p>As noted by <a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/18/01/03/apple-opens-up-developer-fee-waivers-to-us-nonprofits-schools-government" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em></a>, Apple has started promised fee waivers for its Developer Program. Certain eligible groups can avoid paying the $99 per-year fee the tech giant normally requires.</p>

<p>Metal chassis makers, including Taiwan-based Casetek Holdings, China-based AAC Technologies and Singapore-based Hi-P Electronics, are expected to join the race to compete for smartphone chassis orders from Apple in 2018, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20180103PD210.html" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>DigiTimes</em></a>.</p>

<p>Quoting unnamed “multiple sources,” <a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/18/01/03/apple-has-already-partially-implemented-fix-in-macos-for-kpti-intel-cpu-security-flaw" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em></a> says there are routines in macOS 10.13.2 to secure the <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2018/1/3/a-design-flaw-in-intels-chips-could-spur-apple-to-develop-its-own-mac-processors" rel="noopener noreferrer">Intel chip flaw</a> that could grant applications access to protected kernel memory data. </p>

<p>Last week <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2017/12/29/ice-ice-baby-apples-chicago-flagship-store-doesnt-like-winter-weather?rq=Chicago" rel="noopener noreferrer">it was reported</a> that Apple Michigan Avenue, Apple’s flagship store in Chicago, was having problems with winter weather in the Windy City.</p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-amazon-alphabet-speakers/amazon-google-cut-speaker-prices-in-market-share-contest-analysts-idUSKBN1ES0VV?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtechnologyNews+%28Reuters+Technology+News%29" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Reuters</em> </a>reports that Amazon and Google’s Alphabet division both discounted their virtual assistant speakers so deeply over the holiday shopping season that they likely lost a few dollars per unit, “highlighting a sharply different strategy from Apple as it prepares its HomePod speaker,” according to pundits such as Paul Erickson, a senior analyst with IHS Markit and Adam Wright, senior research analyst at IDC.</p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.theinvestor.co.kr/view.php?ud=20180103000572" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Korea Herald</em></a><em> </em>reports that while Samsung will remain the sole or primary supplier of the OLED panels for the current, 5.8-inch version of the iPhone X, LG will supply panels for a bigger 6.5-inch model due this year.</p>

<p>As of Jan. 13, the UK will ban shops and stores from charging a fee for credit card and debit card transactions, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/shops-banned-charging-you-use-1001583" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Bristol Post</em></a>. This will eliminate additional fees for credit and debit transactions, including those with Apple Pay.</p>

<p>A fundamental design flaw in Intel's processor chips means Linux and Windows will need a redesign, while other operating systems such as macOS will need an update, reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/01/02/intel_cpu_design_flaw/" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Register</em></a>.</p>

<p>Apple will announce the results of its first fiscal quarter of 2018 after markets close on Thursday, Feb. 1. A conference call for investors and the press will be held at 2 p.m. Pacific.</p>

<p>HSD Versions Cleaner is a relatively new app for the Mac, but one worth checking out. With it you can observe and delete old files. For instance, it can help you reduce the amount of previous file versions, stored by the macOS’s Auto Save feature.</p>

<p>You can use the Disk Utility in macOS High Sierra to repair a variety of problems. Today we’ll look at how to repair the disk that started up your Mac. Here are the steps:</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>Writing for <em><a target="_blank" href="http://www.zdnet.com/article/maybe-its-time-for-apple-to-spin-off-the-mac-as-its-own-separate-company/" rel="noopener noreferrer">ZDNet</a>,</em> David Gewirtz says that Apple should consider spinning off the Mac into its own company. Sorry, but that’s a bad idea — and it certainly won’t happen.</p>

<p>As noted by <a target="_blank" href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/01/02/trendforce-apple-samsung-2018/" rel="noopener noreferrer">9to5Mac</a>, the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.trendforce.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">TrendForce research group</a> predicts that iPhone sales will increase significantly this year, while those of Samsung smartphones will fall.</p>

<p>Apple has instructed its retail store employees to offer the $29 replacement batteries to anyone who owns an iPhone 6 or newer, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://seekingalpha.com/news/3320585-apple-instructs-stores-offer-29-battery-regardless-diagnostic-test?uprof=53&dr=1#email_link" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Seeking Alpha</em></a>. The internal instructions follow reports of workers refusing the discount if a phone’s battery passed a diagnostic test. </p>