Dennis Sellers

<p>New data from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.semrush.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">SEMRush</a> — as noted by <em><a target="_blank" href="https://www.computerworld.com/article/3268022/apple-ios/apple-s-siri-homepod-and-the-voice-assistant-showdown.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">Computerworld</a></em> —shows that Apple’s Siri is now the most searched intelligent personal assistant, both globally and in the U.S. It also shows the sort of questions people are asking about all the assistants.</p>

<p>Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited the headquarters of Apple in San Francisco’s Silicon Valley Friday, reports <a target="_blank" href="https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2018/04/07/Saudi-Crown-Prince-discusses-joint-projects-with-Apple-s-Tim-Cook-.html" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Al Arabiya</em></a>.</p>

<p>Apple CEO Tim Cook has responded to criticism that Apple offers  the NRATV channel available for download on an Apple TV. It’s the TV channel of the National Rifle Association.</p>

<p>Another day, another lawsuit. As noted by <a target="_blank" href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/04/06/lawsuit-claims-apple-cribbed-apple-watch-heart-rate-monitor-technology-from-startup-omni-medsci" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em></a>, Omni MedSci, a health technology startup, is suing Apple, alleging the tech giant incorporated infringing technology in its Apple Watch heart rate sensor.</p>

<p>Apple has hired Jon McCormack — who has worked at HP, Google, HP, and Amazon — as a vice president working on software, reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-06/apple-hires-former-amazon-devices-cto-for-software-role" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Bloomberg</em></a>.</p>

<p>Apple says it opposes any repeal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of the Clean Power Plan, which is a priority of the agency’s Administrator Scott Pruitt and would reverse an Obama-era program to curb greenhouse gases, reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-epa-apple/apple-says-repeal-of-epa-carbon-plan-would-threaten-investments-idUSKCN1HD20P?utm_source=applenews" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Reuters</em></a>.</p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.dji.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">DJI</a> has updated its $2,699 Zenmuse X7 camera to support the new ProRes RAW standard from Apple, which was introduced along with <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2018/4/5/final-cut-pro-x-1041-introduces-prores-raw-and-advanced-closed-captioning" rel="noopener noreferrer">Final Cut Pro X 10.4.1.</a> The X7 is a compact Super 35 camera with an integrated gimbal for high-end filmmaking.</p>

<p>According to new findings released in the <a href="https://koskiresearch.com/">Koski Research</a> “<em>Future of Money</em> <em>Study</em>,” Americans predict that apps will be the most common in-person payment type in five years. This puts the technology at parity with cash and ahead of credit and debit cards in the future.</p>

<p>Apple has applied for a patent (number 20180098172) for “spatial audio rendering for beaming loudspeaker array” that involves the technology in the HomePod — and perhaps future versions of the wireless speaker.</p>

<p>KeepSolid’s Roadmap Planner for the Mac is an online/offline tool that offers a way to see “a helicopter view” of your projects in its timeline, keep track of parallel ongoing tasks, check big events, and share ideas with members of a team.</p>

<p>Did you know you can change Siri’s voice in macOS High Sierra? You can.</p>

<p>Apple CEO Tim Cook will be <a target="_blank" href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/04/05/tim-cook-deposition-qualcomm-case/" rel="noopener noreferrer">deposed on June 27</a> in the Qualcomm, reports <em>Bloomberg</em>. In January 2017, Apple filed a lawsuit against Qualcomm, alleging the chip supplier demanded unfair terms for its technology.  </p>

<p>Case-Mate has launched its Power Pad wireless charger. According to Case-Mate CEO Steve Marzio, it engages Qi-enabled devices at the highest charging speeds possible, including 7.5W of power for the latest Apple iPhones (iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X) and 9W of power for the latest Samsung devices. </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>mophie has announced the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mophie.com/shop/charge-stream-pad-plus" rel="noopener noreferrer">Charge Stream Pad+</a>, the company’s first universal wireless charging pad for Apple and Samsung Qi-enabled smartphones. </p>