Dennis Sellers

<p>In a filing made to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on July 28, Apple detailed its latest $7 billion bond sale in the U.S. marketplace. As noted by <a href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/08/04/apple-issues-7b-us-bond-to-fund-stock-buybacks-corporate-initiatives">AppleInsider</a>, the joint book running managers for this bond sale listed in <a href="http://secfilings.com/searchresultswide.aspx?link=1&filingid=11525951">the SEC filing</a> are Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan Securities, and Merrill Lynch. Bank of America is not participating in any way with this offering, but was listed as a fund manager during the last sale.</p>

<p>Anytune for Mac OS X. It allows musicians to learn to play or transcribe songs by slowing down the tempo, adjusting the pitch, repeating loops, and setting and sharing marks.</p>

<p>Wouldn’t it be handy if that computer keyboard sitting on your desk also worked with your iPhone? That's the idea behind the $199.95 <a target="_blank" href="http://matias.ca/onekeyboard/tactile/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tactile One Keyboar</a>d from Matias.</p>

<p>Apple thinks the future of TV viewing is in apps rather than traditional outlets or even a streaming service. Now the company is talking to TV programmers and other video companies about creating a digital TV guide that would work on both Apple TV boxes and other Apple devices, like iPhones and iPads, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.recode.net/2016/8/4/12379572/apple-tv-guide" rel="noopener noreferrer">recode</a>.</p>

<p>Apple has released iOS 9.3.4. It’s available via an over-the-air download on all devices running iOS 9.x.</p>

<p>When you think of app developers, you naturally think of Gwyneth Paltrow. Or not. Either way the Academy Award winning actress will serve as a mentor to contestants in Apple’s “Planet of the Apps,” a reality-competition series designed to showcase the iTunes App Store that is set to bow in 2017, <a target="_blank" href="http://variety.com/2016/digital/news/gwyneth-paltrow-apple-planet-of-the-apps-1201830454/" rel="noopener noreferrer">reports Variety</a>.</p>

<p>The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-08-04/apple-can-now-sell-power-as-tech-giants-boost-energy-investments">approved</a> the wholesale selling of energy, capacity and other services needed to maintain reliable power by Apple Energy LLC, a subsidiary of Apple, Inc.</p>

<p>Dozens of the world's top design professionals have filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court, pledging their support for Apple in its ongoing patent infringement lawsuit against rival Samsung, <a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/08/04/over-100-leading-design-professionals-file-amicus-brief-supporting-apple-in-supreme-court-case-vs-samsung" rel="noopener noreferrer">reports AppleInsider</a>.</p>

<p>Apple files for — and is granted — lots of patents by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Many are for inventions that never see the light of day. However, you never can tell which ones will materialize in a real product, so here are today’s patent highlights:</p>

<p>On Monday, China’s Didi Chuxing, in which Apple has invested, announced a strategic agreement with Uber under which Didi Chuxing will acquire all assets of UberChina--including its brand,business operations and data--for operation within mainland China. Now <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-uberchina-m-a-didichuxing-idUSKCN10E20Z"><em>Reuters</em></a> reports that Apple's $1 billion investment in Didi Chuxing was the driving factor in Uber's decision to agree to the deal, in return for a one-fifth stake in a bigger Didi. </p>

<p>If, like me, you’re in charge of your home network, equinox’s Spot Maps for Mac OS X is handy. It lets you find networked devices and localize them on an interactive map via drag and drop.</p>

<p>Just Mobile's Lounge Dock is a cool, good-looking, multi-purpose dock for the Apple Watch. The adjustable charging stand allows you to interact with the smartwatch in multiple viewing angles.</p>

<p>Apple CEO Tim Cook has <a href="https://twitter.com/tim_cook/status/760929444886351872">announced on Twitter</a> that a new Apple App Store record was set in July with Apple seeing its highest ever monthly billings for the store, as well as the largest amount of money paid out to developers. </p>

<p>In its latest <a target="_blank" href="http://www.apple.com/diversity/" rel="noopener noreferrer">diversity report</a>, Apple says it’s increased its hiring of women and minorities. </p>

<p>As noted by <em>Seeking Alpha</em>, UBS analyst Steven Milunovich <a href="http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2016/08/03/apple-some-iphone-7-sales-growth-inevitable-says-ubs/">anticipates</a> modest single-digit unit growth in fiscal year 2017 and closer to 20% unit growth in fiscal year 2018 for the iPhone.</p>