Dennis Sellers

<p>NV Energy and Apple have reached an agreement to build 200 megawatts of additional solar energy in Nevada by early 2019. The projects will support Apple's renewable energy needs for its Reno data center.</p>

<p>Apple is being sued for using the song, “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)” from Jamie xx’s 2015 Grammy-nominated album <em>In Colour. </em>It featured in an Apple ad advertising the iPhone 6, accompanying a home video of BMX tricks shot on the phone’s camera. </p>

<p>Consumer spending analytics company <a target="_blank" href="http://www.txn.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">TXN</a> says that Apple Pay is on the rise, based on data from its panel of over three million consumers. Analysis of credit card bills from banks that distinguish Apple Pay transactions suggest that usage of the payment method grew by slightly over 50% in the 12 months ending December 2016.</p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ezq.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">EZQuest</a> has expanded its keyboard covers product line to include compatibility with Apple’s 2016 MacBook Pro. They include clear covers for keyboard protection, creative software editing with keyboard shortcuts, and foreign language covers for U.S./European-based keyboards. </p>

<p>Another lawsuit has hit Apple for not building iPhones with texting/FaceTime blocking features. FaceTime is a videoconferencing app that Apple includes with its iOS and Mac devices. </p>

<p>Apple was the top smartphone vendor in Taiwan in terms of both sales volume and value in December, holding that spot for the fourth consecutive month, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aeco/201701240012.aspx?utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rsscna%2FEngNews+%28Latest+%7C+FOCUS+TAIWAN+-+CNA+ENGLISH+NEWS%29&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=feedburner" rel="noopener noreferrer">Focus Taiwan</a>.</p>

<p>Light Pillar has introduced Mosaic, a windows management tool for macOS and the next-generation revamp of Window Tidy. It’s built from the ground up with a brand new engine, a suite of new features, improved ease of use and native macOS integration, according to the folks at Light Pillar.</p>

<p>Macpaw’s app subscription service, <a href="https://setapp.com/">Setapp</a>, has launched, offering a collection of Mac apps available to users for a $9.99 monthly fee. It’s an “unstore” alternative to Apple’s Mac App Store. </p>

<p>Ohanaware has launched HDRtist NX 1.0, the company’s latest High Dynamic Range Imaging software developed exclusively for macOS. It provides 128-bit image processing utilizing multi-core processors and accelerated graphics hardware.</p>

<p>It’s time for Apple to take Mac gaming more seriously. The global personal computer (PC) gaming hardware market has breached the $30 billion mark for the first time, according to J<a target="_blank" href="http://www.jonpeddie.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">on Peddie Research</a> gamers buy (or customize) high-end (ie, pricey) systems, so a tricked-out iMac might appeal to such a group.</p>

<p>The U.S. International Trade Commission will investigate a complaint by Nokia Technologies alleging that Apple has imported smart phones, tablet computers and other electronics that infringe upon its patents, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-nokia-corp-investigation-idUSKBN15828R" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters</a>.</p>

<p>Ford has become the latest car manufacturer to draw high-level employees away from Apple, with marketing executive <a target="_blank" href="https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2017/01/24/ford-hires-musa-tariq-as-vice-president--chief-brand-officer.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">Musa Tariq </a>appointed as a vice president and chief brand officer of the major automobile producer. He’ll go to work there on Jan. 30. In this new role, Tariq is responsible for further building and differentiating the company’s Ford brand.</p>

<p>Apple has released three new developer betas: iOS 10.3, tvOS 10.2, and macOS 10.12.4. Developers can download the beta through the Apple Developer Center or the Software Update mechanism in the App Store. </p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.gamevice.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gamevice </a>-- which makes the only Apple approved, Lightning-connected game controller for latency free gameplay - has released its next generation controller. The second generation of Gamevice controller has been upgraded with new buttons and thumb sticks.</p>

<p>Lawmakers in five states — Nebraska, Minnesota, New York, Massachusetts, and Kansas — have introduced legislation that would enshrine the “Right to Repair” electronics, which means manufacturers such as Apple will have to sell replacement parts to independent repair shops and consumers and will also have to make their diagnostic and service manuals public, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://motherboard.vice.com/read/five-states-are-considering-bills-to-legalize-the-right-to-repair-electronics" rel="noopener noreferrer">MotherBoard.</a></p>