Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Since Steve and I can’t cover everything, at the end of each week day, we’ll offer this wrap-up of news items you should check out.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.cirpllc.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP)</a> has released results from its research on smart speakers, including Apple’s HomePod, Amazon’s Echo, and Google’s Home.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has plans to make the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac laptops more scratch resistant, as noted by the newly granted patent (number 20180263130) dubbed “abrasion-resistant surface finishes on metal enclosures.”</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Ireland has fully recovered 13.1 billion euros (about $14.5 billion) in disputed taxes from Apple (plus interest of 1.2 billion) that it will hold in an escrow fund pending its appeal against an EU tax ruling, Ireland’s finance minister Paschal Donohoe said today.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.gigsky.com/">GigSky</a>, a provider of global cellular connectivity solutions for consumers, has announced its service availability on the new Apple smartphones: the iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,079,014) for a “name recognition system.” The goal is to make your Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and HomePod devices better at recognizing names you speak to, for example, make a phone call.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">OWC has released NewerTech<a href="http://go.owcdigital.com/kxcases" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> NuGuard KX cases</a> for the new line of iPhones (the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and the iPhone XR).</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">UBTECH Robotics, which specializes in intelligent humanoid robotics and AI technologies, has launched the JIMU Robot BuilderBots Series: Overdrive Kit. A hands-on introduction to STEM learning, it’s an interactive robotic building block kit that gives kids the opportunity to use over 400 parts to build, program, and code two new robots – DozerBot and DirtBot – or invent their own robot creation. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Though the 2018 MacBook Pros apparently have better keyboards than their predecessors, Apple has been sued multiple times for alleged flaws in the butterfly keyboards of 2016 and 2017 Mac laptops, so you might want to invest in Macally’s $14.99 <a href="https://us.macally.com/collections/macbook/products/kbguardtbc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">KBGUARD TBB keyboard protective overlay</a> for 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pros with Touch Bar.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Since Steve and I can’t cover everything, at the end of each week day, we’ll offer this wrap-up of news items you should check out.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has released Pages 7.2, Keynote 8.2, and Numbers 5.2 for macOS. All add support for the Dark Mode in the upcoming macOS Mojave release and support for Continuity Camera, which allows you to take a photo with you iPhone and have it automatically appear in a document.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has released Safari 12 for macOS Sierra and macOS High Sierra. It’s available for download at the Mac App Store. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The HomePod, Apple’s wireless speaker, is getting new features via a free software update. The upgrade allows you to do even more with Siri on the speaker; among other things, it adds the ability to search by lyrics, set multiple timers, make and receive phone calls, and more. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">tvOS 12 has arrived with support for Dolby Atmos sound. If your Apple TV hasn't already downloaded the update automatically, open the Settings app, choose System, Software Updates, then "Update Software.” </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">watchOS 5 is here. You can download it via the Watch app on the iPhone. Among other things, the update allows Apple Watch owners to communicate with others and keep on track with exercising through a variety of new features.</p>