Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The ability to make requests on a HomePod via the “Hey, Siri” command can be very useful. However, it can also be irritating.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Humphrey Bogart reportedly said, "The only thing you owe the public is a good performance." So let's forget the Scientology stuff. Let's ignore the speculation on his hair (or lack of it) and his sexuality. And let's admit that John Travolta — who has lots of movies available for rent or sale on iTunes — is the most interesting actor around.</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;">The global tablet applications processor (AP) market declined 6 % year-over-year to reach $445 million in the first three months of 2018, according to Strategy Analytics Handset Component Technologies service report, “<a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.strategyanalytics.com%2Faccess-services%2Fcomponents%2Fhandset-components%2Fmarket-data%2Freport-detail%2Ftablet-apps-processor-market-share-q1-2018-intel-and-qualcomm-gain-share&esheet=51848660&newsitemid=20180806005470&lan=en-US&anchor=Tablet+Apps+Processor+Market+Share+Q1+2018%3A+Intel+and+Qualcomm+Gain+Share&index=1&md5=6aaf4e049601c00e636726963ed732da" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tablet Apps Processor Market Share Q1 2018: Intel and Qualcomm Gain Share</a>.”</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Google Play provides over three times as many downloads as the iOS App Store in Russia, though in 2018, the U.S., Russia, and Turkey all experienced significant growth of iOS downloads, according to Newzoo’s 2017 Global Mobile Market Report.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has had major problems gaining a foothold in India with iPhone sales on the decline even as they rise in the rest of the world. However, the tech giant is reportedly working on plans to change this, though the procedures may be controversial.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In a <a href="https://www.macworld.com/article/3294939/ipad/ipad-pro-vs-galaxy-tab-s4-surface-go.html)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Macworld</em> post today</a>, Michael Simon says that the iPad Pro needs more than smaller bezels if it’s going to take on the Galaxy Tab S4 and Surface Go. And he’s absolutely right.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The California Institute of Technology “notched a couple” of wins in its patent fight with Apple over Wi-Fi technology when the Patent Trial and Appeal Board ruled that the iPhone maker failed to show that numerous claims in one of CalTech's patents weren’t infringed, reports <a href="https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/1069733/ptab-upholds-caltech-wi-fi-patent-in-dispute-with-apple-?nl_pk=ade0cf2b-ea3f-464b-bc93-d8e19277ac63&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Law360</em></a>.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s a rumor that Apple will release a new Mac mini this year. I hope it’s true. And I have an idea that might spur sales of the tiny Mac and the iPad Pro: let us use the tablet as a screen for the Mac mini. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">If you have a newish Mac laptop — particularly the 12-inch MacBook Pro — you know there’s a dearth of slots. Kingston’s $79.99 <a href="https://www.kingstongo.com/us/hub/nucleum-usb-type-c-hub" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nucleum</a> is a 7-in-1 USB hub that can help overcome this limitation.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Has this ever happened to you: you see the trailer for an insane new game. You know you want it, but you have this very important question to answer first: can my Mac run it?</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">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 this week’s picks.</p>

<p>Storage space doesn’t come cheap on Apple devices. For example, a 64GB version of the upcoming iPhone X costs $999; a 256GB model is $1,149. Pricing for a 64GB iPad Pro (10.5 inches) starts at $649; the price of a 512GB model starts at $999.</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 added banners to the iTunes Store, Mac App Store, and Apple App Store for iOS allowing you to donate to the American Red Cross to support those who have been affected by the fires raging in Northern California. You can can donate $5, $10, $25, $50, $100, or $200, 100% of which goes to the Red Cross. </p>