Dennis Sellers

<p>A California federal jury has ruled that Apple’s iPads and iPhones infringe two of Core Wireless Licensing SARL's mobile communication patents, awarding Core Wireless $7.3 million in damages in a long-running fight over technology that purportedly allows Apple's products to work "wherever, and whenever,” <a target="_blank" href="http://www.law360.com/technology/articles/871944/breaking-apple-hit-with-7-3m-verdict-in-core-wireless-patent-suit?nl_pk=ade0cf2b-ea3f-464b-bc93-d8e19277ac63&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=technology" rel="noopener noreferrer">reports Law360</a>.</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>Weight Watchers International, Inc. has announced a new subscription plan that includes a new Apple Watch Series 2 with the purchase of a Weight Watchers OnlinePlus membership, making the program easier and more personal with plan information and notifications available right on the member's wrist, according to Stacey Mowbray, President of Americas at Weight Watchers.</p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.homekit.fibaro.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fibaro</a>, a global manufacturer of wireless intelligent home automation and control devices, has unveiled a product line compatible with Apple HomeKit. </p>

<p>The Apple Pencil used with certain apps on the iPad Pro will likely get expanded capabilities in the near future. Apple has filed for a patent (number 20160364091) for “devices and methods for manipulating user interfaces with a stylus” that show it being used with iMovie, Messages, Calendar, and other apps.</p>

<p>The eero Wi-Fi system (see my <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2016/12/14/the-eero-home-wi-fi-system-is-the-mesh-network-solution-apple-shouldve-made">review here</a>) and <a target="_blank" href="https://store.amplifi.com/amplifi/amplifi-hd.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">Amplifi HD</a> are both excellent products for implementing a mesh network. In fact, it’s pretty much a toss-up as to which is better; the choice all comes down to which handful of features is more useful to you.</p>

<p>TRENDnet’s US$27.49 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.trendnet.com/products/USB-C-adapters/TUC-HDMI" rel="noopener noreferrer">USB-C to HDMI 4K UHD Display Adapter</a> is a handy peripheral for owners of MacBook Pros with Touch Bar and 12-inch MacBooks who wish to connect the laptop to big screen TVs, HDMI monitors, or projectors on occasion. </p>

<p style="margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px">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>Having partnered with Apple to create the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.apple.com/shop/product/HKMY2LL/A/lg-ultrafine-4k-display?fnode=8a" rel="noopener noreferrer">UltraFine 4K display</a> and the (still unavailable) <a target="_blank" href="http://www.apple.com/shop/product/HKN62LL/A/lg-ultrafine-5k-display?fnode=8a" rel="noopener noreferrer">UltraFine 5K display</a> for use with MacBook Pros with Touch Bars, LG Electronics (LG)  will introduce a HDR-compatible, 32-inch UHD 4K monitor with USB-C connectivity. at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas next month.</p>

<p>The iPhone 7 came in second place (trailing Pokemon Go) in global searches for 2016, according to Google’s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.google.com/trends/yis/2016/GLOBAL" rel="noopener noreferrer">“Year in Search” results</a>. Rounding out the top five were Donald Trump, Prince, and Powerball.</p>

<p>Universal Search, which allows users to find content across multiple apps and services using text or Siri voice search, has expanded for the fourth generation Apple TV. It now includes support for videos hosted on Apple Music.</p>

<p>Security is the number one concern for healthcare organizations managing mobile devices, but more than a quarter of healthcare IT decision makers aren’t fully confident in their organization’s mobile device management (MDM) solution. These are the key findings from a new report, “A Pulse on Mobility in Healthcare,” based on a global independent survey commissioned by <a href="http://www.jamf.com">Jamf</a>, which specializes in Apple management, and conducted by Vanson Bourne. </p>

<p>The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) is considering an investigation of alleged iPhone 6s shutting down randomly in case they represent a battery safety issue, according to the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20161214000283" rel="noopener noreferrer">Korea Herald. </a></p>

<p>Apple has“quietly poached” at least a half dozen engineers from Here, a Berlin-based automotive mapping company for a Berlin-based Maps team, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-stealing-berlin-mapping-engineers-from-here-germany-automotive-company-2016-12?r=UK&IR=T" rel="noopener noreferrer">Business Insider</a>.</p>

<p>Apple’s standalone support app, which debuted outside the U.S. last month, has now arrived in the U.S., notes <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2016/12/13/apples-standalone-support-app-hits-the-u-s-app-store/" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Verge</a>. It’s free and available at the <a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/apple-support/id1130498044?mt=8" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple App Store</a> for iPhones and iPads running iOS 9 or later. </p>