Dennis Sellers

<p>The <em>Apple World Today</em> staff has compiled their list of their favorite hardware and software products of 2017.</p>

<p>Overall, 2017 has been a great year for Apple. But here’s some things I’d love to see in 2018:</p>

<p>To celebrate the end of the year, I’ve rounded up the best games for the Mac that were released in 2017. You’ve heard this before, but I’m serious: this was a great year for Mac gaming. </p>

<p>Apple has published an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.apple.com/iphone-battery-and-performance/" rel="noopener noreferrer">apology letter</a> to customers in regards to <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2017/12/28/the-korea-communications-commission-wants-apple-to-explain-batterygate" rel="noopener noreferrer">“Batterygate”</a> for slowing down older phones to compensate for erratic battery performance. The letter starts off this way:</p>

<p>Could Apple have plans for an Amazon Prime-like service? A newly filed patent (20170372388) for a “system and method for fresh online experience” hints at this.</p>

<p>Apple has filed for a patent (number 20170374465) for an “audio system with configurable zones,” which involves the upcoming HomePod, as well as possible future, bigger incarnations of the speaker system.</p>

<p>With l<a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2017/12/27/eight-more-lawsuits-filed-in-iphone-batterygate-brouhaha" rel="noopener noreferrer">awsuits being filed left and right</a> over “Batterygate,” the equivalent of the FCC in Samsung’s home market of South Korea is now seeking an explanation for the slowing performance of older iPhones.</p>

<p>A year after delivering an unusual pay cut, Apple gave CEO Tim Cook a major boost in compensation for fiscal-year 2017 as the company exceeded annual sales and profit goals, reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-boosts-pay-of-ceo-tim-cook-other-executives-1514415957" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Wall Street Journal</em></a>.</p>

<p>With Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman looking to give the kingdom a high-tech makeover, Apple and Amazon are in licensing discussions with Riyadh on investing in Saudi Arabia, reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-tech-exclusive/exclusive-apple-and-amazon-in-talks-to-set-up-in-saudi-arabia-sources-idUSKBN1EM0PZ?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Reuters</em></a>.</p>

<p>watchOS 4 brings a flashlight feature to the Apple Watch that lights up the smartphone’s face for a (little) bit of extra light. to access the flashlight feature:</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>Similar to last year, 44% of new phone and tablet activations in the week leading up to Christmas were Apple devices, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://flurrymobile.tumblr.com/post/168998333465/apple-wins-2017-smartphone-holiday-season" rel="noopener noreferrer">the Flurry analytics group</a>. </p>

<p>MediaTek has a shot at winning orders for baseband modem chipsets from Apple, which is seeking additional modem chip capacity support after transferring half of its orders to Intel from Qualcomm, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20171226PD203.html" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>DigiTimes</em></a>, quoting unnamed “industry sources.”</p>

<p>Another day, another lawsuit. Well, lawsuits. Eight more lawsuits have been <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-batteries-lawsuits/apple-faces-lawsuits-after-saying-it-slows-down-aging-iphones-idUSKBN1EL034">filed</a> in various federal courts in the week since Apple opened up about its year-old software change, which slows down the performance of aging iPhones.</p>

<p>With three models of the Apple Watch now available, Speidel, the watch brand known for creating the iconic “Twist-O-Flex” bracelet, has released the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.speidel.com/index.php/watchbands/smart-watch/00139946.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twist-O-Flex smartwatch band</a>, which is compatible with any generation and size (38mm and 42mm) of the Apple Watch.</p>