<p>Apple is in talks to buy long-term supplies of cobalt directly from miners for the first time, seeking to procure "several thousand" metric tons of cobalt per year for a period of at least five years, <em><a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-21/apple-is-said-to-negotiate-buying-cobalt-direct-from-miners" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bloomberg reports</a></em>.</p>
<p>Twenty-two more banks have announced <a target="_blank" href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204916" rel="noopener noreferrer">support for Apple Pay,</a> Apple’s mobile payment service.</p>
<p>Yesterday, <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2018/2/20/second-scanning-depth-engine-patent-involves-3d-profiles-and-the-mac" rel="noopener noreferrer">I reported </a>that Apple had filed for a second patent for a “scanning depth engine” that generates 3D profiles. The tech giant has also been granted a patent (number 9,898,651) for “upper body skeleton extraction from depth maps,” which would facilitate gesture controls on a Mac or an Apple TV.</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>Apple has updated three OS beta releases — macOS High Sierra 10.13.4, iOS 11.3, and tvOS 11.3 — for developers. </p>
<p>Chinese website <a target="_blank" href="http://new.qq.com/omn/20180219/20180219A0Q3MX.html" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>QQ</em></a> — as noted by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cultofmac.com/530067/iphone-se-2-rumor-hints-wwdc-release/" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Cult of Mac</em></a> — claims Apple will unveil a new iPhone SE at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).</p>
<p>Apple has topped <em>Fast Company</em>’s 2018 World’s Most Innovation Companies list that spans more than 350 enterprises across 36 categories.</p>
<p>Paragon Software has released the free <a href="https://www.paragon-software.com/business/apfs-kit-mac/">APFS Retrofit Kit for macOS</a>, a system driver that enables read-only access to APFS (Apple File System) volumes under macOS 10.12 or earlier versions. </p>
<p>Apple has applied for a second patent (number 9,898,074; the first was number 20170205873) for a “scanning depth engine.” If the invention ever comes to fruition, a Mac could generate a 3D profile of an object by processing an optical image of the object.</p>
<p>Apple is seeking a new U.S. trademark for its iconic multicolor logo, the "rainbow" logo, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/18/02/19/apple-seeks-new-trademark-for-multicolor-logo-unlikely-to-show-up-at-a-store-near-you" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em></a>.</p>
<p>The Ohio State University has teamed up with Apple to create an app that new students will use this fall. Four Buckeye students traveled to Apple's design lab to learn how to create the software, tentatively dubbed “My OUS,” reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.10tv.com/article/osu-students-team-apple-create-app-first-year-buckeyes" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>10tv</em></a>.</p>
<p>U.S. District Judge Lucy H. Koh has granted Apple almost $6.5 million in ongoing royalties from Samsung in the companies’ dispute over patented designs, but denied the tech giant's request for ongoing royalties on products containing design-arounds, reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/1013355/apple-gets-6-5m-ongoing-royalties-in-samsung-ip-dispute?nl_pk=ade0cf2b-ea3f-464b-bc93-d8e19277ac63&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=technology" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Law360</em></a>.</p>
<p>Native Union’s luxury <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nativeunion.com/marble-dock-for-apple-watch/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Marble Edition of its DOCK</a> ($129) for the Apple Watch is arguably the classiest charging station around for the smartwatch.</p>
<p>You can use your HomePod to control HomeKit accessories—such as lights, thermostats, and window shades—that you’ve set up in the Home app on your iOS device. Then you can say things like “Hey Siri, set the thermostat to 72 degrees” or “Hey Siri, did I lock the front door?”</p>
<p>Apple has released updates to macOS, iOS, watchOS and tvOS that resolves an issue of crashing when an Indian language character is received by certain messaging apps.</p>
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