Dennis Sellers

<p>The <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2018/2/14/apple-homepod-base-can-leave-residue-on-wood-countertops" rel="noopener noreferrer">"white ring" problem</a> that affects Apple HomePods placed on certain kinds of wood furniture relates to the interaction between silicone and wood and doesn’t appear to be Apple-specific. Still, some industrial design experts that <a target="_blank" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/industrial-design-experts-apple-homepod-white-ring-problem-not-hard-to-fix-2018-2" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Business Insider</em></a><em> </em>spoke to were surprised that the tech giant, which prides itself on attention to every detail, didn’t catch the issue in quality assurance testing.</p>

<p>Apple wants to help you get a better night’s sleep. The company has been granted a patent (number 20180042547) for “adjusting alarms based on sleep onset latency.”</p>

<p>MacDaddy’s Install <a target="_blank" href="https://macdaddy.io/install-disk-creator/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Disk Creator</a>, a free installer disk utility for macOS, simplifies the process of creating a bootable macOSinstaller from Mac App Store installation files, which can then be used to install the Mac operating system on any compatible Mac.</p>

<p>It’s easy to listen to podcasts on a HomePod. There are hundreds of thousands of free podcasts to choose from.</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 changed the company’s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.apple.com/contact/" rel="noopener noreferrer">corporate address</a> to One Apple Park Way. Previously, the contact webpage listed One Infinite Loop in Cupertino, California, as the company’s official address.</p>

<p>Apple has posted a "How to get the most from HomePod” tutorial with instructions on how to take full advantage of the features of the company’s wireless speaker. There are tips on such functions as talking to Siri, controlling home accessories, Personal Requests, and more.</p>

<p>There’s a lot happening in the world of Apple news this week. Following are the hottest articles for the week of Feb. 12-17.</p>

<p>The AWT News Update is on hiatus as my compadre, Steve, is down with a stomach bug. In its place, I’ll offer a text-only (no podcast) summary of breaking stories with a tip o’ my hat to my former website, <em>Apple Daily Report</em>.</p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.everquote.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">EverQuote, Inc.</a>, am insurance marketplace in the U.S., has released data on the impact of Apple's <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2017/10/4/how-to-manually-implement-do-not-disturb-mode-in-ios-11?rq=Do%20Not%20Disturb" rel="noopener noreferrer">Do Not Disturb (DND) While Driving feature</a> in iOS 11 on the driving behavior of EverQuote's growing community of 500,000-plus <a target="_blank" href="https://www.everquote.com/everdrive/" rel="noopener noreferrer">EverDrive</a> users. EverDrive is a free app designed to facilitate safe driving. It shows you you trip summaries, details on maneuvers, and gives you “useful feedback to become a better driver.”</p>

<p>Mobile payment and digital wallet service, Apple Pay was first introduced to Sweden, Denmark and Finland in the fourth quarter of 2017. Now, in a move to make this new technology available to its 5,000+ Nordic merchants, Danish acquirer <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.clearhaus.com%2F&esheet=51759471&newsitemid=20180216005214&lan=en-US&anchor=Clearhaus&index=2&md5=3d80a292cffdae57a6182116a535434a">Clearhaus</a> has added support for payments made with Apple Pay.</p>

<p>That’s gotta hurt. Apple employees keep “smacking” into the glass at the company’s Apple Park “spaceship headquarters,” reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-16/apple-s-new-spaceship-campus-has-one-flaw-and-it-hurts" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Bloomberg</em></a>.</p>

<p>iDevices has released the <a target="_blank" href="https://store.idevicesinc.com/idevices-instant-switch/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Instant Switch</a>, a $34.95remote wireless wall switch that users can pair with their iDevices products via Bluetooth technology for smart home control. </p>

<p>St. Clair Software's <a target="_blank" href="http://tinyurl.com/2gm24v" rel="noopener noreferrer">Default Folder X</a> is on my list of must-have Mac utilities. The app lets you access the contents of your recent, favorite, and open folders right from Default Folder X's toolbar. </p>

<p>Apple continues to show its interest in health/fitness technology with the filing of a patent (number 20180042556) for a “vital signs monitoring system.” Such a system would seem to work with the company’s HealthKit and ResearchKit products.</p>