Dennis Sellers

<p>Apple has released the first beta of Xcode 9.3 for developers. Xcode is a free developer tool for Apple’s various operating systems. </p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.strategyanalytics.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Strategy Analytics</a> says Apple will sell 3.8 million HomePods this year, garnering less than 10% market share. The wireless speaker i<a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2018/1/23/you-can-pre-order-the-homepod-this-friday" rel="noopener noreferrer">s available for pre-orde</a>r Friday, Jan. 26, and is slated to arrive on Feb. 9.</p>

<p>Antitrust regulators at the European Union (EU) have <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-24/qualcomm-gets-1-2-billion-eu-fine-for-apple-chip-payments-jcsxlzqo" rel="noopener noreferrer">slapped</a> a €997M (about $1.2 billion) fine on Qualcomm for paying Apple "billions of U.S. dollars" to shun rival chips in its iPhones.</p>

<p>Apple has introduced what it says is a “significant update” to the Health app with the iOS 11.3 beta, debuting a feature for customers to see their medical records on their iPhone. </p>

<p>Apple has announced that iOS 11.3 will arrive this spring with “exciting new ways to experience augmented reality on iPhone and iPad, new Animoji on iPhone X and the ability to view health records in the Health app.</p>

<p>Apple wants to simplify audio navigation instructions in CarPlay and/or the iOS Maps apps, as evidenced by a new patent filing (number 9,874,455). Compatible with the iPhone 5 and later models, CarPlay provides a simplified way to use your iPhone interface on a car’s touch screen, giving users access to Siri voice controls, as well as Apple Maps, Apple Music, Phone, Messages, and a variety of third party apps.</p>

<p>I really like my 27-inch iMac with 5K Retina display, though I’d spring for the iMac Pro if I had deep pockets. Alas, I don’t, so I want some of the Pro’s specs to come to the 2018 non-pro iMac.</p>

<p>Apple’s Memories feature in macOS High Sierra automatically creates curated collections of your most meaningful photos and videos. Want to save a memory for later? It’s easy.</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 released iTunes 12.7.3 for macOS with support for the upcoming HomePod. </p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/interest-new-iphones-nears-historic-lows-new-cowen-survey" rel="noopener noreferrer">A new survey</a> by Wall Street research firm Cowen found that the number of current U.S. iPhone owners planning to buy a new iPhone “was near the lowest levels since conducting our survey.”</p>

<p>European Union (EU) antitrust regulators will sanction Qualcomm for hurting competition by paying Apple to use its chips exclusively, according to the <em><a target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/fc712538-004a-11e8-9650-9c0ad2d7c5b5" rel="noopener noreferrer">Financial Times</a> </em>(a subscription is required to read the article). Qualcomm paid Apple to buy all of its communication chipsets from 2011 to 2016.</p>

<p>Apple has released macOS High Sierra 10.13.3, iOS 11.2.5, watchOS 4.2.2, and tvOS 11.2.5.</p>

<p>In a note to clients — as noted by <a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/18/01/23/entry-level-2018-61-inch-iphone-may-be-lcd-cost-between-700-and-800" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em> </a>— KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is sticking with his previous prediction that the 2018 iPhones will ship in 5.8- and 6.5-inch sizes in OLED, with a lower-priced ($700-$800) 6.1-inch device coming, as well.</p>

<p>Apple shipped 29 million iPhone Xs in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2017, making it the world’s best-shipping smartphone model over the holiday season, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.canalys.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Canalys</a>. </p>