Dennis Sellers

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Yesterday the Gartner research group <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2018/7/12/mac-sales-continue-to-tick-upwards-in-the-second-quarter-of-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">released its latest findings </a>on global computer sales; today <a href="http://www.idc.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">IDC</a> released theirs. The reports are similar, though not identical, yet both show continued growth for the Mac.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for a patent (number 20180195872) for “context-aware voice guidance” in its Maps app. In the patent filing, the tech giant notes that many map-based applications available today are designed for a variety of different devices (e.g., desktops, laptops, tablet devices, smartphones, handheld global positioning system (GPS) receivers, etc.) and for various different purposes (e.g., navigation, browsing, sports, etc.). </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Today is Friday the 13th, so I’m serving up a list of three iOS apps to “celebrate” the big day (sorry, Mac fans, but I couldn’t find any such apps at the Mac App Store).</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">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 style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has announced a new investment fund in China to connect suppliers with renewable energy sources. As part of Apple’s commitment to address climate change and increase the use of renewable energy within its supply chain, 10 initial suppliers and Apple will jointly invest nearly $300 million over the next four years into the China Clean Energy Fund. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Since Steve and I can’t cover everything, at the end of each week day, we’ll offer this wrap-up of news items you should check out.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Mac continues to see sales growth, although a bit slower than in the past. Worldwide PC (as in “personal computer,” not necessarily a Windows machine) shipments totaled 62.1 million units in the second quarter of 2018, a 1.4% increase from the second quarter of 2017, according to preliminary results by <a href="http://www.gartner.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gartner, Inc.</a>. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple’s <em>Carpool Karaoke</em> spinoff has garnered an Emmy nomination. The Television Academy hands out Emmys for five short-form categories. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Indeed, a global job site, debuted today the 50 top-rated workplaces in 2018, curated from the site’s millions of company reviews on Indeed Company Pages. Apple places 10th on the list.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has launched its annual Back to School promotion in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and in many European and Asian countries. Education customers who order certain Macs or iPad Pros can get Beats headphones for free along with their education discount.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Along with new <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2018/7/12/macbook-pro-gets-updated-32gb-of-ram-now-an-option-the-touch-bar-is-still-here" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MacBook Pros</a>, Apple is selling the $699 <a href="https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HM8Y2VC/A/blackmagic-egpu" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Blackmagic eGPU</a> , an external GPU based around a Radeon Pro 580 with 8GB of video memory. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple has updated MacBook Pro and answered two questions. One: the Touch Bar isn’t going away. Two: you can finally get a pro laptop with 32GB of memory.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple is planning a revamp of its Maps app. And the tech giant has applied for a patent (number 20180197332) for “problem reporting in maps” that shows its serious about beefing up its mapping application. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple is teaming up with StubHub for a new Apple Pay promo: use the company’s mobile payment service in the StuHub app — available at the Apple App Store — and get $10 off your purchase of $100 or more.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Another day, another lawsuit. Apple has been sued by Advanced Voice Recognition Systems (AVRS), widely regarded as a “patent troll,” for allegedly infringing on a patent involving Apple’s use of network calls to enhance Siri's responses to users.</p>