Dennis Sellers

<p>In 2017 revenues from recorded music in the U.S. increased 16.5% at an estimated retail value to $8.7 billion, continuing the growth from the previous year. These increases came primarily from growth in paid music subscriptions to services like Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, Tidal, Pandora and others, which grew by more than 50%, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.riaa.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">RIAA</a>), the trade organization that supports and promotes the creative and financial vitality of the major music companies.</p>

<p>Speaking at the annual China Development Forum in Beijing, Apple CEO Tim Cook called for “calm heads” and more open trade, amid rising fears of a trade war between the U.S. and China, reports <a target="_blank" href="https://in.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china-apple/apples-tim-cook-calls-for-calm-heads-on-china-u-s-trade-idINKBN1H005K" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Reuters</em></a>.</p>

<p>In a report to clients — as noted by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.macrumors.com" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>MacRumors</em></a> — KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the low cost, 9.7-inch iPad Pro expected to debut at next week’s Apple education event will add Apple Pencil support.</p>

<p>Ireland <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-apple-taxavoidance/ireland-chooses-investment-firms-to-manage-apple-cash-idUSKBN1GZ1PW?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtechnologyNews+%28Reuters+Technology+News%29" rel="noopener noreferrer">has chosen the investment firms</a> it wants to collect $18.5 billion  in disputed back taxes from Apple.</p>

<p>Bank of America Merrill Lynch says Apple is working with its Asian partners on a foldable phone for 2020, reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/23/apple-is-working-on-a-foldable-iphone-for-release-in-2020-says-bank-of-america.html?__source=twitter%7Cmain" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>CNBC</em></a>.</p>

<p>Apple has been granted a patent (number 20180081519) for a 3D document editing system that includes a virtual reality and/or augmented reality device and an input device (e.g., keyboard) that implements sensing technology for detecting gestures by a user. </p>

<p>Some health experts think the most dangerous thing most of us do every day is sit. Like smoking, they believe prolonged sitting is bad and can’t be overcome by exercise. <a target="_blank" href="http://annals.org/aim/article/2091327/sedentary-time-its-association-risk-disease-incidence-mortality-hospitalization-adults" rel="noopener noreferrer">Several studies</a> have drawn connections between sitting too long and diabetes, hypertension, some forms of cancer, anxiety, and a generally greater probability of early death — though, admittedly, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/2017/02/21/health/sitting-study-partner/index.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">some studies question</a> those other studies.</p>

<p>Satechi has launched the Aluminum Type-C Multimedia Adapter. The hub features a USB-C Power Delivery port to charge PD-compatible devices (up to 49W), 4K HDMI (30Hz), 4K mini DisplayPort (30Hz), Gigabit Ethernet, micro/SD card slots and three USB 3.0 ports to access all devices. </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>InvizBox has announced the global availability of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.invizbox.com/buy/" rel="noopener noreferrer">InvizBox Go,</a> a portable VPN router with a built-in power bank, Wi-Fi extension and ad blocker to secure Internet traffic and access blocked content. Pricing starts at $150.</p>

<p>In a note to clients — as noted by <a target="_blank" href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/apple-stock-price-can-still-go-higher-morgan-despiteslower-iphone-sales-2018-3-1019078458" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Business Insider</em></a> — Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty says Apple’s Services platform has “tremendous upside.”</p>

<p>Amnesty International — an organization that “works to protect women, men and children wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied” — has launched a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2018/02/5-things-you-need-to-know-about-apple-in-china/" rel="noopener noreferrer">new social media campaign</a> targeting Apple over its “betrayal” of millions of Chinese iCloud users by “recklessly” making their personal data vulnerable to the arbitrary scrutiny of the Chinese government.</p>

<p>In a statement provided to <em>MacRumors</em>, Apple says it will fix a privacy issue in which Siri, its personal digital assistant, will read aloud hidden lock screen notifications on iPhones.  “We are aware of the issue and it will be addressed in an upcoming software update,” Apple said.</p>

<p>Based on recent job postings, Apple seems to be recruiting an editorial team for its upcoming iBooks reboot, possibly with the idea of creating an App Store-style "Today" tab, per the Japanese site <a target="_blank" href="http://www.macotakara.jp/blog/rumor/entry-34629.html" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Macotakara</em></a> — as noted by <a target="_blank" href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/03/22/apple-ibooks-revamp-could-be-planning-today-tab-to-enhance-discovery" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em></a>.</p>

<p>Apple has filed for a patent for a “predictive, foveate virtual reality system” that can capture views of the world around a user using multiple resolutions. It could work with Macs or an HDTV and could include a head-mounted display.</p>