Dennis Sellers

<p>Apple has updated Logic Pro X — its Mac OS X software for professional songwriting, editing, and mixing — to version 10.2.3. It adds three new Chinese instrument patches: pipa, erhu, and percussion. </p>

<p><a href="http://moovweb.com/">Moovweb</a>, which specializes in powering engaging mobile experiences for the world’s leading brands, has announced plans to optimize its platform for Apple Pay’s rumored debut on mobile web. </p>

<p>Apple has created an energy subsidiary, “Apple Energy’” LLC, that’s registered in Delaware but run from its Cupertino, California headquarters, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://9to5mac.com/2016/06/09/apple-energy-company/" rel="noopener noreferrer">9to5Mac.</a> The company was apparently formed to allow the company to sell excess electricity generated by its solar farms in Cupertino and Nevada, with plans to sell electricity across the whole of the U.S., the article adds.</p>

<p>Paragon Software Group (PSG has released <a href="http://eu.vocuspr.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d8.%3b192-%3eLCE19%2f%3a5%3e1-GLCE270%3a&RE=MO&RI=489191&Preview=False&DistributionActionID=125094&Action=Follow+Link">Paragon Hard Disk Manager for Mac</a>, a tool to protect, maintain, and manage your OS X system. It’s designed to cover all aspects of a Mac’s life cycle, from drive partitioning and regular backup to system migration, disaster recovery options, and wiping of recycled storage.</p>

<p>Worldwide PC (as in personal computers, not just Windows systems) shipments are forecast to decline by 7.3% year -over-year in 2016 according to an updated forecast from the International Data Corporation (<a href="http://www.idc.com/">IDC</a>) <a href="http://www.idc.com/tracker/showproductinfo.jsp?prod_id=1">Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker</a>. The outlook continues to call for progressively smaller declines through 2017 followed by stable volume in 2018. </p>

<p>Apple files for — and is granted — lots of patents by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Many are for inventions that never see the light of day. However, you never can tell which ones will materialize in a real product, so here are today’s patent highlights:</p>

<p>I wanted to like the $169.99 <a href="http://magnasonic.com/products/display.php?id=3079">LED Pocket Pico Video Projector</a> (especially since the price has been reduced from $299.99). which is lightweight, sports a pocketable (3.9 x 3.0 x 0.5”) design, and packs a rechargeable battery. However, the limited number of Apple devices with which it works dampened my enthusiasm. </p>

<p>If you’ve ever tried to sleep while listening to music on your iPhone or iPad, you may have realized it was an exercise in futility. The earbud style connectors too often fall out and headphones with a band are incredibly uncomfortable. While you could use a speaker, if you sleep with others, this will surely disturb their sleep.</p>

<p>Scosche Industries is expanding its line of portable power devices with the goBAT 4400, a portable backup battery that features a built-in emergency flashlight. It’s available at <a href="http://scosche.com/">SCOSCHE.com</a> for $19.99.</p>

<p>The U.S. Department of Justice has asked the Supreme Court to overturn an appeals court ruling that had favored Apple over Samsung in smartphone patent litigation, and asked that it return the case to the trial court for more litigation, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-samsung-elec-lawsuit-idUSKCN0YU2UK" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters</a>, that’s exactly what has happened.</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>An anonymous poll of Apple employees earns CEO Tim Cook a 96% approval rating, earning him the No. 8 ranking among U.S. companies surveyed for Glassdoor's annual Employees' Choice Awards. Glassdoor is a jobs and recruiting site.</p>

<p>Apple will announce new <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/roundup/macbook-air/">MacBook Air</a> models this month and start shipping ‘em next month, according to the Japanese website <a href="http://www.macotakara.jp/blog/rumor/entry-30104.html"><em>Mac Otakara</em></a> — as noted by <a href="http://macrumors.com">MacRumors.com</a> . Meanwhile, the report also claims that Apple will announce a complete refresh of the MacBook Pro this month.</p>

<p>If the GhostStand — <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2016/6/2/the-ghoststand-is-a-scarily-good-stand-for-an-apple-macbook" rel="noopener noreferrer">see my review here</a> — doesn’t suit your fancy for a laptop stand, check out Griffin Technology’s elegant <a target="_blank" href="https://griffintechnology.com/us/products/stands-and-mounts/elevator" rel="noopener noreferrer">Elevator</a>. It elevates your laptop 5.5 inches, which offers several advantages. </p>

<p>Google has regained its position as the world's most valuable brand, overtaking 2015 winner Apple, according to the 2016 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wpp.com/wpp/marketing/brandz/" rel="noopener noreferrer">BrandZ</a> Top100 Most Valuable Global Brands compiled by Millward Brown and WPP. </p>