Dennis Sellers

<p>The rumor mill is certainly in overdrive lately. We haven’t even seen the “iPhone 7” (or is it the iPhone 6SE?), and there new rumors about 2017’s “iPhone 8” (or will it be the “iPhone 7”). According to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20160725PD202.html?mod=3&q=APPLE" rel="noopener noreferrer">DigiTimes</a>, next year’s Apple smartphone — which, for simplicity’s sake, I’ll simply refer to as “iPhone 2017” — may sport an iris sensor.</p>

<p>Apple has agreed to lease more than 40,000 square feet of office space in Bengaluru, India, where the company plans to set up a development center, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/real-estate/apple-leases-more-than-40000-sq-ft-office-space-in-bengaluru/articleshow/53371517.cms" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Economic Times</a>, quoting three unnamed “people familiar with the matter.”</p>

<p>Apple retained sixth place among laptop shipments in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, according to new data from the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.idc.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">IDC research group</a>, trailing HP, Lenovo, Dell, ASUS, and Acer.</p>

<p>Ford is expanding its SYNC 3 connectivity platform, allowing compatibility of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto throughout its entire 2017 U.S. vehicle lineup of cars, SUVs, light trucks and electrified vehicles.</p>

<p>Satechi’s <a target="_blank" href="http://www.satechi.net/index.php/satechi-desk-mat-mate-pad-24-x-14-black" rel="noopener noreferrer">Desk Mat & Mate</a> is a workspace accessory for adults and children. Available in eight colors, it protects any surface area from scratches and spills while also doubling as a comfortable resting surface for your hands while writing, typing, using the mouse or coloring.</p>

<p>If you're a LEGO fan or Marvel comics fan, you'll love <a target="_blank" href="https://www.feralinteractive.com/en/mac-games/legomarvelsuperheroes/" rel="noopener noreferrer">LEGO Marvel Super Heroes</a> from Feral Interactive. The graphics are gorgeous, the gameplay is fun, and there are over 100 Marvel super heroes involved. </p>

<p>According to mobile phone blogger, Evan Blass, the iPhone 7 is coming in just under two months. I think he’s probably right.</p>

<p>A handful of unofficial Apple stores were picketed and social media users encouraged each other to destroy their Apple goods, “in a rare instance of the tech firm being targeted as a symbol of perceived injustice following an international ruling against Chinese territorial claims,” reports <a target="_blank" href="http://venturebeat.com/2016/07/23/apple-stores-picketed-in-china-as-part-of-anti-u-s-demonstrations/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters</a>.</p>

<p>Western Digital Corp. has announced that its <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.g-technology.com&esheet=51382563&newsitemid=20160719005066&lan=en-US&anchor=G-Technology&index=1&md5=9ed28d7bade12a0b1f0608bb32120246">G-Technology</a> product lines are getting more capacity and increased performance to keep up with the growing needs of creative professionals and consumers capturing vast amounts of high-resolution content, including video and digital photography.</p>

<p><a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.avira.com%2F&esheet=51383679&newsitemid=20160719005884&lan=en-US&anchor=Avira&index=1&md5=8171322e59fbf3bf547d89d830509f81">Avira</a>, a security software company, has launched <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.avira.com%2Fen%2Favira-antivirus-pro%3Fx-a-source%3Dpr%26x-a-medium%3Davprocmp%26utm_source%3Dpr%26utm_medium%3Davprocmp&esheet=51383679&newsitemid=20160719005884&lan=en-US&anchor=Mac+Antivirus+Pro&index=2&md5=3e1508eb4c950429ee18901cd6096b9a">Mac Antivirus Pro</a>, a channel-optimized version of its AV security software for OS X devices.</p>

<p>eMarketer, a research firm, has released <a target="_blank" href="http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Apples-Share-of-US-Smartphone-Market-Creeps-Back-Up/1014245?ecid=NL1001" rel="noopener noreferrer">a report</a> on U.S. and UK market share for the iPhone and iPad. It shows that the iPhone’s market share is creeping back up (at least globally), while the iPad’s market share continues to decline.</p>

<p>A new quarterly report from <a target="_blank" href="https://medium.com/wristly-thoughts/the-paradox-of-watch-overwhelmingly-satisfied-yet-not-recommending-it-9e400836310#.zfy2lo1ig" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wristly</a> says that 94% of Apple Watch owners are still satisfied with the smartwatch. </p>

<p>Inspiring-Life Technologies has introduced <a target="_blank" href="http://www.inspiringlife.co/tasky/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tasky 1.0</a>, a task management app for Mac OS X Yosemite and El Capitan. It’s been designed to give you dedicated sections for adding tasks for Today, Tomorrow and Next Week with a built-in calendar to add or browse tasks.</p>

<p>Apple plans to open its first retail store in Taiwan, “a move that comes after the U.S. technology giant raised $1.38 billion in a bond offering last month on the island that is home to many companies in its supply chain,” reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-apple-idUSKCN1020VN" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters</a>.</p>

<p>Last year Apple lost the top position of the <a target="_blank" href="http://fbi.futurebrand.com/rankings" rel="noopener noreferrer">“world’s favorite company” </a>to Google, but our favorite tech company has reclaimed the top spot this year. Also, in the top 10 were Microsoft, Samsung, Walt Disney, Abbie (a health care company), Facebook, Toyota, Amazon, Celgene Corp. (a health care company), and Gilead Sciences (a health care company). </p>