Dennis Sellers

<p>Level Up Gamer is open, but for this week only. It’s for Mac gamers who want free games, gaming deals, a digital magazine, and access to an exclusive community.</p>

<p>Ireland expects Apple to start paying up to 13 billion euros (about $15.4 billion) in back taxes into an escrow account in the first quarter of 2018, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-apple-ireland-taxavoidance/ireland-expects-apple-back-tax-in-escrow-account-in-first-quarter-2018-minister-idUSKBN1DY1M3" rel="noopener noreferrer">told reporters</a> before a meeting with European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager.</p>

<p>VeprIT has launched SlideFlow, a Mac app for generating animated photo slideshows with background music and playing it on a TV screen. </p>

<p>In a note to clients — as noted by <em><a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/17/12/04/apples-airpods-a-smash-hit-shipments-could-reach-28m-in-2018" rel="noopener noreferrer">AppleInsider</a></em> — KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo calls the AirPods the "the most important accessory in Apple's wireless ecosystem” and predicts Apple could ship between 26 million and 28 million units of the wireless headphones in 2018.</p>

<p>The Patent Trial and Appeal Board has invalidated numerous claims in a patent related to LTE wireless technology that the owner, Evolved Wireless, has accused Apple, Samsung and other smartphone makers of infringing, reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/990484/apple-samsung-and-others-prevail-in-lte-patent-row?nl_pk=ade0cf2b-ea3f-464b-bc93-d8e19277ac63&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=technology" rel="noopener noreferrer">Law360</a>.</p>

<p>Apple has never released an armband for use with its iPhones, but a newly granted patent (number 20170340095) for an “armband holding an electronic device” show the company has considered it.</p>

<p>Anyone driving with their smartphone plastered to their ear or glancing at the screen is just asking for disaster for themselves and others. Thankfully, car mounts can help with such situations if used carefully. The $29.99 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.getmontar.com/?utm_source=Montar+PR+-+M.Acc+Reviews+Websites&utm_campaign=d974b60b78-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_09_18&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d977b0b516-d974b60b78-124962145" rel="noopener noreferrer">Montar car mount</a> is as good as any I’ve tried.</p>

<p>Portrait Lighting on the iPhone X allows you to control lighting effects with shadows, spotlights, and more. Although still in beta mode, it works pretty well.</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>Bummer. Apple is having more software problems with both iOS and macOS.</p>

<p>Apple has released iOS 11.2 with support for Apple Pay Cash,7.5-watt charging on compatible devices, and various bug fixes and improvements. </p>

<p>There’s a lot happening in the world of Apple news this week. Following are the hottest articles for the week of Nov. 27-Dec. 1.</p>

<p>ParkerVision — a developer, manufacturer and marketer of semiconductor technology solutions for wireless applications — says the Munich court rejected the request by Apple and certain of its subsidiaries that ParkerVision be required to post a bond as required of a non-German entity. </p>

<p>According to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.digitimes.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">DigiTimes Research</a>, Apple is planning a 9.7-inch iPad for next year that will cost about $259. </p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.hexbrand.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">HEX</a> has released a new collection of cases and wallets for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hexbrand.com/collections/star-wars" rel="noopener noreferrer">iPhone in collaboration with Star Wars</a>. The next film in the series, <em>Star Wars: The Last Jedi</em>, opens Dec. 15.</p>