Dennis Sellers

<p>The flashlight feature on an iPhone comes in very handy at times. And it’s easy to adjust the flashlight brightness on an iPhone X. </p>

<p>Apple fans around Southeast Asia can now get new iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks from an official store on Lazada, reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.techinasia.com/apple-opens-store-lazada" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>TechInAsia</em></a>. That’s good news for those fans, as the tech giant only has one store in the region (it’s in Singapore).</p>

<p>Apple has been granted another patent (number 20170353713) that hints at an upcoming augmented reality (AR) head-mounted display (HMD). It involves methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for projecting a source image in a head-mounted display apparatus.</p>

<p>Finisar, Apple's second largest supplier of vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) arrays, <a target="_blank" href="http://loupventures.com/key-iphonex-supplier-receives-qualification-and-meaningfully-expands-capacity/" rel="noopener noreferrer">has announced</a> the acquisition of a 700,000-square foot . As noted by <a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/17/12/08/apple-supplier-finisar-to-scale-vcsel-production-suggests-face-id-coming-to-all-iphones-in-2018" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em></a>, this suggests TrueDepth and FaceID are coming to all iPhones in 2018. </p>

<p>In a note to clients — as reported by <a target="_blank" href="http://MacRumors.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">MacRumors.com</a> — KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the 2018 follow-up to the iPhone X could feature up to 10% more battery power if Apple and LG Chem are able to deploy a one-cell design for the device's L-shaped battery, as opposed to the two-cell battery used in the iPhone X. He writes:</p>

<p>Apple’s TV app is now available in the UK, Germany, and France. It allows you to continue to watch your favorite shows and movies, discover new content, and find new video apps, all from a single location. </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>The always entertaining columnist, John C. Dvorak, writes in a new column dubbed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.pcmag.com/commentary/357782/apple-is-ready-to-ditch-the-mac" rel="noopener noreferrer">“Apple is Ready to Ditch the Mac”</a> that Apple is, well, ready to ditch the Mac as iOS is poised to replace macOS. However, the Sellers Research Group (that’s me) says he’s missing the big picture.</p>

<p>The AWT News Update is on hiatus while my compadre, Steve, deals with some family issues. In its place, I’ll offer a text-only (no podcast) summary of breaking stories with a tip o’ my hat to my former website, <em>Apple Daily Report</em>.</p>

<p>A HomeKit vulnerability in the current version of iOS 11.2 has been demonstrated to <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2017/12/07/homekit-vulnerability/"><em>9to5Mac</em></a><em> </em>that allows unauthorized control of accessories including smart locks and garage door openers<em>.</em></p>

<p>Former Gliimpse founder Anil Sethi is leaving Apple's health tech division to found a new start-up called Ciitizen. He was named director of the team in 2016.</p>

<p>When it comes to brands, Apple’s iPhones remained the dominant camera models used by the Flickr community, with 54% of the top 100 devices being named iPhone and an almost clean sweep of the top <a target="_blank" href="http://blog.flickr.net/en/2017/12/07/top-devices-of-2017/" rel="noopener noreferrer">10 Devices of 2017</a>, accounting for nine of the top 10 devices.</p>

<p>Apple has filed for a patent (number 20170347885) for “detecting activity by a wheelchair user.” It’s designed to help such folks keep track of their health and fitness activities using the Apple Watch and its Workout app.</p>

<p>Apple CEO Tim Cook took the fifth spot in the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.recode.net/2017/12/6/16667200/recode-100-2017" rel="noopener noreferrer">Recode 100 list</a>, which measures the publication’s choices for “the people in tech, business and media who mattered in 2017.”</p>

<p>Apple has unveiled its 2017 charts and trends, celebrating the most popular apps, music, movies, TV shows, books and podcasts across the App Store, Apple Music, iTunes, iBooks and Apple Podcasts.</p>