Dennis Sellers

<p>Apple has released the second iOS 11.3 public beta. The public beta is available on <a target="_blank" href="https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple's Beta Software Program website</a>. Just remember that beta software, so proceed with care.</p>

<p>An Apple Store proposed for Federation Square has been labelled a "Pizza Hut pagoda" as the Melbourne (Australia) City Council voted to pressure for a redesign.</p>

<p>Goldman Sachs is reportedly in talks with Apple (NASDAQ:<a href="https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AAPL">AAPL</a>) to finance iPhone purchases. According to <em><a target="_blank" href="https://seekingalpha.com/news/3328826-goldman-talks-finance-iphones-wsj?uprof=53&dr=1#email_link" rel="noopener noreferrer">Seeking Alpha</a>, </em>buyers would theoretically borrow from Goldman at a cheaper interest rate than the typical credit card might charge. The bank's Marcus platform on average charges 12%.</p>

<p>Apple will <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-apple/apple-brings-alibaba-linked-payment-system-into-china-stores-amid-market-push-idUSKBN1FR0FH" rel="noopener noreferrer">begin</a> accepting Alipay, a third-party mobile and online payment platform, at its local Chinese stores. The tech giant will accept Alipay payment across its 41 brick-and-mortar retail stores in China.</p>

<p>Apple has been granted a patent (number 9885501) for an in-vehicle wireless communication system that involves CarPlay and an iOS device.</p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.fotojet.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">FotoJet</a> is a useful, free web app that lets you quickly create good-looking photo cards, collages and social media arts without any downloading or installing. And free is always good.</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 AWT News Update is on hiatus while my compadre, Steve, deals with a death in the family. Prayers go out to the entire Sande family. In the place of the AWT News Update, 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>ZAGG has announced the $129.99 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.zagg.com/us/en_us/keyboards/rugged-book-apple-ipad" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rugged Book</a>, a wireless keyboard and detachable case for the Apple iPad, 9.7-inch iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad Air 2. </p>

<p>Apple is exploring whether to offer rebates to customers who previously purchased fresh iPhone batteries in the wake of <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2018/1/10/us-government-questions-apple-about-its-handling-of-batterygate-1?rq=Batterygate" rel="noopener noreferrer">“Batterygate,”</a> the controversy about the company’s practice of slowing down older devices, reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.recode.net/2018/2/6/16979200/apple-iphone-battery-replacement-discount-rebate-congress-senate-letter" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Recode</em></a>.</p>

<p>The European Commission — an institution of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the EU treaties and managing the day-to-day business of the EU — says it’s accepted a request from Austria, France, Iceland, Italy, Norway, Spain and Sweden to assess under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Shazam by Apple. </p>

<p>On Saturday, reports said that Apple plans to open its first China data center in 2020. Now it looks like Apple will have <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-datacenter/apple-to-build-a-second-data-center-in-china-xinhua-idUSKBN1FQ2E6" rel="noopener noreferrer">two centers</a> operable by that date. </p>

<p>Apple Watch shipments beat expectations, topping 18 million in 2017, up by more than 54% from 2016, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.canalys.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Canalys</a>. </p>

<p>As noted by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.macrumors.com" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>MacRumors</em></a>, the HomePod supply is beginning to shorten ahead of the speaker's launch this Friday across the U.S. United Kingdom, and Australia. </p>

<p>Apple has been granted another patent (number 9885459) for a Mac user interface that utilizes gesture recognition. The invention involves “pattern projection using micro-lenses.”</p>