Dennis Sellers

<p>Micromat has announced a new macOS drive utility called Drive Scope. The software utilizes Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology (also known as S.M.A.R.T.) — which is built into most hard drives — to report on the health of internal and external hard drives connected to Macs.</p>

<p>Apple says the <a href="https://itunes.com/ecc/">App Development with Swift</a> curriculum will now be offered in more than 30 community college systems across the country in the 2017-2018 school year, providing opportunities to millions of students to build apps that will prepare them for careers in software development and information technology. </p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.jumsoft.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jumsoft</a> has introduced Flat Icons Lab 1.0, a multipurpose productivity assistant app for macOS that features nearly 300 original icon designs, presented in 13 categories. </p>

<p>Apple has filed for a patent (number 20170245047) for “managing connections of a user device” such as AirPods and the upcoming HomePod. The tech giant notes that network-accessible user devices have become ubiquitous over the years, with many different manufacturers providing a plethora of different types, styles, and models. </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, is on a road trip. 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>It’s official: Apple’s next U.S. data center will be built in Iowa. The tech giant has announced plans to build a 400,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art data center in Waukee, Iowa, to better serve North American users of iMessage, Siri, the App Store and other Apple services. Like all Apple data centers, the new facility will run entirely on renewable energy from day one.</p>

<p>Alongside the iPhone 8, iPhone 7 Plus, the iPhone 7s Plus, Apple Watch Series 3, Apple will introduce a new Apple TV next month that can stream 4K video and highlight live television content such as news and sports, reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-24/apple-said-to-plan-4k-tv-box-reveal-in-renewed-living-room-push" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Bloomberg</em></a>, quoting unnamed “people familiar with the matter.” (The <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2017/8/23/rumor-apple-to-announce-new-iphones-on-september-12?rq=Sept.%2012" rel="noopener noreferrer">rumor mill says</a> that Apple will hold a special event for new products on Sept. 12, but the tech giant hasn’t yet announced such an event.)</p>

<p>In a note to clients — as reported by <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2017/08/23/iphone-samsung-competition/">9to5Mac</a> — Barclay analyst Mark Moskowitz said that less one-in-five potential iPhone buyers will spend $1,000 or more on a new Apple smartphone. And the high end “iPhone 8” is predicted by some pundits to be priced as much as $1,200. No, wait. Never mind.</p>

<p>Is the Apple Car project on again? Maybe. Kinda. Apple’s long-term goal with the project — once codenamed “Project Titan” is likely the ride-sharing/ride-hailing market, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-self-driving-car-technology-where-google-was-three-years-ago-2017-8" rel="noopener noreferrer">Business Insider</a>.</p>

<p>Malwarebytes<strong> </strong>has released<strong> </strong><a href="https://www.malwarebytes.com/mac/">Malwarebytes for Mac</a>, featuring real-time protection to automatically block and remove cyber threats, including malware, adware and potentially unwanted programs.</p>

<p>Apple co-founder Steve “Woz” Wozniak, theoretical physicist and futurist Dr. Michio Kaku, as well as 20-plus AI experts from companies such as Square, NVIDIA, and others, will speak at <a target="_blank" href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fus.money2020.com%2Fai-deep-dive&esheet=51672740&newsitemid=20170824005420&lan=en-US&anchor=AI+Deep+Dive&index=1&md5=c242b59d52b226e6c720077a46e02701" rel="noopener noreferrer">AI Deep Dive</a>. It’s an artificial intelligence-focused event at Money20/20 in partnership with Feedza.</p>

<p>New research from <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/3790965" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gartner</a> says the global wearables market will grow 16.7% this year driven by strong smartwatch sales led by Apple.</p>

<p>There’s more evidence that the Apple Pencil will come to the iPhone in two new patent filings. They join the previously reported <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2017/5/23/apple-patent-filing-hints-at-iphones-and-macs-that-can-use-the-apple-pencil?rq=Apple%20Pencil" rel="noopener noreferrer">patent number 9,648,7040</a> — which also hinted at Macs that could use the stylus … er … pencil.</p>

<p>Akitio will release a new four bay, Thunderbolt 3 storage solution for Mac and Windows at the upcoming BIRTV Show in Beijing, China. The <a target="_blank" href="http://email.prnewswire.com/wf/click?upn=7VDqtAz2AW-2FeY7XnbvsasTyKCtpuMySBQeFCeqpVc9Q3vVvKcmFgOckxIYtz90we43dtHptyoGNpeLL4huurew-3D-3D_vr4CQd6f5d5U92w1G2ot038qxj2d-2BHc-2FraM9ysVslbM2GuwFWb6WaJjYDeKtis-2FvPfvY013NGmwxecbID9u7dtZpzHiBToSG0PinB5WYTQf3AQscLQ-2BG7tSVoypq-2BOf56q0PW0qow3es-2BxV32VDOmyt9ZrOfSQH7VyhxAqQKojwH9CDLRsqajll2wE4nZq1lnday3ycnLitbj2aWLIJ09z-2ByNiFGSo0yoOwaVoC0eOAcMR36iBkrtPvsIbQWGsJyeg1jJv4R7dazJ9jrUPWnbsVw5l1i9X9tSr7edGye8YwkNmjWJzbCFAAu-2FQY-2FnSfcNiomdbknyyPAlmNOumH8s5T8A4ydyOBGEyWvgNj8Wsw-3D" rel="noopener noreferrer">Thunder3 Quad X</a>, while similar to the Thunder3 Quad, features an all-new design and is now compatible with both macOS and Windows computers. </p>