Dennis Sellers

<p>Samsung led the <a target="_blank" href="https://client.canalys.com/content/getcontent.php?id=4498" rel="noopener noreferrer">smartphone market in Central and Eastern Europe in Q2 2017</a>, shipping 4.9 million units, a year-on-year increase of 14%, according to Canalys. This was due to strong demand for Galaxy A and J series products, which have been updated this year, adds the research group.</p>

<p>Lakehorn AG has introduced Video File List 1.0 for macOS. The app is used to find out more about any collection of movies files. </p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.sfbags.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">WaterField Designs</a> has announced the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sfbags.com/products/air-porter-carry-on-bag" rel="noopener noreferrer">Air Porter</a> travel bag and Air Caddy duo, which are designed to facilitate in-case laptop charging, accelerate time through TSA security, and maximize in-flight leg room while maintaining easy access to essential tech, travel and personal items. </p>

<p>Apple has at least considered making more cases along the lines of its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MN012LL/A/iphone-7-smart-battery-case-white?fnode=99" rel="noopener noreferrer">iPhone 7 Smart Battery Case</a>. The company has filed for a patent (number 9,735,595) for a “single piece case with a battery and a hinge.”</p>

<p>Apple sold an estimated 3.98 million Mac laptops in the second quarter of the 2017 calendar year for a quarter-on-quarter increase of 17.1%, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://press.trendforce.com/press/20170815-2930.html?utm_medium=BelowLink&utm_source=BusinessWire_Press_EN_20170815&utm_campaign=PR_News" rel="noopener noreferrer">TrendForce</a>. The tech giant now ties for fifth place among the top global notebook brands, notes the market research firm.</p>

<p>Responding to questions from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Qualcomm has <a target="_blank" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-qualcomm-idUSKCN1AU256?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews" rel="noopener noreferrer">disclosed</a> further details about the impact of an ongoing dispute with Apple.</p>

<p>StarTech’s $405 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.startech.com/Cards-Adapters/Laptop-docking-stations/thunderbolt-3-docking-station~TB3DK2DPPD" rel="noopener noreferrer">Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station with Full Power Delivery</a> is one of the first (perhaps the first) docking stations on the market that provides full power delivery for Thunderbolt 3 enabled Mac and Windows platforms, so it’s perfect for Thunderbolt 3-equipped MacBook Pros. What does “full power delivery” mean? The StarTech device packs a 170W power adapter for efficient powering and charging (up to 85W).</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>In a note to clients — as noted by <a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/17/08/14/lte-apple-watch-will-keep-current-form-factor-be-offered-alongside-standard-versions" rel="noopener noreferrer">AppleInsider</a> — KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the upcoming Apple Watch Series 3 — expected in September —will offer LTE cellular connectivity, but won’t sport a new form factor, as some have rumored. </p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/14/apple-aetna-secret-meetings-to-bring-apple-watch-to-millions-more.html" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>CNBC</em></a><em> </em>reports that Apple and Aetna held secret talks last week to discuss bringing the Apple Watch to the company’s 23 million members.</p>

<p>Sony Electronics has announced its XAV-AX200 and MEX-GS820BT in-car audio systems, which sport support for Apple’s CarPlay. Both will be available by year’s end, but pricing hasn’t been announced. </p>

<p>Apple says that vendors have products in the pipeline that will use its Smart Connector technology that debuted with the iPad Pro, reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fastcompany.com/40444215/why-the-ipad-pro-smart-connector-accessory-business-isnt-booming" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Fast Company</em></a>.</p>

<p>China's Guizhou province, where Apple has set up its first data center in the country, plans to create a working committee chaired by communist party members to oversee the tech giant’s iCloud facility, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-china-idUSKCN1AU1LH?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtechnologyNews+%28Reuters+Technology+News%29" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters</a>. The Guizhou government says on its website (www.gzgov.gov.cn) that the iCloud working committee would be made up of around 10 members, such as Guizhou's Executive Vice Governor Qin Rupei, Deputy Secretary-general Ma Ningyu and other officials.</p>

<p>In a note to clients — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/14/google-paying-apple-3-billion-to-remain-default-search--bernstein.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">as reported by CNBC</a> — Bernstein analyst A.M. Sacconaghi Jr. says Google will pay Apple $3 billion this year to remain the default search engine on iPhones and iPads. Google paid Apple $1B billion for the privilege in 2014. </p>

<p>Inventec Appliances <a target="_blank" href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Subsidiary-of-Apple-supplier-Inventec-to-ship-voice-assistant-HomePod-in-Q4" rel="noopener noreferrer">says</a> it will start shipping Apple’s HomePod smart speaker late this year, which matches Apple’s December launch date.  </p>