Dennis Sellers

<p>Four months after offering Apple Pay, ANZ (the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited) says 250,000 of its customers are now using Apple’s mobile payment service, reports the <em>Australian </em><a href="http://www.afr.com/business/banking-and-finance/anz-apple-pay-users-hit-250000-20160829-gr3p0e"><em>Financial Review</em></a>.</p>

<p>Approximately 812,000 pay TV subscribers cut the cord from April through June of this year, according to research firm SNL Kagan — as noted by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thewrap.com/812000-cut-the-cord-q2-2016-cord-cutting-accelerates-comcast-dish-directv-time-warner-cable-verizon/" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Wrap</a>. That’s up from the industry’s loss of 625,000 in the same quarter a year ago.</p>

<p>A class action lawsuit concerning the 2012 acquisition of AuthenTek by Apple has been settled.  The lawsuit alleges, among other things, that AuthenTec's directors breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the sale of AuthenTec to Apple.</p>

<p>A ruling by the European Commission on Apple’s tax status in Ireland may come as early as this week. </p>

<p>Apple gets an “A” in the <em>2016 Semi-Annual Computer Reliability Report</em> from <a target="_blank" href="http://www.rescuecom.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">RESCUECOM</a>, a computer repair company. That’s up from the A- the company received in the <em>2015 Q3 Computer Reliability Report</em>. The grade also places Apple at the top of all computer maker lists if you exclude tablets.</p>

<p>iCloud Photo Library stores every photo and video you make, then keeps ‘em up to date on all your OS X and iOS devices. Any edits you make are automatically updated everywhere. And iCloud Photo Sharing makes it easy to share those photos and videos with others.</p>

<p>Nyrius’ $169.99 <a href="http://nyrius.com/product/Wireless_HD_Video_Transmitter_Receiver.eng-44.html">WS54</a> is an innovative solution that unlocks the restraints of traditional home entertainment systems by displaying content wirelessly to any of your TVs. It’s great for those of us who own several home entertainment products, such as an Apple TV, Roku, cable boxes and/or Blu-Ray players. </p>

<p>I’ve been using the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.decibullz.com/product/contour-custom-fit-earbuds/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Decibullz Custom molded earphones</a> for a few weeks now. My first reaction to seeing these earphones was intrigue; I didn’t even know that there was a market for earphones that will mold to fit your specific ear, but it turns out there is.  </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 agenda has been set for the Ninth Annual Amsterdam SuperMeet, which will take place during IBC2016 on Sunday, Sept. 11, at the Hotel Krasnapolsky in Amsterdam, NL. </p>

<p>Artists who make exclusive deals for Apple Music (even limited time ones) are <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-08-26/spotify-said-to-retaliate-against-artists-with-apple-exclusives">supposedly</a> being made harder to find on <a href="https://www.spotify.com/us/">Spotify's</a> platform and are less likely to be included in featured playlists once they become available after the Apple Music exclusivity ends.</p>

<p>Apple has released the eighth beta of iOS 10 to developers and the seven beta for public beta testers. The finished version of the operating system is due this fall.</p>

<p>Customer acquisition firm, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.fluentco.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fluent</a>, surveyed Americans on their thoughts about the rumored “iPhone 7,” the rumored Apple Watch 2, and perceptions around the brand. The survey was conducted among 1,735 adult residents (aged 18 and up) in the U.S.</p>

<p>Apple has been granted planning permission for an expansion at its Hollyhill site in Cork, which will create up to an additional 1,000 jobs over the next 18 months, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/apple-gets-permission-for-expansion-at-cork-plant-1.2768449" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Irish Times</a>. It will bring the total workforce there to 6,000 and also include a 752-space parking lot.</p>

<p>Apple is planning a new iPhone feature for Japan that will allow users to pay for mass-transit rides with their smartphones instead of physical payment cards, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-08-25/apple-said-to-plan-iphone-for-japan-with-tap-to-pay-for-subways" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bloomberg</a>, quoting unnamed “people familiar with the matter.”</p>