Dennis Sellers

<p>I’m always on the look-out for the latest and greatest computer speakers for use with my Mac. An <a target="_blank" href="http://thecrowdfundmafia.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d8.44%3f%26JDG%3c%3b4%3b254%3f%26SDG%3c90%3a.&RE=MC&RI=2904284&Preview=False&DistributionActionID=6822&Action=Follow+Link" rel="noopener noreferrer">Indiegogo</a> campaign is underway for an intriguing product dubbed Expanse Speakers, an electrostatic speaker system. </p>

<p>Hanwha Techwin America (formerly Samsung Techwin America has announced that the Samsung <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wisenetlife.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wisenet-SmartCam A1</a> — which works with an iOS app on the iPhone and iPad — is available to consumers both online and in stores including Sam's Club, Target and Amazon.com.</p>

<p>Jennifer Bailey, vice president of Apple pay, told <a target="_blank" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2017/05/21/tipping-point-apple-pay-majority-uk-tills-accept-limitless-payments/" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Telegraph</a> that over half of contactless payment terminals in the UK are now able to take Apple mobile payment transactions of any value. Most card readers had previously been restricted to £30, the default upper limit for contactless card transactions.</p>

<p>Another day, another lawsuit. <a target="_blank" href="http://usrid.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Universal Secure Registry</a>, a Boston area “enabling technology” company, has filed a complaint in United States District Court for the District of Delaware accusing Apple and Visa of infringing patents for electronic payments and identity authentication that paved the way for their mobile payment platforms.</p>

<p>Emerson has announced the new Sensi Touch Wi-Fi with a color touchscreen and HomeKit compatibility. HomeKit is a framework that allows control of compatible home automation devices through iOS and Siri.</p>

<p>Apple’s sold an estimated 3.4 million laptops in the first quarter of the 2017 calendar year, compared to an estimated 2.9 million in the previous quarter, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://press.trendforce.com/press/20170522-2857.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">TrendForce</a>. This places it fifth among global laptop manufacturers, notes the research group with 9% market share.</p>

<p>Nokia asked a Texas federal judge Thursday to toss antitrust counterclaims by Apple in a patent infringement suit over video compression technology, calling the tech giant’s protestations that it was the victim of a monopoly a meritless attempt to impede Nokia’s infringement claims, reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/926211/apple-not-a-victim-of-monopoly-nokia-tells-court?nl_pk=ade0cf2b-ea3f-464b-bc93-d8e19277ac63&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=technology" rel="noopener noreferrer">the Law 360 website</a>.</p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2017/04/today-at-apple-bringing-new-experiences-to-every-apple-store/" rel="noopener noreferrer">“Today at Apple”</a> kicked off this weekend with new in-store programming around the world, including Photo Walks and Kids Hour at all 495 Apple stores. From Getting Started with Coding to How To: Sketch, Draw and Paint with iPad, stores collectively hosted 4,000 sessions a day, including some with special guests.</p>

<p>Apple wants to make it easier to manage HomeKit compatible gadgets and its own iOS and macOS devices from a central interface, perhaps on an iPhone, iPad or Mac. The company has been granted a patent (number 20170139801) for “presenting status received from multiple devices.”</p>

<p>When you click a link for an email address, your Mac opens the app you've set for that kind of link. Mail is the default email app. It works just fine for me. However, if you install other email apps, you might want to set them to open when you click an email link or web link. To set a default email app:</p>

<p>According to the latest figures published by the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.idc.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">IDC research group,</a> the tablet market in Western Europe posted a slight 1.7% year-over-year (YoY) contraction. In total, 7.1 million devices were shipped in the region, a performance above expectations that shows some resilience in the tablet market after many quarters of decline. </p>

<p>Apple has been granted a patent (number 9,654,551) for an “apparatus and method for inviting users to online sessions” such as peer-to-peer sessions. Peer-to-peer SIP (P2P-SIP) is an implementation of a distributed voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or instant messaging communications method in which no central servers are required.</p>

<p>It might benefit Apple and its customers if Apple were to add a VoIP service. Think of a product akin to Google Voice, but with Apple's flair and deep integration into the Apple ecosystem. </p>

<p>Sindiecate Arts has released <a target="_blank" href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/633130/Nongnz/?utm_source=NonGunz+Out+Now&utm_campaign=5bd37cce0f-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_05_19&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_74e841d390-5bd37cce0f-89887169" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nongünz on Steam</a> for macOS, Windows and Linux. It's a $6.99 “gothic retro” game.</p>

<p>Avangrid Renewables, the project developer for Apple’s Montague (Oregon) Wind Power Facility, is seeking a permit amendment for the Montague Wind Power Facility that would allow it to use a turbine model with a rotor diameter of 136 meters and generating capacity of 3.6 megawatts.</p>