Dennis Sellers

<p style="margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px">A <a target="_blank" href="http://tinyurl.com/p5fvsds" rel="noopener noreferrer">study by StellaService</a>, which measures online customer service, indicates a decline in Apple's customer service in recent months.</p>

<p>Secretary of Defense Ash Carter <a target="_blank" href="http://tinyurl.com/nwcb9wq" rel="noopener noreferrer">has announced</a> that the Obama administration has awarded a Manufacturing Innovation Institute for Flexible Hybrid Electronics to a consortium of 162 companies (including Apple), universities, and non-profits led by <a target="_blank" href="http://flextech.org" rel="noopener noreferrer">the FlexTech Alliance</a> as part of the Department of Defense effort to partner with the private sector and academia "to ensure the United States continues to lead in the new frontiers of manufacturing."</p>

<p style="margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px">A <a target="_blank" href="http://tinyurl.com/plg3bgl" rel="noopener noreferrer">Seeking Alpha</a> article by "Electric Phred" says there's a good chance we'll see the rumored Apple Car at Apple's <a target="_blank" href="http://tinyurl.com/nw8ftcq" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sept. 9 media event</a>. However, if I were a betting man, I'd bet against it.</p>

<p>I'm definitely expecting the next generation Apple TV to be announced at <a target="_blank" href="http://tinyurl.com/nw8ftcq" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple's Sept. 9 media event</a>. I'll be disappointed if it lacks 4K support. In fact, I have a suggestion for Apple for future Apple TVs, Macs and iOS devices: add support for the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.vidity.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">VIDITY platform</a>.</p>

<p>It's official. Apple will hold a media event on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 10 am (Pacific), at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. The media invitation came with the teaser: "Hey Siri, give us a hint." I've stared into my crystal ball to see what we can expect.</p>

<p>Apple is teaming up with <a target="_blank" href="http://tinyurl.com/nrjbmjo" rel="noopener noreferrer">American Bancard's PayAnywhere</a> to introduce a new version of its PayAnywhere Mobile credit card reader, which will be ready for Apple Pay. The NFC card reader will beavailable exclusively in U.S. Apple Stores and at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.apple.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple's online store</a> next month.</p>

<p>Sony and Panasonic's <a target="_blank" href="http://tinyurl.com/pmssrz8" rel="noopener noreferrer">"Archival Disc," </a>which is described as "a new standard for professional-use, next-generation optical discs, are due in the second half of the year. The objective is to "expand the market for long-term digital data storage." Will Apple support it?</p>

<p>In its first appearance in the wearables market, Apple finds itself within striking distance of the established market leader, Fitbit. According to the International Data Corporation, Apple shipped a total of 3.6 million units in the second quarter of 2015 (2Q15), just 0.8 million units behind Fitbit's 4.4 million units. Total shipment volume for the quarter came to 18.1 million units, up 223.2% from the 5.6 million units shipped in 2Q14.</p>

<p>Cell phone shipments in Japan fell 1.9% year-over-year to 7.23 million units in the second quarter of 2015 (April to June), according to a study by IDC Japan. However, Apple remains the top seller of phones in the country.</p>

<p>Apple's AirPlay lets you wirelessly stream what’s on your iOS devices and Macs to an HDTV and speakers. The company has filed for a patent (number 20150242062) with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office for "selectively broadcasting audio and video content" that would involve changes in the technology, especially long the lines of privacy.</p>

<p>Apple is considering advanced bone conduction technology that would improve voice communications in a wireless earphone system. The company has filed for a patent (20150245129) with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office for a "system and method of improving voice quality in a wireless headset with untethered earbuds of a mobile device."</p>

<p>The wearables market in the U.S. from 2014 through the first half of 2015 has shown fast growth in year-over-year volume of consumer feedback. Hhowever after peaking post-holidays in January 2015, demand growth has slowed significantly, according to a new report from <a href="http://www.argusinsights.com">Argus Insights</a>. However, things look good for the Apple Watch.</p>

<p>Fourteen former and current Foxconn employees have been sentenced to prison for jailbreaking and selling more than 9,000 iPhones bought from the US and selling them for higher prices in China, according to Tencent Tech, the technology news section of Tencent, a major Chinese web portal. </p>

<p>If Apple Music doesn't satisfy all your music listening needs, AppGeneration's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mytuner.mobi" rel="noopener noreferrer">myTuner Radio ap</a>p  for Mac OS X is a nice complement to the music service. </p>

<p style="margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px">The International Data Corporation thinks that the rumored "iPad Pro" will be a "detachable" device, a hybrid tablet/laptop along the lines of Microsoft's Surface devices. As I've said before, I'm dubious, but IDC's theory is an increasingly popular one.</p>