Dennis Sellers

<p>A significant streaming milestone was reached in March when weekly on-demand audio streaming surpassed seven billion thanks to services like Apple Music, according to Nielsen. For the first six months of the year, there have been 184.3 billion on-demand audio streams — a 62% increase over the same period in 2016.</p>

<p>The AWT News Update is on a one-day hiatus while my compadre, Steve, takes 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><a target="_blank" href="http://www.theinvestor.co.kr/view.php?ud=20170714000483" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Korea Herald</a> reports that Apple has spent “tens of millions of dollars” to buy production equipment to avoid delays in circuit boards for the upcoming “iPhone 8.”</p>

<p>B-Eng has released File Manager Pro for Mac. Offered as a replacement for the Finder app, it sports a double window layout.</p>

<p>I don’t think this will happen, but Apple has been granted a patent that shows an iMac with a recharging slot of a removable battery for an iPhone, iPad, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Mouse. The patent (number 20170200988) is for a “battery charging system and mobile and accessory devices.”</p>

<p>Cheap portable speakers are all about compact size and mainly focus on making the music streaming from a phone louder, without a strong focus on sound quality.</p>

<p>Apple will push its next generation smartwatch — likely dubbed Apple Watch Series 3 — even more as a device for boosting health and fitness. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellbeing/fitness/roxy-jacenkos-personal-trainer-ben-lucas-scouted-by-apple-for-tech-launch-20170711-gx8x8m.html" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Sydney Morning Herald reports</em></a> that personal trainer Ben Lucas, a former professional rugby player, has been invited to meet with reps from the tech giant at a Hollywood-based educational session next week.</p>

<p>Former Apple exec, Apple exec Stephanie Carullo, will succeed Dan Levin as chief operating officer a Box, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2017/07/12/box-announces-former-apple-cisco-exec-stephanie-carullo-will-succeed-dan-levin-as-coo/" rel="noopener noreferrer">TechCrunch.</a> Box is a company that makes “an enterprise content management platform that solves simple and complex challenges, from sharing and accessing files on mobile devices to sophisticated business processes like data governance and retention.”</p>

<p><em>MacGamer HQ</em> has released its list of "<a target="_blank" href="http://tinyurl.com/y77y4ax2" rel="noopener noreferrer">The 100 Best Mac Games Today</a>". It provide a summary of the games, system requirements, pricing, and more.</p>

<p>Mac sales were down in the second quarter of 2017, but Apple’s share of the global personal computer (PC) market rose to 6.9% from 6.7% in the year-ago period, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gartner.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gartner</a>. </p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="http://toolfarm.cmail20.com/t/r-l-jlcjhiy-kytjkjkydt-s/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Toolfarm.com</a> is offering a limited number of free one-year subscriptions to Martini, PowerProduction Software’s storyboarding plug-in for Apple’s Final Cut Pro X, Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer, and Magix VEGAS Pro. The regular price is $49.95.</p>

<p>The Sellers Research Firm (that’s me) is 99% sure that, despite some rumors, Apple isn’t ditching Touch ID on the upcoming “iPhone 8” in place of facial recognition identification. However, the next generation smart phone may boast both technologies. Apple has been granted a patent (number 20170199997 for “embedded authentication systems in an electronic device.” (Interestingly, the graphics for the article also show a Mac. Hmmmm.)</p>

<p>Working while traveling is no easy task, but ZAGG’s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4mRn2oX6HA&feature=youtu.be" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rugged Messenger</a> wireless Bluetooth keyboard makes it a bit easier for owners of Apple's 9.7-inch iPad. It’s a durable, detachable case for the tablet that offers a keyboard, multi-device pairing, wireless connectivity, and a kickstand. Since Apple doesn’t offer a keyboard for the non-pro tablet, this will be a must-have accessory for some folks.</p>

<p>Another day, another lawsuit. <a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/17/07/12/uniloc-continues-legal-assault-against-apple-with-two-new-patent-suits" rel="noopener noreferrer">AppleInsider</a> reports that Uniloc, a “patent troll,” has filed yet another suit — actually two, against Apple claiming, naturally, patent infringement.</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>