Dennis Sellers

<p>A report from the Israeli website <a target="_blank" href="http://theverifier.co.il/2017/04/07/exclusive-iphone-8-vr-leak/" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Verifier</em></a> — as noted by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.macobserver.com/news/iphone-8-augmented-reality-smart-connector/" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The MacObserver</em></a> — says the upcoming “iPhone 8” will include an iPad Pro-like smart connector that may be the link up for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality headsets. The article adds that the smart connector will also be used for charging, sort of like MagSafe for the iPhone. </p>

<p>Don’t get your hopes up yet that Apple is making its own auto from scratch. <em>Forbes</em> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2017/04/18/apples-self-driving-car-future-looks-to-be-about-apps-and-services-not-an-icar/#19bcf9b45d2b" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a> Wednesday that — as I’ve suspected — the tech giant seems to be more interested in developing apps for self-driving cars than the cars themselves.</p>

<p>Apple has announced its major new commitment to tackle the environmental impact caused by electronics production, becoming the first major IT company to commit to using 100% recycled materials for its products. In response to the announcement, Greenpeace Senior IT Analyst Gary Cook had this to say:</p>

<p>Another day, another lawsuit. Chronic suer Acacia Research’s Cellular Communications Equipment subsidiary is suing Apple and other cellular partners for allegedly infringing on four patents developed by Nokia covering messaging, emergency alerts and other key cellular technologies, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/17/04/19/serial-patent-troll-acacia-research-again-sues-apple-cellular-carriers-over-wireless-patents" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AppleInsider</em></a>.</p>

<p>Apple has secured the exclusive rights to <em>Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives, </em>based on Davis' 2013 bestselling autobiography and made in conjunction with The IM Global and Scott Free Productions, reports <em><a target="_blank" href="http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/7767700/clive-davis-documentary-coming-exclusively-to-apple-music)" rel="noopener noreferrer">Billboard</a></em>.</p>

<p>Nothing beats a wired connection when you need (or simply want) a really fast network connection. That means either cutting into walls or usingPowerline Communication such as found in the <a target="_blank" href="http://tendacn.com/en/product/P1001P.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tenda AV1000 Gigabit Powerline Adapter</a>.</p>

<p>Did you know that you can use Home Sharing to import items from up to five iTunes libraries on other computers on your home network? You can (assuming you have an <a target="_blank" href="https://support.apple.com/kb/index?page=link&apdid=itns2b902f51&viewlocale=en_US&bookId=iTunes%20HelpPP200" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple ID</a>).</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>Apple did well in the 2017 Harris Poll EquiTrend Brand of the Year rankings. The company took the top spot in the Tablet Computer Brand of the Year for its iPad, top spot in the Smartwatch Brand of the year for the Apple Watch, second place (behind Microsoft) in the Computer Manufacturer Brand of the Year for the Mac,  and second place (behind Google Chromecast) for the Media Streaming Device of the Year for the Apple TV.</p>

<p>Beijing's Internet regulators plans to summon Apple and urge the tech giant to tighten up checks on software applications available in the Apple Store, according to the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nasdaq.com/article/china-reportedly-to-summon-apple-over-live-stream-apps-20170419-00697" rel="noopener noreferrer">Xinhua News Agency</a>. The report noted that officers with the law enforcement team met with company reps about the examination of live stream apps.</p>

<p>AlwaysOnline Wireless (operated by Otono Networks) twill be expanding its global LTE-exclusive network for iPad with Apple SIM into 14 new countries, bringing the total number of countries covered to 88. The new countries are Armenia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bermuda, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Ecuador, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Jordan, Morocco, and Uruguay.</p>

<p>The 27-inch LG UltraFineTM 5K display from LG Electronics has <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2017/2/28/revamped-ultrafine-5k-displays-should-start-shipping-march-8-16?rq=Ultrafine%205K" rel="noopener noreferrer">had its problems</a>, but it’s been named this year's "Best Photo Monitor" by the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA). </p>

<p>According to the <a target="_blank" href="http://thinkwellgroup.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Thinkwell Group</a>, an experience design company that integrates augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR ) into its work with Fortune 500 brands—Apple should tread carefully when entering the AR landscape. According to Thinkwell, there are five things Apple should do to be a relevant player in the AR space:</p>

<p>Mach Software Design has introduced Alien News 1.0 for macOS, a news reader app. Built from the ground up for tab and Touch Bar support, Alien News provides unlimited windows and Reddit accounts.</p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sonnettech.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sonnet Technologies</a> has announced that its $899 Echo Express III-D (desktop) and $999 Echo Express III-R (rackmount) Thunderbolt-to-PCI Express (PCIe) three-slot expansion chassis are now shipping with full support for Thunderbolt 3. </p>