Dennis Sellers

<p>According to new data from the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.idc.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">International Data Corporation</a>, smartphone shipments are expected to grow 10.4% in 2015 to 1.44 billion units. This is lower than IDC's previous smartphone forecast of 11.3% year-over-year growth in 2015. </p>

<p>Wells Fargo analyst Maynard Um <a target="_blank" href="http://tinyurl.com/nokb7az" rel="noopener noreferrer">has upgraded his Apple share outlook</a> to "outperform" with a target range of US$125 to $135. </p>

<p style="margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px">Apple has been granted a patent (number 9,119,141) by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office for ubiquitous access to a femtocell-connected network. A femtocell is a small, low-power cellular base station typically reserved for use in a home or small business. </p>

<p>Recently, I began receiving annoying texts from a "mystery shopping" company asking me to do some work for them. I smelled something fishy, so when they kept texting me, I decided it was time to block their number on my iPhone. You may have a number you'd like to block, as well. If so here's how.</p>

<p>Apple has been granted a patent (number 9,118,642) by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office that hints at an Apple NAS device/home server I've long wanted. The patent is for "asset streaming." NAS — or network-attached storage — is a computer data storage server connected to your computer network that provides access to a wide variety of data.</p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="http://tinyurl.com/p36nk5v" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tagtrum’s beaTunes</a> is a useful iTunes tool for Mac OS X and Windows users. And it's gotten even better with the latest version (4.5).</p>

<p>In <a target="_blank" href="http://tinyurl.com/nkr8jqm" rel="noopener noreferrer">an opinion piece</a> for <em>TechRadar</em>, Matthew Bolton says "Macs don't represent a great deal for someone who wants high-end gaming, but they shouldn't be dismissed because of that. The range of games is already strong, and is only going to grow further - and you can run Windows for the rest." </p>

<p>There was talk that Apple would announce a new education initiative this week. However, the company is instead emphasizing its participation in the US ConnectED program. <a target="_blank" href="http://tinyurl.com/pnr9log" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple CEO Tim Cook appeared</a> in a pre-recorded segment on Good Morning America today and discussed this with co-anchor Robin Roberts.</p>

<p>Once upon a time it was easy to save a document with a new name in Mac OS X as the "Save As" appeared automatically under the File option in appropriate apps (such as Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and TextEdit). For some reason Apple hid it starting with Mac OS X Lion.</p>

<p>If the iTunes Mini-Player option in iTunes doesn't quite serve your iTunes management, <a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cockatoo-for-itunes/id788713417?mt=12" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cockatoo</a> from Intuitive Code might be for you. It lets you easily control the iTunes music player. </p>

<p>Another day, another lawsuit. A Nevada-base company called Verify Smart Corp. is suing Apple for — wait it for it — patent infringement. The company alleges that Apple's 2-step Apple ID verification system/process violates their patent, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://tinyurl.com/on4rxx3" rel="noopener noreferrer">Patently Apple</a>.</p>

<p>Apple has started an iSight Camera replacement program for the iPhone 6 Plus. The company says<a target="_blank" href="http://tinyurl.com/nw3px2s" rel="noopener noreferrer"> it has determined</a> that, in a small percentage of iPhone 6 Plus devices, the iSight camera has a component that may fail causing your photos to look blurry. </p>

<p>2014 was a terrible year for movie attendance, with audience numbers plunging to the lowest they've been in two decades, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://tinyurl.com/ospwaz8" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Hollywood Reporter</a>. Ironically, this could be good news for Apple.</p>

<p>Hey, men, WaterField Designs' US$119 <a target="_blank" href="http://tinyurl.com/pmt5x8o" rel="noopener noreferrer">Field Tote</a> is a manly tote that's rugged and handsome and manly and …</p>

<p style="margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px">Apple will reportedly debut a new, impressively revamped Apple TV at a <a target="_blank" href="http://tinyurl.com/pwl3bto" rel="noopener noreferrer">September event</a>, though the company hasn't firmed this. Hopefully the rumor is true because Apple's set-top box needs something to beef up sales. </p>