Dennis Sellers

<p>Apple sold an estimated 3.98 million Mac laptops in the second quarter of the 2017 calendar year for a quarter-on-quarter increase of 17.1%, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://press.trendforce.com/press/20170815-2930.html?utm_medium=BelowLink&utm_source=BusinessWire_Press_EN_20170815&utm_campaign=PR_News" rel="noopener noreferrer">TrendForce</a>. The tech giant now ties for fifth place among the top global notebook brands, notes the market research firm.</p>

<p>Responding to questions from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Qualcomm has <a target="_blank" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-qualcomm-idUSKCN1AU256?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews" rel="noopener noreferrer">disclosed</a> further details about the impact of an ongoing dispute with Apple.</p>

<p>StarTech’s $405 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.startech.com/Cards-Adapters/Laptop-docking-stations/thunderbolt-3-docking-station~TB3DK2DPPD" rel="noopener noreferrer">Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station with Full Power Delivery</a> is one of the first (perhaps the first) docking stations on the market that provides full power delivery for Thunderbolt 3 enabled Mac and Windows platforms, so it’s perfect for Thunderbolt 3-equipped MacBook Pros. What does “full power delivery” mean? The StarTech device packs a 170W power adapter for efficient powering and charging (up to 85W).</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>In a note to clients — as noted by <a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/17/08/14/lte-apple-watch-will-keep-current-form-factor-be-offered-alongside-standard-versions" rel="noopener noreferrer">AppleInsider</a> — KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the upcoming Apple Watch Series 3 — expected in September —will offer LTE cellular connectivity, but won’t sport a new form factor, as some have rumored. </p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/14/apple-aetna-secret-meetings-to-bring-apple-watch-to-millions-more.html" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>CNBC</em></a><em> </em>reports that Apple and Aetna held secret talks last week to discuss bringing the Apple Watch to the company’s 23 million members.</p>

<p>Sony Electronics has announced its XAV-AX200 and MEX-GS820BT in-car audio systems, which sport support for Apple’s CarPlay. Both will be available by year’s end, but pricing hasn’t been announced. </p>

<p>Apple says that vendors have products in the pipeline that will use its Smart Connector technology that debuted with the iPad Pro, reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fastcompany.com/40444215/why-the-ipad-pro-smart-connector-accessory-business-isnt-booming" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Fast Company</em></a>.</p>

<p>China's Guizhou province, where Apple has set up its first data center in the country, plans to create a working committee chaired by communist party members to oversee the tech giant’s iCloud facility, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-china-idUSKCN1AU1LH?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtechnologyNews+%28Reuters+Technology+News%29" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters</a>. The Guizhou government says on its website (www.gzgov.gov.cn) that the iCloud working committee would be made up of around 10 members, such as Guizhou's Executive Vice Governor Qin Rupei, Deputy Secretary-general Ma Ningyu and other officials.</p>

<p>In a note to clients — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/14/google-paying-apple-3-billion-to-remain-default-search--bernstein.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">as reported by CNBC</a> — Bernstein analyst A.M. Sacconaghi Jr. says Google will pay Apple $3 billion this year to remain the default search engine on iPhones and iPads. Google paid Apple $1B billion for the privilege in 2014. </p>

<p>Inventec Appliances <a target="_blank" href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Subsidiary-of-Apple-supplier-Inventec-to-ship-voice-assistant-HomePod-in-Q4" rel="noopener noreferrer">says</a> it will start shipping Apple’s HomePod smart speaker late this year, which matches Apple’s December launch date.  </p>

<p>The line of $1,399 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.fusionguitars.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fusion Guitars</a> are now available online to musicians in the U.S. Billed as "the world's most advanced electric guitar" they allow musicians to unplug, learn and create music just about anywhere.</p>

<p>The $34.99 Satechi Smart Charging Stand lets you charge a total of four devices simultaneously, so it’s perfect for a desk/nightstand or for juicing up your Apple devices in, say, a hotel room.</p>

<p>Thanks to Apple’s ARKit, we know that augmented reality (AR) is coming to the iPhone and iPad. And a new Apple patent (number 20170228935) for “augmented reality based on wireless ranging” hints at the company’s long range plans for AR.</p>

<p>Good news for Apple and its ARKit: worldwide revenues for the augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) market are forecast to increase by 100% or more over each of the next four years, according to the latest update to the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.idc.com/tracker/showproductinfo.jsp?prod_id=1381" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Worldwide Semiannual Augmented and Virtual Reality Spending Guide</em></a> from the International Data Corporation (IDC). </p>