Dennis Sellers

<p>The minute it was announced that Apple’s AirPods went on sale, I went to the Apple online store and ordered a pair. They arrived on Tuesday, Dec. 20, so I’ve been using them for three days. Overall, I really like them, though they do fall out of my ears when I run.</p>

<p>Future Apple Watches may be (surprise!) even thinner. Apple has filed for a patent (20160371942) for a “band attachment mechanism with haptic feedback” that would transfer the smartwatch's haptic feedback mechanism from the device’s body to its wrist strap.</p>

<p>Apple has introduced a new version of its Photos Web app for iCloud. It’s available to all users of <a href="http://iCloud.com">iCloud.com</a>.</p>

<p>When Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1997, he drastically simplified the product line-up. It’s time for the company to do the same again.</p>

<p>The <a target="_blank" href="https://epson.com/For-Home/Printers/Inkjet/Epson-Expression-ET-3600-EcoTank-All-in-One-Supertank-Printer/p/C11CF73201" rel="noopener noreferrer">Epson WorkForce ET-3660 EcoTank</a> wireless all-in-one comes loaded and ready with up to two years of ink in the box. Or so says Epson. However, its predecessor, the ET-4550, did exactly that. In fact, in over a year, I’ve never replaced an ink cartridge.</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>A widely quoted <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-12-20/how-apple-alienated-mac-loyalists">Bloomberg report</a>, quoting unnamed “people familiar with Apple’s inner workings,” says the “Mac team has lost clout with the famed industrial design group led by Jony Ive and the company's software team.” I don’t know if this is true or not. For all I know, Apple’s design guru may spend 25 hours a day thinking of ways to make better Macs.</p>

<p>Another day, another lawsuit. Nokia is <a href="http://seekingalpha.com/pr/16699635-nokia-sues-apple-europe-us-infringement-nokia-patents">suing Apple</a> in Germany and the U.S. for (what else?) patent infringement.</p>

<p>Pyle has introduced its <a href="https://www.pyleusa.com/wifi-bluetooth-soundbar-wireless-music-streaming-surround-sound-speaker-system-usb-sd-mp3-readers-fm-radio-300-watt.html">Wi-Fi Bluetooth Sound Bar</a>, which features one 5.25-inch woofer, two 3-inch full range speakers and two 1-inch tweeters. The built-in FM stereo features autosearch functionality and 20 presets for easy access to your favorite tunes.</p>

<p>Super Mario Run is already half way to projected first month download and revenue totals, according to Sensor Tower <a href="https://sensortower.com/solutions/store0intelligence">Store Intelligence</a> data. The game surpassed 25 million worldwide downloads in its four-day opening weekend of Dec. 15-18, while earning more than $21 million in global gross revenue during this same period. </p>

<p>Apple has released new versions of its router software: 7.6.8 for the 802.11n AirPort Extreme, and 7.7.8 for the 802.11ac AirPort Extreme. According to Apple's release notes, the update fixes an issue where the routers would not respond to the AirPort Utility when "Back to My Mac" is enabled. There are also security fixes.</p>

<p>River Design's Sparkle is a handy website builder for those who prefer to do things visually. The app translates any text and graphic layout to HTML and provides Mac users with a fun way to build websites visually. </p>

<p>If you’re looking for a rugged, wireless, portable (2.9 x 6.8 x 2.3 inches and weighing about a pound) speaker that packs good sound for its size, give a listen to the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gosoundcast.com/products/vg1" rel="noopener noreferrer">Soundcast VG1</a>. It’s a Bluetooth speaker that’s shock absorbing and waterproof, so it’s ready to hit the road, sit by the pool, or provide audio in your home office.</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>The third quarter of 2016 reflected a solid performance for business smartphones, but the business tablet market continued to suffer, due to market saturation and lengthening product lifecycles, according to the Strategy Analytics research group.</p>