Dennis Sellers

<p>Apple has announced that Isabel Ge Mahe, vice president of Wireless Technologies, has been named vice president and managing director of Greater China, reporting to CEO Tim Cook and COO Jeff Williams. In this newly created role, Isabel will provide leadership and coordination across Apple’s China-based team.</p>

<p>Apple has been granted a patent (number 9,711,160) for a “smart dock for activating a voice recognition mode of a portable electronic device.” If such a device ever comes to fruition, it would result in a dock that could be activated by Siri. Some of the features mentioned in the patent could appear in the upcoming <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2017/6/7/ihs-markit-apples-homepod-is-the-the-most-sophisticated-audio-product-in-the-smart-speaker-race-thus-far?rq=HomePod" rel="noopener noreferrer">HomePod</a>.</p>

<p>einstein's legacy's ChapterWork is a macOS utility for working with chapter tracks and markers in digital movies. It provides a simple, but effective, graphic interface for creating, updating and internationalizing chapter tracks in your visual masterpieces.</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 has updated <a target="_blank" href="https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/app/logic-pro-x/id634148309?mt=12&at=11l3Qo" rel="noopener noreferrer">Logic Pro X</a> — its macOS software for professional songwriting, editing, and mixing — to version 10.3.2. </p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mirareality.com&esheet=51590251&newsitemid=20170718005905&lan=en-US&anchor=Mira&index=1&md5=6791fc52044c5b36a7bc479e3a7f750f" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mira</a>, a mobile augmented reality company, has previewed the Prism, a minimalist, untethered augmented reality (AR) headset that works with the iPhone. It’s available for pre-order for $99 and will ship to developers this fall, with consumer shipments coming in time for the holidays. </p>

<p>Neonode has created the <a target="_blank" href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.air.bar&esheet=51484836&newsitemid=20170103005403&lan=en-US&anchor=AirBar&index=1&md5=669f5cef6e3ccfc595ba57fbf2f91dc2" rel="noopener noreferrer">AirBar</a>, a $99 device that adds touchscreen capabilities to a 13.3-inch MacBook Air. It’s a light weigh, brushed aluminum bar that magnetically attaches to the bottom of the laptop display and plugs in via USB to instantly activate touch and gesture capabilities, with no software installation or additional configuration required. </p>

<p>Apple Pay today has expanded to 27 new banks and credit unions in the U.S. International additions include AIB in Ireland, American Express in Italy, and bank Round, Beeline Card, Credit Union, Kykyryza, and Promsvyazbank in Russia. New Chinese entries include Guilin Bank, Hunan Rural Credit Cooperative, JinCheng Bank, Shanghai Rural Commercial Bank, Sichuan Rural Credit Union, SiChuan TianFu Bank, and Yibin City Commercial Bank.</p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.usa.philips.com/c-m-pe/electric-toothbrushes" rel="noopener noreferrer">Philips Sonicare</a> has launched the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.usa.philips.com/c-m-pe/electric-toothbrushes/diamondclean-smart-9700" rel="noopener noreferrer">DiamondClean Smart</a>. This new toothbrush provides “a complete oral care solution for a healthier mouth by removing up to 10 times more plaque than a manual toothbrush, while improving gum health up to seven times in just two weeks,” says Alexander Harris, senior marketing director, Philips Oral Healthcare.</p>

<p>DigiDNA has introduced iMazing Mini, a free macOS utility designed to automatically backup iOS devices over any local Wi-Fi network.</p>

<p>The $34.99 ClimateCase has been launched to provide protection for smartphones from overheating and freezing. Its multi-layered neoprene insulation provides thermal protection for smartphones. </p>

<p>Future implementations of Apple’s CarPlay and/or iOS devices may be able to tell when you’re driving your car and when exit your car and perform appropriate functions once it detects you’re no longer driving. Compatible with the iPhone 5 and later models, CarPlay provides a simplified way to use your iPhone interface on a car’s touch screen, giving users access to Siri voice controls, as well as Apple Maps, Apple Music, Phone, Messages, and a variety of third party apps.</p>

<p>Here’s a good reason to keep on using a Mac — or switch if you’re not currently a Mac user. macOS and macOS apps only account for 0.3% of computer repair issues in 2017, as compiled by the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.rescue.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">RESCUECOM</a> computer repair company.</p>

<p>Apple has announced — via its Developer <a target="_blank" href="https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=07172017b" rel="noopener noreferrer">web portal</a>  — a new iTunes Connect feature that allows developer customer support teams to respond to submitted App Store reviews. iTunes Connect is a suite of web-based tools for managing content sold on iTunes, the iBooks Store, and the various app stores. </p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/arcade-hoops-basketball-free/id306126286?mt=8" rel="noopener noreferrer">Arcade Hoops Basketball</a> from Skyworks Interactive has been bouncing around on iOS devices for awhile. And no wonder: it’s a fine game. </p>