Dennis Sellers

<p>Apple has been granted a patent (number 9,563,177) for a “context-aware world clock.” It would allow time information for various locations to be automatically generated for display on a portable electronic device such as an iPhone or Apple Watch. </p>

<p>Pyle USA has introduced the $58.99 <a href="https://www.pyleusa.com/bluetooth-digital-weight-and-personal-health-scale-with-wireless-iphone-android-smartphone-data-transfer-and-pyle-health-app-fitness-tracker-gray.html">Bluetooth Fitness Scale </a>, a scale and integrated app — available free at the Apple App Store — designed to provide the most critical data points for any workout regimen including body fat, hydration levels, muscle level and bone level percentages. The scale allows users to set fitness goals and monitor their progress.</p>

<p>Personally, I’m not expecting new iPhones until S<strong>e</strong>ptember, but <a target="_blank" href="http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20170210PD205.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">DigiTimes Research</a> says the next gen smartphones will enter production early. Quoting unnamed “industry sources,” the article says Apple has requested its chip and component suppliers start trial production, inspection and prepare inventories for the new iPhone series sooner than usual. </p>

<p>Think you’re clever for using Apple products? You’re right! A new study says we have higher credit scores, loan amounts and better rates than Android and Windows users.</p>

<p>Macquarie Group and ING Direct plan to start using Apple Pay in Australia this month, “hoping to snatch market share from the major retail banks through digital technology,” reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-australia-banks-idUSKBN15P02M?utm_source=applenews" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters</a>.</p>

<p>Mac users should download <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pipifier-pip-for-nearly-every/id1160374471?mt=12&uo=4&at=10l69J">PiPifier</a>, a free app for macOS 10.12 or later that’s found in the Mac App Store. It’s a handy extension that lets you play any HTML 5 video in Picture-in-Picture mode. Sweet!</p>

<p>Apple has delayed shipments for LG UltraFine 5K, a 27-inch model touted as the perfect display for 2016 MacBook Pros, and removed in store pickup options, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.macrumors.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">MacRumors</a>. New orders for the LG UltraFine 5K Display will now ship out in five to six weeks with fixes to a reported issue with router.</p>

<p>Apple subsidiary Beats will have the $149.95 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MLYF2LL/A/beatsx-earphones-white" rel="noopener noreferrer">BeatsX wireless headphones</a> available for purchase in the U.S. on Feb.10. Scoop one up and you’ll get three free months of Apple Music, which costs $9.99 per month (or $4.99 for students).</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="https://www.macrumors.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">MacRumors</a> — KGI Securities Ming-Chi Kuo analyst says that all three new iPhones that will launch this year will support wireless charging.</p>

<p>According to the CEO of Russian hacking tool creator Elcomsoft, Apple is storing Safari histories in the iCloud going back more than a year, possibly much longer, even where the user has asked for them to be wiped from memory.</p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sonnettech.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sonnet Technologies</a> has announced Mac compatible Twin 10G Thunderbolt 3 Edition Thunderbolt 3 to Dual-Port 10GBASE-T 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) adapter, and the Twin 10G SFP+ Thunderbolt 3 Edition Thunderbolt 3 to Dual-Port SFP+ 10GbE adapter. </p>

<p>Future iPhones and iPads (and perhaps even Mac laptops) could have flexible displays. Apple has filed for a patent (number 20170040306) for <strong>“electronic devices with soft input-out components.”</strong></p>

<p>Apple will launch a special 10th anniversary edition of the iPhone that will cost more than $1,000, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fastcompany.com/3068004/innovation-agents/heres-why-apples-10th-anniversary-iphone-will-likely-cost-more-than-1000" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fast Company</a>, quoting an unnamed “source with knowledge of Apple’s plans.”</p>

<p>In 2014 <em>Wired</em> made the suggestion that Apple should instead buy one or more of 10 potential purchases the magazine recommends. Following are the 10 companies Wired recommended (with tongue sometimes in cheek) that Apple should acquire, along with what I'd recommend if I were in charge of Apple (and be thankful that I'm not). It's up to you to decide which of my recommendations are also tongue-in-cheek and which aren't:</p>