Dennis Sellers

<p>Forget rumors about the “iPhone 8” (which has yet to be unveiled). Those are borrrring. Let’s talk about 2018’s “iPhone 8.” According to a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.theinvestor.co.kr/view.php?ud=20170523000805" rel="noopener noreferrer">new rumor</a> next year’s Apple smartphone will come in 5.28-inch and 6.46-inch sizes.</p>

<p>Huawei has introduced a trio of new MateBooks laptops. Yep, that’s the name. One would almost think that Huawei wants folks to confuse their devices with “MacBooks.”</p>

<p>There’s more evidence that the Apple Pencil will come to the iPhone in a new patent filing (number 9,648,7040) for “devices and methods for manipulating user interfaces wth a stylus.”</p>

<p>Global sales of smartphones to end users totaled 380 million units in the first quarter of 2017, a 9.1%  increase over the first quarter of 2016, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gartner.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gartner, Inc</a>. Mobile phone buyers are spending more to get a better phone, resulting in the rise in average selling prices of types of phone, according to the research group.</p>

<p>Apple is still in the lead among cell phone manufacturers with an American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) score of 81 (out of 100). This year, the top smartphone brand is the 4-inch iPhone SE with a score of 87. </p>

<p>Apple is looking to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-apple-idUSKBN18J0YV" rel="noopener noreferrer">expand</a> its contract manufacturer's facility in the southern Indian tech hub of Bengaluru, according to <em>Reuters</em>. The tech giant officially began initial production of a small number of iPhone SEs last week at its Wistron plant and plans to ship the devices to local customers as soon as this month.</p>

<p>“This is a meaningful agreement between Nokia and Apple,” said Maria Varsellona, chief legal Officer at Nokia, responsible for Nokia’s patent licensing business, in a press release. “It moves our relationship with Apple from being adversaries in court to business partners working for the benefit of our customers.”</p>

<p>Represented by the blue icon with the smiling face, the macOS Sierra Finder is the home base for your Mac. You use it to organize and access almost everything on your Mac, including documents, images, movies, and any other files you have. However, sometimes you need to restart it if it's acting ornery or if you’re installed an app that requires a restart. To do so:</p>

<p>If you need a rugged, portable, wireless, solar-powered sound system, you need Etón Corp.'s <a target="_blank" href="http://www.etoncorp.com/en/productdisplay/rugged-rukus" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rugged rukus</a>. It boasts an IPX4-certified splash-proof design. In addition, it can play music while simultaneously keeping your handheld device charged.</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>Demodi's GroupsPro 1.0 is a contacts and groups organizer that makes it easy to create and organize groups of contacts and create mailing lists. And it allows users to manage their contacts, contact groups, and create mailing lists for mass e-mails.</p>

<p>Not surprisingly, if you're an Android user, Apple wants you to go iPhone instead. And the company has rolled out <a target="_blank" href="https://www.apple.com/switch/" rel="noopener noreferrer">an overhauled webpage</a> aimed at encouraging Android users to switch to their own iPhone.</p>

<p>I’m always on the look-out for the latest and greatest computer speakers for use with my Mac. An <a target="_blank" href="http://thecrowdfundmafia.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d8.44%3f%26JDG%3c%3b4%3b254%3f%26SDG%3c90%3a.&RE=MC&RI=2904284&Preview=False&DistributionActionID=6822&Action=Follow+Link" rel="noopener noreferrer">Indiegogo</a> campaign is underway for an intriguing product dubbed Expanse Speakers, an electrostatic speaker system. </p>

<p>Hanwha Techwin America (formerly Samsung Techwin America has announced that the Samsung <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wisenetlife.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wisenet-SmartCam A1</a> — which works with an iOS app on the iPhone and iPad — is available to consumers both online and in stores including Sam's Club, Target and Amazon.com.</p>

<p>Jennifer Bailey, vice president of Apple pay, told <a target="_blank" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2017/05/21/tipping-point-apple-pay-majority-uk-tills-accept-limitless-payments/" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Telegraph</a> that over half of contactless payment terminals in the UK are now able to take Apple mobile payment transactions of any value. Most card readers had previously been restricted to £30, the default upper limit for contactless card transactions.</p>