Dennis Sellers

<p>Earlier this year, <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2016/09/01/apple-is-going-to-remove-abandoned-apps-from-the-app-store/">Apple said it planned to clean up the Apple App Store</a> by removing outdated, abandoned apps, including those that no longer meet current guidelines or don’t function as intended. The purge is underway, according to new data from <a href="https://sensortower.com/">Sensor Tower</a> — as noted by <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/15/apples-big-app-store-purge-is-now-underway/" rel="noopener noreferrer">TechCrunch</a>.</p>

<p>In a note to clients — as noted by<a target="_blank" href="http://www.macrumors.com" rel="noopener noreferrer"> MacRumors</a> — KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that Apple will release three iPhones in 2017: a 4.7-inch model with a single-lens camera and LCD display; a 5.5-inch model with a dual-lens camera and LCD display; and an all-new OLED model with a dual-lens camera in 2017 (he doesn’t mention a size for this one, although he’s previously forecast a 5.8-incher with a curved screen and glass casing).</p>

<p>Canada-based financial group John Hancock, has announced a subsidy program that offers up the Apple Watch Series 2 for as little as $25 to active members, through its Vitality program, reports <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/15/watch-insurance/" rel="noopener noreferrer">TechCrunch</a>.</p>

<p>Apple is apparently in the final stages of negotiating a deal that will see it open a new $50 million megastore in Melbourne, Australia’s iconic Federation Square, almost a decade after it first started looking for an appropriate central city site, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.theage.com.au/business/property/apples-50-million-bid-to-build-store-in-melbournes-federation-square-20161115-gspky9.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Age</a>.</p>

<p>The China Consumers Association (CCA) has asked Apple to investigate "a considerable number" of reports by users of iPhone 6 and 6s smartphones that the devices have been shutting off and cannot be turned back on again, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-battery-idUSKBN13A1AN" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters</a>.</p>

<p>The first-ever mobile game featuring Super Mario goes on sale for iPhone and iPad on Dec. 15 in United States time zones. <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsupermariorun.com%2Fen%2Findex.html&esheet=51460712&newsitemid=20161115005715&lan=en-US&anchor=Super+Mario+Run&index=1&md5=ff7805ddbe3eeca514e4a200af78637d">Super Mario Run</a> can be downloaded from the App Store at no cost, and players can try elements of the game’s three modes for free. </p>

<p>In-store shopping reigns supreme for Black Friday, with a majority of consumers poised to get up early and hit brick-and-mortar stores. According to a survey conducted by leading savings destination <a href="https://www.retailmenot.com/">RetailMeNot</a>, 40% of shoppers feel they get the most savings than any other shopping day. And the iPhone 7 looks to be a hot seller on Black Friday.</p>

<p>Make of it what you will, but Apple has applied for a design patent (number D771, 396) for a chair. The inventors are Kully Kraig Mandon, Andrew Charles Deffenbaugh, and Stefan Behling. Other than that the patent filing only has graphics (two of which are pictured).</p>

<p>Apple has announced the release of a new hardbound book chronicling 20 years of Apple’s design, expressed through 450 photographs of past and current Apple products. </p>

<p>QuickerTek lets you upgrade your 802.11 ac Apple Airport Base Station Extreme or Time Capsule (both of which are overdue for an update) by adding six high gain external antennas to the unit. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.quickertek.com/products/HexBandac.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">This acHex antenna upgrade</a> provides dual-band 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz WiFi and also triples the WiFi strength of any version of the new Apple ac Base Station Extreme and/or Time Capsule.</p>

<p>Apple is considering expanding into digital/smart glasses, “a risky but potentially lucrative area of wearable computing,” according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-14/apple-explores-smart-glasses-in-wearables-push" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bloomberg</a>, quoting unnamed “people familiar with the matter.”</p>

<p>Red Sweater apps has introduced Touché, a free app that emulates the Touch Bar on the new MacBook Pros on any Mac. Apple provided a “simulator” to developers, so they can get a sense for how the Touch Bar works, and test their own apps with the Touch Bar, without having to buy a new MacBook Pro.</p>

<p>Apple Pay support for charitable donations kicks off today with nonprofits ranging from global organizations such as UNICEF to startups like charity: water. Nonprofits will offer Apple Pay over the coming months so their supporters can make easy, secure and private payments, according to Apple.</p>

<p>Australians with an Android phone don't spend enough money to make it worthwhile to develop NFC solutions for you -- at least, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.zdnet.com/article/australian-banks-dismiss-android-nfc-past-in-apple-pay-negotiations/" rel="noopener noreferrer">ZDNet says</a> that would be one way to sum up the latest joint submission from CBA, NAB, Westpac, and Bendigo Bank to seek approval from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to collectively negotiate with Apple to gain access to the NFC element within iPhones.</p>

<p>Apple tops the 2016 Global Innovation 1000 Study by Price Waterhouse (PwC). The Cupertino, California-based company has held the top spot for six years running.</p>