Dennis Sellers

<p>The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) officially adopted Bluetooth 5 as the latest version of the Bluetooth core specification this week. Key updates to Bluetooth 5 include longer range, faster speed, and larger broadcast message capacity, as well as improved interoperability and coexistence with other wireless technologies. </p>

<p>I’ve always appreciated the HiRise line of products, but Twelve South has kicked things up a notch (pun intended) with the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.twelvesouth.com/product/hirise-duet" rel="noopener noreferrer">HiRise Duet.</a> The latest iteration of the charging stand/dock powers your iPhone and Apple Watch simultaneously. This saves some desktop real estate and eliminates a bit of cord clutter.</p>

<p>Mineral Database is a Mac app from Tasa Graphics Arts that provides a useful reference for students, educators, professionals, or anyone interested in minerals.</p>

<p>The AWT News Update is on hiatus while my compadre, Steve, takes a road trip. In its place, I’ll offer a text-only (no podcast) summary of breaking stories with a tip o’ my hat to my former website, <em>Apple Daily Report</em>.</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>With major studios <a href="http://seekingalpha.com/news/3228363-theater-stocks-take-beating-concerns-premium-home-viewing">talking about the possibility</a> of movie rentals becoming available as soon as two weeks after debuting in theaters, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-12-07/apple-said-in-talks-with-film-studios-for-earlier-movie-rentals">Bloomberg reports</a> that Apple's been pushing for such early access. Historically, theaters are given exclusive rights for 90 days before titles become available through DVD and online formats.</p>

<p>In a tweet, Apple’s, Phil Schiller, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Marketing Philip Schiller <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/pschiller/status/806510676147507200" rel="noopener noreferrer">claims</a> November was a “record breaker” for the Apple App Store with the highest monthly sales ever.</p>

<p>According to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.digitimes.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">DigiTimes Researc</a>h, 51.29 million tablets will ship globally in the fourth quarter of 2016, increasing 7.3% on quarter but decreasing 21.5% on year. Apple will ship 10.9 million iPads, up 17.2% sequentially, according to the research group.</p>

<p>If you’re looking for a 27-inch display to use with your new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar and are tired of waiting for the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.apple.com/shop/product/HKN62LL/A/lg-ultrafine-5k-display?fnode=8a" rel="noopener noreferrer">LG UltraFine Display</a>, which is still listed as “currently unavailable” at Apple’s online store, HP has unveiled its <a href="http://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/accessories-88342--1/hp-envy-27-27-inch-display-w5a12aa-aba">27-inch ENVY display</a>.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.glassdoor.com/index.htm">Glassdoor</a>, the world's most transparent jobs and recruiting marketplace, has announced the winners of its ninth annual Employees' Choice Awards, honoring the Best Places to Work in 2017 across North America and parts of Europe. Apple places 36 on the list.</p>

<p>The latest smartphone OS sales data from <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kantarworldpanel.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kantar Worldpanel ComTech</a> shows that iOS achieved year-on-year growth across most regions except Germany and Urban China. </p>

<p>Apple Music officially has more than 20 million paying subscribers less than 18 months after the streaming service launched on June 30 last year, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/apple-music-surpasses-20m-paying-subscribers-17-months-launch/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Music Business Worldwide</a>.</p>

<p>Speaking at the Code Conference today in San Francisco, Apple Pay vice president Jennifer Bailey said that 35% of U.S. merchants now accept Apple Pay, <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2016/12/6/13864376/35-percent-apple-pay-us-merchants">reports</a> <em>The Verge</em>.</p>

<p>Owners of the new MacBook Pros need a way to protect the (very) expensive laptops. <a href="http://www.prweb.net/Redirect.aspx?id=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2ZiYWdzLmNvbS8=">WaterField Designs</a> has, yet again, delivered a solution in its US$159 Syde Case.</p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.olloclip.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">olloclip’s new Core lens set</a> features new optics and a new design that allows it to work over screen protectors and allows you to change out the lenses. This kicks the company’s already impressive line-up of photography accessories for the Apple smartphone to a new level.</p>