Dennis Sellers

<p>Apple's motion to dismiss a pending class action lawsuit related to the "Error 53" Touch ID issue was countered in a recent court filing that claimed the company's remedial actions, which include an iOS software update and reimbursement efforts, are inadequate, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/05/24/plaintiffs-try-to-keep-error-53-lawsuit-against-apple-alive-say-reimbursement-not-enough" rel="noopener noreferrer">AppleInside</a>r.</p>

<p>Apple Pay is rolling out in full force in Singapore today with Visa, MasterCard and five major banks on board, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/five-major-banks-in-singapore-now-work-with-apple-pay" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Straits Times</a>. This makes Singapore the sixth country to get Apple Pay, after the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia and China.</p>

<p>An Apple job listing shows that the company is looking to hire a seasoned attorney with health privacy expertise to take on the role of Privacy Counsel , “suggesting a health and medical systems expansion could be in the works,” reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-hiring-hipaa-specialist-2016-5" rel="noopener noreferrer">Business Insider</a>. </p>

<p>On average, apps will run about 15% slower in the summer, according to research from <a href="http://www.apteligent.com/">Apteligent</a> a mobile app intelligence platform.</p>

<p>iDevices has released the $79 <a href="http://store.idevicesinc.com/idevices-socket/">Socket</a>, which allows you to turn any ordinary light bulb into a connected bulb. </p>

<p><a href="https://www.theinformation.com/apple-opening-siri-developing-echo-rival">The Information reports</a> that Apple is working on "an Amazon Echo-like device with a speaker and microphone that people can use to turn on music, get news headlines or set a timer.” The Echo (pictured) is Amazon’s voice-activated smart home speaker.</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 hired — no, make that rehired — Jon Callas, an expert in practical cryptography with the goal “to bring more powerful security features to a wide range of consumer products,” reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-encryption-callas-idUSKCN0YF2J1" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters</a>.</p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.kanex.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kanex’s</a> new, $99.95 GoPower is a USB-C portable battery Apple’s 12-inchMacBook. The15,000 mAh portable rechargeable battery is capable of delivering one full charge to the USB-C laptop and multiple charges to tablets, smartphones, and other USB devices, all on the go, according to Andrew Truong of Kanex.</p>

<p>Apple continues to play a significant role in the Western Europe computer market, especially in the premium segment and the convertible/detachable segment, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.idc.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">according to IDC</a>.</p>

<p>olloclip is teaming up with OtterBox to offer olloclip’s 4-in-1 Lens as a module compatible with the new <a target="_blank" href="http://tinyurl.com/j879mzg" rel="noopener noreferrer">OtterBox uniVERSE Case System</a>.</p>

<p>Apple files for — and is granted — lots of patents by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Many are for inventions that never see the light of day. However, you never can tell which ones will materialize in a real product, so here are today’s patent highlights: </p>

<p>The top five U.S. non-financial companies are Apple, Microsoft, Google, Cisco Systems and Oracle, according to a new report by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.moodys.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Moody’s Investors Service</a>. Apple held $215.7 billion in total cash for the period. The company has held the top spot as cash king since 2009, according to Moody’s.</p>

<p>In a note to clients — as noted by <a target="_blank" href="http://seekingalpha.com/article/3977304-eye-tech-apple-reportedly-preps-pro-iphone-new-macbooks?auth_param=19ncqg:1bk8e2c:443c8b759099346a390b5ca9e3a55c9a&uprof=53&dr=1" rel="noopener noreferrer">Seeking Alpha</a> — KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple plans to add a 13-inch MacBook to its laptop line-up, replacing the MacBook Air.</p>

<p>One of the cool things Apple did with last year’s release of Mac OS X El Capitan was to allow the application of third-party image editing extensions within Photos. One such extension is Picture++, which is available at the <a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/picture++/id1066413973?ls=1&mt=12#" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mac App Store</a> for $3.99.</p>