Dennis Sellers

<p>Apple’s Swift is among the fastest-growing skills in the U.S. freelance job market, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.upwork.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Upwork</a>, the world’s largest freelancing website. Apple’s programming language placed second on a chart of the 20 fastest-growing skills during the December quarter.</p>

<p>Apple has released public betas of macOS 10.12.4 and iOS 10.3. If you're not already signed up for the public beta program, <a href="https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/">you can do so here</a>. The public beta program is free, but remember: beta software is unfinished software so use with care.</p>

<p>According to the latest research from <a target="_blank" href="http://www.counterpointresearch.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Counterpoint’s Market Monitor service</a>, the smartphone shipments in India grew 18% annually in 2016 compared to the global smartphone market which grew 3%.     Apple achieved a landmark with the iPhone, crossing 2.5 million units in a calendar year, with one-third of its total shipment coming alone from the record fourth quarter driven by seasonality and the launch of iPhone 7.</p>

<p>Apple has been granted a patent (number 20170026796) for “identifying and locating users on a mobile network.” It involves the iOS app/service, Find My Friends.</p>

<p>Apple is reportedly set to join the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.partnershiponai.org" rel="noopener noreferrer">Partnership on AI</a>, an artificial intelligence research group that includes Amazon, Alphabet’s Google, Facebook, and Microsoft. Apple’s admission into the group could be announced as soon as this week, reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-26/apple-said-to-join-amazon-google-facebook-in-ai-research-group" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bloomberg</a>, quoting unnamed “people familiar with the situation.”</p>

<p>According to a new report from employee-employer matching company Indeed — as noted by <a target="_blank" href="http://PYMTS.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">PYMTS.com</a> —  Apple tops the list of best U.S. corporations seeking to fill cybersecurity roles.</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>Greg Duffy, a former Nest manager, has joined Apple—the company where Mr. Fadell made his name. It’s not clear what his position will be, but according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theinformation.com/dropcams-greg-duffy-joins-apple" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Information</a> “given his background, starting security camera firm Dropcam, people who know Mr. Duffy suggest he is likely to be leading a special project at Apple that is operating like a startup within the company.”</p>

<p>NV Energy and Apple have reached an agreement to build 200 megawatts of additional solar energy in Nevada by early 2019. The projects will support Apple's renewable energy needs for its Reno data center.</p>

<p>Apple is being sued for using the song, “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)” from Jamie xx’s 2015 Grammy-nominated album <em>In Colour. </em>It featured in an Apple ad advertising the iPhone 6, accompanying a home video of BMX tricks shot on the phone’s camera. </p>

<p>Consumer spending analytics company <a target="_blank" href="http://www.txn.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">TXN</a> says that Apple Pay is on the rise, based on data from its panel of over three million consumers. Analysis of credit card bills from banks that distinguish Apple Pay transactions suggest that usage of the payment method grew by slightly over 50% in the 12 months ending December 2016.</p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ezq.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">EZQuest</a> has expanded its keyboard covers product line to include compatibility with Apple’s 2016 MacBook Pro. They include clear covers for keyboard protection, creative software editing with keyboard shortcuts, and foreign language covers for U.S./European-based keyboards. </p>

<p>Another lawsuit has hit Apple for not building iPhones with texting/FaceTime blocking features. FaceTime is a videoconferencing app that Apple includes with its iOS and Mac devices. </p>

<p>Apple was the top smartphone vendor in Taiwan in terms of both sales volume and value in December, holding that spot for the fourth consecutive month, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aeco/201701240012.aspx?utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rsscna%2FEngNews+%28Latest+%7C+FOCUS+TAIWAN+-+CNA+ENGLISH+NEWS%29&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=feedburner" rel="noopener noreferrer">Focus Taiwan</a>.</p>

<p>Light Pillar has introduced Mosaic, a windows management tool for macOS and the next-generation revamp of Window Tidy. It’s built from the ground up with a brand new engine, a suite of new features, improved ease of use and native macOS integration, according to the folks at Light Pillar.</p>