Dennis Sellers

<p>Smartphone makers (including Apple and Google) and mobile carriers (including AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile) are facing an inquiry by U.S. regulators as to how they review and release security updates to combat cyberthieves and Internet vandals, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-09/apple-google-and-wireless-carriers-asked-by-u-s-about-security" rel="noopener noreferrer">according to Bloomber</a>g.</p>

<p>As noted by <a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/05/09/apple-launches-red-cross-donations-via-itunes-to-help-victims-of-fort-mcmurray-forest-fires" rel="noopener noreferrer">AppleInsider</a>, folks shopping on Apple's Canadian iTunes storefront can now donate to relief for victims of the forest fires in Fort McMurray, Alberta.</p>

<p>Mobile device users installed nearly 156 billion mobile applications worldwide in 2015, generating $34.2 billion in direct (non-advertising) revenue. A new forecast from International Data Corporation (<a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.idc.com&esheet=51336701&newsitemid=20160509005043&lan=en-US&anchor=IDC&index=1&md5=86bb29acba40a1e3239af311b37cd48c">IDC</a>) estimates that these figures will grow to more than 210 billion installs and nearly $57 billion in direct revenue in 2020.</p>

<p>Worldwide shipments of PCs — as in personal computer, not just Windows systems — totaled 101 million units in quarter one (Q1) of 2016, as total volumes dipped by 13% year-on-year to their lowest point since Q2 2011, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.canalys.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Canalys</a>.</p>

<p>Correct me if I’m wrong (and, dear reader, I know you’ll be glad to do so), but I think STM’s $59.95 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.stmbags.com/ipad-cases/ipad-pro-cases/ipad-pro-case.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">dux</a> is the first iPad Pro case that provides storage for the Apple Pencil via a fitted channel. This feature alone gets the case a big thumbs-up from Yours Truly.</p>

<p>Miln's <a target="_blank" href="http://miln.eu/moviesplitter/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Movie Splitter</a> for Mac OS X (10.9 or later)is a $4.99 app that splits movie files into smaller pieces for easier editing and sharing. </p>

<p>May is National Burger Month. It’s a “commemorative holiday,” which means it's used by various groups to celebrate something. You can celebrate National Burger Month with these OS X and iOS apps.</p>

<p>According to the J.D. Power Tablet Satisfaction Study for 2016 Volume 1 concerning the US market, Apple is still topping the charts in tablet satisfaction with the iPad, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://news.softpedia.com/news/apple-still-makes-users-happier-than-microsoft-when-it-comes-to-tablets-503798.shtml" rel="noopener noreferrer">Softpedia</a>.</p>

<p>Apple has promoted Sanjay Kaul to the position of country manager for Apple India, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.businesstoday.in/current/corporate/sanjay-kaul-is-the-new-country-head-for-apple-india/story/232269.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">Business Today</a>.</p>

<p>Infinisys' <a target="_blank" href="http://en.infinisys.co.jp/product/screenstudio/index.shtml" rel="noopener noreferrer">Screen Studio</a> for Mac OS X (10.6 or higher) is a solid tool for creating your own screen savers. My big concern regarding the app is that it hasn't been updated in two years. Will the next major Mac OS X update "break" it?</p>

<p>If you're a road warrior who packs both a laptop and an iPad, Tenba's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tenba.com/products/roadie-executive-backpack.aspx" rel="noopener noreferrer">Roadie Executive Backpack</a> should suit your traveling needs. It's great for photographers, filmmakers and anyone who hits the road with LOTS of tech gadgets.</p>

<p>Some folks don’t like OS X Mail, saying it doesn’t have enough “power” features. I’m a regular — and satisfied — user of the Apple app, but have found that you can beef it up with <a href="https://www.feingeist.io/mailbutler"><em>MailButler</em></a>, the Apple Mail assistant by Feingeist Software GmbH. It simplifies, optimizes and streamlines working with emails.</p>

<p>Apple CEO Tim Cook plans to visit Beijing later this month to meet high-level government officials, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-china-exclusive-idUSKCN0XX0NY" rel="noopener noreferrer">reports Reuters</a>. He plans to meet senior government and Communist Party leaders - including officials in charge of propaganda, the article adds, quoting an unnamed source “who declined to be named as the plan is not public yet.”</p>

<p style="margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px">There are two new reports about the rumored Apple Car project. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/real-estate-for-autonomous-car-facilities-gains-movement-in-silicon-valley-1462493064?mod=e2tw" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Wall Street Journal</a> says Apple is among companies looking for large expanses of real estate in the San Francisco Bay Area for their autonomous-car operations.</p>

<p>Apple has introduced an Apple Music plan aimed at students. As noted by <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2016/05/06/apple-musics-new-student-membership-option-discounts-the-service-by-50/?ncid=rss">TechCrunch</a>, the service is $4.99 a month instead of the regular $9.99 per month fee.</p>