Dennis Sellers

<p class="">Anyone in the market for a replacement keyboard for a Mac should definitely consider version two of the US$69 <a href="https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-k2-wireless-mechanical-keyboard" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Keychron K2 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard</a>. I’m impressed with just about every aspect of its design. And version 2 is about $8 less than its predecessor.</p>

<p class="">When watchOS 5 debuted it had a new feature called Walkie Talkie, which allowed you have a one-on-one conversation with anyone who has a compatible Apple Watch. Shades of Dick Tracy, it was cool. But, alas, it is no more.</p>

<p class="">Since Steve and I can’t cover everything, we’ll frequently offer a wrap-up of news items you should check out. Apple CEO Tim Cook has donated more than $5 million in Apple stock to an unnamed charity, according to <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/320193/000032019320000064/xslF345X03/wf-form4_159830825188983.xml" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">an SEC filing</a>.</p>

<p class="">The COVID-19 pandemic continued to impact the global mobile phone industry, as worldwide sales of smartphones to end users totaled 295 million units, a decline of 20.4% in the second quarter of 2020, according to <a href="http://www.gartner.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gartner, Inc</a>.</p>

<p class="">Apple has updated iMovie for iPhones, iPads, and Macs. They’re available at the Apple App Store for iOS and iPadOS and the Mac App Store for macOS.</p>

<p class="">Apple has updated Final Cut Pro X with new features designed to enhance remote workflows and speed up editing for content creators.</p>

<p class="">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,756,788) for a “relay dock and base station with position information based directional wave forming.” It involves a dock/base station that would work with the rumored “Apple Glasses,” a head-mounted augmented reality system.</p>

<p class="">Let the Apple Car rumors roll on. Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,752,082) for a climate control system for an automobile.</p>

<p class="">Next month Apple will launch an online store in India, reports <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-25/apple-plans-to-start-selling-online-in-india-next-month?sref=MRDu5QV3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bloomberg,</a> quoting an “unnamed person with knowledge of the matter.”</p>

<p class="">If you have a laptop, you might consider a privacy screen, as they have several advantages. <a href="https://www.kensington.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kensington</a> has announced the new UltraThin Magnetic Privacy Screens for the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. I’m using one on my 16-inch MacBook Pro and highly recommend all laptop owners consider doing the same.</p>

<p class="">Third quarter sales of Mac laptops — including MacBook Pro and MacBook Air lineups — have increased over 20% from a year earlier, with shipments of related products to Japan and Asia Pacific hitting a record high, according to <a href="https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20200825PD202.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">DigiTimes</a>.</p>

<p class="">Apple has acquired Spaces, a VR startup that begin as a DreamWorks animation project, reports <a href="https://www.protocol.com/apple-vr-ar-spaces-acquisition" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Protocol</a>. The company describes its services as “a Bridget between a VR world and Zoom, Skype, Hangouts, and more.</p>

<p class="">Since Steve and I can’t cover everything, we’ll frequently offer a wrap-up of news items you should check out. First up: Billie Eilish, Orville Peck, Megan Thee Stallion, and Anderson Paak are among the artists featured in an Apple Music ad titled “Worldwide” on Apple’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ua4fddYQRtU" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">YouTube channel</a>. It reflects Apple Music's availability in 165 countries.</p>

<p class="">The global smartwatch market posted a healthy 20% revenue growth in the first half of 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic and shipments remaining flat compared to the same period last year, according to the latest research from <a href="http://www.counterpoint.com"><span style="text-decoration:underline">Counterpoint Research</span></a>. Apple continued to dominate the smartwatch market both in volume and value.</p>

<p class="">Actress Kiera Knightly — famous for the first three <em>Pirates of the Caribbean</em> movies, <em>The Imitation Game</em>, <em>Sense and Sensibility, Atonement</em>, and more — will start in an adaptation of the period novel "The Essex Serpent" written by Sarah Perry for Apple TV+, reports <a href="https://deadline.com/2020/08/the-essex-serpent-keira-knightley-apple-tv-1203020154/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Deadline</a>.</p>