Dennis Sellers

<p class=""><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/19/technology/apple-2-trillion.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The New York Times</a> reports that Apple is the first U.S. company to reach US$2 trillion in value, “capping a staggering ascent that began in the pandemic.” Today its shares climbed 1.2 percent to $467.78 in morning trading.</p>

<p class="">Apple has shared a trailer for "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4p0vjj_C8s" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">On the Rocks</a>," an upcoming comedy film starring Rashida Jones, Bill Murray, and Marlon Wayans. Sophia Coppola will direct the new film from a script she wrote.</p>

<p class="">Yet more anti-trust woes for Apple: local startup companies have submitted a petition to the Korea Communications Commission, asking for an investigation into whether Apple and Google are violating laws related to in-app purchases, reports <a href="http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200819000655" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Korea Herald</a>.</p>

<p class="">Almost all of the retailers at Vancouver’s <a href="https://www.oakridgecentre.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Oakridge Centre</a> will close their doors at the end of September until 2024 to help accelerate the process of the mall’s “incredible” overhaul, according to <a href="https://www.retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2020/8/oakridge-centre-retailers-to-close-until-2024-amid-vancouver-mall-redevelopment-exclusive" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Retail Insider</a>. The mall’s Apple retail store will also close for a while.</p>

<p class="">Approximately 20 hours before <a href="http://www.fosspatents.com/2020/08/first-epic-games-v-apple-court-clash.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the deadline Judge Edward Chen gave Apple</a> to respond to <a href="http://www.fosspatents.com/2020/08/epic-games-asks-district-court-to-bar.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Epic Games' motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO)</a> with respect to Epic Games' access to the App Store and Apple's developer tools, two high-profile L.A.-based antitrust lawyers at the Gibson Dunn firm appeared (electronically) before the United States District Court for the Northern District of California as counsel for Apple, according to <a href="http://www.fosspatents.com/2020/08/gibson-dunn-lawyers-to-defend-apple.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">FOSS Patents</a>.</p>

<p class="">Apple has been granted another patent (number 10,750,287) in its quest to make iPhones and Apple Watches waterproof. The newly granted patent is dubbed “evacuation of liquid from acoustic space.”</p>

<p>You can answer phone calls on an Apple Watch, but I prefer to take calls on my iPhone. However, sometimes when I’m, say, fixing a cup of coffee at the home office, my Apple Watch will start “ringing” and my smartphone is two rooms away. No problem.</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: in 2005, Apple worked with the U.S. government on a "secret" modified iPod, according to <a href="https://tidbits.com/2020/08/17/the-case-of-the-top-secret-ipod/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">TidBits</a>.</p>

<p class="">You can take an electrocardiogram (ECG) with the ECG app in watchOS 5.1.2 and later on the Apple Watch Series 4 or higher.</p>

<p class="">Users may not be replacing Netflix with newer, shinier SVoD services anytime soon. Instead, they seem to be supplementing their streaming experience with an assortment of other subscriptions -- chiefly, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and/or Disney+, according to Reelgood, a U.S. movie and TV streaming search engine.</p>

<p class="">Apple has been granted four new patents for its rumored “Apple Glasses,” an augmented reality/mixed reality (AR/MR) head-mounted display (HMD).</p>

<p class="">Apple has announced two new live global radio offerings on Apple Music, now available to music fans in 165 countries.</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: according to <a href="https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2020/aug/16/iphone-manufacturer-to-hire-10000-staff-at-kolar-facility-to-start-production-soon-2183999.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The New Indian Express</a>, Taiwan-based Wistron Infocomm Manufacturing (India), one of the main contract manufacturers of Apple devices, is expected to start commercial production of the popular iPhone at its Narasapura plant in Kolar district in the coming days. In preparation for this, the company has already started hiring activities, the article adds.</p>

<p class="">Filming has resumed on the second season of the Apple TV+ series, ”For All Mankind," reports <a href="https://deadline.com/2020/08/for-all-mankind-apple-drama-series-resumes-production-season-2-1203015468/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Deadline</a>.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-17/apple-gives-users-more-time-to-buy-applecare-after-sales-slow?srnd=technology-vp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bloomberg</a> reports that Apple has told retail and customer-support employees that the company is expanding the time period when customers can subscribe to its AppleCare+ service.</p>