Dennis Sellers

<p class="">Need a cool, durable bag for carrying your non-tech goodies (and, well, even some of them)? WaterField Designs’ <a href="https://www.sfbags.com/products/outbound-canvas-tote" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Outbound Canvas Tote</a> is a great, though not inexpensive, option.</p>

<p class="">iOS 13 has the ability to create “Memoji" characters that can be created and customized right within Messages by choosing from a set of inclusive and diverse characteristics to form a unique personality.</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: U.S. companies, including Apple, whose fortunes are linked to China are pushing back against the Trump administration’s plans to restrict business transactions involving the WeChat app from Tencent Holdings, saying it could undermine their competitiveness in the world’s second-biggest economy, the <em>Wall Street Journal</em> <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/corporate-america-worries-wechat-ban-could-be-bad-for-business-11597311003" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reports</a>.</p>

<p class="">Earlier today Bloomberg reported that Apple is planning <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2020/8/13/rumor-apple-to-offer-apple-one-bundle-of-subscription-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">an “Apple One” bundle</a> of subscription services. Now <em>Bloomberg</em>’s Mark Gurman <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-13/apple-is-to-launch-first-discounted-video-content-bundle-for-tv?sref=MRDu5QV3"><span style="text-decoration:underline">says</span></a> that the tech giant plans to bundle access to CBS All Access and Showtime content at a discounted price for subscribers to Apple TV+ streaming service.</p>

<p class="">Earlier today Epic Games <a href="https://www.epicgames.com/fortnite/en-US/news/the-fortnite-mega-drop-permanent-discounts-up-to-20-percent" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">announced</a> that it had introduced a new direct payment option in the Fortnite app for iPhone and iPad, allowing players to purchase 1000 V-Bucks for US$7.99 rather than $9.99 through Apple's in-app purchase mechanism. </p>

<p class="">Apple has filed for another patent (number 20200257362) for an “Apple Glove,” a “wearable interactive user interface.” It could be used with an augmented reality headset (such as the rumored “Apple Glasses,” a future Mac with a display that could detect and respond to hand gestures, or be used for typing on a “virtual keyboard.”</p>

<p class="">Apple doesn’t want users of the rumored “Apple Glasses” — an augmented reality/virtual reality/mixed reality head-mounted display — bumping into things. The tech giant has filed for a patent (number 20200258278) for “detecting physical boundaries.”</p>

<p class="">In quarter two of 2020 Mac laptop sales rose 21% compared to quarter two of 2019, according to the <a href="http://www.strategyanalytics.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Strategy Analytics</a> research group.</p>

<p class="">Apple has filed for a patent (number 20200253547) for a “monitoring system for assessing control of a disease state” that, involves, among other things, a “smart mattress.”</p>

<p class="">In a recent partnership with Reticle Research, Apple’s low code subsidiary, <a href="https://www.claris.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Claris</a> surveyed 323 SMB [small to medium business] executives in the U.S. and U.K. to find out the latest trends and attitudes toward Internet of Things [IoT].</p>

<p class="">Apple is preparing a series of bundles that will let customers subscribe to several of the company’s digital services at a lower monthly price, according to a report by <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-13/apple-readies-apple-one-subscription-bundles-to-boost-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bloomberg</a>'s Mark Gurman.</p>

<p class="">Russian Federal Anti-monopoly Service (FAS), Russia’s antitrust enforcer, says Apple abused its dominance by limiting the functionality of third-party parental control apps on its devices after rolling out its own pre-installed program with similar features, according to <a href="https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/1300557/russia-says-apple-abusing-dominance-with-app-store?nl_pk=ade0cf2b-ea3f-464b-bc93-d8e19277ac63&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Law360</a> (a subscription is required to read the entire article).</p>

<p class="">Gene Levoff, a former senior attorney at Apple will have to face allegations he traded the company's stock based on nonpublic information, after a New Jersey federal judge rejected his argument that insider trading is a crime that does not exist, according to <a href="https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/1300752/ex-apple-atty-can-t-shake-insider-trading-charges?nl_pk=ade0cf2b-ea3f-464b-bc93-d8e19277ac63&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Law360</a> (a subscription is required to read the entire article).</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: Apple’s online store now provides a direct option to pay with the Apple Card at checkout.</p>

<p class="">Another day, another lawsuit. As noted by AppleInsider, non-practicing entity (in other words, a “patent troll”) VoiceAge EVS, LLC is suing Apple, claiming that the iPhones infringe on audio-related codecs.</p>