Dennis Sellers

<p class="">According to <a href="http://www.canalys.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Canalys</a>, the demand for personal computers soared in the first quarter of 2020, drive by remote working and learning requirements from strict lockdown procedures around the world. The bad news: the pandemic also caused severe delays in production and logistical issues, leading to global personal computer shipments falling 8% year-on-year.</p>

<p class="">As noted by <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/04/10/apple-challenges-voip-pals-latest-patent-suit-claims-asserted-ip-is-invalid" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AppleInsider,</a> Apple countered a renewed legal challenge from VoIP-Pal, saying it doesn’t infringe on the patent-in-suit and attests the property's claim are invalid.</p>

<p class="">Now through June 30, Apple is expanding the ways you get 3% at Walgreens. It invoives the company’s titanium credit care.</p>

<p class="">Apple has <a href="https://register.apple.com/covid-19/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">launched an online portal</a> that will display COVID-19 testing locations listed by healthcare providers, labs, or other businesses. They can contribute info about locations, they’ll be validated by Apple, and may be viewable by people using Apple services such as Apple Maps.</p>

<p class="">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,610,157) for a “wearable electronic device with electrodes for sensing biological parameters.” It hints at Apple Watches and watchOS updates that offer even more health and fitness features.</p>

<p class="">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 this week’s picks.</p>

<p class="">Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (<a href="http://www.cirpllc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CIRP</a>) has released analysis of the results from its research on mobile phone companies for the calendar quarter that ended March 31, 2020. CIRP finds that Apple's iOS and Google Android have a stable duopoly in the U.S. operating system market.</p>

<p class="">Apple launches <a href="https://www.apple.com/today/feature/today-at-home/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Today at Apple (at Home</a>), a series of online tutorials and classes designed to take the place of the Today at Apple sessions until the company's retail stores reopen. Today at Apple is a series of teaching sessions, interactive experiences, and demonstrations lead by the company’s “Creative Pros.”</p>

<p class="">Apple and Google have announced a joint effort to help governments and health agencies reduce the spread of COVID-19. Across the world, governments and health authorities are working together to find solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic, to protect people and get society back up and running.</p>

<p class="">According to <a href="https://twitter.com/jon_prosser/status/1241840738712895494" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">YouTuber and leaker Jon Prosser</a>, Apple’s AirPower may return from the dead. “May” being, of course, the key word here.)</p>

<p class="">Apple has introduced Scappers to its Apple Arcade line-up. It's available for iPhones, iPads, and Apple TV set-top boxes, but not, sadly, for the Mac</p>

<p class="">In a research note with Chinese research firm GF Securities, obtained by <a href="https://www.macrumors.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MacRumors,</a> analyst Jeff Pu says Apple will launch the follow-up to the iPhone SE in mid or late—April and 5G iPhones in September and October.</p>

<p class="">On April 8 HBO said its HBO GO and HBO NOW streaming services will no longer be available on second-generation and third-generation Apple TV set-top boxes starting April 30,The company has now extended this deadline.</p>

<p class="">Apple and Netflix are in talks with director Martin Scorsese on a super-expensive movie project for its Apple TV+ streaming service, according to the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/martin-scorsese-courts-apple-and-netflix-to-rescue-costly-dicaprio-film-11586484037" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wall Street Journal.</a></p>

<p class="">Apple's education team has launched <a href="https://education-static.apple.com/creativity-for-kids/activities.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">“30 Creative Activities for Kids” </a>to keep kiddos ages 4-8+ entertained and educated during these days of social distancing and closed schools and day care.</p>