Dennis Sellers

<p class="">According to the <a href="https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3079043/apple-retailers-china-offer-steep-iphone-11-discounts-bolster-demand" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">South China Morning Post</a>, Apple retailers in China are offering steep iPhone 11 discounts to spur demand.</p>

<p class="">Another day, yet another lawsuit from "patent troll” VoIP-Pal. As noted by <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/04/07/voip-pal-targets-apples-facetime-imessage-in-renewed-patent-infringement-battle" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AppleInsider</a>, the non-practicing entity is suing Apple for at least the third time, claiming FaceTime and iMessage/Messages infringe on a single patent covering call routing and handling.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2Freelgood.com%2F/1/0100017156927a47-ddfd7dbd-2f8a-4a2b-9d23-53fb1444c2db-000000/VC7s7EPK9P1RyKali8dcExOND8M=156" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reelgood</a>, a U.S. movie and TV streaming search engine, has issued a report on how COVID-19 and social distancing have affected streaming behaviors for its two million-plus users. The news isn't that great for Apple TV+.</p>

<p class="">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,613,678) for an "input device with haptic feedback” that hints at touchscreen Macs. It also hints at touchscreens across the company's devices that can detect and respond to a finger close to the screen without actually being touched.</p>

<p class="">Jeff Carlson is back on the <a href="http://www.macvoices.com/macvoices-20110-jeff-carlson-on-luminar-4-from-a-photographers-perspective-part-1/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">latest episode of MacVoices</a> to join host Chucker Joiner and discuss photo editing from a different perspective.</p>

<p class="">Apple’s conference call to discuss its second fiscal quarter results is scheduled for Thursday, April 30, at 2 p.m. (Pacific). On Feb. 17, the company said it wouldn't hit the March revenue guidance it had previously offered due to the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/apple-music-launches-50m-advance-fund-for-independent-labels-hit-by-covid-19-impact/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Music Business Worldwide reports</a> that Apple Music is quietly making a $50 million advance fund available for independent labels and distributors, to support the indie sector with vital cashflow during the uncertainty of global COVID-19 lockdown.</p>

<p class="">Apple has updated <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/clips/id1212699939">Clips</a>, the free app for iOS and iPad OS that makes it easy to create and share videos using an iPhone or iPad. The upgrade adds iPad cursor support, new stickers, and more.</p>

<p class="">Apple has posted iOS 13.4.1 and iPadOS 13.4.1, both of which fix a FaceTime bug.</p>

<p class="">Apple has <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211028" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shared a support document</a> outlining how to assemble and adjust the <a href="http://www.apple.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">face shields for medical workers</a> that the company’s design, engineering, operations and packaging teams are working on.</p>

<p class="">Strategy Analytics wireless smartphones team has released <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.strategyanalytics.com%2Faccess-services%2Fdevices%2Fmobile-phones%2Fsmartphone%2Fsmartphones%2Freports%2Freport-detail%2Fchina-smartphone-consumer-purchase-intentions-post-covid-19&esheet=52199826&newsitemid=20200406005735&lan=en-US&anchor=%26%238220%3BChina+Smartphone%3A+Consumer+Purchase+Intentions+Post+Covid-19&index=1&md5=8b774f25180dbbaf0b11902762ed431c" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">“China Smartphone: Consumer Purchase Intentions Post Covid-19</a>” based on a survey of 1,300 consumers March 21-25. It has some (kinda) good news for Apple.</p>

<p class="">YouTuber and leaker Jon Prosser <a href="https://twitter.com/jon_prosser/status/1247498140468547585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1247498140468547585&ref_url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/04/07/apple-over-ear-headphones-and-airpods-x-may-launch-later-in-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">has tweeted</a> that Apple seems to be preparing first over-ear headphones at June’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) while the rumored ”AirPods Pro Lite" will arrive in the fall and be dubbed "AirPods X." He thinks the former will cost about US$350 and the latter around $200.</p>

<p class="">A newly granted patent (number 10,614-775) hints that Apple’s TrueTone tech could be used to adjust brightness on the keyboards of Mac laptops and perhaps even standalone Magic Keyboards for iMacs, Mac minis, and Mac Pros.</p>

<p class="">Future Apple Pencils could work with Macs even if they don't have touchscreens. Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,613,666) for “content creation using electronic input device on non-electronic surfaces.”</p>

<p class=""><em>The New York Times</em>, IFTTT, Medium, Strava, Ritual, Freshii, Fiverr, and more have added support to Apple’s "Sign in with Apple" feature, reports <a href="https://www.cultofmac.com/699289/new-york-times-ifttt-medium-others-add-sign-in-with-apple-support/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cult of Mac</a>. This “shows how rapidly adoption of the service is increasing ahead of Apple’s June 30 deadline for apps to implement the feature,” the article adds. This deadline was recently <a href="https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=03262020b">pushed back from April 30</a>.</p>