Dennis Sellers

<p class="">The HODINKEE Shop, a New York City-based watch retailer and watch review site, <a href="https://shop.hodinkee.com/blogs/journal/hodinkee-shop-apple-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">has announced</a> that it’s now an Authorized Apple Watch Retailer, as well as a retailer for a curated selection of Apple Watch accessories.</p>

<p class="">Your iPhone could eventually replace your driver’s license, passport, and more, as evidenced by a newly granted Apple patent (number 20200213295) for “providing verified claims of user identity.”</p>

<p class="">India’s additional scrutiny of imports from China has disrupted operations at plants owned by Apple supplier Foxconn in southern India, reports <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-china-ports/apple-supplier-foxconn-others-hit-as-india-holds-up-imports-from-china-sources-idUSKBN243118" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters</a>. Quoting three unnamed sources, the article says other foreign firms are also facing delays as tensions between the two countries build.</p>

<p class="">On the latest <a href="http://" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">episode of MacVoices</a> Mike Potter of ESC! Technologies wraps up the discussion of WordPress with a discussion of plugins and how they bring functionality to your web site.</p>

<p class="">Need some serious networking in your house or office, but don’t want to deal with the hassle of running and installing wires and cables? The US$99 <a href="https://www.zyxel.com/us/en/products_services/G-hn-2400-Mbps-Wave-2-Powerline-Pass-thru-Gigabit-Ethernet-Adapter-PLA6456/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Zyxel G.hn Powerline PLA6456</a> is a viable solution that, honestly, works a lot better than I expected it would.</p>

<p class="">Sony Pictures Co-President Chris Parnell is leaving Sony Pictures Television studio for Apple TV+, according to <a href="https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/sony-pictures-tv-studios-chris-parnell-apple-1234695826/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Variety</a>. He’ll serve as senior programming role on the domestic development team, reporting to Matt Cherniss, Apple’s head of scripted development and current programming.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-google/uk-regulators-take-aim-at-apples-search-engine-deal-with-google-idUSKBN242748" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters</a> reports that Google payments to Apple to be the search engine on Safari create “a significant barrier to entry and expansion” for Google’s rivals in the search engine market, the UK markets regulator said in a report.</p>

<p class=""><a href="http://www.parksassociates.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Parks Associates</a> reports the churn rate for over-the-top [OTT ]services increased from 35% in quarter one of 2019 to 41% in quarter one of 2020. During the COVID-19 crisis, more than two in five US broadband households have trialed an OTT service, and 8% of households have trialed four or more services, according to the research group.</p>

<p class="">Apple has acquired world rights to <em>Emancipation</em>, the film package with Antoine Fuqua directing Will Smith in a Willam N. Collage-scripted action thriller, reports <a href="https://deadline.com/2020/07/apple-emancipation-will-smith-antoine-fuqua-record-festival-deal-runaway-slave-peter-scourged-back-photo-william-n-collage-script-1202971626/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Deadline</a>. The article says it’s the largest film festival acquisition deal in film history.</p>

<p class="">First the reports said the “iPhone 12” would be delayed a couple of months from a September release to an October/November launch. Then <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2020/6/25/iphone-12-reportedly-back-on-track-for-a-september-launch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Webush analysts said </a>wasn’t the case and the rollout was still planned for September. Now <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/Apple-races-to-push-ahead-with-5G-iPhone-mass-production">Nikkei Asian Review</a>.says it WILL be delayed.</p>

<p class="">In an email to Apple Card users about their statements, Apple again says "we understand that the COVID-19 situation poses unique challenges for everyone and some customers may have difficulty making their monthly payments.” Apple has been doing this since March.</p>

<p class="">A future version of Apple’s Maps app could not only give directions, but help you plan a trip. Apple has filed for a patent (number 20200202600) for a “map application with novel search, browsing and planning tools.”</p>

<p class="">I really like most of the games in Apple Arcade, Apple’s gaming streaming service that allows you to play games on — and across — Macs, iPhones, iPads, iPod touches, and Apple TVs. And I really like that you can pair a PlayStation DUALSHOCK 4 or Xbox Wireless Controller for gameplay. Here’s how to connect of the controllers to your Apple TV (the set-top box, of course, as opposed to the same-named app):</p>

<p class="">Lexar has announced the Lexar SL200 Portable SSD, a portable drive that’s drop-, shock-, vibration-resistant, and which features an advanced security solution with 256-bit AES encryption.</p>

<p class="">Apple has shifted the strategy of its Apple Arcade gaming service, canceling contracts for some games in development while seeking other titles that it believes will better retain subscribers, reports <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-30/apple-cancels-arcade-games-in-strategy-shift-to-keep-subscribers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bloomberg</a>.</p>