Dennis Sellers

<p class="">Eve 5 — the app for controlling HomeKit compatible accessories from <a href="https://www.evehome.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eve Systems</a> — is now available in the Apple App Store and Mac App Store. Among other things, it builds on the capabilities of iOS 14 and iPadOS 14.</p>

<p class="">Future HomePods (and perhaps HomePod minis, though this is less likely) will offer more visual feedback features, as hinted at in a new patent filing (number 20200393121) by Apple.</p>

<p class="">Oscar-winner Jared Leto is in early discussions to star in the Apple TV+ series “WeCrashed<em>,” </em>an adaptation of the popular podcast, reports <a href="https://deadline.com/2020/12/jared-leto-apple-series-wecrashed-1234620606/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Deadline</a>. The article says the deal is far from being finalized and may not go forward but that discussions are ongoing.</p>

<p class="">Apple has released the first betas of iOS 14.4, iPadOS 14.4 , tvOS 14.4, and watchOS 7.3 to developers.</p>

<p class="">Spigen is releasing their <a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3015276-1&h=1116786179&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fstores%2Fpage%2Fpreview%3FisPreview%3D1%26isSlp%3D1%26asins%3DB08CS3WH1X%2CB08CS48SRQ%2CB08CS3XLCH%2CB08MJDGQKY%2CB08LP8PSX7%2CB08F9C8LW2%2CB08GY77XBX%2CB08K3YZ535&a=Mag+Series" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mag Series</a> line of accessories to cater to Apple's MagSafe feature in the iPhone 12 line-up.</p>

<p class="">The new edition of <a href="http://www.macvoices.com/macvoices-20279-macvoices-live-airpods-max-google-chrome-issues-apple-hardware-subscriptions-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MacVoices Live!</a> marked the first dual stream to both Facebook and YouTube as the panel of David Ginsburg, Mark Fuccio, Andrew Orr, and Frank Petrie provided some follow-up information from a viewer on our AirPods Max evaluation.</p>

<p class="">Michaela Conlin is set for a key supporting role in the upcoming second season of<em> </em><a href="https://deadline.com/tag/for-all-mankind/"><em>For All Mankind</em></a><em>,</em> Apple’s alt-history Space Race drama from Ronald D. Moore and Sony Pictures Television, reports <a href="https://deadline.com/2020/12/for-all-mankind-michaela-conlin-season-2apple-1234657986/"><span style="text-decoration:underline">Deadline</span></a>. She’ll play Helena Webster, a former pilot who is now an astronaut.</p>

<p class="">Apple is in discussions to acquire two John Lasseter-produced titles from Skydance Animation, “Luck” and “Spellbound” for Apple TV+, reports <a href="https://variety.com/2020/film/news/skydance-animation-john-lasseter-spellbound-luck-apple-paramount-1234864372/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Variety</a>. The films had been set up at Paramount Pictures.</p>

<p class="">elago has created a new line of accessories for Apple’s MagSafe and is transitioning to the new MagSafe norm.</p>

<p class="">A group of major U.S. news publishers have joined the <a href="https://appfairness.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coalition for App Fairness (CAF)</a>, the advocacy group urging increased regulation over app stores and fair treatment for all developers, reports <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/12/16/major-u-s-news-publishers-join-the-coalition-for-app-fairness-advocacy-group-to-fight-the-apple-tax/?tpcc=ECTW2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TechCrunc</a>h.</p>

<p class="">Apple <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/12/a-landmark-year-of-giving-from-apple/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">says its Employee Giving Program</a> celebrated its biggest year this year. The company’s volunteers made up the largest corporate team participating in 2020.</p>

<p class="">Apple is making a huge change to settings on users’ iPhones in the name of privacy, but some in the mobile ad ecosystem the tech giant hasn’t given them clear guidance or communication along the way as they retool their apps, reports <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/15/apples-seismic-change-to-the-mobile-ad-industry-draws-near.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNBC</a>.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://jumpcloud.com">JumpCloud</a> has added Conditional Access policies to its Directory Platform, enabling IT admins to adopt Zero Trust security from the same cloud platform that they use to manage and securely connect users to IT resources.</p>

<p class="">According to <a href="https://www.iphoneincanada.ca/news/some-airpods-max-deemed-hazardous-materials-by-ups-get-sent-back-to-apple/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">iPhone in Canada</a> readers, some are seeing their AirPods Max orders get a “hazardous materials” status update, only to note the package would then be returned to sender by the UPS. (At US$549, they’d certainly be hazardous to my bank account!)</p>

<p class="">A California federal judge appeared open Tuesday to tossing Apple and Intel's fresh complaint alleging that Fortress Investment Group is orchestrating an anti-competitive patent aggregation scheme, saying evidence of above-market pricing is "key" to the complaint's survival, but the suit's pricing allegations are "like taking a stab in the dark, reports <a href="https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/1333154/apple-intel-face-uphill-fight-in-antitrust-suit-against-fortress?nl_pk=ade0cf2b-ea3f-464b-bc93-d8e19277ac63&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Law360</a> (a subscription is required to read the entire article).</p>