Dennis Sellers

<p class="">The world's most valuable brands have seen their total brand value increase by 5.9% despite the economic, social and personal impacts of COVID-19, according to the 2020 BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands ranking released today by <a href="http://www.wpp.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WPP</a> and <a href="http://www.millwardbrown.com/brandz/top-global-brands" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kantar</a>. Apple retains its runner-up spot.</p>

<p class="">The Apple Watch already has several features for cyclists, and more may be coming. The tech giant has been granted a patent (number 10,699,594) for “calculating an estimate of wind resistance experienced by a cyclist.</p>

<p class="">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,698,497) for a “vein scanning device for automatic gesture and finger recognition.” The device would be the Apple Watch, which would be able to automatically determining a user's gesture and/or finger positions based on one or more properties of the user's veins.</p>

<p class="">Michelle Lee has been promoted to director, domestic programming at Apple TV+, reports <a href="https://deadline.com/2020/06/apple-tv-executive-michelle-lee-elevated-director-domestic-programming-1202973056/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Deadline</a>. She’ll continue to report to Matt Cherniss, Apple’s head of scripted development and current programming.</p>

<p class="">Belkin has announced the <a href="https://www.belkin.com/us/p/P-F4U110/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core</a>. It completes Belkin's family of Thunderbolt 3 docks, including the Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro, Thunderbolt 3 Dock Plus, and the Thunderbolt 3 Dock Mini. It will be available next month a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of US$169.99.</p>

<p class="">In a new Apple Pay promotion, you can get 3% unlimited Daily Cash back when you use an Apple Card at Exxon and Mobile stations.</p>

<p class="">The <a href="http://www.macvoices.com/macvoices-20162-mike-potter-gets-in-depth-on-wordpress-1/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">first in a series of MacVoices discussions </a>on WordPress with Mike Potter of ESC! Technologies (and Macstock Conference & Expo), we start with why your website is so important no matter what business or organization you represent. Security matters, the popularity of WordPress, and why the Open Source nature of WordPress is important to the end user are discussed.</p>

<p class="">The US$69.99 <a href="https://www.adonit.net/note-uvc/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Adonit Note-UVC</a>is a good accessory for Apple’s iPads and iPad Pros (2018 and later models) if you don’t want to spring US$99 or $129 for an Apple Pencil. It’s a non-Bluetooth stylus that’s sleek, sexy, lightweight, and easy (even, fun) to use.</p>

<p class="">Apple has filed for a patent (number 20200204669) for “electronic devices with adjustable decoration” that would allow the company’s logo and other “decorative” features on an Apple device to change color or appearance.</p>

<p class="">Apple is launching a new Apple Card program for people who have their application declined, reports <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/29/apple-launches-path-to-apple-card-a-4-month-credit-worthiness-improvement-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">TechCrunch</a>.</p>

<p class=""><em>The New York Times</em> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/29/technology/new-york-times-apple-news-app.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">has announced </a>that it’s ditching its partnership with Apple News. Starting today its stories are no longer appearing alongside other publications’ articles in the curated Apple News feed available on Apple devices.</p>

<p class="">A small Melbourne start-up company dubbed <a href="https://www.addpineapple.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pineapple </a>finds itself in a tussle with Apple over its name, according to <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/"><span style="text-decoration:underline">Daily Mail report</span></a>.</p>

<p class="">Fleetsmith — a provider of “secure, automated Apple device management” solutions — <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2020/6/24/apple-scoops-up-fleetsmith-why-provide-automated-apple-device-management-solutions?rq=FleetSmith" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">announced </a>on June 24 that it’s been acquired by Apple. And there’s been <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23630479" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">some debate</a> after Apple unexpectedly disabled the Fleetsmith third party app catalog.</p>

<p class="">Apple has posted <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2I3Yd27dGw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the trailer</a> for “Greatness Code” its upcoming sports documentary series for Apple TV+. It premieres Friday, July 10.</p>

<p class="">Apple has named eight app and game developers receiving an Apple Design Award, each one selected for “being thoughtful and creative.”</p>