Dennis Sellers

<p class="">Apple has filed for a patent (number 20200201444) for “controlling external devices using reality interfaces.” The goal: the ability to interact with external devices such as Macs, televisions, stereos, and more while using a computer-generated reality system, such as a virtual reality or mixed reality system.</p>

<p class="">I’m not sure what to make of this, but Apple has been granted a patent (number 20200201399) for a retractable keyboard for laptops. It could also, in theory, involve keyboards for iPads and automobiles.</p>

<p class="">There’s been lots of speculation over whether the “iPhone 12” would roll out in September, as is usually the case with Apple’s smartphone updates, or if it would be delayed by a month or two due to the COVID-19 pandemic</p>

<p class="">Six out of 10 hearable users in the UK plan to buy a True Wireless Stereo (TWS) headset within a year, according to a <a href="https://www.counterpointresearch.com/uk-six-ten-surveyed-hearable-users-plan-tws/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Counterpoint Research Consumer Lens</a> study. And the news is good for Apple and its AirPods and AirPods Pro.</p>

<p class="">Until the very last minute, most of us were expecting the announcement of a new iMac during Monday’s Worldwide Developer Conference keynote. It didn’t happen? Why? I’d bet that Apple didn’t want to detract from its “Apple Silicon” announcement.</p>

<p class="">Apple has released <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL0CxAAsUuE" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a trailer</a> for “Little Voice,” an upcoming Apple TV+ series set to debut on Friday, July 10.</p>

<p class="">The Indiana Supreme Court issued <a href="https://www.eff.org/document/state-v-seo-opinion" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a strong opinion</a> finding that the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination protected a woman against unlocking her phone because complying with the order was a form of “testimony” under the Fifth Amendment, reports the <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/06/victory-indiana-supreme-court-rules-police-cant-force-smartphone-user-unlock-her" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Electronic Frontier Foundation</a>.</p>

<p class="">The <a href="http://www.macvoices.com/macvoices-20159-macvoices-live-wwdc-review-with-a-super-panel-of-experts-1/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">new episode of MacVoices Live</a> takes on the task of reviewing the Apple announcements from Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference with a super-panel of Jeff Gamet, Marina Epelman, Mark Fuccio, Frank Petrie, Jim Rea, Michael T. Rose, Brittany Smith, Brett Terpstra, and Frederick Van Johnson.</p>

<p class="">Apple has given a straight-to-series order for “The Afterparty,” a new comedy series from Academy Award, BAFTA and Golden Globe Award winners Chris Miller and Phil Lord.</p>

<p class="">Fleetsmith — a provider of “secure, automated Apple device management” solutions — <a href="https://blog.fleetsmith.com/fleetsmith-acquired-by-apple/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">has announced</a> that it’s been acquired by Apple.</p>

<p class="">The 16-inch MacBook Pro with its non-butterfly keyboard was the first indicator of Apple moving away from Jony Ive’s minimalist as-svelte-as-possible hardware designs. And looking at the user interfaces of macOS Big Sur, iOS 14, and iPadOS 14, it think the tech giant is moving away from the design guru’s insistence on “flat” visual icons.</p>

<p class="">Apple’s plan to transition its entire Mac line to “Apple silicon” (microchips that use ARM tech and other in-house developed technologies) over the net two years involves a feature called “Rosetta 2,” integrated emulation software, to enable ARM-based Macs to run Intel code. However, it seems that it won’t support Boot Camp and virtualization software that allows you to run Windows and Windows apps.</p>

<p class="">Since Apple is always on the lookout for (mostly smaller) companies worth acquiring, it might give a look at <a href="https://guru.inc/">Guru</a>, which has built a wireless charging system that transmits electricity using high-frequency radio waves. Wireless charging would seem to fit perfectly in Apple’s wheelhouse.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://www.sfbags.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WaterField Designs</a> has introduced the <a href="https://www.sfbags.com/products/outback-duo-laptop-brief" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Outback Duo</a>—a minimalist laptop brief with dual padded compartments to protect two laptops or a laptop and a tablet with additional space for daily work necessities.</p>

<p class="">Yesterday Apple announced a two-year plan to transition its entire Mac line from Intel processors to the company’s own in-house-made processors. The move <strong><em>could</em></strong> mean Macs with (slightly) lower price tags.</p>