Dennis Sellers

<p class="">The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has issued a <a href="https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2020/12/fake-calls-apple-and-amazon-support-what-you-need-know" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warning</a> that says scammers are calling people and using the names of two companies everyone knows, Apple and Amazon, to rip people off.</p>

<p class="">iOS 14 has a new Translate feature for Safari that’s, per Apple. “designed to be the best and easiest app for translating conversations, offering quick and natural translation of voice and text among 11 different languages.”</p>

<p class="">EZVIZ has announced the U.S. availability of the DB1C Wi-Fi Video Doorbell. It’s available at <a href="http://tracking.nononsensepr.co.uk/tracking/click?d=inwrYtCriGh68PnLXIWkwo9LW1EkYCL8zZ692NFsk8vPgfvGZ6DR_RfVQVJ7nh6BhJm97e1s5ZS_SrrKz3IlKdWwfkGaBPbQQppFjgF5M2rfb6rCgDwP81UVxGdXut-zceUOb9GSKyMaWi6ZMqzeg1jPngCWxXHzbm0mwxV8KApNaxRVCV_F5hsUhKaIscnZGDqo1tqplvdGrI86gpGb0Ek2kneBuoz8Evp1WUo-TID92UfEBKDByM7roOCBQbUphXZXtls1F4_UclJiLszXyOhy7xHqbR4dhiuvUWLaWfG5voXmSmcy0dGyIJOACERaC-Gb6h9cMX_UOmu_yegrzfxUbTmBqWUI80fh26w_0JX_6yUmtDj5EDWGsazM08FfbMJzpz78gHwbj1URT2pRQSA1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Walmart</a> on a discounted price of US$69.99 (rather than $99.99) until the New Year.</p>

<p class="">STRAX, a maker of tech accessories, <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/strax-collaboration-with-4ocean-to-support-the-development-and-manufacturing-of-4ocean-signature-iphone-cases-301185709.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has announced</a> a collaboration with 4ocean, a business with the mission to end the ocean plastic crisis and support the development and manufacturing of their new 4ocean Signature iPhone cases made from 4ocean Plastic.</p>

<p class="">Confiant — which makes a creative verification, ad blocking and malvertising detection solution — has hired ex-Apple exec, Steve (Jon) Rubinstein, to lead operations of the start-up.</p>

<p class="">Apple has released the second developer beta of macOS 11.1 Big Sur.</p>

<p class="">Actress Dichen Lachman is set as a series regular opposite Adam Scott and Patricia Arquette in <em>Severance, </em>Apple TV+'s upcoming workplace thriller drama directed by and executive produced by Ben Stiller, reports <a href="https://deadline.com/2020/12/severance-dichen-lachman-apple-drama-series-1234637023/">Deadline</a>.</p>

<p class="">The third edition of the <a href="http://www.macvoices.com/macvoices-20270-macvoices-holiday-gift-guide-3-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MacVoices Live!</a> Holiday Gift Guide wraps with Shelly Brisbin, Jean MacDonald, Mike T. Rose, and host Chuck Joiner. As always, some picks that could be anticipated, and some are surprising.</p>

<p class="">Hillary and Chelsea Clinton will host and product a “Gusty Women”’ docuseries for Apple TV+, reports <a href="https://deadline.com/2020/12/hillary-clinton-chelsea-clinton-gutsy-women-series-order-apple-1234649764/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Deadline</a>. It’s based on their book, “The Book of Gutsy Women: Favorite Stories of Courage and Resilience.”</p>

<p class="">Could Apple have one last product announcement that we might add to our Christmas wish list? Maybe. <a href="http://www.macrumors.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MacRumors </a>says it’s obtained an internal Apple memo from a “reliable source” that says the tech giant informed service providers that it has AppleCare-related changes planned for Tuesday, December 8, at approximately 5:30 a.m. Pacific Time.</p>

<p class="">Apple has filed for a patent (number 20200380916) that shows it wants to make its Mac, iPad, and iPhone display bezel-less (or at least appear that way). The patent filing is dubbed “optical system and method to mimic zero-border display.”</p><p class=""><br></p>

<p class="">Although Apple sells new iPhone models without charger, <a href="https://www.procon.sp.gov.br/notificacao-apple/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Procon-SP will require </a>the equipment to be made available to consumers who order a smartphone. The government’s consumer protection and defense group says that smartphone users expect a charger to be included with the purchase.</p>

<p class="">Apple has filed for a patent (number 20200382879) for a “media system and method of accommodating hearing loss” to make its various devices more user friendly to the hearing impaired.</p>

<p class="">I’m really hoping that this means Apple plans to release a monitor that most of us average folks can afford (and that ain’t the US$5,000 Pro Display XDR): the tech giant has been granted a patent (number 20200378547) for a dual display stand.</p>

<p class="">The O’Film Group has been kicked out of Apple’s camera module supply chain, according to <a href="http://www.thelec.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=1959" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TheElec</a>. In July, the U.S. Department of Commerce listed the China-based company among a list of 11 companies in the country accused of taking part in human rights violations against the Uighur people.</p>