Dennis Sellers

<p class="">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,610,157) for a “wearable electronic device with electrodes for sensing biological parameters.” It hints at Apple Watches and watchOS updates that offer even more health and fitness features.</p>

<p class="">On a regular basis, <em>Apple World Today </em>posts a list of notable new apps or app updates that have been released. They may not necessarily be new, but they're popular and deserve mention. Here are this week’s picks.</p>

<p class="">Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (<a href="http://www.cirpllc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CIRP</a>) has released analysis of the results from its research on mobile phone companies for the calendar quarter that ended March 31, 2020. CIRP finds that Apple's iOS and Google Android have a stable duopoly in the U.S. operating system market.</p>

<p class="">Apple launches <a href="https://www.apple.com/today/feature/today-at-home/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Today at Apple (at Home</a>), a series of online tutorials and classes designed to take the place of the Today at Apple sessions until the company's retail stores reopen. Today at Apple is a series of teaching sessions, interactive experiences, and demonstrations lead by the company’s “Creative Pros.”</p>

<p class="">Apple and Google have announced a joint effort to help governments and health agencies reduce the spread of COVID-19. Across the world, governments and health authorities are working together to find solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic, to protect people and get society back up and running.</p>

<p class="">According to <a href="https://twitter.com/jon_prosser/status/1241840738712895494" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">YouTuber and leaker Jon Prosser</a>, Apple’s AirPower may return from the dead. “May” being, of course, the key word here.)</p>

<p class="">Apple has introduced Scappers to its Apple Arcade line-up. It's available for iPhones, iPads, and Apple TV set-top boxes, but not, sadly, for the Mac</p>

<p class="">In a research note with Chinese research firm GF Securities, obtained by <a href="https://www.macrumors.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MacRumors,</a> analyst Jeff Pu says Apple will launch the follow-up to the iPhone SE in mid or late—April and 5G iPhones in September and October.</p>

<p class="">On April 8 HBO said its HBO GO and HBO NOW streaming services will no longer be available on second-generation and third-generation Apple TV set-top boxes starting April 30,The company has now extended this deadline.</p>

<p class="">Apple and Netflix are in talks with director Martin Scorsese on a super-expensive movie project for its Apple TV+ streaming service, according to the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/martin-scorsese-courts-apple-and-netflix-to-rescue-costly-dicaprio-film-11586484037" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wall Street Journal.</a></p>

<p class="">Apple's education team has launched <a href="https://education-static.apple.com/creativity-for-kids/activities.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">“30 Creative Activities for Kids” </a>to keep kiddos ages 4-8+ entertained and educated during these days of social distancing and closed schools and day care.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://tvline.com/2020/04/09/apple-tv-free-dickinson-for-all-mankind/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">TVLine</a> notes that Apple has made several shows from its Apple TV+ streaming service free for a limited time to help keep folks self-isolating from the COVID-19 pandemic entertained.</p>

<p class="">OWC’s update of the <a href="https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/owc-mercury-elite-pro"><span style="text-decoration:underline">Mercury Elite Pro</span></a> can help future proof your iMac, Mac mini, or Mac Pro when it comes to storage. It can do the same for laptops, but is better suited for desktops as it requires a dedicated power supply and can't run off a portable’s bus power.</p>

<p class="">On the new episode of <a href="http://www.macvoices.com/macvoices-20112-charlotte-henry-on-apples-response-to-covid-19-and-ten-years-of-the-ipad-part-1/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MacVoices,</a> Charlotte Henry of<em> The Mac Observer </em>examines Apple’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, not just from the monetary donations side, but also from the resources angle, and why Amazon, the streaming services and others are in the spotlight.</p>

<p class="">Apple has updated its COVID-19 app — introduced last month — with tips to help keep us sane during this trying, surreal time.</p>