Dennis Sellers

<p class="">It will be “magical” to use Tim Cook’s favorite adjective: “Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special” — an exclusive holiday event from multi-platinum, multi-Grammy award-winning artist Mariah Carey — will debut globally on Apple TV+ this holiday season.</p>

<p class="">The market for wearable devices grew 14.1% during the second quarter of 2020 (2Q20), thanks to strong demand for hearables and continued interest in tracking health metrics during these dire times, according to new data from the International Data Corporation (<a href="https://www.idc.com/"><span style="text-decoration:underline">IDC</span></a>) <a href="https://www.idc.com/tracker/showproductinfo.jsp?prod_id=962"><span style="text-decoration:underline">Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker</span></a>. And, again, Apple dominated the market.</p>

<p class="">Security researchers say they’ve found the first Mac malware inadvertently notarized by Apple, reports <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/31/apple-notarized-mac-malware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">TechCrunch</a>.</p>

<p class="">The rumor mill is buzzing like crazy today. Here’s what’s being speculated about and the chances the Sellers Research Group (that’s me) think that they’re true.</p>

<p class="">Apple’s rumored “Apple Glasses” — an augmented reality (AR)/mixed reality (MR) head-mounted display — may be able to “render objects to match camera noise,” according to a new patent filing (number 202000273212).</p>

<p class="">As my <em>Apple World Today</em> compadre, Steve, has said before, quality handcrafting and beautiful materials are always the hallmark of Pad & Quill’s Apple gear. The company’s two new US-made magnetic cases for iPad Pro are no exception.</p>

<p class="">Apple’s HomePod is relatively durable. However, since, at US$299 it isn’t inexpensive, you should take steps to take care of it. Here are some support and safety tips.</p>

<p class="">Apple wants you to be able to easily take photos with an iPhone mounted on a vehicle dashboard, per a newly granted patent (number 10,757,373) for a “method and system for providing at least one image captured by a scene camera of a vehicle.” Of course, it could also involve an automobile with a built-in camera for those who like the “Apple Car” rumors.</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="">Since Steve and I can’t cover everything, we’ll frequently offer a wrap-up of news items you should check out. First up: as noted by <a href="http://www.macrumors.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MacRumors</a>, Apple’s <a href="https://machinelearning.apple.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Machine Learning Reseach</a> group has launched a new residency program inviting experts in various fields to apply their expertise to build new ML and AI-powered products and experiences.</p>

<p class="">According to <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/08/28/apple-to-pay-975m-to-settle-powerbeats2-class-action-lawsuit" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AppleInsider</a>, Apple has settled a class action lawsuit claiming the company's Powerbeats2 wireless earphones contain a design defect that causes the device to stop retaining a charge. </p>

<p class="">Apple has filed for another patent (number 20200272240) for “motion and gesture input from a wearable device” that suggest future Apple Watches could respond to motions and gestures.</p>

<p class="">Prism Designs’ <a href="https://prismdesigns.com/#floatshelf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">FLOAT Shelf </a>provides a wide platform on the back of Apple’s iMac for storing accessories or displaying collectibles, mementos, and other items.</p>

<p class="">The Wallet app in iOS 12 and 13 (and, presumably, the upcoming iOS 14) and watch OS allows you to store data from rewards cards, passes, and more, along with your Apple Pay info. Some passes automatically appear at the right time or place because they include information based on time or location.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-last-campfire/id973039644"><span style="text-decoration:underline">The Last Campfire </span></a>is this week's addition to <a href="https://www.apple.com/apple-arcade/"><span style="text-decoration:underline">Apple Arcade</span></a>, Apple’s US$4.99/month or $49.99/year game streaming service that has over 120 games,. It's available for the the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac.</p>