Dennis Sellers

<p class="">Western Digital has introduced the new WD brand <a href="https://shop.westerndigital.com/products/portable-drives/wd-my-passport-usb-3-2-ssd#WDBAGF5000ABL-WESN" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">My Passport SSD</a> in capacities up to 2TB. The palm-sized drive boasts a sleek, compact metal design with speeds powered by NVMe technology.</p>

<p class="">As of Tuesday, Beats 1, the flagship global radio station, was renamed Apple Music 1. I wasn’t surprised, and suspect it’s the beginning of the end of the Beats brand.</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: <a href="http://www.macrumors.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MacRumors</a> notes that Apple Pay has gained several new partners in Europe this week, including American Express in the Netherlands, ING in Italy, Santander in Portugal, and UBS in Switzerland, according to a <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206637" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">recently updated list on Apple's website</a>. Canadian carrier Rogers has also introduced Apple Pay support for its line of Mastercards.</p>

<p class="">Apple CEO Tim Cook <a href="https://twitter.com/tim_cook?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1296210585881739264%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2F9to5mac.com%2F">has tweeted</a> that the tech giant will be donating to support local wildfire relief efforts in California.</p>

<p class="">Apple has released the fifth public betas of iOS 14 and iPadOS 14. The public betas are available on <a href="https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple's Beta Software Program website</a>. Just remember that beta software, so proceed with care.</p>

<p class="">Apple has renewed “Ted Lasso,” its comedy series on Apple TV+, for a second season. Season two will arrive next year with 10 episodes.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2889447-1&h=3859662336&u=https%3A%2F%2Fdroplabs.com%2F&a=DropLabs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">DropLabs</a>, which makes sonic-sensory footwear, has released its Triple Black Edition, an update to its original EP 01 sneaker, and which works with an iOS app.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/19/technology/apple-2-trillion.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The New York Times</a> reports that Apple is the first U.S. company to reach US$2 trillion in value, “capping a staggering ascent that began in the pandemic.” Today its shares climbed 1.2 percent to $467.78 in morning trading.</p>

<p class="">Apple has shared a trailer for "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4p0vjj_C8s" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">On the Rocks</a>," an upcoming comedy film starring Rashida Jones, Bill Murray, and Marlon Wayans. Sophia Coppola will direct the new film from a script she wrote.</p>

<p class="">Yet more anti-trust woes for Apple: local startup companies have submitted a petition to the Korea Communications Commission, asking for an investigation into whether Apple and Google are violating laws related to in-app purchases, reports <a href="http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200819000655" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Korea Herald</a>.</p>

<p class="">Almost all of the retailers at Vancouver’s <a href="https://www.oakridgecentre.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Oakridge Centre</a> will close their doors at the end of September until 2024 to help accelerate the process of the mall’s “incredible” overhaul, according to <a href="https://www.retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2020/8/oakridge-centre-retailers-to-close-until-2024-amid-vancouver-mall-redevelopment-exclusive" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Retail Insider</a>. The mall’s Apple retail store will also close for a while.</p>

<p class="">Approximately 20 hours before <a href="http://www.fosspatents.com/2020/08/first-epic-games-v-apple-court-clash.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the deadline Judge Edward Chen gave Apple</a> to respond to <a href="http://www.fosspatents.com/2020/08/epic-games-asks-district-court-to-bar.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Epic Games' motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO)</a> with respect to Epic Games' access to the App Store and Apple's developer tools, two high-profile L.A.-based antitrust lawyers at the Gibson Dunn firm appeared (electronically) before the United States District Court for the Northern District of California as counsel for Apple, according to <a href="http://www.fosspatents.com/2020/08/gibson-dunn-lawyers-to-defend-apple.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">FOSS Patents</a>.</p>

<p class="">Apple has been granted another patent (number 10,750,287) in its quest to make iPhones and Apple Watches waterproof. The newly granted patent is dubbed “evacuation of liquid from acoustic space.”</p>

<p>You can answer phone calls on an Apple Watch, but I prefer to take calls on my iPhone. However, sometimes when I’m, say, fixing a cup of coffee at the home office, my Apple Watch will start “ringing” and my smartphone is two rooms away. No problem.</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: in 2005, Apple worked with the U.S. government on a "secret" modified iPod, according to <a href="https://tidbits.com/2020/08/17/the-case-of-the-top-secret-ipod/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">TidBits</a>.</p>