Dennis Sellers

<p class="">The global wearables market is expected to grow 9.4% in 2020, reaching 368.2 million shipments according to new data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.idc.com%2Ftracker%2Fshowproductinfo.jsp%3Fprod_id%3D962&esheet=52189869&newsitemid=20200316005755&lan=en-US&anchor=Worldwide+Quarterly+Wearable+Device+Tracker&index=2&md5=be04e705d5b85e4d1c61206c91f9c045" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker</a>.</p>

<p class="">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,594,850) for “instrument cluster metadata to support second screen” that hints at future features for CarPlay — and perhaps the rumored “Apple Car.”</p>

<p class="">Apple has sent out a message to Apple Store users with info on how to keep on keepin’ on during the coronavirus crise. The first recommended apps "offer ways to get in a workout anywhere.”</p>

<p class="">Oprah Winfrey has launched a new Apple TV+ series on the pandemic titled <a href="https://deadline.com/tag/oprah-talks-covid-19/"><em>Oprah Talks COVID-19</em></a>, reports <a href="https://deadline.com/2020/03/oprah-interviews-idris-elba-about-coronavirus-diagnosis-on-new-apple-series-oprah-talks-covid-19-1202889568/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Deadline</a>.</p>

<p class="">iPhone users who ask Siri, Apple’s “personal digital assistant,” about COVID-19 can now get detailed information, reports <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/21/apple-updated-siri-to-help-people-who-ask-if-they-have-coronavirus.html"><em>CNBC</em></a>.</p>

<p class="">Apple CEO Tim Cook has tweeted that the tech giant is donating millionos masks to heath care professionals in the U.S. and Europe.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-store-repaired-stores-locked-up-coronavirus-2020-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Business Insider</a> reports that if you’ve left an item at an Apple retail store for repair you can't get 'em back until the stores reopen — and there's not clear timeline for when that will be.</p>

<p class="">Future Apple Pencils could have a glass component as evidenced by a new patent filing (number 2020089341) for a "stylus with glass component.” (And, yes, I know Apple doesn’t like the Pencil to be called a stylus, but still…</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=""><a href="https://www.spyderthegame.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Spyder</a> for the Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV is the latest game for Apple Arcade, Apple’s game streaming service.</p>

<p class="">With viewing of streaming shows WAY up with so many folks worldwide staying in due to the coronavirus outbreak, European officials have instructed streaming services to reduce the amount of bandwidth their services use, in order to reduce strain on internet networks. Apple has done this with its Apple TV+ streaming service, whose content is normally available in 4K and HD formats.</p>

<p class="">According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, global smartphone shipments <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.strategyanalytics.com%2Faccess-services%2Fdevices%2Fmobile-phones%2Fsmartphone%2Fsmartphones%2Fmarket-data%2Freport-detail%2Fglobal-smartphone-monthly-shipments-%2528sell-in%2529-sales-%2528sell-through%2529-and-inventory-by-vendor-march-2020&esheet=52192375&newsitemid=20200320005404&lan=en-US&anchor=tumbled+38+percent+year-on-year+in+the+month+of+February%2C+2020&index=1&md5=d8d9c6b5da3fc932c2e2a4b6dda84e5e" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">tumbled 38% year-on-year in the month of February, 2020</a>. It was the biggest fall ever in the history of the worldwide smartphone market.</p>

<p class="">Results from recent IAM RoadSmart research says in-vehicle infotainment systems such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto impair reactions times behind the wheel more than alcohol and cannabis use.</p>

<p class="">Podcasting awareness and consumption in the U.S. continue to rise, according to the most recent information from the <a href="https://www.edisonresearch.com/the-infinite-dial-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Infinite Dial 2020</a> from Edison Research and Triton Digital.</p>

<p class="">Despite all the problems related to the coronavirus, the “iPhone 12” and yet another iPad Pro update are coming this fall, says two new reports..</p>