Dennis Sellers

<p class="">Apps and social platforms are playing a key role in the new world of social distancing, which could be impacting the way consumers connect to them emotionally, according to MBLM (pronounced Emblem), the “brand intimacy agency.”</p>

<p class="">The new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro is now available to order on <a href="https://www.apple.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">apple.com</a> and begins arriving to customers next week. It costs $299 for the 11-inch iPad Pro model and $349 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro model and works with the new trackpad support introduced in iPadOS 13.4.</p>

<p class="">Twelve South has debuted the $29.99 ColorKit, which allows you to change the color of your Mac laptop.</p>

<p class="">ecobee Inc. has announced <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fecobee.com%2Fhaven&esheet=52202797&newsitemid=20200415005380&lan=en-US&anchor=Haven&index=1&md5=71c2bf59957e7b445bc8829b50ca91e4">Haven</a>, an intelligent home monitoring platform that purportedly eliminates the need for keypads, programming and single-use devices. With the touch of a button, ecobee users can upgrade their SmartThermostat and SmartSensors into a frictionless solution, according to Stuart Lombard, founder and CEO of ecobee.</p>

<p class="">ShiftCam — a global mobile photography gear company “designed by photographers, for photographers” — has announced its MultiLens Case for the iPhone 11 series is now available in the UK.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-germany-tech/apple-google-alliance-welcomed-by-european-coronavirus-app-platform-idUSKCN21X1FV?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtechnologyNews+%28Reuters+Technology+News%29" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters</a> reports that Chris Boos, who is championing the Pan-European Privacy Preserving Proximity Tracing (<a href="https://www.pepp-pt.org/"><span style="text-decoration:underline">PEPP-PT</span></a>) technology platform, thinks Apple collaboration with Google will make it quicker to get systems for tracing coronavirus infections up and running.</p>

<p class="">According to <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/trumps-new-advisory-group-on-reopening-economy-includes-tim-cook-mark-cuban-jerry-jones-2020-04-14" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MarketWatch</a>, Apple CEO Tim Cook is among 50 execs from various industries, as well as other leaders, appointed to President Trump's new advisory board.</p>

<p class="">On the <a href="http://www.macvoices.com/macvoices-20114-mike-schmitz-on-time-blocking-and-productivity-during-lockdown/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">new episode of MacVoices</a>, Mike Schmitz talks about productivity during these days of lockdown, and why it's okay not to be engaged in productive activities all the time.</p>

<p class="">A newly granted patent (number 10,617,358) shows that Apple wants the Apple Watch to be provide even more health features — including shark detection. After all, getting bitten by a shark could certainly be detrimental to your health.</p>

<p class="">Eros International Plc, a Global Indian Entertainment Company, says its over-the-top (OTT) South Asian entertainment platform, Eros Now Select, is now available to customers in the U.S. through Apple TV channels on the Apple TV app on the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, Mac, select Samsung and LG smart TVs, and Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices.</p>

<p class="">Apple has released a mobility data trends tool from Apple Maps to support the work happening around the globe to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.</p>

<p class="">Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,621,026) for “auto bug capture” with the goal of its Macs, iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and other devices being able to detect “bugs” and eliminate them without a user having to take any action.</p>

<p class="">Let the Apple Car rumors roll on. Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,620,232) for "detecting controllers in vehicles using wearable device.” It shows enhanced interaction between devices such as an Apple Watch or iPhone to promote safer driving.</p>

<p class="">Check Point Research’s <a href="https://blog.checkpoint.com/2020/04/14/apple-is-most-imitated-brand-for-phishing-in-q1-2020-shows-check-point-research/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Q1 2020 Brand Phishing Report</a> shows that Apple was the most imitated brand in the first quarter of 2020, rising from seventh place in quarter four of 2019.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-smartphones/apple-shipped-2-5-million-iphones-in-china-in-march-following-virus-slump-government-data-idUSKCN21W0G9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters</a> reports that Apple shipped about 2.5 million iPhones in China in March, a slight rebound after one of its worst months in the country ever, according to government data published on Friday.</p>