Dennis Sellers

<p class=""><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/05/11/american-idol-is-shooting-on-iphones-amid-stay-at-home-orders/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">TechCrunch</a> reports that Apple is working with production houses, getting some iPhone-powered rigs into the hands of producers and hosts to film TV shows during these pandemic times.</p>

<p class="">A new partnership between OverDrive and their app Libby and the Sonos smart speakers will let you listen to audiobooks from your local library. On a <a href="http://www.macvoices.com/macvoices-20133-overdrives-libby-lets-you-listen-to-audiobooks-on-sonos/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">new episode </a>of <em>MacVoices</em>, Adam Sockel, integrated marketing specialist for Overdrive, joins host Chuck Joiner to dicuss how it works, how you can take advantage of their service, even if your local library is closed during the lockdown, and how listening to audiobooks through Sonos changes the experience.</p>

<p class="">As they did for March and April, Apple and Goldman Sachs are allowing Apple Card users to defer their May payments without incurring interest due to the economic chaos from the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>

<p class="">9to5Mac has served up some details on Apple’s rumored over-the-ear headphones likely to be dubbed “AirPods Studio” and cost around US$350.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/05/11/federal-circuit-hands-apple-a-win-in-long-running-drm-patent-lawsuit" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AppleInsider reports</a> that the Federal Circuit has handed Apple a win by affirming a previous Patent Trial and Appeal Board decision to review a patent in a long-running digital rights management patent lawsuit saga against a company called ContentGuard. Apple won the lawsuit in 2015.</p>

<p class="">Microsoft has launched a <a href="https://aka.ms/FamilyForm2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">limited preview</a> of Microsoft Family Safety app for iOS and Android.</p>

<p class=""><a href="https://www.protocol.com/apple-hires-cloud-open-source-engineers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Protocol</a> reports that Apple has gone on a “cloud computing hiring spree,” snapping up several well-known software engineers working across a range of modern technologies, especially containers and Kubernetes.</p>

<p class="">The UK firm <a href="https://deadline.com/tag/digital-tv-research/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Digital TV Research</a> sees Disney+ getting a big lift from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has kept millions of people indoors across the world, with the platform reaching 202 million global subscribers by 2025. The news is less promising (though not bad) for Apple TV+.</p>

<p class="">The week kicks off with rumors that Apple plans to build a new plant in Taiwain and expand its manufacturing presence in India.</p>

<p class="">According to "The New York Times” in an article from Dec. 18, 2013, the late Steve Jobs wanted to make an "iCar." He purportedly told John Markoff of <em>The New York Times</em> that if he had more energy, he would have liked to take on Detroit with an Apple car.</p>

<p class="">Apple wants its Maps app on the iPhone and Apple Watch to do a better job at estimating times between stops on a trip. The company has filed for a patent (number 20200141752) for “routing based on detected stops.”</p>

<p class="">Apple has been granted another patent (number 10,642,049) that hints at the rumored "Apple Glasses.” This one is dubbed “head-mounted device with active optical foveation.”</p>

<p class="">Apple will reopen its retail stores in Switzerland on May 12, reports <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2020/05/09/all-four-apple-stores-in-switzerland-reopen-may-12/"><span style="text-decoration:underline">9o5Mac</span></a>. There are 12 stores in the country.</p>

<p class="">As noted by 9to5Mac, with Fathers Day coming up on June 21, the documentary film <em>Dads </em>will be coming to Apple TV+ on June 19.</p>

<p class="">The weekend has kicked off with two rumors. One says that the next gen Apple Watch will have "mental health capabilities.</p>