Dennis Sellers

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for a patent (number 10,514,270) for “navigation peek ahead and behind in a navigation app" that hints are future features for its Maps app.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has been granted a patent for a "vital signs monitoring system,” which would, presumably, work with its HealthKit technology. And, perhaps, the Apple Watch although I couldn’t determine if Apple’s idea involves the smartphone and/or new hardware.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">If you're looking for a minimalist wireless car charger, Totallee’s <a href="https://www.totalleecase.com/products/wireless-car-charger" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wireless Car Charger </a>fills the bill. At $59, it's reasonably priced and, except for a tendency to spotlight fingerprints on its glossy surface, well designed.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for yet another patent (20190392830) — one of dozens — for a “method and system for representing a virtual object in a view of a real environment.” </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for yet another patent (number 20190393730) that hints that, though it scrapped plans for the AirPower device, it’s still looking into a next generation wireless charging system. The patent filing is dubbed "architecture of portable electronic devices with wireless charging receiver systems." </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Totallee’s $19 <a href="https://www.totalleecase.com/products/phone-ring-grip-holder" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Phone Ring Grip</a> is an iPhone accessory that some will find very handy, though it has limited appeal to me for two reasons, which I'll get to in a moment.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">According to <a href="http://www.counterpointresearch.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Counterpoint Research</a>’s Market Pulse, the iPhone XR was the top-selling model globally in the third quarter of 2019, capturing 3% market share.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has removed the ToTok messaging app from the App Store after an investigation by the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/22/us/politics/totok-app-uae.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New York Times</a> determined that it was actually a spying tool being used by the United Arab Emirates government to mass surveil its citizens. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple <a href="https://apps.apple.com/story/id1488144199" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">says</a> that from Dec. 24-29, you’ll find a new surprise every day on the App Store. </p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple is expected to debut a 5G-enabled iPhone next year (and perhaps a similarly equipped iPad), and the company won't be alone.Dozens of always-on 5G portables device models, notebooks, and ultrabooks will hit the market in 2020, and sales of these devices will exceed 10 million units by 2021, according to ABI Research.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">$49 is probably too high a price tag for a stocking stuffer, so let's consider WaterField Designs’ Leather Luggage Tag a nice Christmas present for the a family member or friend who travels a lot.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">In October, Blix, the company behind BlueMail — a free email app (pictured)  for iOS, Windows, Linux, and Android — and Followup —a patient communication service — sued Apple over its “Sign in with Apple” feature. Now it’s amended the complaint, according to <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/12/20/developer-blix-claims-new-evidence-of-app-store-monopoly-in-court-filing"><span style="text-decoration:underline">AppleInsider</span></a>.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Apple has filed for a patent (number 10,509,486) that hints that future Apple Watches could sport a “capacitive gap sensor” capable of detecting various types of motion.</p>

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">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="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">The <a href="https://developer.apple.com/security-bounty/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple Security Bounty microsite</a> says that, as promised back in August, its security bug bounty program has launched. The company says that because of its commitment to security, it rewards researchers who share critical issues and the techniques used to exploit them. </p>