Steve Sande

<p>One thing that’s been different about the early announcement of the iPhone X almost two months before it actually arrives is that we’ve been able to review some cases well in advance of actually having the phone. Today we’re looking at the Nomad <a href="https://www.hellonomad.com/leather-folio-ix">Leather Folio for iPhone X</a> ($49.95), <a href="https://www.hellonomad.com/clear-leather-case-ix">Clear Case for iPhone X</a> ($39.95), <a href="https://www.hellonomad.com/clear-leather-folio-ix">Clear Folio for iPhone X</a>($49.95) and <a href="https://www.hellonomad.com/rugged-leather-case-ix">Rugged Case for iPhone X</a> ($44.95). </p>

<p>As a writer, I always need access to current information on a variety of topics. That information comes from a variety of sources, but often I rely on the “mother lode” of info — <a target="_blank" href="http://wikipedia.org" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wikipedia</a>. Wikipedia is an independent non-profit organization and it doesn’t accept advertising. However, it needs money to survive (don’t we all?) and the parent <a target="_blank" href="https://donate.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:LandingPage&country=US&utm_medium=sidebar&utm_source=donate&utm_campaign=C13_wikimediafoundation.org" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wikimedia Foundation is currently running its annual fundraiser to stay independent</a>. </p>

<p>Ulysses has been a popular cross-platform text editing app for years, and today the developers announced <a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ulysses/id1225570693?mt=12" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ulysses 12</a>, with a majority of new features pointed toward the iOS version of the app.</p>

<p>Hump Day! And it's a slow news day as well. That didn't keep us from getting three stories put together for the Apple World Today News Update podcast:</p><ul><li>We ❤️ <a target="_blank" href="https://www.livehome3d.com/mac/live-home-3d" rel="noopener noreferrer">Live Home 3D</a> from BeLight Software, our sponsor for this week. Be sure to give it a free trial and see how easy it is to design and envision your own home or interior. </li><li>A new paper published on Apple's <a target="_blank" href="https://machinelearning.apple.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Machine Learning Journal</a> website talks about how "Hey, Siri" works</li><li>Apple's Project Titan test cars have new gear mounted on top, which could very well house all of the computing hardware being used in addition to the obvious sensors</li><li>The new Chicago Michigan Avenue flagship Apple retail store has been sold...but don't worry, it's still opening on Friday, October 20</li></ul>

<p>Wow - hard to believe that we're already up to our 25th episode of AWT TV! It's a weekly show featuring Steve Sande, Dennis Sellers and Marty Edwards of Apple World Today. Each week we'll discuss what's happened in the world of Apple, talk about new apps and accessories, maybe even have a demonstration or two of the latest software.  </p>

<p>File sharing with others can be a real pain if you’re using a cloud service that doesn’t treat sharing as a priority. That’s not the case with <a href="https://deals.appleworld.today/sales/dropshare-for-mac-4?utm_source=appleworld.today&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=dropshare-for-mac-4_101817&utm_term=scsf-256118&utm_content=a0x1a000001ks8X">Dropshare</a>, which allows you to upload screenshots, screen recordings, files, folders, you name itto the provider of your choice. A link to the file is copied to your clipboard for sharing and you’re done! Dropshare’s usually $25, but we’re selling it in the Deals Shop for $12.99.</p>

<p>Today's Apple World Today News Update podcast looks at proof that some people have no sense of humor, a messaging bug in macOS High Sierra, and Swedish Apple Pay:</p><ul><li>We're sponsored this week by BeLight Software and its Live Home 3D app for Mac. <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2017/10/16/design-your-dream-home-with-live-home-3d-from-belight-software-this-weeks-awt-sponsor" rel="noopener noreferrer">Read more about this amazing home design application here</a>.</li><li>Google tests a Maps feature that measures walks in calories and "mini cupcakes", gets publicly lambasted on Twitter</li><li>A Messaging bug is affecting some users of macOS High Sierra, and it may be related to an upcoming switch to Messages in iCloud</li><li>Apple Pay may be available in Sweden as soon as the end of this month</li></ul>

<p>It's good to see that companies like <a target="_blank" href="http://twelvesouth.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twelve South</a> are on the ball when it comes to doing product upgrades on a regular basis. Earlier this year the accessory manufacturer surprised us with the <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2017/8/30/twelve-south-curve-desktop-stand-for-macbook-is-a-beautiful-and-ergonomic-work-of-art" rel="noopener noreferrer">Curve Desktop Stand for MacBook</a>, which was a re-design and updating of the 2003 original iCurve. Now an even more important upgrade has hit: Twelve South announced the arrival of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.twelvesouth.com/product/inspire-candle" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Mac Candle No. 2</a> (AKA "Inspire", $29.99).</p>

<p>Being a tech blogger can be an expensive habit. You write about something, try it out, and the next thing you know you’re either buying a piece of hardware or installing an app. Yesterday’s AWT News Update included a little piece about a note-taking app named <strong>Bear</strong> from developer Shiny Frog that had been updated to include an Apple Watch app. The next thing I knew, I had installed it on my iPhone, iPad Pro, Macs <em>and</em> Apple Watch. </p>

<p>Happy Monday! We have just a few stories for you today, but you'll find them all quite interesting...</p><ul><li>Design a new home or a home improvement with <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2017/10/16/design-your-dream-home-with-live-home-3d-from-belight-software-this-weeks-awt-sponsor" rel="noopener noreferrer">BeLight Software's Live Home 3D</a>, this week's AWT sponsor. </li><li>iPod co-creator Tony Fadell is suing Android co-creator Andy Rubin, saying that he stole trade secrets</li><li>Another manufacturer joins the HomeKit parade, with Sylvania adding a soft white LED smartbulb and an LED flex strip</li><li>Ireland gains Apple Maps transit instructions</li></ul>

<p><a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2017/10/16/wpa-2-wi-fi-encryption-has-been-hacked" rel="noopener noreferrer">This morning we ran a post about the KRACK vulnerability</a>, which allows a malicious hacker to bypass WPA2 encryption on Wi-Fi networks and making a user's data easy to view. At the time, we hadn't heard how Apple was going to respond. Now word is out that Apple has already patched those vulnerabilities in beta versions of iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS that should go live soon.</p>

<p>For most music listening, I love to use my Apple AirPods as they’re light, unobtrusive, and give me pretty good sound quality. But when I’m in noisy situations, the AirPods aren’t that great because they don’t do a good job of blocking external noise and have no noise cancelling capability built in. Today I’m looking at the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0759M2J5F/appwortod01-20/">Tsumbay TS-BH05 Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphone</a> (MSRP $109.99, available for $59.99 on Amazon), a reasonably-priced set of Bluetooth headphones with active noise cancellation.</p>

<p>Since the construction of Apple Park began, we've been following the progress thanks to well-done videos taken from drones flying over the facility. We probably won't see these for much longer, so it's always nice to see a new video coming in from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrNk0Ymg6JeagiMSNAiBglg" rel="noopener noreferrer">Matthew Roberts</a>:</p>

<p>Oh, great. The encryption method used to protect most wireless networks -- Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA-2) -- has been hacked, and it has the possibility of affecting all major computer platforms. <a target="_blank" href="https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/10/severe-flaw-in-wpa2-protocol-leaves-wi-fi-traffic-open-to-eavesdropping/" rel="noopener noreferrer">KRACK</a> (short for "Key Reinstallation Attack"  is the name of the flaw that has been exploited, and it makes it possible for those attacking a network to eavesdrop on any network traffic between an access point and a device.</p>

<p>In <a target="_blank" href="http://www.livemint.com/Companies/rHVsO1XUji1TumTlrS57ZO/We-see-India-as-a-very-longterm-opportunity-Apples-Eddy-C.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">an interview with Livemint</a> published today, Apple senior executive Eddy Cue revealed that Apple Pay is in the works for India. Cue told Livemint that "We're working on it, but no date to announce at this point. We life to announce a date that we know is a 100 percent." </p>