Steve Sande

<p>Has this happened to you? You see an innovative design for a car smartphone mount, then notice that it's a crowdfunding campaign... and your interest drops immediately. There are no such worries with the <strong><a target="_blank" href="https://deals.appleworld.today/sales/gravity-x-car-mount?utm_source=appleworld.today&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=gravity-x-car-mount_072117&utm_term=scsf-240636" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gravity X Car Mount</a></strong>, as it has made it all the way through a Kickstarter campaign and is now shipping. You can get this versatile car mount for $19.99 through the Apple World Today Deals Shop.</p>

<p>After two years of development, the new opera production of "The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs" premiers at the beautiful <a target="_blank" href="http://santafeopera.org" rel="noopener noreferrer">Santa Fe Opera</a> this Saturday. The 90-minute opera is based on the life of iconic Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, and features a score by electronica composer Mason Bates and libretto by Mark Campbell.</p>

<p>Apple users in Denmark, Hong Kong and Sweden can now pay for Apple Music, iTunes and other Apple services on their phone bill instead of using debit or credit cards. <a target="_blank" href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205102#availability" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple updated its support documents to show support for carrier billing</a> for customers of 3 in all of the new markets, as well as with SmarTone in Hong Kong and Telenor Sverige AB in Sweden. </p>

<p>The Apple Pencil may “roll to a stop” when it’s nudged on a desk, but in my house it’s a popular cat toy. That’s one reason I was happy to see DODOcase has developed a <a href="https://www.dodocase.com/products/leather-apple-pencil-sleeve">Leather Apple Pencil Sleeve</a> ($24.95) that can also serve double-duty as a beautiful leather bookmark</p>

<p>Charleston, SC is not only the home of Apple accessory design shop Twelve South, but a city that's often listed in compilations of the most beautiful cities of the world. Twelve South is giving all of us who aren't privileged to live in Charleston to share in its beauty through <a target="_blank" href="https://www.twelvesouth.com/wallpaper/collection5" rel="noopener noreferrer">the release of three dual-screen Mac wallpaper sets</a>.</p>

<p>As you'd expect from the <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2017/7/19/ios-1033-update-now-available-for-download-and-installation" rel="noopener noreferrer">earlier announcement of iOS 10.3.3 becoming available</a> in Software Update, all other Apple operating systems are also being updated today. macOS 10.12.6, watchOS 3.2.3 and tvOS 10.2.2 can be downloaded and installed immediately.</p>

<p>Apple has finally released iOS 10.3.3 to the public, meaning that AWT contributing editor Marty Edwards was correct in his prediction on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVkNl03pghs" rel="noopener noreferrer">AWT TV Episode 15</a> that it would be released this week! </p>

<p>Single sign-on can be a time-saver for those who own more than one Apple device that can display video apps, such as the iPhone, iPad and Apple TV. By signing in to a cable or satellite-TV provider once on an iOS device or Apple TV, users then gain instant access to video apps provided with a pay TV subscription. Today <a target="_blank" href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207035" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple added ten more single sign-on providers</a>:</p>

<p>A product that has been around about as long as Dennis Sellers and me is making a reappearance in a new way. Speidel, the maker of the Twist-O-Flex watchband that has been around since 1959, is <a target="_blank" href="http://www.speidel.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=00139912+%2B+00139902" rel="noopener noreferrer">now selling its classic expandable-bracelet watchband for the Apple Watch</a> at a very affordable $50.</p>

<p>It's always nice to see couples kiss and make up after a spat, and that's the case with Apple and Nokia. Back in April of 2016, Nokia bought connected-body accessory manufacturer Withings, a company that makes the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HLB82ZM/A/nokia-body-cardio-scale?fnode=7d" rel="noopener noreferrer">Body Cardio</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HLBB2ZM/A/nokia-body-scale?fnode=7d" rel="noopener noreferrer">Body+</a> smart scales, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HLB92ZM/A/nokia-thermo-thermometer?fnode=7d" rel="noopener noreferrer">Thermo Thermometer</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HLBA2ZM/A/nokia-bpm-blood-pressure-monitor?fnode=7d" rel="noopener noreferrer">BPM+ Blood Pressure Monitor</a>. Due to a patent battle with Nokia over intellectual property licensing, Apple pulled the products from sale at Apple retail and online stores. </p>

<p>You know the feeling -- you have a great idea for a game app, but there's nobody out there you can trust with your billion-dollar idea and you don't have the skills to develop the game yourself. Now you have no excuse, as we present the <strong><a target="_blank" href="https://deals.appleworld.today/sales/zero-to-hero-game-dev-bundle-2017?utm_source=appleworld.today&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=zero-to-hero-game-dev-bundle-2017_071917&utm_term=scsf-240635" rel="noopener noreferrer">2017 Zero to Hero Game Developer Bundle</a></strong> for $49!</p>

<p>Today's AWT News Update takes a closer look at AR, improvements in App Store customer service, and how Bluetooth LE will soon gain a lot of range:</p><ul><li>A writeup on TechCrunch pointed out how Apple is well-positioned to "own" the augmented reality market</li><li>Apple adds a new role to iTunes Connect, letting developers designate a person to respond to App Store reviews</li><li>Bluetooth LE gains a mesh networking piece, which could vastly improve the capabilities of home automation networks including those using Apple's HomeKit framework</li></ul>

<p>If I didn't know any better, I'd guess it was summer in the northern hemisphere, since we're getting so many requests to review "sports bands" for the Apple Watch.  Today I'm taking a look at two more of these bands, both of which are designed for the sole purpose of keeping your Apple Watch (Series 1 or 2) comfortably attached to your wrist while you're engaging in athletic endeavors. The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hellonomad.com/sport-strap" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nomad Sport Strap</a> (US$49.95) and <a target="_blank" href="https://xdorialife.com/collections/apple-watch-cases-and-bands/products/action-band-for-42mm-apple-watch?variant=36911525520" rel="noopener noreferrer">X-Doria Action Band</a> (US$34.95) are both made of waterproof silicone, but use slightly different buckle designs.</p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.starlingbank.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Starling Bank</a> is a "fintech business with a banking licence" in the UK, that operates as a mobile-only bank with no brick-and-mortar facilities. Today, Starling Bank announced that it's not only providing its customers with Apple Pay, but that it will provide "in-app provisioning" so that customers can begin to use their contactless payments even before receiving a physical MasterCard Debit Card.</p>

<p>Last night, Steve and Marty were back for another hour of fun video on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVONM6G3hHZgDRX7VgZDDJdqr6pyRPVdk" rel="noopener noreferrer">AWT TV</a>. We had a few fun topics to discuss: analysts panicking about Apple (and of course they're saying that Apple is panicking, not them...), iPhone 8 facial recognition vs. Touch ID, burn-in with OLED screens, Qualcomm's CEO saying that he thinks that things will be settled out of court in the company's battle with Apple, Apple's issues with iMessage sticker packs, maybe having remote support of iOS devices, and an original Gary Katz fidget spinner.</p>