Steve Sande

<p>This is the era of AIs, with Siri from Apple, Cortana from Microsoft, Alexa from Amazon, and Google Assistant from Google now appearing in devices from smartwatches to PCs. Android Police is reporting that <a target="_blank" href="http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/05/15/google-will-announce-assistant-for-ios-soon-in-the-us-only-at-launch/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Google Assistant will soon be launching on iOS as a standalone app</a>. How soon? The app may be announced as soon as this week at Google's I/O Conference.</p>

<p>Although Apple seems to be somewhat slower than other PC manufacturers in terms of moving new Intel processors to its laptop and desktop lines, it's always news when we hear word of a new Intel processor line. A <a target="_blank" href="https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/intel-skylake-kaby-lake-thread-6c-12t-coffee-lake-launching-august-2017.2428363/page-417#post-38889905" rel="noopener noreferrer">leaked presentation photo</a> shows a new high-end Core i9 processor using Kaby Lake-X and Skylake-X architectures that may be announced by Intel in June.</p>

<p>Matthew Roberts of Maverick Media has been capturing drone footage of Apple Park construction since the beginning, but during the past year the construction has really gone from "empty shells" to "virtually complete. In this video, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR4xntz-DGw" rel="noopener noreferrer">Roberts shows some of the major features of Apple Park</a> -- the "Spaceship", the Steve Jobs Auditorium, parking garages, health center, R&D facilities and more -- as they appeared a year ago and then at various times through the past year.</p>

<p>Tired of having those charging cables running all over your desktop? It's simple to tidy up your workspace with this handy MFi-certified <a href="https://deals.appleworld.today/sales/iphone-charge-sync-mfi-lightning-dock"><strong>Lightning Charging Dock from CaseStudi</strong></a>, available for just $19.99 from the Apple World Today Deals Shop.  </p>

<p>As the week winds down, we have a short Friday podcast for you:</p><ul><li>The going is tough in Germany, where negotiations with the country's banks to allow Apple Pay are "in a tough state"</li><li>The yellow and magenta networks may merge, making...red? (Hmmm, Verizon has a lock on red, doesn't it?)</li><li>One Wall Street analyst thinks the iPhone 8 will come in 128 and 256GB versions at price tags of $999 and $1,099 respectively</li></ul>

<p>If Apple's reimagined 2016 MacBook Pros have done anything to make an impact, this is it -- they've certainly stimulated the market for third-party accessories that make up for the shortcomings of the entirely Thunderbolt 3/USB-C design. Satechi today released the new <a target="_blank" href="http://www.satechi.net/index.php/new/pro-hub-space-gray?___SID=U" rel="noopener noreferrer">Aluminum Type-C Pro Hub Adapter for 2016 MacBook Pro 13" and 15"</a>, a relative bargain at $99.99.</p>

<p>The cameras on the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are phenomenal, but many techniques needed to take professional-looking photos are beyond the skills of most iPhoneographers. Apple has posted a new web page that uses 16 short and to-the-point videos to give iPhone shooters a quick tutorial in how to master some common pro techniques. The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.apple.com/iphone/photography-how-to/" rel="noopener noreferrer">"How to shoot on iPhone 7" page</a> and videos can be viewed on iPhone -- many of the videos are in portrait orientation -- and they show just how easy it can be to achieve professional results.</p>

<p>One of our most popular developer training bundles from last year was the 2016 edition of the Ultimate Learn To Code Bundle. The bundle's back with updated course material that's sure to get you up to speed in the job skills you need to succeed! <strong><a target="_blank" href="https://deals.appleworld.today/sales/the-ultimate-learn-to-code-2017-bundle?utm_source=appleworld.today&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=the-ultimate-learn-to-code-2017-bundle_051217&utm_term=scsf-231742" rel="noopener noreferrer">This immersive set of online courses provides over 80 hours of training for only $49</a></strong> -- it's a $1,186 value!</p>

<p>Microsoft Windows will make nice with iOS, the father of the iPod speaks, and the Sims are coming to an iPhone or iPad near you:</p><ul><li>A fall release of Microsoft Windows 10 will add features that provide a lot of support for iOS devices</li><li>Tony Fadell, iPod designer and former Nest CEO, talked last night at a San Jose forum on the history and impact of the iPhone</li><li>EA announces The Sims Mobile, a new game in the franchise that will run on iOS</li></ul>

<p>One of the "badges of honor" that comes along with advancing years is hearing loss. Whether it's medically-caused, the result of too many years of listening to loud music, or just plain old age, almost everyone gets to the point that their hearing isn't as sharp as it used to be. <a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hearing-aid-pro-professional-hearing-improvement/id1146447103?mt=8" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hearing Air Pro</a> (US$9.99) is designed to act as a hearing aid that runs on your iPhone, and since I was recently diagnosed with significant hearing loss in my left ear, I thought I'd give it a try.</p>

<p>If there's one thing about the expected 10th anniversary iPhone that bloggers enjoy, it's that it is generating a lot of good fodder for posts. Today's rumors are extra-tasty, with a side helping of believability.</p>

<p>One of the greatest collections of vintage and rare Apple hardware now has a new home -- in Kyiv, Ukraine. The collection grew over the years at its former home in NYC at the offices of Tekserve, which was an Apple Authorized Service Center for 13 years before closing its door last year. Purchased by Mac developer MacPaw, <a target="_blank" href="http://blog.macpaw.com/post/160545245828/macpaw-museum" rel="noopener noreferrer">the acquisition of the collection was made public today</a>.</p>

<p>When I click the scroll-wheel button on my mouse (or use the keyboard shortcut I've assigned it, Control + z), a fabulous little app called <a target="_blank" href="http://workingsmarterformacusers.us12.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=f82d40eabcbc7dc8499c11296&id=bc1ab83103&e=11f37e1868" rel="noopener noreferrer">MenuMate</a> puts the entire menu bar for whichever application I’m currently using right beneath my mouse pointer.</p>

<p>Kind of a slow news day in Apple land today -- with the exception of the rumor mills -- but we have a few stories for today's podcast:</p><ul><li>A European homebuilder is added to the list of homebuilders offering turnkey HomeKit support for new home buyers</li><li>Google's iOS app and mobile search results can now give users ideas of events to go to in order to stay properly entertained</li><li>Readdle's PDF Expert 6 for iOS is released, with a lot of new and time-saving features</li></ul>

<p>There are literally hundreds…if not thousands…of drones available for those who want to capture images taken from the air. The <a href="https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HL172VC/A/hover-camera-passport-drone">Hover Camera Passport</a> (US$499.95) is something different; think of it as a camera that it happens to fly autonomously or under your control rather than a "normal" drone.</p>