Steve Sande

<p>Macs usually aren't the targets of malicious hackers, but a researcher at Malwarebytes discovered a new variant of the new OSX.dok Trojan that is installing a powerful, previously unknown backdoor malware on Macs. Adam Thomas of Malwarebytes found the variant and it was <a target="_blank" href="https://blog.malwarebytes.com/threat-analysis/2017/05/another-osx-dok-dropper-found-installing-new-backdoor/" rel="noopener noreferrer">featured on the Malwarebytes blog yesterday</a>. </p>

<p>First it was Matthew Roberts and Duncan Sinfield, reporting monthly from Apple Park with enticing aerial footage of the construction in progress. Now it's possible to visit YouTube and see much more drone footage from seemingly anyone in the Bay Area who has a drone. But the best footage is always from the first two videographers, and today we have a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrNk0Ymg6JeagiMSNAiBglg" rel="noopener noreferrer">May update from Matthew Roberts</a>. </p>

<p>Yesterday, Apple placed a few MacBook and MacBook Pro models on <a target="_blank" href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201624" rel="noopener noreferrer">the growing list of "obsolete" and "vintage" hardware</a>. Among the sad, discarded few was the 2010 13-inch MacBook, which was the last MacBook to use a polycarbonate outer shell instead of Jony Ive's beloved "aluminium". </p>

<p>This afternoon at 2 PM PDT/5 PM EDT, Apple will host its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.apple.com/investor/earnings-call/" rel="noopener noreferrer">quarterly earnings call for the second fiscal quarter of 2017</a>. We'll have a number of posts here on the site that will go into detail on the announcements made by Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri, as well as something new -- a Facebook Live livestream with analysis of the earnings report. </p>

<p>The new 5th-generation 9.7-inch iPad has a new best buddy. Today, Logitech announced the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/slim-folio-ipad-keyboard-case?crid=1221" rel="noopener noreferrer">SLIM FOLIO</a> (US$99.99) which is an integrated Bluetooth keyboard and case for the new device. </p>

<p>Now's your chance to have lunch with Tim Cook and get to visit Apple's new headquarters at Apple Park. As in past years, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/1207100" rel="noopener noreferrer">Charitybuzz is auctioning off a lunch with the Apple CEO benefiting Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights</a>. For the first time, the venue will be a bit different -- Apple Park.</p>

<p>Last night's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVONM6G3hHZgDRX7VgZDDJdqr6pyRPVdk" rel="noopener noreferrer">AWT TV</a> was the Steve & Marty show, as Dennis was attending his daughter-in-law's grad school graduation! The topic of the show -- What do you dislike about Apple? From a fanboy perspective, there are a lot of things to like about Apple, but there are also annoyances. Those are what we talked about...and if you want to find out what our big concerns were, you'll have to watch the show! Marty also demonstrates one of our favorite iOS games -- <a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/monument-valley/id728293409?mt=8" rel="noopener noreferrer">Monument Valley</a>. </p>

<p>Tonight's the night for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVONM6G3hHZgDRX7VgZDDJdqr6pyRPVdk" rel="noopener noreferrer">AWT TV,</a> and although Dennis Sellers is back from his vacation, he'll be attending the grad-school graduation of his daughter-in-law like a good father-in-law should! Marty Edwards and I will be partners in crime for the new episode, and we'd like to invite you to watch or -- if you're a <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/team-awt" rel="noopener noreferrer">Team AWT</a> member -- join in on the livestream.</p>

<p>Mayday! Mayday! We've got some fascinating news bits for you today, the first day of May.</p><ul><li>Apple TV gains three new apps as well as three other apps that support universal search</li><li>Siri saves three more lives, this time thanks to a waterproof iPhone 7 on a capsized boat</li><li>AAPL shares close today at $146.58</li><li>Longtime Apple writer Joe Kissell purchases the Take Control Books publishing company from Adam and Tonya Engst of TidBITS</li><li>Some Apple Watch apps from big players are disappearing from the small screen</li></ul>

<p>Have you ever unfollowed someone on Facebook? If a "friend" is being obnoxious, but you'd still like to remain "friends" with them on Facebook, you can unfollow them -- this just takes their posts out of your News feed so you don't have to read their opinions... On today's video tip, we'll show you how to reconnect with those folks you've unfollowed in the past:</p>

<p>Part of our mission at Apple World Today is to keep alive the history of the Mac and other Apple products. After a recent post about a working PowerBook that was donated to our Vintage Apple project, I received an email from an reader -- Steve Neago -- who is looking for a piece of Mac history. Here's his message:</p>

<p>If there's one thing that we keep hounding Apple World Today readers to do, it's backing up their devices. We've got a deal today that will give you a lifetime of backups to a secured 2TB cloud server for just $59.99. The <strong><a target="_blank" href="https://deals.appleworld.today/sales/degoo-ultimate-2tb-backup-plan-lifetime-subscription?utm_source=appleworld.today&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=degoo-ultimate-2tb-backup-plan-lifetime-subscription_050117&utm_term=scsf-230913" rel="noopener noreferrer">Degoo Premium plan</a></strong> is worth considering if you're looking for a secure place to put some or all of your files, and it works with macOS, iOS, Windows and Android.</p>

<p>A lot of Apple World Today readers are also customers of online backup pioneer <a target="_blank" href="https://www.backblaze.com/blog/protecting-your-account/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Backblaze</a>, and yesterday they all received an email from the company titled simply "Protecting Your Account". In this short post, we'll show you how to change your Backblaze password and set up two-factor authentication. First, here's the email in its entirety if you haven't yet seen it:</p>

<p>It's the last AWT News Update of the month! Today we have:</p><ul><li>New photos emerge showing an alleged manufacturing mold for an iPhone 8 with all the right openings in all the right places</li><li>Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou met with President Donald Trump today, says that the iPhone manufacturer is planning several US investments</li><li>Apple's self-driving test cars are on the roads, and Apple responds to California DMV requests for comments on testing protocols and reporting requirements</li></ul>

<p>That didn't take long. About two weeks after Apple gained permission from the State of California to test out its autonomous-car technology, an "anonymous source" provided <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-27/check-out-the-lexus-that-apple-s-using-to-test-self-driving-car-technology" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bloomberg</a> with pictures and an animated GIF sequence showing the vehicle on the streets.</p>