Steve Sande

<p>OK, this is without a doubt one of the most fun apps I've played with in a while. You know GIPHY, the app that lets you search for or submit GIF animations? Well, they've just shipped <a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/giphy-says-turn-your-voice-into-gifs/id1219091845?mt=8" rel="noopener noreferrer">GIPHY Says</a>, a free app that takes a short video of you or someone else talking, then turns it into a GIF complete with a cartoon balloon of your words.</p>

<p>You asked for it, we brought it back. When we ran a deal last month for a <strong><a target="_blank" href="https://deals.appleworld.today/sales/2-in-1-lightning-to-headphone-jack-charge-cable-3-pack?utm_source=appleworld.today&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=2-in-1-lightning-to-headphone-jack-charge-cable-3-pack_040317&utm_term=scsf-227121" rel="noopener noreferrer">3 pack of 2-in-1 Lightning to Headphone Jack Charging Cables for $21.99</a></strong>, we didn't realize how popular it was going to be. Apparently there are a LOT of iPhone 7 and 7 Plus owners who need the convenience of being able to charge their phones while listening to music on headphones. We've brought back the deal for a limited time.</p>

One of our longtime readers and supporters, Hal Sherman, let us know today that he had received an email from...

<p>It's been a good day for Mac users, with word coming down from Cupertino of new Mac Pros and iMacs in the product pipeline. Other news:</p><ul><li>The surprise announcements from Apple today point to a company that's willing to admit mistakes and move on from them</li><li>The third Apple retail store in the UAE is under construction, with artwork at the site touting local artists and entrepreneurs</li><li>Construction continues on the flagship Chicago store, with huge roof panels being lifted into place this week</li><li>One financial analyst believes the iPhone 8 (or iPhone X, or...) won't be as expensive as previously thought</li></ul>

<p>While some folks were watching some basketball game on TV last night, the rest of the world was joining Dennis Sellers, Marty Edwards and me for another episode of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVONM6G3hHZgDRX7VgZDDJdqr6pyRPVdk" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>AWT TV</strong></a>. This week's show was a blast; we changed the tools we use so the sound is much better than during our debut show, Steve was live from Apple Park <em>and</em> Earth orbit (you'll have to watch...), and we were visited by Pippin the cat, who just happened to turn 3 years old yesterday.</p>

<p>Few accessory manufacturers have been around since the dawn of the Mac, but one was actually in existence pre-Mac: Belkin. The company was founded by Chet Pipkin (current CEO), who started building cables on his parents' dining room table in 1983. Now the company is well-known to most Apple users for its wide range of accessories, and today Belkin released its latest product -- the US$29.99 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.belkin.com/us/p/P-F2CU050/" rel="noopener noreferrer">MIXIT DuraTek USB-C cable</a>.</p>

<p>A good percentage of Apple World Today readers are owners of Digital SLR cameras (DSLRs) who use the interchangeable lenses and advanced capabilities of their cameras to take their photography beyond what's possible with iPhone cameras. While the photographic options are definitely better, carrying bulky DSLRs with the traditional neck straps can be a painful experience. Today I'm going hands-on with the <a target="_blank" href="https://spiderholster.com/single-camera-system/" rel="noopener noreferrer">SpiderPro DSLR Holster System</a> (single camera starting at US$135), a unique and comfortable way to carry a DSLR -- on your hip.</p>

<p>It's our first podcast of April. Spring has (somewhat) sprung, and there's Apple news in the air:</p><ul><li>Subaru to debut the redesigned 2018 CrossTrek SUV at the New York International Car Show this month, complete with CarPlay</li><li>Apple has placed orders for 70 million flexible OLED panels for the 2017 iPhone with options for more</li><li>A 21-year veteran of Apple's industrial design team is leaving the company</li><li>Join us for <a target="_blank" href="https://youtube.com/c/appleworldtoday" rel="noopener noreferrer">AWT TV</a> tonight at 6:30 PM PT/9:30 PM ET</li></ul>

<p>One week after the initial release of iOS 10.3, Apple has released iOS 10.3.1. The new release is available as an over-the-air update (Settings > General > Software Update).</p><p>There's no word on exactly what bug fixes or security improvements have been made in the 10.3.1 release. iOS 10.3.2 has already been released as a beta to both developers and public beta testers.</p>

<p>The recent action Congress took to repeal a previous law that was on the books -- but had never been put into effect -- opens the door for ISPs to track your web browsing history and sell valuable marketing information to the highest bidders. There's one way you can fight back, and that's to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to keep your web traffic confidential. With our marketing partner StackCommerce, we're offering a deal on the highly-rated <strong><a target="_blank" href="https://deals.appleworld.today/sales/tigervpn-lifetime-subscription-3?utm_source=appleworld.today&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=tigervpn-lifetime-subscription-3_040717&utm_term=scsf-227129" rel="noopener noreferrer">TigerVPN -- a lifetime subscription for only $29</a></strong>.</p>

<p>This week’s Apple World Today sponsor is a service that is incredibly useful for everyone — <a href="http://synd.co/2nEVXfW%E2%80%8B">eversign</a>. At first glance, eversign looks like a way to easily send and sign legally binding documents. But there’s much more to eversign than meets the eye.</p>

<p>Tomorrow night the faces of Apple World Today will be gathering together online for episode 2 of <a target="_blank" href="http://youtube.com/c/appleworldtoday" rel="noopener noreferrer">AWT TV</a>, our live streamed show about...Apple stuff! April 3rd is the anniversary of the introduction of the iPad in 2010, so we'll have a discussion about the tablet, where it's been and where it could go in the future.</p>

<p>A lot of product announcements on this first day of April, 2017! Accessory manufacturer Moshi wasted no time in sharing an important product announcement for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.moshi.com/usb-speed-of-light" rel="noopener noreferrer">USB-Speed of Light</a> (USB-SL), the latest generation of USB connectivity. </p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="http://twelvesouth.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twelve South</a> is always at the cutting edge of tech design, and now the Apple-only accessory company is merging fashion and hi-tech with its first product for Apple AirPods. The new AirRings for AirPods transform AirPods into earrings. </p>

<p>Welcome to Friday, World Backup Day and the day before the dreaded April Fools' Day. We have some real news stories for you today on the podcast to offset those reports you'll see this weekend:</p><ul><li>Verizon is said to be working on a streaming TV service to be introduced this summer</li><li>Apple's touting April as <a target="_blank" href="https://search.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZContentLink.woa/wa/link?mt=8&path=apps%2fautism" rel="noopener noreferrer">Autism Awareness Month</a> with an app collection and specially designed Field Trips</li><li>Barclays analysts think that the top-end iPhone coming out later this year may include front and back "structured light" cameras with custom 3D sensors</li></ul>