Steve Sande

<p>What's better than an Apple World Today Deals Shop daily deal? How about a deal with an additional 50% taken off the top with the super-secret (just kidding) promo code <strong>LEARN50</strong> ? Get our <a href="https://deals.appleworld.today/sales/ios-10-and-swift-3-bundle?utm_source=appleworld.today&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ios-10-and-swift-3-bundle_022017&utm_term=scsf-217073"><strong>iOS 10 & Swift 3 development course starter bundle</strong></a> for just $45...no, we're just kidding again. Pop that promo code LEARN50 into the proper spot while checking out, and you get the class for $22.50. </p>

<p>IK Multimedia has released a new version of iRig Recorder, its video and audio editing app for iOS. <a href="http://ikmultimedia.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d%3c2%3c2A%26JDG%3c%3a4%3f-%3a5%3a%26SDG%3c90%3a.&RE=MC&RI=4570124&Preview=False&DistributionActionID=3987&Action=Follow+Link"><strong>iRig Recorder 3</strong></a>  (free version available and full version for $/€7.99) has expanded from an audio-only app with the addition of video recording.  </p>

<p>In my <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2017/2/6/the-travel-series-packing-your-tech">last post</a> I described different types of hardware and accessories that travelers might want to pack before going on a trip. Today, I'll talk about apps that are good to either install or familiarize yourself with prior to your departure. </p>

<p>A light news day for Apple...so we bring up the latest Samsung scandal!</p><ul><li>Apple has four new iPad Pro ads touting how the device is much better than those virus-ridden slow PCs with no cellular modems</li><li>The acting head of the Samsung Group is arrested on charges of embezzlement, bribery, perjury and hiding assets overseas. Guy sounds like a politician, doesn't he?</li><li>A bomb scare briefly clears the flagship Apple Store in Sydney, Australia today</li></ul>

<p>The iPad mini is one of my favorite devices. It's compact, it's lightweight, and it has a lot of the speed and features of its larger siblings. I like to use keyboards on my iPads, so when Inateck asked if I wanted to try out their new <a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1055Z7/appwortod01-20/" rel="noopener noreferrer">BK2002 Keyboard Case for iPad mini 1/2/3</a> (US$29.99, affiliate link), I jumped at the chance.</p>

<p>Digital photography takes place not only in the field or studio with your camera, but in the digital darkroom as well. Today's Apple World Today deal gives you 5 courses in 13 lectures and 71 lessons that quickly teach you how to use Adobe Lightroom to improve your photography -- all for just $19.99. The <strong><a target="_blank" href="https://deals.appleworld.today/sales/edit-like-a-pro-photography-bundle?utm_source=appleworld.today&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=edit-like-a-pro-photography-bundle_021717&utm_term=scsf-217080" rel="noopener noreferrer">Professional Photo Editing Bundle</a></strong> online courses from Houghton Photo provide the knowledge to take your digital photography to the next level.</p>

<p>Today we have a wide spectrum of Apple and industry-related news items for your listening pleasure:</p><ul><li>The chairman of the FCC wants the FM radio receivers in most smartphones enabled</li><li>Facebook may soon become THE place to look for and apply for jobs</li><li>Touch ID is passé - here comes 3D laser scanning for facial recognition</li></ul>

<p>Last August, Snowman (the game house behind the mega-hit Alto's Adventure) and The Game Band <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2016/8/31/snowman-and-the-game-band-release-game-trailer-for-where-cards-fall" rel="noopener noreferrer">teased us with a trailer for a new game called Where Cards Fall</a>. The game was first teased in an email in March of 2016, and the only word we got was that Where Cards Fall would be shipping in 2017. Today, a new trailer arrived, showing some of the actual game play:</p>

<p>Every year, Fortune puts together a survey of corporate reputations called <a target="_blank" href="http://beta.fortune.com/worlds-most-admired-companies/" rel="noopener noreferrer">The World's Most Admired Companies</a>. This year, Apple leads the list as one of the "Top 10 All-Stars", considered the most admired corporation in the world.</p>

<p>Today's Apple news comes from all over the map, literally and figuratively:</p><ul><li>Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway bet big on Apple in the last quarter of 2016, a bet that has already paid off</li><li>Members of a Madrid, Spain gang with sharp teeth made off with some iPhones before getting caught</li><li>Comcast announces a new app that will turn your Apple devices into more TVs on which you can watch most of Comcast's content at no extra cost</li></ul>

<p>We're all pretty familiar with how good Apple Genius Bar staffers can be at fixing issues with the latest products out of Cupertino, but what about those Apple products that are as old -- or older -- than most of the Geniuses? Ewen Rankin, a pro photographer/videographer from Birmingham, England who also happens to be the podcaster behind <a target="_blank" href="http://www.britishtechnetwork.com/category/mac" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Mac Show</a> on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.britishtechnetwork.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">The British Tech Network</a>, was able to find out recently with a very special 30-year-old Mac SE.</p>

<p>Hidden in the Mac App Store updates tab the past day or two has been an update for GarageBand to version 10.1.6. While the update notes state that the new code is to fix "Performance and security issues", it appears that the primary reason was to shut the door on a vulnerability in GarageBand.</p>

<p>Compared to years past, 2017 is shaping up to be a good one for HomeKit-compatible gear. We heard a lot about new HomeKit products at CES 2017, and one of the new additions to the field was PureGear with the <strong><a target="_blank" href="http://www.pure-gear.com/pureswitch-wireless-smart-plug-charger-config.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">PureSwitch Wireless SmartPlug</a></strong> ($39.99). Let's see how this new product (available starting today) works with Apple's home automation framework.</p>

<p>People who are fanatical about backing up their Macs or PCs sometimes forget the most important devices in their lives -- those mobile devices like the iPhone and iPad. While some people back up their devices to iCloud, there are many others who wish to avoid Apple's cloud service as they don't want to pay the $2.99 or greater monthly fee to store that mobile data. We have a solution: A lifetime subscription to <strong><a target="_blank" href="https://deals.appleworld.today/sales/idrive-unlimited-mobile-backup-lifetime-subscription?utm_source=appleworld.today&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=idrive-unlimited-mobile-backup-lifetime-subscription_021517&utm_term=scsf-217076" rel="noopener noreferrer">iDrive Unlimited Mobile Backup</a></strong> for just $19.99 -- that's less that the $36 you'd shell out to Apple each year.</p>

<p>Happy Valentine's Day! While you're waiting in line at that popular restaurant for your rushed Valentine's Day meal, pop in those AirPods and listen to today's news highlights:</p><ul><li>Apple shares reach an all-time high, and the company reached a new record market cap of $708.4 billion</li><li>A HomeKit-enabled security cam from D-Link is beginning to show up in online Apple Stores</li><li>The existing Nest Cam and Nest Aware services get some new features</li><li>Facebook announces that a Facebook video app is in the works for the fourth-generation Apple TV</li></ul>