Steve Sande

<p>When you get really compact computing devices like the 12-inch MacBook or iPad Pros, most laptop bags are way too big. It's like using a moving van to transport a pea! Well, fortunately Pad & Quill saw the trend towards more svelte computers and tablets and developed the new <a target="_blank" href="http://www.padandquill.com/leather-bags/small-briefcase.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">Small Briefcase</a> (US$219.00). Today we'll take a look at this compact and rugged laptop case.</p>

<p>On Monday, we enticed Apple World Today readers with a deal on TextExpander, a well-known productivity tool for Mac users. Today we have a heck of a deal from Readdle for <a target="_blank" href="https://deals.appleworld.today/sales/pdf-expert-2-0-for-mac?utm_source=appleworld.today&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pdf-expert-2-0-for-mac_091416" rel="noopener noreferrer">50% off of PDF Expert 2.0 for Mac</a>. For anyone who needs to work with Portable Document Format (PDF) files on a regular basis, PDF Expert is the best possible way to mark up, fill out, and password-protect those files. You'll get PDF Expert 2.0 for just $29.99, half off of the regular $59.99 price tag. </p>

<p>Well, like everything new, sometimes it's best to wait. We are getting widespread reports of the iOS 10 upgrade causing iPhones to "brick" (get into the mode where they need to be restored), which is not good. Please hold off on the upgrade for now!</p>

It's About Time has made a jump from creating learning tools to iOS development, starting with a collection of fun...

<p>After several months of intensive beta testing by developers and public testers, iOS 10 has shipped. It's simple to update your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to the newest Apple mobile operating system, but if you need a refresher...here it is!</p>

<p>Earlier this year I wrote a review of the <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2016/1/4/virtual-reality-on-the-cheap-with-dodocase-p2-virtual-reality-pop-up-viewer" rel="noopener noreferrer">DODOcase P2 Virtual Reality Popup Viewer</a>, an inexpensive VR viewer that works with Google Cardboard-compatible apps to turn an iPhone (or most smartphones for that matter) into a virtual reality headset. About the only problem I really had with the P2 was that truly was made out of cardboard -- and not of the Google variety -- and I found that the more I used it, the more beat up it got. Fortunately, DODOcase ran an Indiegogo campaign to bring a much more durable and good-looking VR viewer to market in the form of the $39.95 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.dodocase.com/products/smartvr" rel="noopener noreferrer">SMARTvr Smartphone Virtual Reality Viewer</a>. </p>

<p>Unless you've been a smart person and have been ignoring the press recently, one of the big "controversies" over the iPhone 7 announcement has been the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack. Although Apple includes Lightning-based EarPods and a Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter in every iPhone 7 box, people are still griping. Well, Inateck has a little product that makes it easy to take your existing headphones with that ancient 3.5mm technology and bring it up to the 21st Century using Bluetooth. The $31.99 (on Amazon) <a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FVIS4TE/appwortod01-20/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Inateck BR1003 Bluetooth transmitter and receiver</a> might be small in size, but it can be a big help to iPhone 7 users or other who might want to go wireless.</p>

<p><a target="_blank" href="http://padandquill.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pad & Quill</a> has been an Apple World Today favorite case and bag vendor for years, and whenever a new Apple product appears we always get excited to see what's they're going to announce. Today, Pad & Quill announced that three of their cases -- the <a target="_blank" href="http://shrsl.com/?dxj4" rel="noopener noreferrer">Luxury Pocket Book</a> ($99.95 for iPhone 7, $109.95 for iPhone 7 Plus), <a target="_blank" href="http://shrsl.com/?dxj5" rel="noopener noreferrer">Woodline</a> ($49.95), and <a target="_blank" href="http://shrsl.com/?dxj6" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bella Fino</a> ($69.95 for iPhone 7, $79.95 for iPhone 7 Plus) are available for pre-order. Use the special order code 710 and you'll get $10 off of any of Pad & Quill's products for <a target="_blank" href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?B=907946&U=1170474&M=54540&urllink=" rel="noopener noreferrer">iPhone 7</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?B=907947&U=1170474&M=54540&urllink=" rel="noopener noreferrer">iPhone 7 Plus</a> or <a target="_blank" href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?B=907945&U=1170474&M=54540&urllink=" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple Watch Series 2</a>. </p>

<p>I've been playing around with the various beta versions of iOS 10 for months now, so I've had time to get used to some of the new features. One that might surprise owners of any iPhone is just how different the experience of picking up your device and unlocking is with iOS 10. In advance of this shock to your old habits, I'll tell you how your new and old iPhones will react when you pick them up to use them.</p>

<p>Remember, tomorrow is iOS 10 day! You might be wondering if your iPhone can run the new operating system, so we've "borrowed" the compatibility list from Apple to show you here:</p>

<p>TextExpander from <a target="_blank" href="https://smilesoftware.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Smile</a> is one of my favorite Mac utilities. The app has saved me 31 hours and change just in the past year by taking long strings of text that I type over and over again, and letting me turn them into short, easy-to-type shortcuts. For example, typing just four letters gives me the title for the AWT News Update ("Apple World Today News Update for September 12, 2016"), a significant savings of time for something I type every weekday. Speaking of significant savings, AWT readers can get <a target="_blank" href="https://deals.appleworld.today/sales/textexpander-1-yr-single-user-plan-2?utm_source=appleworld.today&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=textexpander-1-yr-single-user-plan-2_091216" rel="noopener noreferrer">60% off of a TextExpander 1-Year Single User Subscription</a> from the Apple World Today Deals Shop.</p>

<p style="margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px">We're heading into the weekend with iPhone 7s and Apple Watches (Series 2) pre-ordered, so what else is happening? Give us 4 minutes and we'll give you some news:</p><ul><li>Regardless of what brainless pundits are saying about the "lack of an audio port", the iPhone 7 appears to be an instant success</li><li>First the FAA recommends not taking Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones on airplanes. Today, the US CPSC issued an even stronger warning to the public at large -- "turn them off"</li><li>Tim Cook allegedly emails a concerned Mac fan to reassure him that upgrades are coming</li><li>Would you believe that an iPhone 7 Plus is actually faster than a 12-inch MacBook? It's true!</li></ul>

<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.antsylabs.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Antsy Labs</a> is a Colorado-based design house that has created tech-related products in the past. Its <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2015/4/30/duet-dock-apple-watch-and-iphone-in-perfect-harmony">Duet Dock</a> was one of the first dual Apple Watch/iPhone charging docks we reviewed at Apple World Today, and it paved the way for a lot of other similar docks. But the company’s biggest invention doesn’t require a power outlet, needs no recharging, can fit in your pocket, and has no need for iCloud syncing. It’s the $19 <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2015098713/fidget-cube-a-vinyl-desk-toy?ref=nav_search">Fidget Cube</a>, and it may do more for productivity and creativity than a whole container ship full of Macs, iPhones and iPads.</p>

<p>I have to admit to being grumpy this morning. Part of is that I'm almost 59 years old and fit the "Grumpy Old Man" persona, but the other has to do with the experience I had early this morning ordering an iPhone 7 Plus. <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2016/9/9/my-frustrating-attempts-to-buy-an-iphone-7-plus-and-second-gen-apple-watch" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dennis Sellers has already relayed his displeasure</a>, now it's my turn to weigh in.</p>

<p>Mac creatives know that to keep churning out the work and keep the billable hours up, they need to be organized. The good folks at MacBundler have worked overtime on this latest deal for Apple World Today readers, putting together 9 Mac productivity apps worth $250 and selling it for one-tenth of that price -- $25. The <a target="_blank" href="https://deals.appleworld.today/sales/the-mac-variety-bundle-7-0?utm_source=appleworld.today&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=the-mac-variety-bundle-7-0_090916" rel="noopener noreferrer">Creative's Productivity Mac Bundle</a> helps any creative professional to minimize distractions and clutter, and make the most of every minute of the work day. What's included? </p>