Steve Sande

<p>As expected, the rumor machines are running overtime in the last few days leading up to Wednesday's announcements of a new iPhone and Apple Watch. The latest is <a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/09/03/apples-iphone-7-to-boast-true-tone-display-upgraded-camera-flash-capacities-of-32-256gb" rel="noopener noreferrer">via <em>AppleInsider</em></a>, which received a copy of a new research paper provided by Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities. In that paper, Kuo outlines the latest that's known about the upcoming iPhone. </p>

<p style="margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px">Just a reminder -- due to the US Labor Day weekend, the next AWT News Update episode will appear on Tuesday, September 6. </p><ul><li>Some rather bogus looking "iPhone 7 boxes" from Hungary and Russia show that the devices come with wireless AirPods, but we'll just wait and see. Earlier bogus boxes showed them coming with "EarPods with Lightning Connector".</li><li>Just in time for the "iPhone 7" announcement, we're starting to hear rumors about the "iPhone 8" or "10th Anniversary iPhone". The big feature? An iris scanner for authentication.</li><li>Apple's Twitter account may have been finally activated after being set up in 2011, just for the purpose of either live-tweeting or live streaming the event next Wednesday.</li></ul>

<p>I've been pretty happy with Google's free <a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/snapseed/id439438619?mt=8" rel="noopener noreferrer">Snapseed</a> photo editing app for iOS, and today's update to version 2.9 just made me a lot happier. The company added non-destructive RAW support for those who want to edit images from their DSLRs, a new tool for editing faces, and more.</p>

<p>May I have the envelope, please...</p>

<p>Drone pilot and videographer Matthew Roberts has published his monthly update video of the construction of Apple Campus 2, and things are really coming along. The majority of curved glass is now installed on the "spaceship" building and the roof is nearly complete, so installation of the thousands of photovoltaic solar panels that will be used to help power the facility has begun. </p>

<p>It's a scary world out there, but this bundle is going to make you -- and your Mac -- feel a lot more secure. The <a target="_blank" href="https://deals.appleworld.today/sales/cybersecurity-bundle?utm_source=appleworld.today&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=cybersecurity-bundle_090216" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ultimate Mac Cyber Security Bundle</a> provides seven apps and services that not only keep your online activities and local files safe, but can even improve your home security. Here's what you get for just $49.99 (regular price is $247.92):</p>

<p>Sick of wimpy Lightning cables that end up breaking or fraying after a few months of use? <a target="_blank" href="https://paracable.com/collections/lightning-cables" rel="noopener noreferrer">Paracable's Lightning cables</a> (US$23.95) are designed to put up with a lot of use and abuse, and although they may cost a bit more than your average discount cables, they'll probably be working well after Lightning is no longer Apple's connector of choice. Let's take a look!</p>

<p style="margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px">The last day of August brings just a few stories for the AWT News Update:</p><ul><li>CBS announces a new "commercial-free" tier for All Access, although viewers will be treated to some ads anyway...</li><li>Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 is temporarily being withheld from specific markets due to exploding battery pack issues. We talk abut those issues and another problem with the flagship phone.</li><li>Tapbots delivers a public beta of its new Pastebot for Mac</li></ul>

<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.builtbysnowman.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Snowman</a> is the game studio that came out with the addictive and beautiful game "Alto's Adventure" a few years ago. Not a studio to rest on its laurels, Snowman and another game studio -- <a target="_blank" href="http://thegameband.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Game Band</a> --  are now hard at work on "<a target="_blank" href="http://wherecardsfall.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Where Cards Fall</a>," described as "A dreamlike journey through youthful uncertainty." While that description leaves a lot to the imagination -- which is a good thing -- the game trailer released yesterday certainly piqued my curiosity. </p>

<p>At midnight Pacific Time tonight, entries close for the Team AWT drawing for a Drobo 5Dt Thunderbolt 2 storage device and five 2TB drives to go in it (value estimated at almost $1,200). To be eligible to enter and possibly win, you must be a member of Team AWT, our premium subscription service. For more information on the benefits provided by Team AWT, <a href="/team-awt">please check out this page</a>.</p>

<p>Thinking about cutting the cable or simply having more access to shows and movies that you currently do? Either of those is a great goal, and you're going to want to have SelectTV as a streaming source. Why? SelectTV has the world's largest entertainment library, putting Hulu and Netflix to shame. Today's Apple World Today deal is a <a href="https://deals.appleworld.today/sales/selecttv-1-year-subscription?utm_source=appleworld.today&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=selecttv-1-year-subscription_083116">one year subscription to SelectTV for the paltry sum of $19</a>. </p>

<p style="margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px">Accessories are at the top of the Apple news today, along with a reminder...</p><ul><li>Tomorrow -- AUGUST 31 -- is the last day for entries in our Team AWT Drobo 5Dt giveaway. <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/team-awt" rel="noopener noreferrer">Click here</a> for information on joining Team AWT, or <a target="_blank" href="https://goo.gl/forms/f3JApIlG1yuxC3Vv1" rel="noopener noreferrer">click here to enter the giveaway if you're already a member</a>. </li><li>Olloclip announces an articulating mobile video grip called the PIVOT that should be available in October.</li><li>Griffin Technology wants to make it easy for iPhone 7 listeners to use their favorite "wired" headphones without wires with the iTrip Clip.</li><li>Mophie announced a bunch of new members of its Powerstation battery pack family, including one with USB-C and another that works with a wireless charging battery pack for iPhone. </li></ul>

<p>Accessory manufacturer Belkin today released the PowerHouse ($99), a combined charging solution for Lightning-equipped iPhones and Apple Watch. The device has a built-in Apple Watch magnetic charging module with an integrated Lightning connector for the iPhone, allowing owners of both devices to charge the two simultaneously.</p>

<p>Except for the iPad Pro models that have four speakers located around the perimeter of the device, most iPads provide woefully inadequate sound to match the beautiful streaming video they can receive. A new Indiegogo campaign from OIO launched today wants to change all that. The <a href="https://igg.me/at/oioamp">Amp Speaker Case</a> will work with the iPad Air 1 and 2, as well as the iPad Pro 9.7-inch, and is designed to bring a theater-like sound experience to the iPad.  </p>

<p>As expected, the <a target="_blank" href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2016/8/17/parallels-desktop-12-launches-with-macos-sierra-compatibility-more-speed-and-the-new-toolbox-for-mac" rel="noopener noreferrer">recent announcement of Parallels Desktop 12</a> preceded <a target="_blank" href="http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">the release of VMware Fusion 8.5</a> by only a little over a week. VMware's Mac virtual machine environments -- Fusion and Fusion Pro, have been updated to version 8.5, bringing support for macOS Sierra host and guest machines (with Siri integration and tabbed VM windows), Windows 10 Anniversary, and Windows Server 2016.</p>