Steve Sande

<p>The "Internet of Things" may make it easy for us to automate our lives, but it's also making it easier for hackers to gain access to home networks and computers. Security researchers Rapid7 (via ZDnet) are reporting that <a target="_blank" href="http://www.zdnet.com/article/serious-security-flaws-found-in-osram-smart-bulbs/" rel="noopener noreferrer">security flaws in Osram's Lightify brand of iPhone-controlled lightbulbs could allow hackers to launch browser attacks or even identify the wireless network's password</a>.</p>

<p>How time flies! It's already time for <a target="_blank" href="http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2016/07/22FY-16-Third-Quarter-Results-Conference-Call.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple's third fiscal quarter earnings call</a>, which will be held this afternoon starting at 2 PM PDT/5 PM EDT. Last quarter's call brought bad news to investors, with the first year-over-year decline in smartphone sales ever. The company's new iPhone SE has now been selling for a full quarter, so we'll be anxiously waiting to see if it has pulled the company from the doldrums or if Apple has a second quarter with sales and revenue declines.</p>

<p>Bob Mansfield was always a happy face at Apple events in the past, when he showed off some of the amazing hardware that his team had invented. Mansfield retired a few years ago, and now the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-taps-bob-mansfield-to-oversee-car-project-1469458580" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple has asked him back to lead the "Project Titan" team that's developing the fabled Apple Car</a>.</p>

<p>Virtual Node Controllers (VNCs) are apps that make "headless computers" possible. Whether you have a Mac server, a classroom full of Macs, or maybe just one Mac mini you're using as a media server, VNCs make it possible to view or control those Macs and other PCs from a remote location. Today we have one of the best VNC apps for Mac available at over 50% off -- <strong><a href="https://deals.appleworld.today/sales/screens-3-for-mac?utm_source=appleworld.today&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=screens-3-for-mac_072516">Screens 3 is now just $12.99 instead of the usual $29.99 price.</a></strong>Here are some of the features packed into Screens 3: </p>

<p>On a regular basis, Apple World Today posts a list of notable new apps or app updates that have been released. They may not necessarily be new, but they're popular and deserve mention. Here are today's picks.</p>

<p>Apple World Today fans are probably aware of my addiction to weather. I have my own <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wunderground.com/personal-weather-station/dashboard?ID=KCOHIGHL29" rel="noopener noreferrer">weather station</a> collecting real-time weather data 24/7/365, and I probably have more weather apps on my iPhone and iPad than any other type. A new, inexpensive, and very innovative <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/907431954/worlds-first-and-only-complete-weather-camera-syst" rel="noopener noreferrer">weather station and weather camera launched on Kickstarter today from BloomSky</a>. The product is actually two units; the SKY2 -- a newer version of the existing SKY1 weather station and camera, and the STORM, a new unit that works hand in hand with the SKY2 providing wind, UV and rainfall data.</p>

<p>Whether you're new to the world of web development or want to acquire new skills to help in your career, our deal this week is one you need to take a close look at. <a target="_blank" href="https://deals.appleworld.today/sales/javascript-2016-bundle?utm_source=appleworld.today&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=javascript-2016-bundle_072216" rel="noopener noreferrer">The JavaScript Coding 2016 Bundle</a> from the Corporate Bridge Group is usually available as a $1,499 package aimed at providing a 12-part comprehensive JavaScript training course, but we've worked a deal to get this training to you for only $59. </p>

<p>Bit torrent sites are very popular with those who don't wish to pay for copyrighted video, music, and apps, which is why law enforcement officials rightly try to shut them down and put those responsible for running the sites in jail. <a target="_blank" href="https://torrentfreak.com/feds-seize-kickasstorrents-domains-charge-owner-160720/" rel="noopener noreferrer">iTunes purchases associated with a specific Apple ID have just put the alleged owner of KickassTorrents (KAT), Artem Vaulin, under arrest</a>. </p>

<p>My business partner Dennis runs every day, and he is my motivation to get out every morning and take a long, fast walk. I've been doing this for 36 straight days so far, so it looks like I've developed a good habit that I'll keep. While my iPhone, Apple Watch, and <a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/runkeeper-gps-running-walk/id300235330?mt=8" rel="noopener noreferrer">Runkeeper</a> app can tell me a lot, they don't provide good continuous information on my heart rate. That's why the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tigrasport.com/activity/110-trio-3-in-one-fitness-sensor-color-black-4895161700564.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tigra Trio</a> (US$99.99) caught my eye and will be a regular part of my daily exercise routine.</p>

<p>Pokémon Go, the craze that is getting people out of their houses and onto the streets in search of little monsters, <a target="_blank" href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/07/20/pokemon-go-could-add-3b-to-apple-revenues-analyst-says" rel="noopener noreferrer">could add as much as $3 billion in incremental revenue to Apple's bottom line in the next few years</a>, according to Needham analyst Laura Martin. </p>

<p>It's a dock! It's a charging cable! It's the <a href="https://deals.appleworld.today/sales/flexcable-2-flexible-gooseneck-lighting-to-usb-charge-sync-dock-white?utm_source=appleworld.today&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=flexcable-2-flexible-gooseneck-lighting-to-usb-charge-sync-dock-white_072016#/product_9659-description-content"><strong>Flexible Gooseneck Lightning Cable</strong></a>, and it's on sale in the Apple World Today Deals Shop for just $13.99.  </p>

<p>A lot of you know me as a huge fan of 360° spherical photos. I used to take them with some of the apps that are available for the iPhone (like <a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-street-view/id904418768?mt=8" rel="noopener noreferrer">Google Street View</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sphere-360o-photography/id335671384?mt=8" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sphere</a>), then graduated to the Ricoh Theta S camera late last year. Today a new 360° camera went live on Indiegogo, and it promises to bring a whole new level of portability and affordability to spherical photography. The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-world-s-smallest-360-camera-nico360/x/7433893#/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nico360</a> has already jumped past its funding goal with a little over a month left, and all of the initial Super Early Bird Perks (available for $99) are sold out.</p>

<p>When it comes to wallet cases for the iPhone 6/62 Plus that I've reviewed, there are some that have been both impressively useful and stylish, and some that were exactly the opposite. Today we're taking a look at the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.stmbags.com/iphone-cases/atlas-iphone-case-for-6-6s.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">STM Atlas</a> (US$34.95), a low-profile wallet case that looks great and provides protection for your big iPhone, all while not costing you an arm and a leg.</p>

<p>Apple's released two more "Shot on iPhone" videos, both of which highlight nature this time. Here's the first, a nice macro shot by "Tim W." showing an ant carrying a piece of a plant in its mandibles accompanied by the song "Work" by Charlotte Day Wilson. </p>

<p>It's been awhile. After Apple's last earnings report on April 26, 2016, the price of Apple shares dropped below the $100 and until today, it had not returned to that level. Based on anticipation of the iPhone 7 family this fall and "better than expected" news from the company when it releases its third-quarter earnings next week, shares went above $100 briefly and are now hovering around that mark.</p>