Steve Sande

<p><span style="font-size:17px">No sooner had the post about Apple Pay negotiations going on between Apple and several banks in Brazil gone live than we received more Apple Pay news. The United States federal government today announced that it will support Apple Pay with its own payment cards and that Uncle Sam is going to start accepting Apple Pay for various purchases.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:17px">At present, Apple Pay is only making a big splash in one place - the United States. But Apple has publicly stated that it wants to expand the payment system everywhere as soon as possible. Now comes word from Brazil that three </span><span style="font-size:17px">banks in the South American country are negotiating with Apple to bring Apple Pay to their customers.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:17px">A few months ago, Apple pulled a marijuana-related app called </span><a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/massroots-medical-cannabis/id697950367?mt=8" rel="noopener noreferrer">MassRoots</a><span style="font-size:17px"> from the App Store. What's odd is that the app, a social-networking tool for those who use cannabis medically or for recreational purposes, had been in the store between July 2013 and November 4, 2014. </span></p>

<p><span>Apple has added a new section to </span><a href="http://appstore.com">its App Store</a><span> that features non-freemuim games. Called "Pay Once & Play," the new collection features games like Minecraft PE, Adventure Time Game Wizard (which my kids love), Bastion and Leo's Fortune...all games without in-app purchases. I can see the appeal of featuring theses titles. Also, I explain exactly how to disable in-app purchases on your kids' devices. </span></p>

<p><span>Apple has made its iWork suite of apps -- Numbers, Pages and Keynote -- free for everyone to try via </span><a href="http://beta.icloud.com/">iCloud Beta</a><span>. It's restricted to the website for now, but anyone can create an Apple ID, and try out the browser-based apps with 1 GB of storage space to boot.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:17px">The Guardian is reporting that </span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/feb/12/apple-enables-two-step-authentication-for-imessages-and-facetime?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=dlvr.it" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-step authentication</a><span style="font-size:17px"> -- first enabled for iTunes and iCloud accounts nearly two years ago -- </span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/feb/12/apple-enables-two-step-authentication-for-imessages-and-facetime?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=dlvr.it" rel="noopener noreferrer">has now been added to FaceTime and Messages as well</a><span style="font-size:17px">. If you've already logged into an iPhone, iPad or Mac using your iCloud account, you're already covered by that extra security. But if you log out of your iMessage or FaceTime accounts and then  try to log in again, or if you log in from another machine, you'll be required to enter a security code to verify your password and user name.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:17px">Developers who want to add higher quality imagery to their games have something to rejoice about today: </span><a target="_blank" href="https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=02122015a" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple has doubled the maximum size of apps on the App Store</a><span style="font-size:17px"> from the previous 2GB limit to an impressive 4GB.</span></p>

<p>It's time to save some of your hard-earned money with our <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/?tag=deals">Daily Deals</a>, featuring exclusive deals for AWT readers, hardware discounts and our own handpicked iOS and OS X sales.</p>

<p style="margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px">In today's<a href="/blog?category=60-Second%20Tips"> </a>60-Second Tip, I show you how to get voicemail messages off of your iPhone and onto your computer, so you can save them for as long as you like. </p><p>I was recently asked about saving voice mail messages that are on an iPhone. Specifically, someone had received an especially cute message from their son, and she wanted to keep it for posterity. That's a cute idea, so I looked around for a solution, which I found, and I'll explain here. </p>

<p><span style="font-size:17px">Valentine's Day is just around the corner and if you haven't yet made arrangements for Saturday, well, we hope these apps may help you turn a potential romantic disaster into a successful day full of kisses.</span></p>

<p>Pinterest today <a href="http://blog.pinterest.com/post/110786995184/install-the-best-new-iphone-and-ipad-apps-from">announced</a> new "app Pins" that promote apps in the iOS App Store. The app pins join exisiting specialty pins desinged to share recipes, products and articles.  The new app Pins will link to an iOS app and allow you to download the app to your phone without leaving <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pinterest/id429047995?mt=8">the Pinterest app</a>. </p>

<p>UK resident Paul Barrington fell victim to one of the worst eBay scams. As reported by <a target="_blank" href="//www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Devon-surfer-bought-300-picture-eBay-tries-resell/story-26016615-detail/story.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">Express & Echo</a> he purchased a MacBook for the incredible price of £300 ($460 USD), in hopes of starting up a new business as a wedding DJ. His good fortune at finding such an excellent deal turned to despair when he received his package and all it contained was a printed picture of the prized MacBook.</p>

<p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/starbucks/id331177714?mt=8">Starbucks updated</a> its iOS app with support for Apple Pay, allowing customers to reload their Starbucks card using Apple Pay. Once reloaded, customers can use the iOS app to make purchases at their favorite Starbucks location. </p>

<p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As of today, any mobile phone that has completed its contract term or that has been paid off in full under a financing plan must be unlocked by US mobile carriers at the request of the owner.  </span> </p>

<p>It's time to save some of your hard-earned money with our Daily Deals, featuring exclusive deals for AWT readers, hardware discounts and our own handpicked iOS and OS X sales. </p>