Apple is treating Apple Card as a service, not just a physical product, and will continue to add merchants to its 3% Daily Cash program.
Andrew Orr
Since 2015 Andrew has been writing about Apple, privacy, security, and at one point even Android. You can find him most places online under the username @andrewornot.
Articles by Andrew Orr
Panera Apple Pay Now Gives You 3% Cash Back
Panera announced today that it will offer Apple Card customers 3% cash back when they use Apple Pay in its app, website, and stores.
Chinese AI Company Shanghai Zhizhen Sues Apple for $1.4 Billion
Shanghai Zhizhen Network Technology Co. said today it’s suing Apple for US$1.43 billion, claiming Apple violated its patent with Siri.
Apple Acquires Mobeewave to Create iPhone Payment Terminals
Apple has acquired startup Mobeewave Inc. which uses technology to let people tap their phone on another phone to process a payment.
These 5 Shortcuts Help Me Automate My Digital Life
Andrew uses these five shortcuts nearly every day to help him automate his digital life, like a web clipper for Apple Notes.
iOS 14 Features Could Hurt Facebook Ad Targeting
iOS 14 features like “ask to track” could hurt Facebook’s ad targeting business, said Chief Financial Officer David Wehner.
With the update to its mobile devices, Apple will ask users if they want to let app developers track their activity across other apps and websites […] The change is expected to start impacting Facebook’s advertising in the third quarter but it will have a more pronounced effect in the fourth quarter, Wehner said.
I’m sure Facebook will find other ways to track people.
‘Military Grade’ is Hardly More Than a Marketing Term
In early 2020 I wrote an article explaining what it means when companies use phrases like “military grade encryption” or “bank level security.” I wrote “they might seem like marketing buzzwords” but I should’ve said, “they totally are buzzwords.” This usage isn’t limited to discussions around encryption. Mel Magazine says it refers to MIL-STD-810 and it’s not the tough, high quality standard we think it is.
Commercially, Hollings adds, “there’s no governing body that says, ‘Okay, you met the requirements for MIL-STD-A-10.’ So effectively anyone can say their product is military standard.” This obviously isn’t great for civilian consumers, while ex-military like Hollings just scoff at the designation […]
Scosche Sells New Telescoping Phone Mounts
Scosche announced three new Extendo telescoping mounts today. Three new options are available to use in your home or vehicle.
Here’s How to Edit Your iOS 14 Home Screen
Apple is giving us more control in iOS 14 like widgets and App Library, and you can edit your iOS 14 home screen too.
Apple Store ‘For You’ Tab Personalizes Your Experience
The new Apple Store “For You” Tab personalizes your app experience with recommendations. You can also compare your iPhone with other models.
Arizona Launches Multi-State iPhone Throttling Probe
Arizona is launching a multi-state iPhone throttling probe to investigate if Apple’s iPhone throttling violated deceptive trade practice laws.
Google Announces iOS Phone Backup Tool for Google One Users
As part of its Google One cloud service, the company announced today an iOS phone backup tool that is universal across iOS and Android.
Phil Schiller: App Store Creates Level Playing Field for Developers
Speaking in a new interview, Phil Schiller says that the App Store creates a level playing field for developers.
Introducing ‘Facetune Video’ for Video Retouching
Facetune Video is the latest app from Lightricks. It’s a video retouching tool that lets you edit your selfie videos to smooth skin, whiten teeth, reshape facial features, change eye color, and apply lipstick. Of course, the standard video editing tools are there to control aspects like contrast and brightness. Just apply these edits to one frame of the video and the app will apply it to the rest of the video automatically. App Store: Free (Offers In-App Purchases)
ClassPass, Airbnb Clash With Apple Over App Store Fee
Airbnb and ClassPass are the latest companies to express concerns over Apple’s 30% App Store fee after shifting to virtual content.
Photoshop on iPad Updated With Refine Edge Brush, Rotate Canvas
Adobe updated Photoshop for iPad recently and added two features: Refine Edge Brush and the ability to rotate the canvas.
‘Fitness Coach by JumpyCat’ Gives You AI Workouts
“Fitness Coach by JumpyCat” is an app I discovered over the weekend. It gives you personalized workouts entirely created by artificial intelligence. You’ll get audio instructions and videos to watch as you power through over 15,000 bodyweight workouts. There’s a workout for everyone and across different categories like cardio, HIIT, stretching, anti-stress, knee-friendly, and more. App Store: Free (Offers In-App Purchases)
Apple Partners With Werner Herzog on ‘Fireball” Documentary
Apple announced today that it’s partnering with filmmaker Werner Herzog and professor Clive Oppenheimer on a documentary called “Fireball.”
Review: Satechi’s Trio Wireless Pad Can Power Three Products at Once
Satechi’s Trio Wireless Charging pad can charge your Apple Watch (up to 2.5W), AirPods (up to 5W), and iPhone (up to 7.5W) all at once.
Apple Donates Proceeds From John Lewis Documentary to Museums
Apple is donating its portion of the proceeds from the documentary “John Lewis: Good Trouble” to museums honoring his legacy.
Secret Document Reveals Details of Apple’s ‘Find My’ App
A secret document reveals details about Apple’s Find My app, which the company announced would be open to third-parties.
Sorry, Catnip Won’t Protect You Against the Meow Attack
Over 1,000 insecure databases have been completely erased, and the attackers leave no trace except the word “meow.”
Since then, Meow and a similar attack have destroyed more than 1,000 other databases. At the time this post went live, the Shodan computer search site showed that 987 ElasticSearch and 70 MongoDB instances had been nuked by Meow. A separate, less-malicious attack tagged an additional 616 ElasticSearch, MongoDB, and Cassandra files with the string “university_cybersec_experiment.” The attackers in this case seem to be demonstrating to the database maintainers that the files are vulnerable to being viewed or deleted.
Better erased than breached, right?
‘The Darwin Affair’ Latest Big Library Read
“The Darwin Affair” is the next book in Libby’s digital book club called Big Library Read.
London, June 1860: When an assassination attempt is made on Queen Victoria, and a petty thief is gruesomely murdered moments later—and only a block away—Chief Detective Inspector Charles Field quickly surmises that these crimes are connected to an even more sinister plot. Was Victoria really the assassin’s target? Are those closest to the Crown hiding something? And who is the shadowy figure witnesses describe as having lifeless, coal-black eyes?
Multiple States Launch Consumer Protection Probe Against Apple
The Texas AG’s Consumer Protection Division launched the investigation and may sue Apple for violating the state’s deceptive trade practices law.