The Federal Reserve has released a 40-page paper [PDF] on its study of a digital dollar. It seeks public comment as it takes no position at this time.
Instead, it provides an exhaustive look at benefits such as speeding up the electronic payments system at a time when financial transactions around the world already are highly digitized. Some of the downside issues the report discusses are financial stability risks and privacy protection while guarding against fraud and other illegal issues.
Despite the trade war between China and the United States, Apple stocks have jumped as much as 3.3% in the past three weeks.
Private tax companies don’t want you to know this, but if your income is below US$66,000 the IRS offers free tax filing software. If your income is above US$66,000 you can still file for free, but you’ll have to do it manually with fillable forms. However, thanks to the long government shutdown this year, tax returns will end up being late.
Mastercard announced a new policy for merchants who keep your card information after you sign up with a free trial.
After some rough financial news, Tim Cook is reassuring investors that Apple isn’t done growing by highlighting Apple services.
Step back from the gyrations of the moment, and there’s an emerging strategy for Apple: Sell fewer iPhones and assorted devices such as Macs and iWatches at a higher price than mass-market rivals, and then flood those millions of users–who have more than average disposable income because they were able to afford those devices in the first place–with apps and content that they will pay for.
I expect big improvements in Apple services in the future. Better iCloud storage, an Apple News content subscription (which I will happily pay for if it means no longer needing to visit ad tracking-riddled websites), an Apple video subscription, and more.
A report from Liftoff called the Mobile App Engagement Index shows that the subscription app market is booming, up 32% since last year.
The U.K. will launch the world’s first digital tax which will take effect 2020. It’s expected to generate at least £400 million every year.
You can now get Apple Pay cashback with Discover debit cards. Get 1% back on qualifying purchases.
The fiscal year quarter four results will be presented as part of a conference call at 2:00 p.m. PT / 5:00 p.m. ET.
Business Chat is Apple’s take on chat bots like those found in Facebook Messenger. But Facebook can’t match Apple’s iMessage encryption.
Last year, over 30 software developers met in a luxury loft in New York. It was a meeting hosted by Apple about app subscriptions.
