Up until now, the closest Apple has come to offering its own iTunes-powered payment system is the ability to store existing credit cards and login information in an iCloud-synced keychain, but the Wall Street Journal reports that the company has much more in store. According to the Journal‘s report, Apple is planning to create a system that would allow users to purchase goods in physical stores through their iTunes accounts using an iPhone....

When Apple debuted the A8 processor that would be used in its iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, it appears the company decided to omit one big detail: the chip, according to a new discovery by the developers behind the app WALTR. Using that app, they found that it was possible to load 4K videos onto an iPhone 6. Not only that, but the device managed to play it back without any issues....

Click for larger Given that we reported that Apple had acquired C3 Technologies – a 3D mapping company – last year, we don’t think there has been any doubt that Apple is using C3’s data for iOS 6’s 3D Maps feature. However, we thought it would be interesting to show a comparison of how similar Apple’s implementation is to C3’s web implementation by way of Nokia. Notice the same iPad billboard and the alignment of the cars in the parking lot....

Apple might be scaling back its cloud music plans while it waits to see what new enemy Google comes up with, with iTunes execs currently touring labels to say the much-anticipated iTunes in the cloud services may be “limited in scope”.We had all expected Apple to quickly introduce cloud music services subsequent to its acquisition of Lala.com, now it seems introduction of such services may take longer. This is because Apple hasn’t yet agreed licenses with music labels, has already lost one of the four LaLa....

Up until now, iOS developers have been unable to distribute promo codes for in-app purchases, but Apple is now allowing developers to issue in-app purchase promo codes via iTunes Connect. Apple says that developers can give away up to 100 promo codes for each in-app purchase item, up to a maximum of 1,000 codes per app every six months. That means if you have 10 in-app purchase items, you could distribute all 1,000 codes spread across those 10 in-app purchases....

In the latest update to Apple Maps, public transit directions have been added for Ireland. Steve Troughton-Smith wryly commented that the update had arrived just in time for the weather to shut down public transport in the country … A red weather warning was issued for Ireland as the remnants of Hurricane Ophelia hit the country, with gusts of more than 100mph off the coast, and around 120,000 homes without power....

Apple Music has launched a new “Lyrics to Live By” video series following the introduction of a real-time lyrics feature in iOS 13 last week. As detailed by Billboard, the new video series is meant to “celebrate this new frontier in the listening experience.” The “Lyrics to Live By” video page features videos from popular artists talking about the meaning and inspiration behind the lyrics of some of their favorite songs....

New banks and credit unions across the US, UK, Australia, Russia, and China have joined Apple’s list of participating partners as part of the second expansion of Apple Pay this month. Check out the latest Apple Pay banks below: In the United States: Anstaff Bank Bank of Milton Bryn Mawr Trust Credit Union ONE EagleBank Farmers & Merchants Union Bank Farmers National Bank First Class American Credit Union First National Bank (PA) First National Bank of Crossett First National Bank of Groton Nascoga Federal Credit Union Notre Dame Federal Credit Union Peach State Federal Credit Union Security Federal Bank State Bank Sutton Bank VacationLand Federal Credit Union Wauna Credit Union Western Federal Credit Union Westmoreland Community Federal Credit Union Russia:...

Update: Apple Pay is also now rolling out in the Czech Republic. Apple Pay is now rolling out to users in Saudi Arabia. The launch was first rumored over the weekend and now users in Saudi Arabia can add compatible cards to Apple Pay on their devices. Thus far, we know that Apple Pay in Saudi Arabia is supported by Al-Rajhi Bank and Riyad Bank. MADA, or The Saudi Payments Networks, has also confirmed that it will support Apple Pay in the country....

Transit support for Apple Pay continues to expand around the country. Starting today, Miami-Dade Transit’s Metrorail service has officially launched contactless payments, including support for Apple Pay. Various Metrorail stations in Miami have been testing Apple Pay support over the last month, but the Department of Transportation and Public Works confirmed today that the feature is now live at all 23 Metrorail stations. The news was first reported by the Miami Herald....

As the big four banks complete their rollouts of Apple Pay in Australia, the Apple service is driving an increase in contactless payments. New data from the Roy Morgan Digital Payments Report indicates a “sharp increase” in use of non-bank contactless services in Australia. The report details that 10.8% of Australians now use non-bank contactless services, and Appel Pay accounts for 6.5% of that: This increase comes amid the COVID-19 pandemic, when users are looking for alternatives to cash:...

Apple Pay web support has been made available to third-party browsers in iOS 16 betas. The change has been confirmed to apply to Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. Apple has likely made the quiet change in response to upcoming antitrust legislation that seeks to outlaw the practice of forcing browser developers to use WebKit … Background Apple has so far applied two restrictions which limit the functionality offered in third-party web browsers on iPhones and iPads....

Now that Apple has completed the rollout of its redesigned Apple Maps in the United States, it might be planning new recommendations features for the app as well. A job listing posted and quickly deleted this week suggests that Apple is looking to “build a brand-new content category” for Apple Maps. First spotted by The Verge, the job listing — which was deleted shortly after the article went live — is for a position titled “Product Manager – Maps, Writer/Editor....

Nearly one month following the start of Apple Watch and Apple Watch band pre orders, Apple has begun preparing to ship the first orders of standalone Link Bracelets, according to multiple 9to5 readers. These $449 Link Bracelets are separate from orders of the Apple Watch with Link Bracelet, in both the standard silver and Space Black combinations, which do not appear to have begun preparing to ship as of yet. Apple explains the Link Bracelet’s design on its website:...

Apple today has released iOS 13.2.3 to the public. This release follows iOS 13.2.2, which made improvements to background app performance and more. iOS 13.2.3 and iPadOS 13.2.3 are both rolling out to users everywhere now. iOS 13.2.3 continues to improve performance and fix bugs in iOS 13. Apple has been releasing new versions of iOS 13 at a quick pace recently, as you can see in the list of updates below....

Apple has released the first seed of iOS 7.1 beta (build number 11D5099e) to registered developers today. Check below for a comprehensive overview of changes and iOS 7.1 Release Notes below: iOS 7.1 beta 1 includes a number of bug fixes and (seriously needed) performance enhancements. iPad includes a tweaked closing animation in the pinch-to-close gesture. A few other changes include a new toggle for ‘dark keyboard’ in the accessibility settings and an option to upload ‘burst mode photos’ to Photo Stream for iPhone 5s users (Thanks Skylor and Dan!...

According to a report from Digitimes, Apple, among other companies like Samsung, is currently evaluating the use of solar panels for future products. Even more exciting is that Apple is reportedly considering the “inclusion of Taiwan-based solar firms in [its] supply chain.” This means that Apple is not only “evaluating” if they will make products with solar panels, but is already thinking about who will make the panels. The catch is, though, according to Digitimes, that miniature solar panels need more development before they can actually be deployed in products....

Coldplay at the 2014 iTunes Festival Apple is reportedly ending its long-running Apple Music Festival initiative. According to a report from Music Business Worldwide, the company is ending the Apple Music Festival (formerly known as the iTunes Festival) as it looks to rebrand its live concert efforts… Apple’s iTunes Festival was first held in 2007 and regularly attracted major musical acts. The event started as a 1-month long concert series with different acts every night....

Apple is set to further build upon its data center in Reno, Nevada according to a report out of the Reno Gazette-Journal. Apple has been building upon its Reno data center for a while now, but the company has recently filed a permit with the county requesting permission to construct a new data center adjacent to the existing one. The report claims that Apple will build the second data center under the codename “Project Huckleberry....

While Apple Store employees at Grand Central Terminal in New York are taking the first steps to unionize, the Cupertino company has recently revamped its retail careers page by highlighting benefits, employees’ testimonials, and lots of info on what roles are available in its retail stores. This revamped web page was first noticed by Michael Steeber in his Tabletops newsletter. Here’s what he wrote about this new retail careers page:...