What is Apple Pay? First introduced in 2014, Apple Pay is a mobile payment and digital wallet service that’s available to use on multiple devices, including iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and select Macs. To use Apple Pay, your bank or issuer must support it and the service must be available in your country. Apple Pay serves various functions, including making payments in stores and within apps, on the web in Safari, and person to person....

Apple has released a new environment focused video today in the same style as those shown off last month celebrating Earth Day. The previously shared videos discussed the company’s environmental efforts and the science behind it all. The comical illustrations featured Apple Execs like Vice President Lisa Jackson. Today’s video re-illustrates LIAM, Apple’s environmental robot that takes apart iPhone components for recycling. Titled “Does my iPhone believe in Reincarnation,” Lisa Jackson, Sarah Chandler, and TJ Tyler of Apple’s Environmental Initiatives explain the goal with the recycling system:...

Apple has today announced that it is removing the Catalogs category, as well as the Educational and Dice subcategory (under Games) from the App Store. Apple has sent out emails to developers who are affected by this change, those that have apps currently listed under the Catalogs category or Dice subcategory. Apps currently listed under the Educational or Dice subcategory of Games will simply be found under the generic Games category, unless developers choose an alternate subcategory....

Apple’s worldwide digital music sales through iTunes have dropped up as much as 14% in 2014, according to a new report from The Wall Street Journal citing sources close to the situation. That’s a big decrease, as the report points out, when compared to data available for digital sales last year: The dive in download sales is stark compared with a much shallower dip last year. Global revenue from downloads fell 2....

Apple is now offering its annual Boxing Day sale for Canadians with select discounts on albums and songs through the iTunes store. The sale is accessible through the iTunes store on both iOS devices and on the desktop in Canada and will likely remain available through at least Dec. 26, the day officially recognized in Canada and elsewhere as Boxing Day. Retailers typically hold Black Friday-type event for Boxing Day with many sales lasting the week of Dec....

There have been many signs over the years that the music business has changed from one where people buy music to one where they only rent it, but Warner has just become the first major music label to cross that line. Recode reports that streaming now earns the company more money than music sales. The company revealed that revenue from physical sales fell by $6M, downloads were down by $17M but streaming was up by a massive $72M for the quarter....

The Mac/PC is no longer the hub of your digital world according to Steve Jobs and while the traditional computer was demoted to just a ‘device’, iOS devices did get some promotions at WWDC this week as well. One notable addition is that you can set up an Apple Airport or Time Capsule from an iOS 5 device, like in the screenshots above. Let’s just say this one more time: No Mac Needed....

Going seemingly under the radar, Apple has quietly killed off its the Modern Buckle Apple Watch band entirely. Looking at Apple’s Watch band page now, it is no longer selling the band at all. Apple routinely updates its Apple Watch band lineup, usually for the new season, killing off old colors while introducing new, fresh colors. Sometimes even bringing in a brand new material. However, this is the first time we’ve seen Apple kill off a material entirely....

Apple ranks in at number 5 on the latest Fortune 500, the annual list that ranks US companies by revenue, this time for fiscal year 2014. The company maintains its same position as last year behind Berkshire Hathaway (no. 4), Chevron (no. 3), Exxon Mobil (no. 2), and Wal-Mart Stores (no. 1). While Apple comes in at fifth place for revenue, Fortune notes that it “boasts both the biggest profits of any company on the list ($39....

Apple has today rebranded its iTunes Podcasts offering as ‘Apple Podcasts’, encapsulating the podcast directory and the client Podcasts app available on iPhone and iPad. Although today’s announcement is merely a branding change, it may indicate a renewed focus by Apple on podcasting. Full marketing guidelines for podcasters can be found here. In February, Eddy Cue teased that the company is working on new features for podcasts at the Code Media conference....

Apple has released the first developer beta of iOS 13.4.5. This comes following last week’s public release of iOS 13.4 and iPadOS 13.4. This week’s update focuses on bug fixes and performance improvements. The release notes for this update are generic. “This beta version of iOS 13.4.5 contains bug fixes and improvements,” Apple says. We’ll dive deeper into the update now that it’s rolling out to see what’s new for sure....

As promised yesterday, Apple has released the first iOS 11.3 public beta loaded with new features for iPhone and iPad. Apple previewed several new features yesterday prior to the first developer beta: 4 new Animoji on iPhone X: Lion, Skull, Bear, and Dragon ARKit 1.5 with support for vertical surfaces like walls, irregular shaped surfaces like circular tables, support for auto-focus, and 50% higher resolution Business Chat for iMessage in beta with Discover, Hilton, Lowe’s and Wells Fargo on board Health Records in Health app automatically updated from select partners More prominent music video features in Apple Music HomeKit software authentication without chip certification Advanced Mobile Location for sending your location to emergency services when calling from iPhone Apple has also promised new battery features on iPhones affected by performance throttling, although these won’t be in the initial beta....

Apple has rolled out an updated beta version of macOS 10.12.2 for Mac. The new build comes in at version 16C32f compared to 16C32e from the first beta release and may require installing an update utility from the developer center. Note that the new build is not macOS 10.12.2 beta 2 as it still lists version 1.0 on the release, just a newer build for some reason. macOS 10.12.2 includes Unicode 9....

Apple and social networking don’t have such a great history, but the Cupertino tech firm is ready to give it another go, if new rumors regarding a potential acquisition of the Path social app are true. According to PandoDaily, Apple is already in talks with the mobile social network and the merger is “essentially a done deal.” Path, for the uninitiated, is a mobile-only social networking app launched in 2010 that features photo sharing, private messaging, and other features you’d expect from a basic social service....

Apple has updated its classic iTunes Remote app for iOS with two-factor authentication support when signing in to Home Sharing. This lets you use stronger security on your Apple ID and iCloud account and makes iTunes Remote prompt you for 2FA when someone attempts to sign in. iTunes Remote was previously known simply as Remote and worked with iTunes as well as older Apple TV models. Apple released a new standalone app called Apple TV Remote back in August with Siri Remote features, however, but the classic Remote app has stuck around for Home Sharing features....

Apple has launched a dedicated Facebook page for Beats 1, the free worldwide Apple Music radio station run by human hosts, unlike other Apple Music stations which are generated by computer algorithms and require an Apple Music streaming subscription. The new Beats 1 account is currently highlighting Zane Lowe’s exclusive interview with Lady Gaga, featuring video snippets and quotes. Although the page is not yet verified on Facebook, the account’s legitimacy is confirmed as the verified Apple Music account shared a post from the Beats 1 page....

If you can see yourself as the Ted Lasso of IT, the Apple Learning Coach program is now open to more US teachers. The program first launched back in March, with 1,600 graduates now qualified … The initiative is intended to help educators coach their fellow teachers in getting the most out of their use of Apple products in school. One of those who’ve been through the program said it helped her work with teachers of varying degrees of tech knowledge....

Apple on Thursday announced that it is bringing the new Apple Maps experience with detailed 3D buildings and enhanced navigation to Canada. The new maps, which were built from scratch, will be available in selected Canadian cities. This new Apple Maps experience was already available in some US cities, such as New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, as well as London in the UK. According to the company, users will now find the same experience when exploring maps in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver....

Apple’s dramatically smaller bluetooth wireless keyboard that debuted alongside the redesigned iMac is not just thinner but it also loses the number pad arrow keys and that little area with “Help”, Home” etc. Size-wise it is very similar to just lifting the MacBook keyboard off of its body and carting it around. This isn’t a device for the desk. This is a remote control. Obviously a good fit for the iMac that is an entertainment device....

In an ongoing effort to bring people into the Apple Pay ecosystem, Apple is now offering $15 off at 1-800-Flowers when checking out with its mobile payment service. Just in time for Valentines Day, Apple is giving users a $15 discount at the merchant when checking out with Apple Pay. This offer is valid online, or through the app, making it the first Apple Pay promo to be available both in-app and online....