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Apple Pay accounts for 50% of McDonald’s tap-to-pay transactions

Cody Lee ∙ November 15, 2014

The New York Times reported on Friday that Apple Pay now accounts for 50% of the tap-to-pay transactions at all of McDonald's 14,000 US stores. Additionally, the outlet claims that Walgreens' mobile payments at its 8,000+ stores have doubled since the service launched.

The figures were nestled in a broader piece regarding Apple's role in mainstreaming mobile payments. Google Wallet and Softcard—backed by AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon—both say that Apple Pay has been a huge tailwind, as they've seen an increase in usage since it debuted.

AT&T says it’s no longer tracking subscribers using perma-cookies

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

AT&T told the Associated Press on Friday that it is no longer using permanent cookies to track its subscribers. In late October, security researchers discovered that the carrier, along with its competitor Verizon, were using unique identifying numbers or "perma-cookies" to track their customers online habits.

A spokesperson for AT&T said that the tracking practice was part of a pilot program to improve targeted marketing called "Relevant Advertising." But it says that the experiment is over, and it has pulled the identifying numbers from their customers' accounts, although it may still sell the data it's collected.

Grocery chains Winn-Dixie and BI-LO now accepting Apple Pay

Cody Lee ∙ November 15, 2014

Winn-Dixie and BI-LO, two major grocery store chains in the southeastern region of the US, are now accepting Apple Pay. MacRumors reports that it was told the companies would begin processing AP payments next week, but the system seems to have already gone live in many stores.

This is a significant coup for Apple, who has been seeing pushback from high profile retailers in recent weeks regarding Apple Pay. Winn-Dixie and BI-LO have over 1,300 locations between them, which are spread throughout North and South Carolina, Georgia and surrounding states.

IntelliScreenX for iOS 8 is live now, here’s our full video walkthrough

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Get ready for IntelliScreenX for iOS 8 to touch down any minute now! The update, which is being released as an open beta, is scheduled to appear on Cydia's ModMyi repo sometime tonight. If you're somehow unfamiliar with IntelliScreenX, it's a tweak that allows you to supercharge your Notification Center. It brings the ability to add Twitter, RSS, Mail, Facebook, and more to the Notification Center, and features Lock screen access as well.

IntelliScreenX is by far one of the deepest jailbreak tweaks of all time, and it's the reason why a lot of people jailbreak. We've been able to go hands-on with a copy of the IntelliScreenX for iOS 8, and have tested it on a jailbroken iPhone 6 Plus.

Intelliborn has been working hard to prepare ISX for iOS 8 and for the new iPhones, and their hard work has paid off. Have a look at our full 12+ minute video walkthrough inside for the details on why this tweak remains such a staple for jailbreakers everywhere.

Verizon tweaks ETF policy to make it more expensive to cancel

Cody Lee ∙ November 14, 2014

Heads up to anyone thinking about signing a new plan or equipment contract with Verizon in the near future, it just tweaked its early termination fee (ETF) policy. Spotted by DroidLife, the policy makes it more expensive to cancel your contract with the carrier during the first 8 months.

Previously, Verizon's ETF with a 2-year contract would decline $10 for each month of the term you completed, so after 8 months your ETF would be 80$ cheaper. But under the new policy, until you complete the 8th month of service, you'd be stuck paying the full $350 ETF for canceling.

Apple Stores to start servicing Beats hardware on November 18

Cody Lee ∙ November 14, 2014

According to a leaked internal notice, Apple Store Genius Bars are going to begin providing after-purchase support of Beats hardware next week. The screenshot was posted by technology website TechnoBuffalo, which said that it was sent in by an anonymous source.

Given the minimal context, it's impossible to tell if the document is legitimate or not, but it does corroborate a report from October along the same lines. Coincidentally, that report also featured a screenshot of an internal memo sent out to Apple service providers.

Microsoft’s latest Skype ad promotes Apple gear

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 14, 2014

Microsoft Canada on Friday published an interesting commercial on its Facebook Page depicting “the world's first wireless orchestra” comprised of New York City's celebrated subway musicians kept in sync with a remote conductor thanks to Skype.

The video features a bunch of Apple's MacBook Pro notebooks that run the Skype software, while iPhones make a few notable appearances as well.

Someone in Cupertino should send marketing wizards in Redmond a thank you note for advertising for Apple.

Details of Telltale’s upcoming game based on HBO’s Game of Thrones series leak

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 14, 2014

Before revealing the first story details and premier trailer of “Tales from the Borderlands”, its upcoming adventure game based on on Gearbox and 2K’s Borderlands 2, Telltale yesterday offered a glimpse into an upcoming “Game of Thrones” game based on HBO’s award-winning fantasy drama television series, itself adapted from of “A Song of Ice and Fire”, George R. R. Martin's series of fantasy novels.

Filing as another episodic adventure game, the game follows the storyline of House Forrester detailed in the book “A Dance with Dragons,” the fifth book of the series, with an interesting twist: players will be permitted to assume the role of any of the five members of House Forrester in various locations around Westeros and Essos.

Needless to say, your actions affect the rest of House Forrester. “Multiply the actions of one character by five, and you’re truly playing the Game of Thrones … where you win, or you die,” notes the blurb.

Microsoft launches Skype for Web beta

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 14, 2014

In a pretty significant move Microsoft on Friday announced Skype for Web, an upcoming web application that lets the popular instant messaging and VoIP service run directly in a desktop browser, no plug-in needed, making Skype readily available across desktop, mobile and on the web.

Supported browsers include Microsoft's Internet Explorer 10, Google's Chrome, Mozilla's Firefox or Apple's Safari 6.

Unfortunately, Chrome for Windows is the only supported version of Chrome so Mac users on Google's browser (and Chromebook owners) are left out in the cold for the time being. Chatting and video/voice messaging don't require a browser plug-in. “With WebRTC, there won’t be any downloads or installs – you can just get straight to your conversation”, the software giant said.

Tales from the Borderlands premier trailer and first details surface

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 14, 2014

Entertainment Weekly on Friday shared first details concerning The Walking Dead creator Telltale's upcoming game series, Tales from the Borderlands. Based on Gearbox and 2K’s Borderlands 2, Tales from the Borderlands takes place on the unforgiving world of Pandora after the events seen in Borderlands 2.

The five-part episodic game series puts you in the shoes of Rhys, a Hyperion ‘suit’ with dreams of being the next Handsome Jack, and Fiona, a Pandoran con artist looking to score her biggest ever swindle, as you follow the adventurers “on their quest for greatness”.

Staples discounting iPads, Apple TV and Beats headphones in Black Friday sale

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Staples' Black Friday circular has been released, showing what deals it will be offering during the infamous holiday shopping weekend at the end of the month. Like other retailers, it plans to discount a number of Apple and Beats products in hopes to reel in customers.

Among the promotions is a 16GB Wi-Fi original iPad Air for $319, which is a savings of $40 from where it's currently priced. There will also be a $239 16GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 2, which is $30 cheaper than its current sale price. We've listed all of the Apple-related deals below.

Type Nine keyboard lets you type like it was 1998

Lory Gil ∙ November 14, 2014

With all of these new iOS 8 keyboards now available, there is just too much fun to be had. You can translate text with Slated, code with UniChar Picker, and use ScribbleBoard because drawing is more fun than typing. It just keeps getting better. Now, the trend is for keyboards for fat fingers.

Type Nine is a big keys keyboard for those extra thick digits. Only unlike apps like Thick Buttons, this one harkens back to before there were such a thing as keypads for smartphones. So, all you old school flip phone typers will enjoy some retro texting.