Rumors

Reuters: future Apple Watch versions to offer richer health features

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Future versions of the Apple Watch will focus more on health-related tracking, reports Reuters this afternoon. Citing people familiar with the company's project, the outlet says that it plans to include "richer health features and additional sensors" in later generation models.

This would certainly appease those in the healthcare industry, and fitness junkies, who expected Apple to unveil a smartwatch earlier this week with groundbreaking health features. Instead, it merely tracks your heart rate, and movements via an iPhone's Wi-Fi and GPS.

Read More

Apple to use new Reservation Pass service for retail iPhone 6 launch

Cody Lee ∙ September 10, 2014

Apple is looking to utilize a new reservation system for customers lined up outside of its retail stores for the iPhone 6, reports 9to5Mac. According to the site, the company has been handing out training materials to employees for the new system, which is called "Reservation Pass."

Reservation Pass is described as a virtual queue of sorts, allowing Apple employees to manage crowds and stockpiles more efficiently on hectic launch days. The system tracks customer line position, and syncs with a store's inventory to make sure there are enough devices in stock.

Read More

Rumor: Apple planning to acquire social network Path

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Apple is close to announcing an acquisition of the social network Path, according to a report from PandoDaily, in an attempt to bolster its social offerings. According to a lone-source said to be placed within Apple's engineering team: “It’s almost done, if not signed already, but it’s essentially a done deal.”

Read More

Square and PayPal said to be working with Apple on mobile payments

Cody Lee ∙ September 9, 2014

In a last-minute scoop, Bank Innovation reports that it has learned that both Square and PayPal have been working with Apple on its mobile payment solution. Sources tell the site that both companies have been aware of Apple's so-called 'iWallet' payments initiative for a while now, and are updating their services to support it.

Read More

NYT: U2 to play role in tomorrow’s Apple event

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

It sounds like U2 is going to be involved in tomorrow's festivities after all. Citing sources familiar with the matter, The New York Times is reporting this evening that the popular rock band will be performing at Apple's iPhone 6 event tomorrow, and even says that it will reveal an integration with Apple’s products that is connected to its next album.

Read More

Apple said to be working on rewards program for mobile payment service

Cody Lee ∙ September 8, 2014

Apple is working on a rewards program for its upcoming mobile payment service, according to a new report from Bank Innovation. Citing sources familiar with the matter, the site says the company has been talking with the InterContinental Hotels Group (Holiday Inn, Crown Plaza, etc.) about a possible loyalty partnership.

Additionally, the outlet points out that Apple has recently posted a job opening for a Senior World Wide Partner Marketing Manager. While the title seems ambiguous, the person in this position would be tasked with creating training materials for external partners with the purpose of aiding customer adoption of "new features."

Read More

Apple said to use tokenization tech to secure mobile payments

Cody Lee ∙ September 7, 2014

Bank Innovation is out with a new report this evening, claiming that Apple will be utilizing tokenization technology in conjunction with NFC in its upcoming mobile payment service. Token tech is a favorite amongst financial institutions, as it's considered to be extremely secure.

How it works is that instead of transmitting account and credit card numbers, tokenization sends complex codes over the air between devices. These codes are only used one time, so even if they are intercepted by a third-party with the intent of fraud, they would be of no use.

Read More

New report says iWatch will feature third-party app support

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

9to5Mac's Mark Gurman is out with a new scoop this evening regarding Apple's incoming wearable. Citing sources familiar with the project, the well-connected blogger reports that the so-called iWatch will feature support for third-party applications.

In fact, Gurman says that the device will come equipped with an App Store, and apparently a handful of developers have already received a pre-release of the SDK (developer tools). This group includes major social networks, and service companies.

Read More

Apple said to be dominating shipping capacity out of China ahead of iPhone 6 event

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

TechCrunch is out with a late report this evening regarding Apple's supply chain movements ahead of next week's iPhone event. The outlet claims that it has once again taken over a majority of the shipping space out of China, likely to help move its new handsets.

In fact, Apple's shipping volume is apparently so high right now, that it's begun displacing shipments from other manufacturers. TC's Matthew Panzarino says that shippers, such as FedEx and UPS, are so booked up, it's causing delays for other major device makers.

Read More

CVS and Walgreens also said to support Apple’s new payment service

Cody Lee ∙ September 5, 2014

Recode reports that Apple has signed on the country's two largest pharmacy chains—CVS and Walgreens—to participate in its new mobile payment service. The company is expected to unveil the service, alongside two new iPhones, at a media event in Cupertino next week.

This is a big deal for a few reasons. For one, CVS and Walgreens have a combined total of over 15,000 retail locations, giving Apple's new payment service a significant initial footprint. And two, due to the nature of their business, they tend to see a high rate of transactions.

Read More

New report sets low expectations for iWatch battery life

Cody Lee ∙ September 5, 2014

The Information is out with a new scoop this afternoon, offering up some last-minute details on the so-called iWatch. Most of the report corroborates previous chatter, regarding what the device will look like and do, but it does bring a new topic to light: battery life.

According to the site's Jessica Lessin, people with knowledge of the project have set low expectations for the iWatch's battery life. These sources say that the uptime on the wearable will be "disappointing," although Lessin does say that Apple could be sandbagging.

Read More