Remember MCX CurrentC, the QR-code based mobile payment system that attempted to take on Apple Pay? Launched two years ago, it immediately started creating waves when it required its retail members to switch off Apple Pay or be fined. If that weren’t bad enough, it was quickly hacked. Apple Pay fans made fun of the service in app reviews, and it wasn’t long before retailers started to break ranks and we saw some rapid back-pedalling on Apple Pay from one CEO before he was replaced by another....

Earlier today, we predicted that Apple had plans to bring the previously-released fourth-generation iPad back into production to replace the aging iPad 2. As expected, the fourth-gen iPad is now available once again on Apple’s website, this time with only a 16 GB capacity. Aside from offering the single capacity choice, there aren’t any changes to the device. This model replaces the iPad 2, which has been around since the days of the 30-pin connector....

Alongside the release of iOS 14 beta 5, Apple today has also released watchOS 7 beta 5 to developers. watchOS 7 includes new features such as sleep tracking, new watch face features, fitness improvements, and more. watchOS 7 beta 5 can be installed by developers through the companion Apple Watch app on iPhone or by heading to the Settings app on the Apple Watch itself. If you don’t yet see the new beta on your device, be sure to keep checking as it’s still rolling out to all developers....

Apple has released iOS 14 beta 8 and iPadOS 14 beta 8 to developers today. The update comes just under one week after the release of the seventh beta to developers and public beta testers. Update: iOS 14 beta 8 is now available to public beta testers as well. iOS 14 beta 8 is available to developers via an over-the-air update in the Settings app. As usual, if the update does not immediately appear for download, keep checking as it sometimes takes a while to roll out to all registered developers....

Apple is rolling out the seventh watchOS 3.2 beta for developer testing on Apple Watch. watchOS 3.2 beta includes Theater Mode which disables raise-to-wake and mutes alerts. Apple is also introducing SiriKit to Apple Watch with watchOS 3.2 beta. SiriKit lets developers integrate their apps with Siri for select uses. Prior to watchOS 3.2 beta, SiriKit was limited to iOS apps. As for Theater Mode, this is how Apple describes the new feature:...

Apple today released their fifth preview of their upcoming Xcode 4 to developers. This fifth preview includes a solid amount of new features, enhancements and fixes but nothing major to note. Here’s a summarized list of the most notable features and enhancements: You can view the entire set of release notes after the break: Editors: The built-in editor modes, Standard, Assistant, and Version are designed to present the most critical information, in context, as you work....

Apple will release the first public betas of iOS 13.4 and iPadOS 13.4 today. This comes less than a week after the first developer betas of the updates were released. iOS 13.4 includes several new features, such as iCloud Drive folder sharing, new Memoji stickers, and more. Update: The first public betas of iOS 13.4, iPadOS 13.4, tvOS 13.4, and macOS Catalina 10.15.4 are now available. iCloud Drive folder sharing is one of the most notable changes in this update....

There’s a new development in the ongoing back-and-forth between Apple and the Department of Justice. Apple’s top lawyer, Bruce Sewell, will testify on encryption next week before a congressional hearing. The upcoming hearing will take place on Tuesday, March 1st, just five days from today. Also in attendance at next week’s hearing will be James Comey, who you may know as the Director of the FBI, which should make for an interesting showdown (although the two are on separate panels so don’t expect anything too confrontational)....

Apple has announced today that it will release its earnings report for the fiscal second quarter of 2021 on April 28. As usual, the company will release its Q2 2021 earnings report, then hold a conference call with investors and analysts to provide more detail. Apple’s fiscal second-quarter covers the months of January, February, and March. This will be an interesting quarter for Apple because it comes as most Apple Stores around the world have returned to normal operations amid the COVID-19 pandemic....

Apple has posted a new page on its retail website to announce that Apple Retail Store Camp is back for the summer of 2014. The annual event allows kids on summer vacation to work on projects within their local Apple retail stores. Interested campers can sign up on Apple’s website. This year, Apple says that kids will create movies in iMovie and books in iBooks Author. Macs will be used for final production (editing in iMovie and making books in iBooks Author), but music for the movies will be made using GarageBand for iPad and and drawing apps on the iPad will be used for illustrations for the iBooks....

The 12 months of 2011 were an exhilarating ride for Apple of Cupertino, Calif. It went through a major leadership transition after the company lost its cofounder Steve Jobs and op-chief Tim Cook took the reigns and appointed several new executives. The iPhone 4S became a huge success and pushed Apple’s market capitalization above the half a trillion-dollar valuation. Editors at Fortune magazine did not have second thoughts when ranking Apple first on its annual list of World’s Most Admired Companies due to the company’s impending iPad 3 unveiling, off-the-chart sales, and beautiful new retail stores like the upcoming Amsterdam outlet....

Mockup based on current Apple Store native application Although Apple offers an Apple Store iOS application that provides full access in a simplified manner to iPhone and iPod touch users, Apple is looking to make the experience even simpler. Over the past months, we have observed Apple gradually shelving and re-touching a project to replace the native Apple Store application with a mobile web version of the Apple Online Store. Now it appears that Apple is working towards actually completing and launching the mobile version of the store....

Apple already detailed the specific iOS 6 features that would be available to certain iOS devices in June. For instance: Flyover and turn-by-turn would be limited to iPhone 4S and iPad 2 (and up), while FaceTime over cellular and Siri would be available only on iPhone 4S and iPad 3. Today, following the introduction of the iPhone 5, Apple’s product page for the new device linked to a comprehensive list of features that are not available in certain countries....

Following up on our report from April that Google planned to end YouTube support for older Apple TVs and iOS 6 and earlier devices due to API changes, Apple has officially removed the YouTube channel from pre-third-generation Apple TVs. YouTube’s main menu icon has disappeared, along with the Settings menu option to hide or show it along with other channels. Current-generation models continue to have YouTube access. Apple introduced the third-generation Apple TV in March 2012, noting that it was capable of operating at up to 1080p resolution, which was at that point the only major difference between the new model and its 720p predecessor....

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM8iK3QJfhg&feature=youtu.be] First Phil Schiller nominated Tim Cook for the charity-driven Ice Bucket Challenge challenge, then Cook passed the torch to Dr. Dre. Today Dre finally proved that he didn’t forget about the challenge and posted a video on YouTube in which he pours an entire trash can of ice water over his head. Of course, it’s likely he also donated to the ALSA, given that he released the video later than the 24 hours participants are usually afforded....

Apple has sent an email to users of its two-factor authentication system reminding them of an upcoming change to the feature that will take effect tomorrow. Originally the requirement for app-specific passwords was supposed to start on the first of the month, but Apple has informed users that it will begin tomorrow instead. The system to generate and use these passwords is already in place. App-specific passwords allow you to log into applications that don’t support two-factor logins, such as most email clients or other apps that may want to access your iCloud data....

Apple has now acquired another startup, Spaces, which has a team specialized in virtual reality technologies (VR). The acquisition was announced today by a Protocol report citing its own sources. Spaces was created in 2016 by DreamWorks Animation veterans, and the startup has been developing VR products since then, including a Zoom add-on that allowed users to hold virtual reality video conferencing using animated avatars. The company discontinued all its services last week without further details....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ONucH0Jwfk Apple today, just a week after debuting a new set of videos showcasing Apple Watch apps, has revealed three new TV advertisements again showcasing the various apps of the Apple Watch. The first video, seen above, showcases the music applications that Apple Watch supports. Apps showcased include ones such as Shazam, Instagram, and Apple’s own Music app. The second video showcases the fitness apps that Apple Watch users can take advantage of....

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGrDMVk2isc] Apple has rolled out a new commercial for the iPod touch (which is on sale for Black Friday) , showing off the white model that was just introduced alongside the iPhone 4S. The advertisement is called “Share the fun” and also demonstrates some of the new iOS 5 features like native tweeting and iMessage. In addition, great iPod touch additions from last year’s iOS 4 release like Game Center (improved with iOS 5) and FaceTime are demonstrated....

In a short tech support document posted to the Apple site, the company said, “Apple will support Microsoft Windows 7 (Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate) with Boot Camp in Mac OS X Snow Leopard before the end of the year.” The company also confirmed, “This support will require a software update to Boot Camp.” Apple did not reveal a schedule for the Boot Camp update. Apple also warned of nine Mac models that just won’t be able to run Windows 7 in Boot Camp....