Apple, Paypal Talks Over Apple Pay Soured Due to Samsung Deal
Apple and PayPal were in talks that would potentially have seen PayPal becoming a “preferred payment process” for Apple Pay, reports Bank Innovation, but those talks ended abruptly after PayPal inked a deal with Samsung to allow users to make PayPal payments with the Galaxy S5’s fingerprint sensor.
Apple was reportedly so annoyed with the partnership between the two companies that it ended talks with PayPal and even went so far as to exclude PayPal from Apple Pay all together, not listing it as an acceptable payment platform in its developer documentation.
But while these talks were going on, PayPal went ahead and partnered with Samsung on the Galaxy S5 fingerprint scanner, a move that was reportedly forced onto PayPal by eBay CEO John Donahoe. PayPal’s now-former president David Marcus was purportedly categorically against the Samsung deal, knowing that it would jeopardize PayPal’s relationship with Apple. Donahoe won the day, however.
Apple and PayPal appear to be in somewhat of a dispute following the introduction of Apple Pay and PayPal’s exclusion, with the latter company recently launching an ad campaign that subtly attacks Apple and Apple Pay.
In the advertisement, PayPal alluded to the recent hacking of celebrity iCloud accounts and suggested PayPal was the safer platform for transferring money. Without a deal between the two companies, PayPal is facing significant competition from Apple Pay.
In addition to allowing users to make purchases in retail stores with their phones, Apple Pay also lets users buy items in support apps using a debit or credit card connected with an iTunes account. PayPal works in a very similar way, letting users attach a credit or debit card and then make purchases through the service, alleviating the need to enter credit card details.
Apple has plans to launch Apple Pay in the coming weeks, through an update to iOS 8.
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Smart yoga mat helps you perfect your poses
Yoga can be a great way to stay healthy, but it’s hard to refine your technique at those times you can’t see an instructor. SmartMat may have a solution for when you’re stuck at home, though. Its self-titled smart yoga mat gives you feedback on poses by sending pressure data to an app on your Android or iOS device. On a basic level, it helps you perfect your poses by suggesting corrections to your alignment and balance; you can also teach yourself new moves through downloadable lessons, and there’s a “Zen mode” if you’d prefer to enjoy the moment and get feedback later.
If you like the idea of a mat that doubles as a tutor, you can pledge $247 or higher to SmartMat’s crowdfunding project to set aside a unit for yourself. Otherwise, you’ll pay $447 to get the mat when it ships next summer. That’s a long time to wait and a lot of money to spend, but this fitness gear might pay for itself if it lets you skip the occasional yoga class without feeling guilty.
Filed under: Peripherals
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Ozz takes the guesswork out of mixing cocktails
It takes time to hone your cocktail craft. Thanks to Ozz, the learning curve isn’t quite so steep. The device visually guides pouring and mixing so that you don’t have to worry about eyeballing the notches on a shot glass. A companion app for iPhone and Android sorts recipes and ingredients lists, allowing you to fine-tune proportions to fit your taste. Once you’ve settled on a beverage, the geometric Ozz base lights LEDs around the rim of a glass to let you know when you’ve added enough of that particular ingredient. Load sensors and lights are guided by that smartphone via Bluetooth, and after a marathon martini session, a built-in micro-USB jack handles charging. Ready to opt in? Early Kickstarter backers can secure one for €69 ($87), but those who hold out will have to fork over €99 ($125). Of course, if you choose to make that Old Fashioned with Old Crow and cheap bitters, you’ll still end up with a shitty drink.
Filed under: Household
Source: Kickstarter
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Hackers plead guilty to stealing code for unfinished Xbox games, military software
Surprise, surprise: the government doesn’t take kindly to being hacked. The United States Department of Justice announced today that four members of an international hacking group have been indicted for stealing over $100 million of software and intellectual property, and two of the accused have already pleaded guilty. Using a mix of SQL injection and stolen passwords, the group reportedly hacked into internal networks owned by Microsoft, Epic Games, Valve, Zombie Studios and the U.S. Army. Their target? Video games and specialized pilot training software.
In addition to collecting data on company employees and internal dealings, the group is said to have stolen source code and technical specifications for the Xbox One, pre-release versions of both Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Gears of War 3, as well as an Apache helicopter simulator designed for the Army by Zombie Studios. The DoJ says the group is accused of conspiring to sell the proprietary information. “The American economy is driven by innovation,” explained Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell. “But American innovation is only valuable if it can be protected.”
Hacking happens all the time, but the DoJ says this case is a little unique– marking what may be the first conviction of a foreign hacker for stealing business trade secrets. Even so, the defendant isn’t that far away: David Pokora, who is pleading guilty, hails from Mississauga, Ontario in Canada. He hasn’t specifically been convicted yet, either — but a guilty plea pretty much secures that, doesn’t it?
Filed under: Gaming, Microsoft
Source: Department of Justice
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