Apple Investigating iBeacon-Assisted Mobile Payment Methods
Apple’s iBeacon technology based on the Bluetooth LE standard is being installed in Apple Stores and other retail outlets to assist customers and send them promotions while shopping, but as noted by Patently Apple, a newly published patent application suggests this technology could also be used to send secure mobile payments while making purchases.
Patent application number 20140019367, filed in September 2012 and published today, describes a method that would send payment data through various wireless interfaces without compromising the user’s data. The method uses two links — one connection to a point-of-sale device to establish the initial connection and a second, secure connection that sends the payment information. This payment information is then processed by a backend server, which uses a shared secret to verify that the connection was secure before it authorizes the payment.
In one or more embodiments, a method of performing a commercial transaction is provided. The method includes establishing a first secure link over a first air interface by a purchasing device, the first secure link between the purchasing device and a point of sale device, identifying a second air interface different from the first air interface, establishing a second secure link over a second air interface, the second secure link between the purchasing device and a backend server, and conducting, using the second air interface, a secure commercial transaction between the purchasing device and the backend server using payment data secured by a shared secret known to a secure element in the purchasing device and to the backend server.
The payment method described in the patent may use NFC as well as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to connect the mobile device to the point-of-sale terminal. Though iBeacon is not directly named in the patent, it is easy to see how the technology could be used as the conduit for the secure Bluetooth connection. Apple even notes in the patent that NFC “is less desirable for longer transactions,” while Wi-Fi or Bluetooth has “more desirable characteristics for maintaining the link over time than NFC.”
The use of Apple’s iBeacon technology, rolled out alongside iOS 7, is expected to increase over the coming year as other retailers such as Macy’s have begun piloting the Bluetooth LE technology. Most recently, the Consumer Electronics Association used iBeacons for a scavenger hunt at CES 2014, while Major League Baseball will be bringing the technology to stadiums.
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Starbucks Admits It Stores Unencrypted User Passwords, Location Data in iPhone App [iOS Blog]
Starbucks has admitted that its mobile payment app for iPhone does not encrypt user passwords and location data, instead storing it in a clear text format, according to a report from Computerworld.
The credentials were stored in such a way that anyone with access to the phone can see the passwords and usernames by connecting the phone to a PC. No jailbreaking of the phone is necessary. And that clear text also displays an extensive list of geolocation tracking points (latitude, longitude), a treasure trove of security and privacy gems for anyone who steals the phone.
The vulnerability was first discovered by security researcher Daniel Wood, who published his findings online for the security community after repeatedly being not having success when attempting to contact Starbucks.
The coffee company tells Computerworld that it has “security measures in place now related to that”. However, Wood tells The Verge that anything Starbucks does on its end “would not matter” because the vulnerability lies within the app itself.
Potential criminals would still need to physically have the phone to attain any user information, and the only information available would be user names, passwords and location data, but users of the app who had the “auto replenish” feature on would enable criminals to continually add money to the app to make Starbucks purchases.
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Google Expands Play Movies & TV to iOS
While we are all about and love our Android devices, there are still those friends and family members that just won’t fully pull the trigger. Google is in the business to make money, limiting how they make money and what devices can participate is pretty silly. Over the years we have seen various Android apps from Google make their way to iOS. It is good for them. After all, many iOS users still have Gmail accounts. Today Google made another move to assist iOS users in their abilities and ways of the Play Store by launching the Google Play Movies & TV to iTunes.
Go go losing it just yet. The app is free for those iOS users out there that wish to install it. However, it won’t do you much good. That is unless you login to the Play Store online to rent or buy movies or happen to be a dual wielding individual and already have some content through another Android device.
The new app for the iOS users among us is only available in the US, Japan and the united Kingdom. It does allow you to cast to a Chromecast device if you have one. Don’t even think about streaming on your mobile carrier though, Wi-Fi is required for all playback. Ouch!
Hopefully getting Play Movies & TV going on iOS will help boost sales, rentals and help the section expand for us all.
Source: 9to5Google
‘Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition’ Now Available for iPad [iOS Blog]
Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition, the sequel to the original Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition for iOS released in late 2012, can now be downloaded from the App Store.
The game, which has been made available thanks to a collaboration between Beamdog, and Atari, is a remake of Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn and the following expansion packs: Throne of Bhaal, Fist of the Fallen, Unbound, A Shadow’s Life, In Defense of the Wild, The Black Pits II: Gladiators of Thay, and Gallery of Heroes II.
“He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster… When you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you…”
Kidnapped. Imprisoned. Tortured. The wizard Irenicus holds you captive in his stronghold, attempting to strip you of the powers that are your birthright.
Can you resist the evil within you, forge a legend of heroic proportions, and ultimately destroy the dark essence that haunts your dreams? Or will you embrace your monstrous nature, carve a swath of destruction across the realms, and ascend to godhood as the new Lord of Murder?
As with the original Baldur’s Gate for iOS, Baldur’s Gate II includes multiplayer functionality, remastered artwork, and interface improvements. Baldur’s Gate II has also been available from the Mac App Store since November.
Baldur’s Gate II can be downloaded from the App Store for $14.99. [Direct Link]
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Apple Updates WWDC App with Video Fix [iOS Blog]
Apple today updated its WWDC app, fixing an issue that prevented developers from being able to log in and watch videos from the June 2013 event.
According to reports on Twitter, some developers had been unable to use the app to view session videos following the security breach on Apple’s Developer Center that shut it down for an extended period of time in July 2013.
This release addresses an issue where developers were unable to log into the app to watch videos. Thank you for your bug reports and feedback.
Apple’s WWDC app was also used for the evasi0n iOS 7 jailbreak, and it is unclear if the new update also has something to do with that.
WWDC can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
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Google Launches ‘Google Play Movies & TV’ App, iOS Chromecast Users Gain Alternative to iTunes
Google today released Google Play Movies & TV for iOS, allowing iPhone and iPad users to watch movies and TV shows that have been purchased on Google Play. In addition to providing a way for iOS users to stream Google Play content directly to their devices, the app is also a boon for Chromecast users, as it will let them stream movies and TV shows purchased from Google Play to the device.
Watch your favorite movies and shows instantly on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from wherever you are. Buy or rent movies by visiting Google Play Store on any computer and watch them from any device over Wi-Fi using the Google Play Movies & TV app.
Limited content for iOS users has been an issue for Chromecast since the device was first launched in July. Designed to compete with the Apple TV and Roku set top boxes, Chromecast users on iOS have been restricted to movie and TV content from apps like Netflix and YouTube that have implemented Chromecast support, while Android users have had prior access to movies and television shows from the Android version of Google Play Movies & TV. Other apps, like HBO GO and Hulu Plus have implemented Chromecast support since the device was launched, but it still lacked a comprehensive alternative to iTunes.
With the addition of Google Play Movies and TV to iOS, Chromecast users have a much larger library of content to access, which puts the device more on par with the Apple TV. The Apple TV has long had support for iTunes, which gives users the opportunity to purchase movies and television shows. Chromecast users, like iTunes users, can now access a service that provides a wide range of movie and TV show downloads.
iOS users cannot purchase content directly within the Google Play Movies and TV app due to Apple’s restrictions, so movies and and shows will need to be purchased on the Google Play Store on a computer before the content can be accessed within the iOS app to be streamed to a television.
As noted by Gizmodo, content sent to Chromecast from the Google Play Movies and TV app will be in full HD, but content viewed on an iPhone will be limited to standard definition. There are a few other drawbacks with the app as well — content can only be streamed over Wi-Fi and there is no option for offline viewing.
Google Play Movies & TV joins Google Play Books and Google Play Music as the third Google Play app available on iOS.
Google’s Chromecast can be purchased directly from Google for $35 and it is also available from a number of third party retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. Google Play Movies & TV can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
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iOS users can now buy, rent or stream content from Google Play
Apple’s iTunes has long been the de facto virtual storefront for iOS users looking to buy or rent digital content, but now Google’s elbowing its way into that tidy ecosystem. The search giant just dropped an iOS version of its Google Play Movies & TV app onto the App Store, giving users an alternate media library to browse. The service will also allow users to purchase films and TV shows from the desktop and view them from any iDevice. Just don’t get too jazzed about the Chromecast streaming side of things. We’ve seen the service hiccup more than we’d like in our time using it. Your mileage may vary, but don’t say you weren’t warned.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, HD, Mobile, Apple, Google
Source: iTunes
Refurbished Late 2013 13-Inch Retina MacBook Pro Debuts in Apple’s Online Store [Mac Blog]
Following the appearance of 15-inch models of the latest Retina MacBook Pro in Apple’s online store for refurbished items over the weekend, 13-inch models have now debuted in the store, again offering discounts of roughly 15% compared to brand-new units. While a number of different configurations were available when the 13-inch machines first appeared late yesterday, Apple is currently listing only two of the three stock configurations as available with shipping estimates of 1-5 business days.
– 2.4 GHz dual-core Intel i5 with 4 GB RAM and 128 GB flash storage: $1099 ($200 savings)
– 2.6 GHz dual-core Intel i5 with 8 GB RAM and 512 GB flash storage: $1529 ($270 savings)
The third stock configuration, a 2.4 GHz model with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, is listed as out of stock but will be priced at $1269, a $230 savings.
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L.A. Unified School District to Expand iPad Initiative to 38 Additional Campuses [iOS Blog]
The Los Angeles Board of Education announced on Tuesday that it will continue on with its plan to equip all students, teachers, and administrators in the district with a computer, distributing iPads to 38 additional campuses ahead of state tests in the spring, reports The Los Angeles Times. The school district will also purchase laptops for seven high schools.
The newly approved $115-million proposal does not cap the number of iPads the district is able to purchase for students during testing, but the L.A. Board of Education expects the number to be under 67,500. The iPads will be shared by different classes over the course of six weeks of testing.
Each iPad typically costs the L.A. Unified School District $768, which includes curriculum, but the district is aiming to negotiate a fee of $200 to $300 less for iPads used exclusively for testing. Initially, the school district’s contract locked it into purchasing older iPads, but Apple has now agreed to provide newer models at no additional cost.
Back in June, the Los Angeles Unified School District voted to spend a total of $30 million on Apple’s iPads, equipping every student in 47 of the district’s schools with a tablet preloaded with digital textbooks. The initiative, which saw approximately 35,000 iPads handed out to students in the district, is part of a larger effort to equip all 640,000 students in the district with iPads by the end of 2014.
Though the L.A. School District has seen success with the iPads, it did encounter some difficulties with students bypassing the content restrictions on the devices. As a result, home use of the tablets has been halted.
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FTC says Apple’s gotta pay for your kids’ in-app purchases
In my day, when a kid spent his parents’ money when he wasn’t supposed to, a form of indentured servitude ensued to pay off the debt. These days, courtrooms and federal agencies are the parentally-preferred sources of remuneration. Today, Apple settled up with the FTC over a complaint filed by the Commission many moons ago regarding in-app purchases made by children without mom or dad’s consent.
Why should you care? In truth, you shouldn’t. See, Apple already went to court over this very issue, and agreed to refund these unwitting customers hoodwinked by their genetic spawn months ago at the conclusion of a class-action lawsuit. Thing is, the FTC complaint is separate from that lawsuit, despite the fact that it concerns the very same issues — today’s announcement merely tidies things up by putting the issue finally and completely to rest.
The outcome of both settlements is that Apple modifies its billing practices to get express, informed consent before allowing in-app purchases, and allow that consent to be withdrawn at any time before the end of March. Additionally, Apple’s gotta refund at least $32.5 million dollars to affected customers, and should it send out less money in settlements, then the difference will be paid to the FTC. Apple’s not so keen on the FTC’s announcement, but an internal memo from Tim Cook obtained by Recode confirms that this settlement with the Commission’s is entirely duplicative of Apple’s ongoing lawsuit settlement efforts. Gotta love governmental redundancy, right?
Filed under: Tablets, Mobile, Apple
Source: Apple FTC Consent decree (PDF), Federal Trade Commission
