PayPal shoots self in foot while ‘white knighting’ for Netflix
With the recent rollout of Netflix Everywhere, the company has been on a tear trying to track down and lock out users who rely on VPNs to bypass its regional restrictions and access the US programming list. Doing so hasn’t been as easy as Netflix initially anticipated so it called in PayPal for backup.
See, VPN servers allow users to spoof their geographical location so even if they live in, say Germany, the Netflix system will think they’re in located somewhere here in the states. What’s more, many VPN services specifically advertise that they can help you get around the Netflix geo-barrier, and it’s precisely those services that PayPal is going after.
According to a report from TorrentFreak, PayPal recently sent Canadian VPN service UnoTelly notice that it would no longer offer them payment processing services on “copyright infringement” grounds.
Specifically, the PayPal notice read:
Under the PayPal Acceptable Use Policy, PayPal may not be used to send or receive payments for items that infringe or violate any copyright, trademark, right of publicity or privacy, or any other proprietary right under the laws of any jurisdiction. This includes transactions for any device or technological measure that descrambles a scrambled work, decrypts an encrypted work or otherwise avoids, bypasses, removes, deactivates or impairs a technological measure without the authority of the copyright owner.
UnoTelly, in response, simply told its customers to use credit cards instead. So really the only company economically hurt by PayPal’s white knighting is PayPal itself. Good work there, guys.
Via: Ubergizmo
Source: Torrent Freak
PayPal has a Super Bowl ad, too
At the rate companies are releasing their Super Bowl ads prior to this Sunday, it’s a wonder why they even spent the millions to air them during the big game at all. The latest in that YouTube-approved trend is none other than PayPal, which is hoping to sell viewers on the idea that it’s “new money.” The under-a-minute clip has everything an ad needs these days to garner attention amid the cacophony of macro-brewed beer commercials and flashy spots for monsters that reside in red and white spheres.
Namely, a beat that’s awfully reminiscent of Kanye West’s “Black Skinhead;” hip, pretty people both young and old; dancing robots; a 3D printer and… Oh, some bills in a currency counting machine. Wait, that last one is old, just like the folks printed on the paper. New is digital money. Right. I doubt the company’s promise of being fresh dinero will extend to transferring funds from a PayPal account to your bank account any faster, though.
Honestly, the ad feels more appropriate for the outfit’s younger sibling Venmo than it does the former eBay property. Maybe the ad agency responsible got the two mixed up? Regardless, it’s embedded for your viewing pleasure below.
Via: The Verge
Source: PayPal (YouTube)
Venmo launches third-party payment support with two partners
PayPal-owned Venmo is expanding its capabilities by unlocking third-party payment support. For now, it’s in a limited release that reaches select users who can use just two partnering services. It’s also iOS-only at this time, but we’re confident PayPal is pushing Venmo to support Android as quickly as possible.
Select users can use Venmo to pay for event tickets on Gametime, and to have gourmet meals delivered on Munchery, with more merchants and additional functionality coming soon. But, this is just the beginning. From here, we want our users to be a part of this journey, and provide feedback about the experience. We appreciate everyone’s patience and support as we focus on building and delivering upon what our users love: the familiar delight and ease of paying with Venmo within their favorite merchant apps.
Within a supported app, the Venmo button will appear to move you right through the checkout process. The app will ask for authentication and, if approved, Venmo will approve the transaction without handing over payment details.
Third-party payment support also works with Venmo’s bill-splitting, personal purchase history, and sharing features.
Venmo will notify users by email when you’re able to take advantage of third-party payment support.
Source: Venmo
Come comment on this article: Venmo launches third-party payment support with two partners
PayPal’s Venmo adds third-party app payment support
After being dogged by scary security concerns last year, PayPal-owned Venmo is focusing on new features for its payment system. The company revealed that it will let you pay for sporting events via Gametime and gourmet meal deliveries from Munchery. The service is only available on iOS for select users to start, but Venmo plans to use the limited rollout to get feedback and will add more folks over time. The service works much as PayPal does — you just tap the Venmo icon to pay, and will be linked directly to the app for authentication. Payments are automatically added to your purchase history.
So far, Venmo has been limited to payments between users — the classic use case is splitting a restaurant bill while you’re still at the table. It’s been very popular for that purpose, though, as PayPal said Venmo processed $7.5 billion in payments last year. By adding third-party apps, the company becomes a rival to Android Pay, Apple Pay and other similar services, but with the clout and online payment savvy of PayPal behind it.
Security experts still have concerns about the system, though. It allows you to directly link your bank account and credit card, yet until recently, didn’t notify you if your password was changed or a new device used. In addition, the company was slow to respond to reports of fraud — as Slate reported, one user couldn’t contact the company after noticing an unauthorized $2,500 transaction.
Venmo added two-factor verification last year, so the app will notify you if it’s accessed by an unknown device. However, the company hasn’t said if it beefed up its customer service team, as it reportedly had just 70 employees last year (parent company PayPal has 10,000 workers). And while the two-level authentication is a good start, there’s now word as to whether it’s added additional warnings for unusual activity, something PayPal has done for years.
Source: Venmo
Samsung Pay will support online shopping in 2016
Samsung will be expanding its mobile payment system in the US next year by allowing users to shop online, also adding support for more smartphones.
The news, detailed by Reuters, means that lower-priced Samsung smartphones will support the system ‘within the next year’.
Speaking about the changes to Samsung Pay, Thomas Ko, global co-general manager of Samsung Pay, said: “[Wider] handset availability of Samsung Pay as well as online payment support is coming soon”.
Despite the announcement, there was no mention of which other countries will support Samsung Pay in the future.
Ko notes that Samsung Pay is already ‘the most widely accepted mobile wallet in the United States’, largely due to compatibility with both old and new credit card terminals. In a press statement, HTC said:
“Samsung Pay continues to expand its reach and provide its customers unparalleled choice, flexibility and access.”
Apple Pay, which launched in September 2014, requires stores to install new equipment to function correctly, ‘hindering wider acceptance’ in the process, consultants have said.
Earlier in the month, we reported on news that Samsung has added 19 new issuers to the Samsung Pay ecosystem, with the line-up now featuring PNC Visa credit and debit cards and KeyBank MasterCard credit and debit cards.
Samsung’s decision to support online payments will see the mobile group take on PayPal, a massive player in the online retail game. Bitcoin will also serve as another competitor.
Samsung Pay first arrived in South Korea on a handful of Samsung gadgets including the Galaxy Note 5, S6 and S6 Edge+.
Source: Reuters
Come comment on this article: Samsung Pay will support online shopping in 2016
[Deal] Canadian PayPal users can claim a discount to the Play Store for a limited time
From now until the end of the year, PayPal users living in Canada can get a discounted price to Google’s Play Store.
Canadian PayPal users can get $3 off their next purchase from the Play Store so long as the transaction is $5 or more. This obviously excludes music considering the fact that all music costs less than $5. However, apps, movies, shows, books and magazines are all fair game.
Users must pay using PayPal to claim the discount, which will be applied at checkout. The discount will be listed on your email receipt from Google.
Hurry up, because the offer doesn’t last long!
[PayPal]
Come comment on this article: [Deal] Canadian PayPal users can claim a discount to the Play Store for a limited time
PayPal, Square and big banking’s war on the sex industry
For nearly a decade, PayPal, JPMorgan Chase, Visa/MasterCard, and now Square, have systematically denied or closed accounts of small businesses, artists, and independent contractors whose business happens to be about sex. These payment processing authorities have also coerced websites to cease featuring sexual content under threat of service withdrawal, all while blaming ambiguous rules or pressure from one another.
Monday a federal appeals court ruled that pressuring credit card companies like Visa and Mastercard to stop doing business with speech-protected websites violates their First Amendment rights. Specifically ones that feature content from sex workers. And in June, the FDIC clarified that it’s against the rules for businesses like PayPal, Chase and Square to refuse business or close accounts based on “high risk” assessments related to human sexuality. But it may not be enough to stop what’s become an unbelievably entrenched pattern of systematic discrimination by payment processors — one that disproportionately denies financial opportunities for women.
Day One Apps: The first apps we install on every new Android (Volume 3)
As someone who has gone through his fair share of Android phones and tablets over the years, I’ve also installed and reviewed countless apps and games. As such, there some titles out there that I simply must have on my Android – and as soon as possible. We like to term these as “Day One Apps” because, well, we install them on day one.
What follows are the day one apps that I look for almost as soon as I get connected to Wi-Fi. Be sure to check out Volume 1 and Volume 2 to see what my fellow writers are loading on their respective devices.
Google Keyboard
The first thing I do on any smartphone or tablet is install Google Keyboard. In some cases this comes preloaded with the phone, however many manufacturers choose to go their own route with a third party keyboard. To me, there is nothing easier to learn or set up. It’s easy, intuitive, and I like some of the customization settings. Yes, I know that there are more feature-rich keyboards out there, and some will save me more keystrokes over time, however I love the universal feel that this Google client provides. I don’t even want to mess with email, text, or installing other apps until I’ve had this one in place.
Internet Movie Database (IMdb)
I am a big movie fan so I am always quick to install the IMDB application. It is one of the more polished looking Android apps you’ll find and is always among the first to adopt Google’s latest design principles. I love looking at trivia, movie trailers, and just tripping down the rabbit hole. I like the app so much that I prefer this experience over the web version now and I’m often found skimming this app when watching older films. It’s also the first one I break out when I leave the theater so I can check out trivia.
Movies by Flixster
Staying with the theme of films, I install Flixster right away so that I can see what is showing at the local box office. Whether you’re traveling or staying close to home, the app does a great job of showing what is available at what time. Of course this one provides phone numbers, addresses of theaters, but it also hands off to turn-by-turn navigation. Although the color scheme is getting a little dated in my opinion, it is a simple to use application and ties into your Facebook or Google profiles for quick login.
Nova Launcher Prime
Nova Launcher Prime ensures that my smartphone looks exactly the way I wanted to. It is not necessarily that I have a problem with stock Android or some of the custom UIs out there, it’s more that I love to hand select every little facet. The experience has gotten incrementally better over time and new features are introduced on a semi-regular basis. If you are looking to set up your phone with gestures, custom icons, or want to have your new phone mirror the exact user interface as your last device, this is the first one you should consider. Yes, there’s a free version, but do yourself a favor and spring for the Prime version as it unlocks all sorts of wonderful things for the money.
BaconReader for Reddit
I am a reddit junkie so I install Baconreader right away; Reddit is the way that I pick up most of my headlines and participate in discussion. Moreover, it’s also a great way for me to unwind and waste time with various subreddits and irreverent, fun stuff. Baconreader recently picked up a new design that implements Google’s latest guidelines and looks fantastic. I would like to see more themes, however, I am content with the experience. I’ve dabbled another reddit applications, but always come home to this one.
ESPN
ESPN is a must-have application for me because I follow a variety of sports and have loyalties to teams in multiple leagues. I love being able to pop in and check at-a-glance as to how my teams are doing. I appreciate that I can toggle notifications for alerts and I am sure to get scores as they happen. This one has gotten more refined overtime and really uses some of Googles Material Design cues. In addition to scores, you can pull up news as it happens in just about any league; the “Now” column brings up a steady stream of tweets and updates from a whole host of sources. Plus, it’s always nice to hop in and watch a quick replay of your team ripping off a 75 yard touchdown run. Things get even better with the counterpart app, WatchESPN.
Snapseed
Although I do have quite a few photo editing tools, Snapseed is the one that I currently love the most. I’ve installed this on day one for the last year or two and simply love the editing tools. As cameras get better with time, the pictures look even cooler when you run them through quick clean up, filters, minor and major tweaks, or add a border. I also love that this one is easy to work with and it doesn’t hurt that it is owned by Google.
HootSuite
Managing social media for myself personally as well as the AndroidGuys brand, I need a tool that gives me flexibility and a robust set of options. To me, HootSuite, is one that does the best job of this. Not only can you add multiple streams, for social media accounts, but it looks great on a tablet. If you stay active on social media, then you will want to consider this one.
Audible
I don’t get to spend as much time reading books as I would like to, so I take every advantage of listening to audiobooks. Audible is the first name in audiobooks, and, conveniently, it’s tied directly to Amazon. I love that I can log in on any device and resume where I left off. Depending on the book, I will also adjust the playback speed so that I can get through it quicker. This varies, of course, from book to book and reader to reader, but it’s a great way to take him books while riding a bike, mowing the grass, or on longer car rides. Speaking of which, Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks
Timely
I love Timely particularly because of the cloud sync. I have a number of alarms that go off throughout the day and week to keep me on task, and the cloud synchronization here makes sure that I don’t miss a beat. Indeed, you can set alarms on any of your devices and make it so that the alarms you set on your first phone carry over to your latest phone. You can toggle this stuff on and off at a per-device level and it super easy easy to manage. I don’t spend much time inside of the application, but it is among the prettiest clocks, stopwatch, timer, countdown apps you’ll find.
I count myself among the 400 million active Instagram users so of course I will use their mobile app. Although the app was a little stale for a while, I have come to appreciate the new filters that have been at it over time. And, thanks to the video feature, it easy to share longer moments, too. The mobile application, to me, works better than the desktop version. While we’re on the topic, be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Instagram.
PayPal
Sending and receiving money is something I deal with on a weekly, if not daily, basis. The first name in this space, for most people, is PayPal. The mobile app has gotten exponentially better in the last year or so and I love the ability to add to balances at various locations. The mobile client is a no frills experience, but when dealing with mobile payments, it doesn’t have to be gorgeous or feature-rich. I find the app to be intuitive and pleasing to the eye.
Sonos
We have a Sonos music set up in our house so I am always quick to install this app. Whether I am listening to music in one room, or grouping music across the household, I I’m a big fan of this app. Content providers and developers are always adding new features and services to the client. I will admit that a few years ago this was an ugly app and not something I enjoyed dealing with. But, the stuff we have today not only looks great, but it is easy to use.
WeatherBug
Whereas most devices come pre-installed with a weather client or ties to a weather service, I love WeatherBug so much that I install it on day one. I don’t spend too much time interfacing directly with the app itself, however when I do, this one is sharp, customizable, and as accurate as anything else. I know that there are other apps out there that provide more detailed weather or forecasts, but I think WeatherBug does a great job of putting together a hassle free and easy to use weather app.
Dunkin’ Donuts
I install a number of restaurant and food-related applications on my Android phone on day one. Among the first loaded up is the Dunkin Donuts application. I live dangerously close to a Dunkin’ Donuts location so I am often found at the drive thru.
Not only can you use the app to pay for your food, but you can also keep an eye on your rewards, and manage your gift cards. If you are the type of person who likes to be alerted to new promotions, then you may enjoy this one as well. Just about once a day or so I will get an alert on my phone for some limited-time deal or savings that can be had.
Starbucks
Although it may be viewed as someone of a competitor to the aforementioned title, I love the Starbucks app. Again, managing my account and adding to my balance is easy and can be done directly from the application. A recent update also makes it possible for me to order my drink or food ahead of time and pay for it. The app, of course also provides location based help and can direct you to the nearest store. As someone known to rush out the door without his wallet, it’s nice to know my phone will pay for my drink.
Taco Bell
If you ask my wife, she’ll tell you that I eat Taco Bell way more than I should. OK, maybe I do. I love the Taco Bell application as it is one of the most gorgeous food apps you’ll find, especially for a fast food chain. You can view the menu, place orders, and even pre pay for your food to be picked up. I like that I can customize my order with little add-ons or make adjustments and not feel awkward standing at the cash register with these changes. This one looks way better than it needs to for the money.
Slack
Our team uses Slack for internal communication and collaboration. We’ve been employing its services for roughly a year now and I really enjoy the mobile counterpart. If you’ve seen the desktop version, you’ll find this looks exactly the way you would expect it would. Do you have a group or are you part of a team that needs to work together on a regular basis? This is one you will definitely want to check out. You can share directly to this app from your Android phone in just about any scenario. Want to upload an image? Easy. Want to share a web link with a specific set of users? Presto. I don’t know how these guys monetize, and I won’t question it, but we really love Slack and the way it helps our organization.
Todoist
I have toyed with a number of task applications and to-do list clients, however I am really in love with Todoist. It looks very modern, is full of features, and delivers what you would want from a big name developer. The fact that it synchronizes across clients and has real-time updates and notifications is vital to me and my team. It doesn’t take long to learn how to use this one and tap into its potential. Indeed, it is quite the robust app. It is a breeze to add a task, set a date and/or reminder, assign it to somebody and, and leave comments. We use it internally here, however I’ve come to love having it for personal uses too.
Doggcatcher
A mainstay on my phone for the past few years, Doggcatcher is my favorite podcast client. For an app designed for listening you could be forgiven if your app wasn’t quite as polished or refined. Having said that, I like the way this one looks today, and it feels very fresh and modern. It wasn’t the most beautiful podcast app a few iterations back but it’s got Material Design all over it today. I don’t know what will happen Google Play Music begins curating podcasts, however I am not ready to give up on this one yet. Adding, discovering, and sharing podcast is very easy with this client.
The post Day One Apps: The first apps we install on every new Android (Volume 3) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Apple Drops Support for PayPal Credit Payment Plans in U.S. Online Store
Apple yesterday quietly removed all mentions of PayPal Credit from its U.S. Online Store, signaling its decision to stop allowing customers to use PayPal Credit payment plans for purchases in the United States.
On the financing section of its website, where customers can get information about their payment options, Apple is now only offering financing through Barclaycard Visa, which allows users to make payments over 6 to 18 months depending on purchase price.
Previous PayPal Credit options, which are no longer available.
The previous PayPal Credit option allowed customers to choose 6, 12, 18, or 24 month payment plans with a fixed APR of 12.99%, while the Barclaycard Visa maxes out at 18 months with an APR of 13.99%, 19.99% or 26.99% depending on credit.
Apple is continuing to offer rewards to customers who buy with the Barclaycard Visa, with customers earning 3 points for every $1 spent at the Apple Store, 2 points for every $1 spent at restaurants, and 1 point on all other purchases. 2,500 points can be redeemed for Apple Store or iTunes gift cards.
Apple first began promoting PayPay Credit payment methods in December of 2014, which is when the company also began allowing customers to buy items using PayPal as a payment method. While Apple is no longer allowing customers to use PayPal Credit options to make purchases, it does still accept PayPal payments for purchases made from its online store and from its iOS app.
PayPal Credit is still available in the U.K., and it is not clear if Apple plans to drop support in other countries as well.
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How PayPal stole Christmas (according to 233 Brits)
Halloween has passed and November is here. For advertisers, that means it’s about time to debut this year’s festive adverts. PayPal jumped straight in, airing its own during an X Factor ad break on Sunday night, but for hundreds of Brits, it’s already destroyed the magic of Christmas. The Guardian reports that the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has received 233 complaints from viewers arguing that PayPal’s advert implies that Father Christmas isn’t real.
Source: The Guardian
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