Apps

Apple Card takes on credit cards, offers lower fees with better app

It also comes with a physical titanium card

Published

March 26, 2019

Daniel Morial

The titanium Apple Card | Image credit: Apple

Part of Apple‘s ecosystem expansion is the new Apple Card. As its name implies, Apple Card is the company’s very own credit card which is right inside the iPhone’s Wallet app and works like Apple Pay.

According to Apple, they created Apple Card as a new kind of credit card designed to help their customers have a healthier financial life. By using Apple’s expertise in making things simpler, Apple Card brings together the company’s hardware, software, and services to create a new credit card experience. Since the Apple Card is a digital-first credit card, everything is done within an iPhone.

Apple is delivering this service in partnership with Goldman Sachs and Mastercard as the issuing bank and global payments network.

Apple Card is built into the Wallet app on iPhone | Image credit: Apple

Apple Card works like any credit card, but with seamless integration to the iPhone; it’s practically a credit card designed for the iPhone. The Apple Card and Wallet app make everything easy to understand and record detailed transactions in real-time. Also, support is available 24/7 by simply sending a text from the Messages app.

To entice customer’s to try it out, Apple will offer a rewards system called Daily Cash. Customers will receive a percentage of their every purchase: two percent for items bought with Apple Pay or three percent if the transaction is made directly with Apple. What’s unique about Apple’s rewards system is it’s added daily to the customer’s account (hence its name) and can be used right away.

To top that, Apple Card has no annual, late, international, or over-the-limit fees. Paying off the balance is made simpler too through the Wallet app. This helps customers make better and more flexible payment terms.

Each Apple Card has a unique number which is stored in an iPhone’s Secure Element, a special security chip used by Apple Pay. Of course, Face ID or Touch ID is used to authenticate each purchase.

When shopping at locations where Apple Pay is not yet available, Apple has designed a physical titanium Apple Card. It’s a minimalist and secured piece of metal for purchasing. It has no card number, CVV security code, or any crucial information printed since all these are accessible within the Wallet app.

Privacy and security are taken seriously by Apple, and they assure that neither them nor Goldman Sachs will share or sell data to third parties for marketing and advertising.

For now, only US customers can sign up for the Apple Card. It’ll be available in the coming months to qualified customers.

Related Topics:Apple Apple Card Apple Pay

Apps

Canva adds new features for presentations on the go

Responsive presentations anytime, anywhere

Published

December 7, 2019

Kenrick Buduan

Having a well-designed document goes a long way in engaging your audience. That’s where Canva comes in, simplifying the creation of well-thought documents, posters, and more. Now, Canva is adding more features which would delight presenters on the go.

The first feature is responsive presentation — users can now create presentations on their laptops and view it on their mobile devices. Presentations adapt to different screens, so the days of fussing over the right screen size is over. Plus, users can edit and view presentations made with Canva anywhere, anytime.

The second feature is presentations playlist, which would suit well for team presentations. With this feature, teams can create accessible spaces for collaboration through shared folders. This feature also builds a single coherent event with transitional slides introducing each speaker.

Lastly, there is live Q&A, which Canva will add to its mobile apps soon. Audiences will be able to participate in from any device and have the option to send in questions anonymously. This should enable a more dynamic and engaging presentation with audiences.

With over a thousand designer-made templates, 50 million premium images and videos, Canva makes it easier to create beautiful documents, posters, and graphic materials. It is available on the web, on Android, and iOS devices. Users can sign up today for a free tier, with a premium tier also available to unlock more features.

Apps

Spotify releases the 2019 wrapped, here’s how you can see it

Find out your guilty music pleasures

Published

December 5, 2019

MJ Jucutan

Every December, Spotify releases the much-awaited “Spotify Wrapped,” where users find out their top songs of the year. Since this year and this decade is ending, Spotify added a different twist in this year’s wrap-up.

The 2019 Wrapped will include songs, albums, artists, and podcasts you listened to throughout the year, and the artists you listened to the most throughout the decade. When I saw my wrap-up, I found it funny how I listen to the same songs every year. Spotify knows what songs we obsess over.

Furthermore, Spotify highlights the places where your top artists hail from through a world map. Additionally, podcasts are added to the “Wrapped” experience.

Spotify Wrapped 2019 showcasing your top artist of the year.

Spotify users, particularly those who were subscribed to a premium subscription, get a personalized recap, too. Some insights include a user’s top artist every year and the number of minutes they streamed music throughout the decade. Premium users also get info on the artist they vibed most with this year.

Luckily, your personalized info can be shared through Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, or Facebook. To access your “Spotify Wrapped,” make sure to update your Spotify app and open it or head to Spotify.com/wrapped. Enjoy looking back!

Apps

Lazada launches ‘digital giving’ platform LazadaForGood

Spread the love, not just for the holidays

Published

December 4, 2019

Rodneil Quiteles

Lazada’s 12.12 Grand Year End Sale is just around the corner but the company is also giving you another option to spend your hard-earned cash. It’s one that will give you warm fuzzy feelings inside.

Launched alongside the announcement of their massive year-end sale, Lazada partnered with 11 local and international advocacy partners: Habitat for Humanity, Young Focus, Caritas Manila, MovEd, UNHCR, HEro Foundation Inc., UNICEF, WWF, Tahanan ng Pagmamahal, HOPE, and CCEF.

The digital giving platform won’t just be available for Christmas, it will be a permanent fixture on the Lazada app. This means you can give love 24/7 and 365 days a year.

To donate, simply open the Lazada app, hit Load, Bills, & eCoupon, then click on Donation. The list of the advocacy partners will be there.

Lazada’s 12.12 Grand Year End Sale

Of course, we can’t forget the grand year end sale is indeed happening. Up to 90 percent off on more than 12 million deals will be available. Expect great offers and discounts from Xiaomi, Olay, FitFlop, Pampers, Hydro Flask, Wyeth, LEGO, Apple, Jansport, Coocaa, Tefal, and Reebok.