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

Meta adds subscriptions for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp

Published

May 28, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Is your wallet buckling from the weight of so many subscription services? Well, Meta has a trio of new subscriptions for you to sink your hard-earned cash towards. If you have a few dollars, here’s Facebook Plus, Instagram Plus, and WhatsApp Plus.

All three subscriptions are designed to add new features which can enhance the experience for those who practically live on these apps. Among the three, Instagram Plus is the meatiest. It offers users the ability to view other people’s Stories without showing up as a viewer, create more tailored audiences outside of Close Friends, and extend the duration of a Story beyond 24 hours, among others.

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Since it shares similarities with Instagram, Facebook Plus offers much of the same features. WhatsApp Plus, however, offers more customization options including new themes, ringtones, and stickers.

If that’s not enough, Meta has also released a new subscription system for Meta AI. Though the basic use of the AI is still free, the new Meta One Plus and Meta One Premium plans offer more capacity and performance for power users. The company is also testing new creator-focused plans, Meta One Essential and Meta One Advanced.

Of course, the new AI-based plans are more focused on those who actually use the AI software. Meanwhile, the three app plans are more for regular users. Facebook Plus and Instagram Plus will cost US$ 3.99 per month. Meanwhile, WhatsApp Plus will cost US$ 2.99 per month.

Apps

Meta quietly launches Forum app for Facebook Groups

The app highlights discussions from Facebook Groups.

Published

May 22, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Since the rise of other platforms, Facebook Groups haven’t enjoyed as much popularity anymore. Despite this (or maybe even to help with this), Meta has unleashed an all-new app called Forum.

Designed specifically with Facebook Groups in mind, Forum collates discussions from Groups that the user might be interested in. Much like the websites of the same name from the 2000s, the app wants to feature conversations, rather than canned content that the algorithm shoves towards users on the main Facebook feed.

Users can also ask questions. Forum will sift through real discussions to find an answer. The closest analog today is searching Reddit for troubleshooting questions to get answers based on human experience. The main feed of the new app, however, feels more in tune with Quora’s concept.

That said, it’s a refreshing way to bring social media back to human-made feeds. It’s also a stark admission that the main Facebook feed (and, frankly, Instagram too) is just too inundated with content that users are not interested in.

Lately, Instagram also made the same admission by launching its own “lightweight” app called Instants. Like Forum, Instants was made to recapture the essence of Instagram before the rise of the almighty algorithm.

Forum, however, was launched with much less fanfare than Instants. There was no announcement. Rather, it’s just a casual drop from out of nowhere. The app is available now on the App Store and the Play Store.

Apps

Apple Sports: Free app expands globally ahead of World Cup

Personalized, intuitive experience to get fans ready for the World Cup

Published

May 20, 2026

GadgetMatch

Apple has expanded the availability of its free Apple Sports iPhone app to more than 90 new countries and regions.

This brings the app’s total global footprint to over 170 markets. The massive expansion comes just weeks before the kickoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup this June.

It only means the standalone app is positioned as the primary real-time tracking fan for millions of football fans worldwide.

The rollout shifts Apple’s strategy toward global sports integration by providing the utility completely free of charge on the App Store.

A massive influx of international users are expected to use the app, as it provides a more direct experience — eliminating the need for third-party score tracking platforms.

As part of the personalized, real-time FIFA World Cup coverage, the app is introducing dedicated tournament features.

This includes allowing users to explore group stage standings, follow specific national teams, and view the current bracket through tournament bracket view.

In addition, visual formations for each team’s starting lineup will be provided ahead of every match.

Apple Sports is also tailored for those who have an entire ecosystem of Apple devices. The app can deliver real-time updates directly to a user’s iPhone Lock Screen and Apple Watch.

Fans can further add widgets to their iPhone, iPad, and MacBook Home Screens, and jump easily into the Apple TV app with a single tap to find live matches.