Apple today announced a new partnership with PayAnywhere, a credit card reader that serves more than 300,000 locations around the United States. As part of the partnership, the latest version of the PayAnywhere reader will also be sold in all Apple Stores beginning this September for $39.95. The PayAnywere Mobile Reader accepts Apple Pay, as well as a variety of other contactless NFC payment solutions and traditional magnetic stripe credit cards....

Over a dozen more banks and credit unions around the United States have turned on support for Apple Pay in Apple’s mid-August update. The latest additions follow a larger rollout to over 40 institutions around the country earlier this month and Apple Pay’s first international debut in the UK last month. These are the latest banks to support Apple Pay plus the full list so far: Arlington Community Federal Credit Union Bank of Idaho BankFirst Charter Bank Community Bank Community Bank of Oak Park River Forest Corporate America Family CU Credit Union of New Jersey Del Norte Credit Union Empower FCU Forum Credit Union Gesa Credit Union Institution for Savings Mid-Missouri Bank Owen County State Bank Pacific Service Credit Union Statewide Credit Union Vinton County National Bank...

Apple won’t take the wraps off of its upcoming Beats-based music streaming service at its March 9 “Spring Forward” event, according to music industry sources briefed on the launch timeline. Instead, Apple currently plans to introduce the service, at least in beta form, at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in early June. The WWDC keynote likely takes place on Monday, June 8th, and that’s the event where the debut will occur....

As COVID-19 cases continue to surge and set new records in the United States, Apple is again adjusting its protocols and requirements for employees. As reported by The Verge, Apple is now requiring employees to provide proof they received their COVID-19 booster shot, or else take frequent COVID-19 tests. Apple, however, continues to stop short of a full vaccine mandate. Apple announced the changes in an internal email sent this week....

Following Monday’s report that Apple is planning to launch Apple Pay in China in February of next year, Bloomberg reports that it has reached a preliminary agreement with UnionPay to use its card-processing terminals. The agreement was an essential step along the way as UnionPay has a monopoly on card-processing in China. The agreement is provisional, as it still requires the individual banks to agree. They have reportedly been reluctant to agree to the 0....

Apple today released iOS 14.4.2 for iPhone and iPad, and watchOS 7.3.3 for Apple Watch. The updates includes an important security fix for WebKit, which Apple says may have been actively exploited. The company also released a patch update to iOS 12, version 12.5.2, so that iPhone 6, iPhone 5s, third-generation iPad mini, first-generation iPad Air and the sixth-generation iPod touch users can also benefit from the security fixes. Apple said that a bug in WebKit could allow malicious web site to perform activate arbitrary cross-site scripting....

We told you a couple weeks back that Apple plans to open its third retail store in Beijing on Oct. 20. The new Wangfujing Street store will open at 9 a.m., but Apple’s Senior Vice President of Retail John Browett today gave press in Beijing a preview of the three-story location that happens to be Apple’s biggest retail store in Asia. Browett also confirmed Apple will open another store in Shenzhen....

The latest Apple return-to-office policy is being opposed by Apple Together, which rejects CEO Tim Cook’s argument that in-person collaboration is essential to effective working. The group points out that Apple’s valuation doubled during the pandemic, when most corporate employees were working from home. The group has started a petition calling for a more flexible approach, though is not currently revealing the names of signatories for fear of retaliation by HR …...

Apple’s new European iOS App Development Center, announced back in January, is about to officially launch as the Università di Napoli Federico II in Italy today confirms it has partnered with Apple on the initiative (via Macerkopf). When Apple first announced its plans for the new development center, the first of its kind to offer training for app developers in Europe, it didn’t say which school it would be partnering with to push the specialized curriculum....

Apple has always stood for privacy as a “human right” while the company has never liked the idea of having advertisements on its platforms. But as the App Store is now getting new ad placements, some people have become concerned about how the company’s policies may change. To add more fuel to the fire, developers have discovered that Apple may keep track of everything you tap while browsing the App Store....

Apple today announced a new browser, sort of. It’s called Safari Technology Preview and its meant for developers to be able to test and experiment with future web technologies and upcoming features. This is similar to Google Chrome Canary, which allows developers to play with in-development web technologies ahead of official releases. The app even comes complete with a new purple icon. Apple will be updating Safari Technology Preview on a fortnightly basis, with each release signed for security....

Apple, in late 2009, acquired a mapping company called PlaceBase and since then many rumors have said that Apple is working to revamp their built-in maps application. Rumors have covered a redesigned iOS application all the way to Apple creating their own maps database – with PlaceBase’s data – to replace Google’s backend currently used in iOS maps. Now, Apple has filed a new job opportunity for an iOS Maps application developer....

Apple is expanding Apple Maps with new VolunteerMatch integration. The new partnership between Apple Maps and VolunteerMatch will allow users to easily find ways to volunteer in their communities ahead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday. As first reported by CNET, the feature is accessible alongside the existing section of curated information in the Apple Maps application: The curated guides appear to be available in the following markets:...

Hallo Deutschland! While Apple’s been improving Apple Maps in Germany recently, a new update now lets users customize their experiences a bit more. Now, the Apple Maps’ own rating system is available to users in Germany. Additionally, the tech giant has improved the app’s display, and released more detailed street views. Apple’s rating system is now integrated in Maps to view details of restaurants, museums, and more. With this update, users can give a thumbs up or thumbs down rating and upload their own photos from their experience at certain locations....

Apple Music officially announced that it is bringing lossless music quality options to its entire catalog at no extra cost, starting in June. Apple says lossless quality will be available for more than 75 million tracks in the Apple Music library. It is also launching support for Spatial Audio music with songs authored in Dolby Atmos. Users will be able to listen to select albums with an immersive 3D sound-space on AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max and Beats headphones with a H1 or W1 chip....

Apple Music Replay is Apple’s competitor to Spotify Wrapped, allowing Apple Music subscribers to access details on their most listened to songs, albums, and artists of the year. Here’s how to find your Apple Music Replay 2020 year-in-review. Update December 3: MacStories has an Apple Music Wrapped shortcut that generates a report on your music listening for the past year that can be viewed in Safari and creates a PDF you can save to Files or Dropbox....

With all of its latest OS updates shipped, Apple Arcade is now available on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, and Mac and a new feature for the company’s hardware is support for Xbox and PS4 wireless controllers. Now Apple is selling the Xbox Wireless Controller on its online store with in-store availability starting from October 11. iOS 13, iPadOS 13, tvOS 13, and macOS Catalina offer users the ability to use an Xbox Wireless or PS4 DualShock wireless controller for an improved gaming experience....

Apple has started offering registered developers the chance to sign-up and test its upcoming App Analytics feature first announced last year at WWDC. Developers have been awaiting the service since it was announced following Apple’s acquisition of TestFlight (and FlightPath), a service which offered its own analytics features. Apple says developers will gain access to the new feature on a first-come, first-served basis while requests can now be made through iTunes Connect....

During its earnings call earlier this week, Apple touted the continued growth of Apple Pay and teased support for new apps and transit services this year. Now, the UK government has started accepted Apple Pay for some online payment services. As detailed by ITV, the gov.uk website is now accepting Apple Pay for four of its online services. The online platforms supporting Apple Pay include the Global Entry Services, the disclosure and barring service checks, the Registered Traveler Service, and the Electronic Visa Waiver Service....

The Center for Hearing and Communication announced today that Apple is being awarded the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for its “major strides in creating accessible technology for people with disabilities.” The award was first noted by reporter Steven Aquino on Twitter. Accepting the Eleanor Roosevelt Award on Apple’s behalf is Sarah Herrlinger, the company’s senior director of global accessibility policy and initiatives. Herrlinger will be presented the award tonight at the Center for Hearing and Communication’s “Transforming Lives” event in New York City....