Month: October 2016

Some companies will fire workers if they purchase an iPhone 7

Dan Uff October 7, 2016 0

Even though the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus have been popular with most Apple geeks, it hasn't been that way with some employers.

Employers in China have issued a stern warning to its employees about buying the device. People in China are very into Patriotism in that country, and they tend to frown when a foreign company (such as Apple) try and push there ways and there products on its people.

As a result, most employers in China has issued warnings to their employees by coming out and saying "Buy an iPhone 7 and you’ll be fired."

Some may think the threats are idle, but they are not. For example, the BBC found the letter below on Weibo and confirmed its authenticity:

In the letter, Nanyang Yongkang Medicine Company explicitly told employees that they should not purchase Apple’s new iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus. What happens if they decide to ignore the warning and purchase a new iPhone anyway? “If you break this rule, then just come to the office straight way to hand in your resignation,” the letter says.

That’s not even the worst one. CNET points us to a report from China.org, which discovered that Fuling Xinjiuzhou Gynecology Hospital issued an even more strongly worded warning to its staff.

“The administrative office of the hospital has decided not to allow any staff members to buy the iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 plus,” the hospital wrote in a memo to employees. “Anyone who insists on purchasing one will be removed from candidacy for annual rewards of outstanding performances. And those who could not afford an iPhone 7 cell phone but still bought one will be asked to resign.”

 Pay

Staples, Aerofiot and easyJet add Apple Pay during Customer Checkout

Dan Uff October 6, 2016 0

The number of on-line merchants is growing for Apple Pay as three companies are now accepting Apple Pay via there web site.

They are:

The companies now offer it during the checkout process.

Former National Security Administration staffer demos Mac Malware that taps into a Camera and Mic

Dan Uff October 6, 2016 0

“Security researcher and former NSA staffer Patrick Wardle is this afternoon demonstrating a way for Mac malware to tap into live feeds from the built-in webcam and microphone,” ben Lovejoy reports for 9to5Mac. “His presentation is being delivered at the Virus Bulletinconference in Denver later today.”

“Although any unauthorized access to the webcam will light the green LED – a firmware-level protection that is exceedingly difficult to bypass – Wardle’s presentation shows how a malicious app can tap into the outgoing feed of an existing webcam session, like a FaceTime or Skype call, where the light would already be on,” Lovejoy reports.

“Wardle has created an app that monitors webcam and microphone activity, and will alert you when a new process accesses either,” Lovejoy reports. “A pop-up will alert you, advise the name of the process and ask whether you want to allow or block access.”

Read more in the full article here.

 Pay

New York Rail Commuters get to use Apple Pay for MTA eTix App

Dan Uff October 6, 2016 0

Rail commuters in New York woke up to an added feature when using the MTA Rail System. Now they can use Apple Pay or Masterpass to purchase tickets and passes via the MTA Tix App.

The two payment options can be used for both the Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road, Cuomo's office said. A full range of purchases are available, from one-way trips through to weekly or monthly passes.

Using Apple Pay with MTA eTix simply requires picking "Pay with Apple Pay" at checkout and authenticating with Touch ID. If a person hasn't already, though, they'll have to set up a credit or debit card in the iOS Wallet app.

The Long Island Rail Road extends eastward from New York City burroughs like Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn all the way to towns like Greenport and Montauk. While also serving parts of New York City, Metro-North lines extend farther afield, even reaching into New Jersey and Connecticut.

Vendor support has been one of the key obstacles to growing Apple Pay use, particularly in the U.S. While banks have been quick to jump on board, merchants have been much slower. In-app support is easier than retail though, since it doesn't involve upgrading point-of-sale terminals.