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Drug stores drop Apple Pay and Google Wallet to push their own payment tech
If you're bent on using Apple Pay or Google Wallet for your shopping, you may have to be finicky about your choice of drug stores. Both CVS and Rite Aid have shut off their support for NFC-based payments just days after Apple Pay went live. Try to tap your phone and you'll get an error, or nothing at all. The companies haven't publicly discussed why they're cutting off the handy feature, but this is ultimately an attempt to stifle competition. Both pharmacies are part of the Merchant Customer Exchange, a retailer group whose its own QR code-based mobile wallet system (CurrentC) reaches these stores in 2015. As a memo obtained by SlashGear suggests, they'd rather deny all NFC payments than risk building support for rivals, particularly when they don't eliminate credit card fees like CurrentC does. Suffice it to say that this will be very inconvenient if you're a frequent customer, and you'll currently have to visit the likes of Duane Reade and Walgreens if you want to avoid paying with old-fashioned cash or plastic. [Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]
CVS also disabling support for Apple Pay
Last night, I was with a friend at CVS who was trying to pay for some items with Apple Pay. Oddly, the transaction couldn't be processed. This struck us as strange because Twitter had been abuzz with Apple Pay users indicating that the service has been working swimmingly at CVS. Next, we tried a contactless credit card. Surprisingly, that form of payment couldn't be processed either. The CVS employee there was confused, remarking to us, "That's strange, the machine was working fine yesterday." While I was hoping that this was just a lone case of a malfunctioning POS machine, it appears that CVS is starting to shut off NFC functionality across its stores, effectively locking out mobile payment platforms like Apple Pay and Google Wallet in the process. While Apple Pay users up until now have been able to use the service to purchase items at CVS, a growing number of Twitter users are noting that such payments don't work anymore. Have been waiting to go to cvs just so I can try out apple pay...ONLY FOR IT TO NOT WORK. WTF
Best Buy, Walmart, Target, more join forces for MCX mobile payment, deals provider
Mobile payments make strange bedfellows, so it's perhaps not all that surprising that a group of high profile retailers have teamed up to bring the world the Merchant Customer Exchange (MCX). The list includes such biggies as Best Buy, Walmart, Target, Sears, Lowe's and Shell, among others. The venture is set to offer up a mobile-commerce app that will provide payments and deals on "virtually any smartphone." Details are still pretty scarce, though the MCX's official site promises more info on the offering soon, including further details on deals and additional company names. In the meantime, there's a press release after the break.
Kodak Gallery iOS app: now with 100 percent more physical printing at Target / CVS
It's not quite as earth-shattering as Zuck's deal to snap up Instagram, but one of the pioneers of photography is making waves any way it can. Kodak Gallery has been available on the App Store since November of last year, but starting this week, users will be able to order photos right on their iPhone for pickup at participating Target and CVS locations in America. Kodak claims that the time between order and pickup is usually around an hour, with all prints (available in 4x6, 5x7 and 8x10 sizes) arriving on Kodak photo-quality paper. Pricing, as you'd expect, will vary by store, and more deets can be spotted in the release after the break.
Shocker! CVS Lookbook e-reader reviewed, sucks
Well, we didn't exactly have high hopes when we got first glimpse at the CVS LookBook from a leaked flier, and our lowered expectations have now been satisfied. The Digital Reader has taken the thing for a spin and, as it turns out, it's an ever so slightly modified version of the Literati that scored its own terrible review just a few weeks ago. The $150 CVS version suffers the same issues, including a complete inability to read e-books downloaded to SD card or copied onto internal memory. Also, battery life is poor, performance is slow, the margins are off, and there's no web browser. Positives? Well, it has physical buttons for page turning and... yeah. With the Kindle just a click away at $139, it's hard to see anyone wanting the LookBook, you may be tempted while picking up your 'scripts.
CVS to sell $100 Sylvania netbook and $179 e-reader this fall, Tylenol not included
Watch out Kmart, CVS is getting its very own $100 smartbook and $180 e-reader and there's nothing you can do about it! We've gotten a hold of some marketing materials which confirm that this fall your neighborhood drugstore will be stocking a Sylvania netbook running Windows CE and a color e-reader. There aren't too many details on the little laptop itself, although we can only guess that the thing will be very similar to many of the other cheap smartbooks we've seen lately. Oh, it does claim to be able to stream video / YouTube, but we'll believe it when we see it play Bieber's Segway escape without freezing up. There are a few more details on the 7-inch LookBook e-reader after the break, but it will pack 512MB of storage space, a full keyboard and will have access to Kobo's e-book store. Seems like some good old cheap tech to us, but we're willing to bet that more than a few CVS shoppers will be tempted to throw one of these into the basket along with the deodorant and shampoo.
Changes moves to 1.5, adds new features, gives TUAW readers a discount
Changes.app, the ultimate Mac application used to track changes in folders and text files, was recently updated to version 1.5. This new version easily integrates with Coda, Espresso, BBEdit, TextWrangler, and TextMate. When you launch Changes, you will be able to install plug-ins directly into those application right from the Changes menu item. There is a new HUD (Heads Up Display) that allows you to view changes from within the supported applications. Changes can also interface with Subversion, CVS, Perforce, Mercurial, Git, Bazaar, and Darcs for versioning control. With this new version, there is also built-in AppleScript support.Even if you're not a developer, or don't use the applications or versioning control systems that are mentioned, you can still find Changes to be useful. Anyone, not just developers, may find it useful to be able to look for differences between two support files or folders. You can download a 15-day free trial of Changes from their website. Single-user licenses are $49.95 each. Special Promo CodeIf you are planning on purchasing Changes, you can use our special promo code to get $10 (US) off the purchase of any license type. Just type in TUAWCHANGES15 at checkout. This special offer is good through April 15th, 2009.
Walgreens aiming to get DVD-burning kiosks in stores soon
We've seen this one coming for quite awhile, but now that the DVD CCA has approved its restrictive download-to-burn scheme, Walgreens is diving in head first to the movie-burning kiosk arena. Reportedly, the company is hoping to "launch DVD-burning kiosks in the next few months," and it's said that the firm is already "working with Hollywood studios" to get the technology in stores on the double. According to reports, consumers would be able to create a DVD "in about 15 minutes," and while no pricing specifics were doled out just yet, Polar Frog [a licensing outfit] Chief Executive Todd Rosenbaum suggested that studios weren't likely "to discount the DVDs." Oh, and just in case you were wondering where Blockbuster stood on the matter, spokesman Randy Hargrove stated that the firm "would examine" the situation, and if it "made sense to get into kiosks, it's clearly something [it] would do."
Pure Digital's new disposable digicams unlocked
Thanks to an active hacker community and a fortuitously wide open FTP server, Pure Digital's "one time use" digital cameras aren't so "one time use" anymore. The FTP server contained an app designed to configure security keys, and after a bit of hacking around the team has the 40-bit key finder up and running for those wishing to unlock the pics and video on their new Pure Digital cams -- no soldering required. We have to hand it to Pure Digital, it took the hackers a bit longer than we expected to pull this off, but in the end we suppose it was inevitable that these disposables would eventually end up open to the whims of the consumer, however illegitimately. So if you're feeling a bit like sticking it to the man this fine Monday morning, head on over to you local CVS and get one of these new found multi-use cams on the cheap.
