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Travelex's Supercard eliminates bank charges when spending abroad
Sure, it's easy to use your bank cards when buying things abroad, but it's not pleasant to come home to all the additional fees and charges bolted on by your bank. One solution is to take cash, which carries its own risks, or sign up to a third-party issuer that tries to limit the damage to your account. Travelex, however, is aiming to cut those UK charges completely with the launch of its new "Supercard." While it's basically a pre-paid Visa debit card, it comes with one distinct advantage: you don't have to top it up. You can connect up to five of your own accounts, travel to a far-away destination and it'll automatically deduct your purchases using Visa's own exchange rate.
Reddit shelves its pseudo-currency plans for now
Bad news if you were hoping to swap Reddit Notes with friends: the internet community just put its don't-call-it-a-currency project on ice. As Reddit's Alexis Ohanian argues, the company doesn't want to dive into cryptocurrency (even when it doesn't have conventional monetary worth) until both the legal and technical aspects are "further along." He wants to make sure that users get the "full value" of their equity, and that's reportedly not possible right now. It's not clear that this is the only motivation, mind you. Notes was started under Reddit's previous CEO, so it may be as much about a change in leadership philosophy as anything else. Whatever the cause, you'll have to make do with handing out Reddit Gold if you want to reward your fellow redditors without relying on third-party services.
Apple's online store returns to Russia with huge price hikes
Remember how Russia's sudden currency devaluation led Apple to shut down its online store in the country, leaving locals without access to one of the biggest internet shops around? Well, Apple is back -- and unfortunately, the prices reflect Russia's new economic reality. If you want a 16GB iPhone 6, for example, you'll have to shell out 35 percent more than you did before, at 53,990 rubles off-contract. That's equivalent to $980, or enough to make that US-bought iPhone 6 Plus (which tops out at $949) seem like a bargain.
Reddit Notes: Don't call it a currency
Back when Reddit -- bastion of the internet's weirdest conversations -- raised another $50 million in venture funding, the investors involved agreed to give a combined 10 percent of their shares back to the site's users. For almost three months, none of us knew exactly how that would happen, but now Reddit's talking specifics... sort of. Next year, the company will distribute via lottery some 950,000 Reddit Notes, a kinda-sorta digital currency that'll let users "tip, donate, or trade" with peers who also bacon at midnight.
Apple halts online sales in Russia due to shaky currency
If you hadn't heard, the value of Russia's ruble is tanking -- and that's starting to make online store operators nervous. Apple tells Bloomberg that it has frozen internet sales in the country while its workers "review pricing." The company hasn't said when the store might come back, but it's a drastic step when Apple and many other tech companies usually deal with currency changes by adjusting prices and calling it a day. Until the official store returns, Russians will have to be content with going through third-party outlets (such as carriers and retail chains) to get their iPhones and Macs.
The Daily Grind: Do special currencies in MMOs annoy you?
A reader discussion in a past Guild Wars 2 update article made me realize, once again, how much I loathe special event currencies. You know the type: It's patch day, and here's an event, and if you want the rewards, you have to grind a shiny new currency to get them! Never mind that you already have a pile of gold (and in Guild Wars 2's case, karma and gems) earned through your adventures up until now; those credits are mysteriously useless at the new reward vendors, who accept only some new currency. Commenters rightly pointed out that if modern devs did what old timey devs did, players would just rush in and buy everything on day one and not do the grind. But so what? Why should it bother us that people get to actually use the currency they've already earned and banked? That's the whole point of gathering money in MMOs in the first place. And if there's so much existing currency in the world that everyone could buy everything without additional grind, that's the studio's problem for providing insufficient sinks and a poor economy in the first place, not ours. In fact, special events themselves could be an awesome gold sink! Instead, event currencies signal to players that their existing achievements and savings matter not at all and that the event isn't really going to be much fun on its own merits. What do you think? Are you also sick of special currencies in MMOs? What would you prefer to see in their stead? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
US Marshals will auction 50,000 Bitcoins seized from Silk Road
Want a virtual piece of law enforcement history? You're about to get your chance. The US Marshal's Service is holding an auction on December 4th that will sell off 50,000 Bitcoins from Ross Ulbricht (aka Dread Pirate Roberts), the alleged founder of the black market website Silk Road. You'll need plenty of real-world cash to get your hands on this digital currency, though. The feds are selling the digital currency in batches of 2,000 to 3,000 coins, and you'll need to place a minimum $100,000 deposit by December 1st to claim one of them. Not exactly an impulse purchase, then. At least this isn't the last auction you'll see -- police seized a total of 144,000 Bitcoins in the Silk Road bust last year, and roughly half of them have yet to go on sale. [Image credit: AP Photo/Rick Bowmer]
Banca is the most beautiful currency converter for iOS
Banca is a currency converter available universally for iPhone and iPad. It supports a virtually endless list of currencies and converts amounts on the fly. It's also highly customizable with various theme and font options, plus the ability to add or remove currencies so you always have the ones you use most often handy. Banca is US$1.99 and requires iOS 7.1 or later. Banca is dead simple to use. It's divided into two columns. On your left is the currency you're using and on the right, separated by a single arrow, is the currency you want to convert to. Longer lists of currencies accompany both. Just scroll through these to change the conversion live. Typing on the keypad converts the currency in real time as well, even for currencies in the lists when you aren't even using them. By default, Banca enables the following currencies on both sides of the equation: USD, GBP, EUR, CHF, CAD, AUD, JPY, SGD and HKD. Tapping the Currencies button at the top right brings up this list and allows for rearranging, removing and adding new ones. The app supports every single currency in the world that isn't obsolete, so if you want to add more to your list, you certainly won't have a problem finding what you need. The search bar might help too for finding currency names or countries. The entire process is slick. Slick describes two aspects of Banca: its conversion function and its design, too. Simply put, this is the most beautiful currency converter available for iPhone or iPad. It's super intuitive to use and the UI successfully embodies everything iOS stands for. More than a few tweaks are available for adjustment in the settings too, from typography to color scheme, all of which also update in real time as you make changes. If one thing is clear, it's that Banca caters toward people who care about design. The developers put great effort into making this the best currency conversion app they could possibly develop and that's apparent from the moment you tap the icon on your device's home screen. With iOS 8 came app bundles and Banca is part of one. For $4.99, you get both Banca and Unitica which is a unit converter that carries a similar design. Separately, the two add up to $5.98 with Unitica being the more expensive app at $3.99. One downside to Banca is unfortunately price, especially when you consider the bundle. For around five bucks, chances are you could have found a single app that does both unit and currency conversions for less money or even free. Convert, from the makers of Camera+, is one example that comes to mind and sells for only $1.99. To truly appreciate Banca, you have to be willing to pay for top-notch quality and design. It's a terrific app and I really can't find anything to penalize it for, but despite Banca in all of its glory, it's a tad to justify the price given the less expensive competition. If money is no object, there's no question that Banca is the App Store's go-to currency converter.
PayPal's new deals let you pay with Bitcoin at more online stores
PayPal has been coy about embracing virtual currencies so far, but it just took a big step toward welcoming them with open arms. As of today, the company's deals with processing firms BitPay, Coinbase and GoCoin let you pay with Bitcoin at North American online stores that both use PayPal's Payments Hub and accept digital cash. This doesn't mean your PayPal wallet can suddenly hold Bitcoin; the service says it's only moving "gradually" toward full support, and wants to see how things shake out. However, it should now be easier for many outlets (primarily smaller ones) to accept Bitcoin. Don't be shocked if some of your favorite internet shops flick the switch and give you an alternative to paying with old-school money.
Warlords of Draenor: Getting resources for your Garrison
The player's Garrison is one of the central features of Warlords of Draenor, coming with its own special Hearthstone, and in many ways taking the place of a faction hub. Depending on what kind of structures you choose to build in your Garrison, you can have your own crafting centers, bank access, auction house, PvP center, and more. However, to build any of them, you need resources. In fact, to do just about anything with your Garrison you need resources. You need them for buildings, for crafting, and in order to send your followers on missions. So, just how do you get Garrison Resources? Well, I'm glad you asked. There are a variety of ways to earn your Garrison Resources in Warlords of Draenor, some easier than others.
Converter app makes measurement swaps a snap
Perhaps one of the staples of most forms of math and science is learning how to convert units of measurement from one form to another: cups to ounces, inches to yards, and of course mastering the nightmarish differences between US and metric measurements. Besides being one of the few things you learn in math that you actually will use with you beyond the classroom (please tell your teachers!), the idea of value conversion affects very practical facets of life, especially in finances and the culinary arts. And so, it would be natural for the iPhone to have an app for that too, and Converter - Universal Conversions is probably the only one you'll need. Requiring iOS 7.0 or later, the free app is available for iPad and iPhone, but is standardized for iPhone 5. The app's developers have had the good sense to jump on the iOS 7 bandwagon, with their graphics specifically streamlined and optimized for that software update. And the screen is a visual feast -- clean and modern while still being functional. It is neither aesthetic for aesthetic's sake, nor is it boring and unilaterally functional. I say that because I was simply not expecting an app dealing with one of my least-favorite subjects could be so attractive! Users have numerous options from which to choose. There are thirty-two different categories of dimensions, ranging from the standards of area, density and distance to clothing sizes, time zones, and even a calculator. Picking a particular category takes the user to a new screen where the conversions are side-by-side and all that must be done is typing in a numerical value and scrolling through the two lists until one finds the desired units. The in-app keyboard has a button to easily reverse the units, along with a shortcut to the calculator. Separate search fields are available if users wish to search by unit in each list. There is even a history option, organized within each category, to show which conversions have been made for that day. There is also the option to bookmark a particular unit or even an entire dimension. Currencies are kept up-to-the-minute current via a special update key on the in-app keyboard. It would appear this app's designers thought of everything. The shoe size feature is divvied up by stage of life and gender, and users can see what a man's US size 6 shoe is in the UK, Europe, and several other units (and swap between them). With the percentage function, users can find any percentage of a particular numerical value (e.g., 85 of 1000 is 8.5%), or, with the swipe of a finger, move to a screen where they can determine the value of a given percentage (e.g., 49% of 67 is 32.83). With the timezone function, one can display multiple time zones at once and even use a slider to find times at any time of day or night, not just the current time. (I especially appreciated this function, as it is extremely useful to have any possible time at one's fingertips instead of having to work backwards or forwards mentally from the current timezone.) The app also has a function that can determine the hardness of various metals. This was really the only portion of the app that had absolutely no relevance for me, since I have no reason to test the hardness of, say, cartridge brass, and have no idea how to understand the various unit options within any of the categories. But this will certainly prove useful and just as thoroughly outfitted for iPhone users who must employ such measurements in their employment and other endeavors. The presence of such a function did not in any way detract from my overall enjoyment of the app and my positive opinion of it; indeed, I was actually pleased at how extremely thoroughly the app was prepared for virtually every possible measurement need. I wonder if this is the only kind of conversion app even the most casual iPhone user could ever want. The proliferation of iPhone apps for virtually every conceivable interest and need never ceases to fascinate me. Discovering an app that will instantly tell me how many square inches there are in an acre, what time it will be in Denver when I am fast asleep at 3 am EST, or the size shoe I'll need if I ever stumble across a sale in Paris was no different. While some people might think this kind of an app is silly or even frivolous, the Converter app only confirmed to me the inherent genius which is the iPhone. It has potential for creating a more creative, practical, and delightfully aesthetic world.
Currency Changes coming for Patch 6.0
We mentioned already that item upgrades would become purchasable with Lesser Charms of Good Fortune. Now, Blizzard has clarified a host of changes to how currency will work in Patch 6.0 and beyond. In addition to being used to upgrade items, Lesser Charms will now be directly tradeable for Warforged Seals, and there's no longer a restriction on how many you can get in a week - You can dump literally all of your Lesser Charms to Seals if you so desire. Other changes include the utter removal of Valor and Justice points (not Honor/Conquest, those remain), the removal of the Test of Valor component of the legendary cloak quest (you can still get the cloak, you just don't need to get the Valor points first), and the switching of all honor/justice items over to costing gold to purchase, including heirloom items. You can read the post here.
World's first government-backed digital currency to launch in December
It doesn't yet have a name, but Ecuador's new government-backed virtual currency is coming. That's the thrust of a new report from the Associated Press, anyway -- the country's Central Bank is said to be gearing up for a launch sometime in December, though the juicy technical details and the mechanics of how citizens can get their metaphorical hands on these things are still shrouded in mystery. What does seem clear at this point is that Ecuador's current cash (in the form of US dollars) isn't going anywhere, and that people will be able to conduct transactions with each other from their mobile phones without big fees eating into them. If everything goes according to plan, this'd be the first time a national government has launched its own official digital currency, though that's not to say some cryptocurrency nuts haven't aimed to affect change on a national scale. Enthusiasts in the Czech Republic launched the CzechCrownCoin a few days ago in a bid to bolster online business in the country, and the Auroracoin folks made the virtual equivalent of $380 available to all the fine folks of Iceland... only to see its value tank over time.
Shift's debit card lets you pay with both real and virtual money
Part of the challenge of Bitcoin and other virtual currencies has simply been the need to juggle different apps and cards to use every payment option at your disposal. Wouldn't it be nice if one card could handle everything? You might just get your wish. Shift Payments is testing a new debit card that can switch between real and virtual money on the spot, such as through an app; you could pay for morning coffee with Bitcoin and after-work groceries using real cash. Loyalty card support is in the works, too.
Warlords of Draenor: Transmoggable farm implements
Our friends over at Wowhead have uncovered a new feature in Warlords of Draenor that should make dedicated transmog enthusiasts very happy--transmoggable farm weapons. These include a Garden Hoe, Garden Shovel, Garden Pitchfork, Garden Scythe, and Garden Sickle. The Garden Hoe and Garden Sickle are classified as one-hand maces, all the rest are two-hand staves. They are vendor items sold by the NPCs around your Garrison's Herb Garden, and the cost is surprisingly steep--2,375 gold plus 500 Draenic Seeds for the one-handers, and 4,750 gold plus 1,000 Draenic Seeds for the two-handers. Draenic Seeds can be either grown in your Garrison's Herb Garden, or farmed out in the world by Herbalists. If you've ever dreamed of an amazing farmer transmog, these weapons are sure to complete the look along with the Red Lumberjack Shirt and the Blue Overalls--for clothies, at least. Who'd have thought that a warlock could look so convincingly nurturing?
Darkfall introduces PLEX-like 'D.U.E.L.' subscription currency
Yesterday, Aventurine added what it called a "minor" new feature to PvP sandbox Darkfall: a payment system remarkably similar to those found in EVE Online, WildStar, ArcheAge, and most recently Anarchy Online. Says the official site, Several minor changes were included in the same update, also the addition of a shop item named D.U.E.L which, when purchased with selentine gold, will add 30 days of subscription time to your account if activated. The purpose of D.U.E.L is to give Darkfall players in-game options to renew their subscriptions. Redditor mmochallenge notes that the in-game D.U.E.L. items are currently selling for around 150,000 gold.
Google now tells you how much your Bitcoin is worth
Let's assume that you've just spent more than $200,000 on some of Russ Ulbricht's Bitcoin fortune -- but what do you do with it now? If it were us, we'd sit on our couch, constantly referencing Coindesk to find out how much our stash had gained (or lost) across the day. If, however, you'd prefer to source your information via search engine, then Google's now offering live currency conversions for the cryptocurrency. Like the states and nations that took their time to take a stance on Bitcoin, Google's taken its time to add the feature, which has been available on Bing for the better part of five months. Or, if the idea of sitting at home watching your cash doesn't feel like fun, you could always sponsor an NCAA game.
California makes it legal to pay with Bitcoin and other virtual currencies
If you've previously paid for goods with Bitcoin or other digital currency in California, you're technically a criminal -- the state has long had a law requiring US dollars, even if it hasn't been enforced. As of this weekend, though, you're officially in the clear. Governor Jerry Brown has signed a bill that legitimizes payments with Bitcoin, other forms of virtual money, community currencies and reward systems like coupons and points. As state assembly member Roger Dickinson explained when fighting for the measure, modern commerce has "expanded" beyond cash and credit; to him, it only makes sense that the law keeps up with the times.
Tax haven Jersey now wants to become 'Bitcoin Island'
There are advantages to being a tiny, self-governing speck in the English Channel, and the ability to create a "welcoming" financial habitat is certainly one of them. But Jersey has ambitions beyond just being a haven for regular cash. Its Treasury Minister, Senator Philip Ozouf, says he wants the island become a pioneer in the use of crypto-currencies too, and he's backed up by a campaign group that's dedicated to creating the world's first "Bitcoin Isle." The initial goal would be to use Bitcoin as local cash substitute, to pay for things like bus tickets and newspapers. But it's clear that Ozouf has his eyes set on a bigger prize: a Bitcoin banking sector that could make use of Jersey's "infrastructure of world-class financial services" and that would eventually become "central to Jersey's future prosperity." (Read: "STASH YER BITCOINS HERE, LADS!")
Bitcoin gets its first big sports sponsorship
Bitcoin is about to hit the big leagues in a very literal sense -- it just got its first major sports sponsorship. BitPay has struck a deal with ESPN Events that will rename one post-season NCAA football game as the Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl through 2016. When the Bowl next kicks off, on December 26th, you'll see the digital currency's signature "B" plastered all over TV broadcasts, the field and the inevitable glut of merchandise. It's hard to say if the marketing blitz will translate to greater adoption, but it's well-timed. When Dish, Expedia and Overstock.com have all started taking Bitcoin, anyone who's swayed by the promotion will have at least a few places to spend their virtual cash.
