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Walgreens is done with Theranos
After months of screaming at Theranos to clean up its act, Walgreens has formally ended its partnership with the blood testing startup. The pharmacy chain said that the CMS' recent rejection of Theranos' recovery plan and the looming threat of sanctions forced the relationship to end. Walgreens will now close all 40 of its remaining Theranos Wellness Centers in Arizona and "transition" customers to more reliable testing methods. Such as casting bones, consulting the tree spirits or looking at your wrist and then just guessing what's wrong with yourself. Walgreens was Theranos' main source of business, and without those retail locations, it's not clear how the startup is going to survive.
Walgreens to launch web-based mental health assesments
Walgreens is taking an unprecedented step in combating America's critical shortage of mental health professionals. The company announced on Tuesday that it is partnering with nonprofit Mental Health America will offer screenings through its website. The service will evaluate for depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD and a host of other mental illnesses. If any issues surface as a result of the screening, an MHA representative will be available to help the user find and schedule follow-up treatment nearby. And, if there's no qualified medical practitioner in their area, users will also have the option to discuss the matter with one of 1,000 state-licensed professional therapists or psychiatrists over the phone.
WSJ: Theranos sent faulty test results to patients
News for blood testing startup Theranos just keeps getting worse. After plenty of very public drama and mishaps, the Wall Street Journal is now reporting that federal investigators have found that poor quality control led to inaccurate test results. To make matters worse, the report appears to suggest Theranos was aware the tests were unreliable, but sent the results to 81 patients anyway, putting them in "immediate jeopardy." Theranos disputes this number, telling Engadget the actual number of impacted patients was less than 40, and that it has "no reason to believe that these issues have affected patients' health," according to the new director of the Newark, CA lab at the heart of the investigation, Dr. Kingshuk Das.
Walgreens starts breaking up with Theranos
The Financial Times is reporting that Walgreens is now actively looking to dump troubled blood testing startup Theranos. Sources claim that the pharmacy chain has instructed its lawyers to look at the partnership contract in the hope of finding an easy way out. The paper also says that Theranos is confident that the agreement is watertight and will force Walgreens to stand by it while it fixes its (numerous) problems. It's believed that Walgreens is annoyed at the wealth of negative publicity Theranos has generated and is worried about being tainted by association.
The After Math: Love is in the air
Scientists just confirmed the existence of gravitational waves -- actual ripples in the fabric of spacetime -- but who cares about unravelling the secrets of the universe, Valentine's Day is coming up. To pay respects to the most high holy of made-up bullshit holidays, here are seven of the most heart-string-tugging posts from the last week.
Walgreens has told Theranos to shape up or ship out
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the relationship between Walgreens and Theranos is becoming fractious. According to the paper's unnamed sources, the drugstore has threatened to end its partnership with the troubled blood-testing startup. It's believed that Walgreens delivered an ultimatum to the firm in late January, saying that it needs to clean up its act within 30 days or be kicked to the curb. If true, then we could see the two part ways as early as the end of February. Walgreens is already doing its best to distance itself from its former BFF after shutting down the Theranos Wellness Center in Palo Alto and re-routing Theranos-branded tests to third-party labs.
Walgreens is beginning to break up with Theranos
The bad news just keeps piling on for Theranos, following yesterday's announcement from the US government that its blood testing technology "jeopardizes" patients' health. Walgreens, the company's main retail partner, said today that it'll be shutting down its Theranos Wellness Center in Palo Alto, California. Additionally, the pharmacy will no longer send blood samples to Theranos' lab in Newark, California. And, to top it all off, Walgreens also says that blood tests from one of the 40 Theranos Wellness Centers it hosts in Arizona must go to a third-party lab, or Theranos' Phoenix lab, not the Newark facility.
WSJ: Walgreens is waiting for answers about Theranos blood tests
Controversy has swirled around Silicon Valley startup Theranos ever since the Wall Street Journal reported the company has struggled to roll out its unique blood testing technology. Since 2013 Walgreens has partnered with Theranos to use it for blood testing in the Phoenix area, but now the Journal says the drugstore chain is looking for answers too. It claims that Walgreens found out from the reports that Theranos had stopped using its tiny "nanotainers" to collect blood for all but one type of test. In a statement provided to Engadget (you can read it in full after the break), Walgreens says "we are currently in discussions about the next phase of our relationship" and that the two are trying to figure out a mutually beneficial arrangement. Meanwhile, Theranos has maintained it is confident in the accuracy of its tests, and says that by being faster and cheaper they can identify health problems earlier.
The worst iPhone stocking stuffer
Plenty of cheap, strange smartphone accessories pop up around this time of the year in the hopes that you'll pick them up as a last-second gift, but this little doohickey Walgreens dreamed up is something special. It's a pill case that, for whatever reason, plugs into your smartphone's audio jack. Amazing. To be clear: The case itself doesn't actually require power or need to be stuck into your iPhone for any reason, it just happens to have a plastic shaft that fits into an audio jack. For convenience.
Walgreens to offer affordable and needle-free blood tests in more stores (updated)
You might still think of Walgreens as a corner drugstore chain, but the company aims to be much more than that. In its quest to become a "healthcare leader," Walgreens recently teamed up with Silicon Valley startup Theranos, which boasts a new and innovative blood testing method developed by founder Elizabeth Holmes (above). In fact, a Walgreens in Palo Alto started offering blood tests from within its premises last year, followed by over 40 stores in Phoenix. Now, according to Walgreens exec Tim Theriault, the company could eventually offer this in-store blood test in locations across the country-- a move that has huge implications, as Theranos' tests are much cheaper, quicker to do and a lot more efficient than its more traditional counterparts.
Walgreens trolls competitors by calling Apple Pay support a choice issue
With a massive conglomerate of stores from Walmart to CVS working together to keep customers from being able to use Apple Pay in an effort to force them into a competing service it's obvious the mobile payment wars have begun. CVS competitor Walgreens has chosen its weapon for the battle, and that weapon is snark. The company is currently promoting the following Tweet on Twitter. Hey, iPhone 6 and 6 Plus users! The choice is yours: Use #ApplePay today at any of our stores! http://t.co/LXS01ntZEA pic.twitter.com/V0BifDtXJq - Walgreens (@Walgreens) October 28, 2014 Hopefully this becomes a Twitter war, with CVS throwing shade at Walgreens for still selling cigarettes.
Checking out in 44 seconds at Walgreens with Apple Pay
How fast is using Apple Pay? Walgreens has released a video showing how the service works at their stores, specifically at the pharmacy. In total the transaction takes 44 seconds, and that's with the confirmations that come along with entering a rewards account number. Without the rewards number the process would have taken about 20 seconds. Obviously this is an optimized example of the purchasing experience, but if you've wondered what Apple Pay will look like in real life here's a solid example. Enjoy.
A simple guide to setting up Apple pay
Monday October 20 is the first day Apple Pay will be available to use at select retailers across the U.S., but will you be ready to bust out your phone and make a purchase? Here's a handy walkthrough for making sure you're ready when you hit the register. Step 1: Own a new iOS device Sorry, but Apple Pay is only available on Apple's newest devices, meaning you'll need to have an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus to use the service in stores. The latest iPhone comes with a Near Field Communication (NFC) antenna, which allows them to communicate with the payment interface in stores. Users with an iPad Air 2 or iPad Mini 3 can use Apple Pay to make purchases online, but they'll be out of luck when they hit their local Walgreens. Hopefully the next generation of iPads will get the NFC upgrade. Of course Apple Pay is more than just NFC, otherwise every iOS user would be able to make payments online. These newer devices feature Apple's Secure Element chip which stores your private financial data and encrypts it for your protection. Older iPads lack this chip which is why you can't currently use the service with them. Step 2: Update iOS to version 8.1 Make sure you're device is updated. Go to Settings --> General --> Software Update to make sure you're using version 8.1. The update also brings back Camera Roll to your device so it's like getting two gifts at once. Step 3: Open up Passbook and set up the right card You'll need Passbook for Apple Pay. If you've never used Passbook, don't fret. The app is still on your phone. You may have previously moved it into a sub-folder marked "productivity" or something along those lines, but it is there. When you open the app it will ask you if you would like to use the card you already have on file for iTunes purchases or if you want to use a new card. Of course there's a hitch. Apple Pay only works with Visa and Mastercard from certain banks, plus American Express, so if the card you have on file isn't with one of those services you'll need to input another card. Currently Apple pay works with cards issued by Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, City, and Wells Fargo. Barclays, Navy Federal Credit Union, PNC, USAA, and US Bank will be added in the near future. When you enter a new card into the system Apple Pay will ask you to take a picture of the card within the app. Apple cross references the card with your bank to make sure it really is your card, but don't worry. When the card is displayed on your device the card number won't show up. The reason Apple doesn't display your card number is simple; Apple doesn't actually store your credit card number. Apple Pay purchases are made using a device specific account number which is stored on your devices Secure Element chip. When you buy something with Apple Pay, Apple sends your bank an encrypted one-time use payment number and security code to make the purchases. Apple won't be able to track what you buy or where you buy it, and cashiers won't see your name or credit card number when you make purchases anymore. Step 4: Go buy something Once you've set up your card you're ready to go. Apple Pay isn't available across the board, but it's available at a number of leading retailers. At launch Bloomingdales, DuaneReade, Macy's, McDonalds, Staples, Subway, Walgreens, and Whole Foods are all accepting payments via the service. To make a payment simply wave your phone in front of the NFC terminal at checkout, swipe your finger over your iOS device's TouchID sensor, and bask in the joy of trying something new. If you're on an iPad shopping is a little more complicated. At the moment you'll need to download each company's Apple app to make purchases with Apple Pay. Given this is the service's launch day the process is remarkably easy. If you make any purchases today using Apple Pay let use know about your experience in the comments below.
Leaked Walgreens memo points to Apple Pay launch on October 18
A leaked internal Walgreens memo obtained by MacRumors suggests that Apple Pay will go live on Saturday, October 18. Apple Pay, of course, represents Apple's foray into the world of mobile payments. The service promises to be extremely secure and rather quick and easy to use. The number of merchants at launch will be relatively small (~220,000), but that figure is likely to mushroom in the coming months. Recall that all merchants who accept credit and debit cards will be incentivized to upgrade their POS machines to more modern models by October 2015. While a previous report from The Daily Dot, based on information from USAA, floated a launch date of November 7, it's entirely plausible that Apple Pay will launch at different times for varying banks. Indeed, a quick glance at Apple's Apple Pay website shows that USAA is listed as an Apple Pay partner that's "coming soon", as opposed to banks that are already on board like Bank of America, Citi, and Capital One. With an Apple media event slated to take place next Thursday, we'll likely get an official world on the Apple Pay launch next week.
PSA: Passbook supported apps now listed in iOS 6 App Store
Now that iOS 6 has officially landed, Apple has pulled back the veil revealing the first wave of apps to support its new Passbook feature. The initial group of companies to jump on the bandwagon include: Ticketmaster, Live Nation, Lufthansa, MLB.com At Bat, Sephora to Go, Walgreens and Fandango Movies. While this list is a tad bit shorter than we hoped for, it's safe to say that more apps will follow in the not-so-distant future. Want to be the first to know when they arrive? Be sure to keep an eye on the Passbook section of the App Store for the latest updates.
Never get lost in a Walgreens again with Aisle411's new indoor navigation app
Getting lost in a supermarket the size of a small country isn't anything to be ashamed of, but Aisle411 will spare your blushes with an indoor navigation app for your local branch of Walgreens. Designed to save you time and ensure you can find the products you need, it'll even pinpoint the location of products on shelves to ensure you can avoid distractions. It's available gratis from today on both iOS and Android App Stores, just in time for your next sojourn for supplies.
Square now available at Walgreens, Staples and FedEx Office
While a roster of competitors are trying to get their foot in the mobile payments door, Square's busy getting a foothold in retail stores. With Walgreens, Staples and FedEx Office locations now carrying the credit card reader, it's available at more than 20,000 physical shops throughout the US -- joining Apple, Best Buy, OfficeMax, Radio Shack, Target, UPS and Wal-Mart. Bringing it home from a brick and mortar establishment will set you back $9.95, but Square's sweetening the pot with a $10 rebate for new users. However, if your entrepreneurial snail mail-loving heart desires, you can still have one mailed to you by signing up online. Eager to start swiping plastic? Lookout below for the full press release.
Oracle sues Lodsys to squash its patents, deals in ironic reversals of fortune
Lodsys has been facing an increasing backlash ever since it began suing left and right to scrape money from developers over patents, including countering lawsuits from some heavy hitters. Its stiffest opposition might have just lined up in the form of Oracle, however. The database behemoth is hoping to render four of Lodsys' patents invalid and prevent it from threatening further lawsuits against companies that use Oracle's technology, such as current target Walgreens. The lawsuits are focused more on web chats than on the in-app purchasing that has put more than a few mobile app developers in jeopardy, although it might help EA or Rovio at ease knowing Lodsys might be defanged. Oracle certainly isn't mincing any words in its accusations: it out-and-out accuses Lodsys of being a patent troll that profits from technology it didn't invent and will never use. Strong rhetoric against patent lawsuits won't guarantee Oracle a victory in court, but it certainly creates a minor degree of irony for a company that unsuccessfully sued Google over patents inherited through an acquisition.
Daily Update for November 3, 2011
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen.
Walgreens employees use iPads to aid customers
The next time you visit your local Walgreens store to get a prescription, find pain relief, choose laxatives or buy "Walker Balls," you may get help from an iPad-toting Walgreens employee called a "health guide." Walgreens, based in Deerfield, IL, is testing a new service in 16 stores in the Chicago area where a full-time employee carrying an iPad wanders the store to help out customers who are seeking assistance. To quote Colin Watts, the chief innovation officer for Walgreen Company, "The concept is meant to create a pharmacy and health care 'help desk' where customers get solutions or referrals for their personal health questions." According to a recent article in the Chicago Sun-Times, the company has an ulterior motive. The health guide keeps customers from taking up valuable time with pharmacists for routine issues, allowing them to provide more one-on-one care with patients. The health guide app on the iPads was prepared by M-Healthcoach, another Chicago-based company. M-Healthcoach CEO Aamer Ghaffar said that "We are trying to not only improve people's quality of care, but also to reduce the patient load on doctors, pharmacies, and emergency rooms," with iPad-based mobile health apps. The health guides use the iPads to access information from government databases to physician ratings, and can also get full access to "blue button" medical records available to U.S. military personnel and government employees and retirees.
