Anyone know whether or not you can get cash advances through an ATM while you’re out of the country? They never mention whether or not there will be transaction charges in that case?
OK, so... if your away from your home computer and your phone battery dies... or even your portable mac battery...
That seems rather obvious. You use the physical card. Not too difficult.
If you're making a purchase online, you're already on a computer or your phone.
Are you talking about the edge case where you'd want to buy something using someone else's computer? (Who does that? Nobody does that, basically.) In that case, why are you not just plugging your phone in? But anyway, if so, just carry your card number with you.
OK, so... if your away from your home computer and your phone battery dies... or even your portable mac battery...
Wait, wait... WHAT IF AN ASTEROID TAKES OUT THE POWER GRID? Then what!
Okay, another example. You're away from your home computer and your battery dies, your portable Mac battery dies and both your arms are in plaster casts so you can’t reach into your pockets …
In my never ending quest to come up with a tech expression and get it into common usage, I present to you
The HeyYouism
definition: the creation of an unlikely super-situation by linking together other possible scenarios or unlikely super-situations in the hope of proving that at an Apple product or service is crap.
Man, if someone can’t figure this out on their own ...
That's easy to say while looking at a tutorial. That said, a UI should be intuitive enough where nobody has to 'figure' it out at all. And a lot of Apple UI is not well done.
Also this little tutorial serves to answer all the panicky questions about buying online that people have been asking since the card was announced. Now they can know in advance without having to figure it out.
Yeh, in general, I still prefer the "old fashioned" menu format where functions were stored hierarchically and you could find any option just by looking in the right menu.
Today's icon based format requires too much memorization on where things are stored and how to get to them -- especially as it trends towards clicking on things that are less than obvious. For example: tapping the 'reply' button if you want to print an email.
Both formats have advantages and disadvantages. I just prefer the old menu based format for its simplicity and, as a brilliant co-worker phrased it, being: "Intuitively obvious"
According to this article I found online, the number given in the app is actually a virtual number. The actual card number is stored in the magnetic stripe on the card itself. If this is the case, Requesting a ‘new card number’ is really just assigning a new virtual card number. If the actual number on the card gets compromised, you’re probably still stuck getting a new physical card. Making virtual numbers, either via Apple Pay, the card chip, or the card app the default method of payment is clearly more secure, and greatly simplifies the old process of getting a new card, since GS simply needs to generate a new virtual number and link it to your account.
the system isn’t without flaws, however. If the true account number is actually stored on the physical card, as the tech crunch article says, it’s still vulnerable to skimming - if a gas pump has a skimmer installed, or if a shady waiter has one in their pocket, they can get access to your card’s data. Also, if you can only have one virtual number at a time, that means you’re still stuck with the hassle of changing the info with all the vendors with whom you have recurring payments. The biggest problem is that the most common source of account compromise/fraud is with online vendors. Since Apple Pay with online merchants is the exception, not the norm (and I’ve had mixed luck with it, even among those who do accept it,) the problem of getting your number hacked will likely not improve significantly.
Of all the times my accounts have been compromised, I’ve never had to pay a dime. Ultimately, the security really benefits GS, not consumers. Indirectly, it is possible that lower institution costs could translate to lower interest rates, etc, so we’ll see.
But, for the last, a couple qualifications: While it is true that you are not liable for fraudulent charges on your credit card, first you have to realize that they are fraudulent. My experience has been: the charges are often for small amounts (under $25-$30) and for most people who simply scan their statement at the end of the month, those charges will pass by unnoticed. Or worse, many people don't reconcile their accounts at all -- they simply pay the balance or minimum payment and get on with their life.
But, even if you do report it as fraudulent, it is not automatic that the bank will agree it is fraudulent -- they will do their own investigation and make their own determination.
But, generally, yes, you are right: you will not be held responsible for fraudulent charges and most of the security benefits the GS. I guess I just tend to be ultra cautious with my money and accounts.
According to this article I found online, the number given in the app is actually a virtual number. The actual card number is stored in the magnetic stripe on the card itself. If this is the case, Requesting a ‘new card number’ is really just assigning a new virtual card number. If the actual number on the card gets compromised, you’re probably still stuck getting a new physical card. Making virtual numbers, either via Apple Pay, the card chip, or the card app the default method of payment is clearly more secure, and greatly simplifies the old process of getting a new card, since GS simply needs to generate a new virtual number and link it to your account.
the system isn’t without flaws, however. If the true account number is actually stored on the physical card, as the tech crunch article says, it’s still vulnerable to skimming - if a gas pump has a skimmer installed, or if a shady waiter has one in their pocket, they can get access to your card’s data. Also, if you can only have one virtual number at a time, that means you’re still stuck with the hassle of changing the info with all the vendors with whom you have recurring payments. The biggest problem is that the most common source of account compromise/fraud is with online vendors. Since Apple Pay with online merchants is the exception, not the norm (and I’ve had mixed luck with it, even among those who do accept it,) the problem of getting your number hacked will likely not improve significantly.
Of all the times my accounts have been compromised, I’ve never had to pay a dime. Ultimately, the security really benefits GS, not consumers. Indirectly, it is possible that lower institution costs could translate to lower interest rates, etc, so we’ll see.
The hope is that most venders will accept Apple Pay as it’s more secure. The credit card number is the backup to aid adoption. Hopefully skimmers will become obsolete. Skimming Apple Pay transactions in theory are much more difficult.
I agree online credit card risk is the main risk, which is why virtual credit card numbers is so great. Unfortunately, I’m not sure Amazon will ever accept Apple Pay, unless at some point there is a consumer lawsuit.
I usually avoid other online retailers when possible. Traveling/booking a hotel would be my #2 concern online, I’d use a virtual cc number every time. In 2018 “Marriott Hacking Exposes Data of Up to 500 Million Guests” was news... I question their competency in keeping anything secure. My default to distrust has paid off so far... no accounts compromised.
For myself, I do three things: 1) Avoid gas stations that don't take Apple Pay AT THE PUMP. 2) Use PayPal for all online purchases (and, yes, I avoid Amazon partly / mostly for that reason) 3) Avoid any online site or vendor who wants to store my card information. Last week I was checking out a new gym where my membership would be paid for by SilverSneakers -- but they still wanted to store my card number. Why? "Just in case you want to buy something...." I passed.
But your Marriott example is excellent: There, you cannot avoid giving them a credit card number which they store. So, a virtual number is ideal.
I’d be tempted to generate a new credit card number for every online purchase...
Generating a new credit card number on the fly, might be the #1 advantage of Apple Card.
I remember reading early on that this was a feature of the card. Further, it was to be valid only for that vendor so if tried elsewhere, it would fail.This was long before much was known about it, so it may have been an erroneous assumption, but such a feature would be HUGE.
Some cards apparently can call up a onetime virtual card number for every online purchase, but that feature is far from ubiquitous. I'd happily settle for a semi-static virtual number good for only one vendor.
I keep my cards 'on file' with only two vendors, and that's really two too many. And that doesn't mean that their info isn't still on vendor servers somewhere. Maybe putting them in Safari should be considered, until something better comes along.
OK, so... if your away from your home computer and your phone battery dies... or even your portable mac battery...
ok, so I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or not. On the chance that you’re not...
As others have pointed out, you would have to be in a situation that required you to look up the number and your phone was dead, and you had no cord and absolutely no other way of charging it and you have no access to your computer.
The only scenario I can come up with where there would be an issue is if you are at a store and the power/internet goes out so they can’t even swipe your card and your phone is dead, and they need to write down your info so they can enter it later. How often does that happen? I can count once in the last 10-15 years for myself. Of course, for it to truly be an issue, it has to be a purchase that’s essential to make right then, a vendor you trust to leave your number with and you have to have no other cards with.
No, I really can’t see how this is an issue beyond trolling people.
Man, if someone can’t figure this out on their own ...
That's easy to say while looking at a tutorial.
I figured it out without this tutorial ... it literally says, “View your card number” — not exactly rocket science.
It's good that you did, but as a reminder, AppleInsider is for everybody.
This has been a frequent request.
As boxcatcher said: View Card Number!!!
By saying Appleinsider is for everybody you are implying that even though is SO obvious there are readers that can’t find View Card Number on their own. But didn’t those people applied for the card, open the wallet app, register on Appleinsider, comment on posts? Just to name a few of more challenging tasks than just to look at the screen and see View Card Number! plus it even have a message on top “You can use your card anywhere Apple Pay is not accepted.”
Man, if someone can’t figure this out on their own ...
That's easy to say while looking at a tutorial.
I figured it out without this tutorial ... it literally says, “View your card number” — not exactly rocket science.
It's good that you did, but as a reminder, AppleInsider is for everybody.
This has been a frequent request.
As boxcatcher said: View Card Number!!!
By saying Appleinsider is for everybody you are implying that even though is SO obvious there are readers that can’t find View Card Number on their own. But didn’t those people applied for the card, open the wallet app, register on Appleinsider, comment on posts? Just to name a few of more challenging tasks than just to look at the screen and see View Card Number! plus it even have a message on top “You can use your card anywhere Apple Pay is not accepted.”
I'm not even sure what you're trying to say, and nothing was implied.
As my comment you quoted said, we've been asked a lot for this to be done as a step-by-step tip, so we did. Simple as that.
Mike Wuerthele said: I'm not even sure what you're trying to say, and nothing was implied.
As my comment you quoted said, we've been asked a lot for this to be done as a step-by-step tip, so we did. Simple as that.
For anybody who's actually been paying attention, and not looking for the merest chance to complain so as to sound superior, tutorials like these answer questions that were asked before anything was known about the card or the app.
This is really for the people who don't have the card or app yet. Those few who do already have it, have probably figured it out. It's easy to criticize after you've seen how it's done, whether it's this tutorial or other online explanations.
Mike Wuerthele said: I'm not even sure what you're trying to say, and nothing was implied.
As my comment you quoted said, we've been asked a lot for this to be done as a step-by-step tip, so we did. Simple as that.
For anybody who's actually been paying attention, and not looking for the merest chance to complain so as to sound superior, tutorials like these answer questions that were asked before anything was known about the card or the app.
This is really for the people who don't have the card or app yet. Those few who do already have it, have probably figured it out. It's easy to criticize after you've seen how it's done, whether it's this tutorial or other online explanations.
Agreed - as with many things Apple (Ok, with most companies these days, not just Apple,) the web site is pretty but short on practical details and finding those details involves digging through copious amounts of fluff. Stories like this make it much clearer and easier to find.
Apple Card also automatically appears in Safari Autofill for credit cards. For online sites that don’t use Apple Pay, this is the easiest way to use the card. I’m not even sure that I’ll bother adding the card to 1Password, since its number may change more often than with other credit cards.
That's a nice bonus feature for ease of use.
Of course, this, the RFID chip in the envelope, and all those other little bonuses exist in each and every card that has ever existed… at least that's what people who say the Apple Card offers zero advantages are saying /s.
Chrome has been offering auto-fill credit cards for years. Where's the advantage again?
FYI, the official PayPal store on eBay is currently selling $50 iTunes giftcards for $42.50. Combine with Ebates for additional 2% off. Don't bother signing up for the Apple Card.
Edit: almost forgot, pay with the Discover IT card for an additional 5% off! The Apple Card "advantages" keep diminishing..
Apple Card also automatically appears in Safari Autofill for credit cards. For online sites that don’t use Apple Pay, this is the easiest way to use the card. I’m not even sure that I’ll bother adding the card to 1Password, since its number may change more often than with other credit cards.
That's a nice bonus feature for ease of use.
Of course, this, the RFID chip in the envelope, and all those other little bonuses exist in each and every card that has ever existed… at least that's what people who say the Apple Card offers zero advantages are saying /s.
Chrome has been offering auto-fill credit cards for years. Where's the advantage again?
Auto fill has existed in Safari for quite some time as well, and there have also been password programs like 1password that fill that need (among others.) This is different from using Apple Pay, however.
Comments
You're away from your home computer and your battery dies, your portable Mac battery dies and both your arms are in plaster casts so you can’t reach into your pockets …
In my never ending quest to come up with a tech expression and get it into common usage, I present to you
The HeyYouism
definition: the creation of an unlikely super-situation by linking together other possible scenarios or unlikely super-situations in the hope of proving that at an Apple product or service is crap.
Both formats have advantages and disadvantages. I just prefer the old menu based format for its simplicity and, as a brilliant co-worker phrased it, being: "Intuitively obvious"
But, for the last, a couple qualifications: While it is true that you are not liable for fraudulent charges on your credit card, first you have to realize that they are fraudulent. My experience has been: the charges are often for small amounts (under $25-$30) and for most people who simply scan their statement at the end of the month, those charges will pass by unnoticed. Or worse, many people don't reconcile their accounts at all -- they simply pay the balance or minimum payment and get on with their life.
But, even if you do report it as fraudulent, it is not automatic that the bank will agree it is fraudulent -- they will do their own investigation and make their own determination.
But, generally, yes, you are right: you will not be held responsible for fraudulent charges and most of the security benefits the GS.
I guess I just tend to be ultra cautious with my money and accounts.
1) Avoid gas stations that don't take Apple Pay AT THE PUMP.
2) Use PayPal for all online purchases (and, yes, I avoid Amazon partly / mostly for that reason)
3) Avoid any online site or vendor who wants to store my card information. Last week I was checking out a new gym where my membership would be paid for by SilverSneakers -- but they still wanted to store my card number. Why? "Just in case you want to buy something...." I passed.
But your Marriott example is excellent: There, you cannot avoid giving them a credit card number which they store. So, a virtual number is ideal.
Some cards apparently can call up a onetime virtual card number for every online purchase, but that feature is far from ubiquitous. I'd happily settle for a semi-static virtual number good for only one vendor.
I keep my cards 'on file' with only two vendors, and that's really two too many. And that doesn't mean that their info isn't still on vendor servers somewhere. Maybe putting them in Safari should be considered, until something better comes along.
As others have pointed out, you would have to be in a situation that required you to look up the number and your phone was dead, and you had no cord and absolutely no other way of charging it and you have no access to your computer.
The only scenario I can come up with where there would be an issue is if you are at a store and the power/internet goes out so they can’t even swipe your card and your phone is dead, and they need to write down your info so they can enter it later. How often does that happen? I can count once in the last 10-15 years for myself. Of course, for it to truly be an issue, it has to be a purchase that’s essential to make right then, a vendor you trust to leave your number with and you have to have no other cards with.
No, I really can’t see how this is an issue beyond trolling people.
By saying Appleinsider is for everybody you are implying that even though is SO obvious there are readers that can’t find View Card Number on their own. But didn’t those people applied for the card, open the wallet app, register on Appleinsider, comment on posts? Just to name a few of more challenging tasks than just to look at the screen and see View Card Number! plus it even have a message on top “You can use your card anywhere Apple Pay is not accepted.”
As my comment you quoted said, we've been asked a lot for this to be done as a step-by-step tip, so we did. Simple as that.
This is really for the people who don't have the card or app yet. Those few who do already have it, have probably figured it out. It's easy to criticize after you've seen how it's done, whether it's this tutorial or other online explanations.
Edit: almost forgot, pay with the Discover IT card for an additional 5% off! The Apple Card "advantages" keep diminishing..