chasm

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chasm
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  • Apple shows off next generation CarPlay in Porsche and Aston Martin cars

    chasmchasm
    Toortog said:
    After a couple weeks I switched over to Apple CarPlay and that only lasted for a few weeks.   I noticed it was a of stuff I didn't use, but then I started noticing my battery was draining much faster and my data usage on my cell phone went sky high.  What in the hell is Apple doing in the background that is draining the battery and consuming bandwidth with my cell provider.    
    Sounds like you may be using Wireless CarPlay. The vehicle I have (a Ford) has USB ports that I use for CarPlay, which also keep the phone charged. Haven’t noticed any substantial cell use apart from when I’m streaming music/podcasts, possibly the fact that yours is wireless means it relies on data more.
    danoxappleinsideruserForumPostwatto_cobrabyronljony0

  • Apple, Visa, Mastercard face lawsuit over high merchant fees

    chasmchasm
    eriamjh said:
    It would be nice to know what min, max, and average merchant fees are in the world of credit cards.  

    This is what pays for things like daily cash, and cash back, and all those perks.
    As you note, the merchant fee is a service charge by the credit provider that comes out of the merchant’s selling price. Broadly speaking, it varies by card from one percent to three percent.

    To put this in the simplest terms, there are four parties involved in a credit card transaction: the customer, the customer’s issuing bank, the merchant, and the merchant’s bank. Amex and Diner’s Club do things a little differently, since they aren’t issued by the customer’s bank, but the idea is the same.

    Apple Pay only comes into play when you use an NFC terminal and an Apple device to pay with your card. At that moment, Apple Pay becomes the platform to provide a whole new level of security on the transaction, and coordinates the payment and fees between the customer’s bank, the merchant, and the merchant’s bank.

    Apple’s fee for this comes out of the merchant’s bank fees. Without getting into the details, this amounts to 0.15 percent of the value of the transaction. So if you bought something (say a new Mac) where the total price before taxes was $2,000, Apple would get $3.*

    *this estimate is based on the total fees Apple charges the merchant’s bank as of 2014. To the best of my knowledge, that total hasn’t changed, but it might have.

    The merchant is supposed to “mark up” the price of the items to cover their base cost, the cost of doing business, and allow for profit. So Apple’s “slice” of this entire transaction should already be covered as part of the fee the merchant’s bank charges the merchant, i.e. part of the cost of doing business.

    So I can sort of see why Apple Pay has to be included in a lawsuit challenging the fees banks and credit card companies charge merchants, but Apple isn’t actually the source of the issue in any way IMO, and frankly they more than justify their tiny fees for the services they provide, which have made using credit cards VERY significantly safer than they were before, since:

    A. The actual card information is never exposed when you use Apple Pay, and
    B. Then entire transaction is encrypted to avoid interception, and
    C. Apple Pay eliminates the possibility of theft, unauthorized use, or leaving behind a physical credit card by accident.
    ronnXedBart YiOS_Guy80mike1badmonktdknoxwatto_cobra

  • Apple refuses to recognize Southampton store union, staff pushes forward anyway

    chasmchasm
    macxpress said:
    Or people are just greedy and think they deserve more. They already offer more than nearly any retailer out there. 
    Perhaps you didn’t actually read the article? The staff concerns are around the treatment of disabled, neurodivergent, and chronically ill staff, as well as shift patterns, pay, and disciplinary processes.

    Just because Apple Stores may (or may not) be a better gig than Walmart, doesn’t meet they can’t improve. Being a top Apple Store employee requires a HUGE range of technical skills PLUS excellent communication skills PLUS genuine enthusiasm for selling and customer relations, and much more. Such jobs should be well-paid, and employees well-treated.


    ronngatorguymacxpressdarkvader

  • Apple TV+ may bundle with Paramount+ to cut subscriber losses

    chasmchasm
    Kierkegaarden said:
    I think an ad-supported tier would reduce churn more than bundling.  But these are both probably the future of streaming.
    I can only speak for myself, but under ZERO circumstances will I go back to any ad-supported streaming service. Avoiding stupid commercials was the ENTIRE reason I left cable and never looked back.

    The fact that subscribing to any — let’s say four — streaming services at the ad-free level is STILL cheaper than cable means I’m enjoying television more, and getting FAR better quality shows into the bargain.
    danoxzeus423mike1StrangeDaysentropysdarkvaderbyronl

  • iPhone sales drop in China's annual Singles Day sales

    chasmchasm
    Kierkegaarden said:
    This doesn’t clarify anything — a third party research company (based in Hong Kong) is claiming yoy increases or decreases based on what exactly?  And discounting wasn’t discussed, which could have an impact on revenue.  The numbers don’t make sense because they’re not comparing the same things and they’re still just guessing in the end.
    I'm sorry you were unable to understand the story. This is about a particular social event/holiday in China where smartphones are traditionally sold as gifts. In previous years, the retailers told analysts like Counterpoint Research that Apple was the dominant brand customers wanted.

    This year, according to that same system, it appears that Chinese-made brands have swung back into fashion among buyers. Why that happened isn't explained or theorized, it's just a report of which brands were most in demand based on retailer reports. There are lots of possible theories about why this happened, but that's not really covered in the story -- just reports of higher demand this time around from Chinese-made iPhone knockoffs rather than actual iPhones.

    Apple sold a billion dollars' worth of iPhones during the period before the big day. Xiaomi says they sold $3 billion, but that's cumulative across all their products. The point of this article is not to say "Apple is doomed (in China)," it's an observation of changing trends in consumer buying of smartphones there. That's literally it.
    muthuk_vanalingamavon b7gatorguyFileMakerFellergrandact73