Apple Pay has launched in Korea, allowing iPhone and Apple Watch users to use the country’s transit system, Tmoney, without feeling overshadowed by Samsung’s mobile payment services. Users can purchase and recharge Tmoney cards directly within the Wallet app, and can enable “Express Mode” by tapping an iPhone or Apple Watch on a Tmoney machine. The automatic recharge function can be adjusted or canceled anytime via the Wallet or Tmoney app, and remains active even when switching to a new iPhone. The service does not support postpaid payment options like traditional Tmoney cards, credit cards, or Samsung Pay. However, users can enable “Express Mode” by tapping an iPhone or Apple Watch on a Tmoney machine without opening an app or waking the device. The service has built-in security functions to protect personal information and does not collect or track user data or transit history. However, restrictions apply, such as not supporting local government fare subsidy cards and balance top-ups using credit cards within the Apple Pay Wallet. Apple Pay Tmoney is available only on devices running iOS 17.2 or later
New AI model uses behavior data from Apple Watch for better health predictions, outperforming traditional detection methods that rely on data streams from sensors
Apple-sponsored research paper, which relies on data from the Heart and Movement Study, explains how behavior data can often serve as a more significant health indicator relative to conventional biometric data obtained through hardware sensors. The study says that physical activity, cardiovascular fitness, and mobility metrics are especially useful for detecting transient and static health states. With that information in mind, the researchers created what they call a WBM, or wearable health behavior foundation model. It was trained on “behavioral data from wearables, using 162K participants with over 15 billion hourly measurements from the Apple Heart and Movement Study.” In short, the WBM uses patterns derived from raw sensor data to predict a person’s health state, and the study suggests this outperforms traditional detection methods that rely on data streams from sensors. The research paper also says the WBM was tested on 57 health-related tasks, and that it outperformed a traditional PPG (photoplethysmograph) model in most situations. Specifically, WBM outperforms PPG in predicting static health states such as beta blocker use, as it more reliably detects heart rate reductions during the day. It also outperformed PPG in predicting transient health states such as pregnancy, though it was unable to predict diabetes better than PPG. “Low-level sensor data outperforms behavioral data in tasks where physiological information is sufficient,” the study says. As for what all of this means in practice, Apple could adopt this type of hybrid approach as a way of building upon its existing health-related technology. In other words, using a WBM-like model alongside the existing Apple Watch PPG or ECG (electrocardiogram) sensors.
Apple dials back Liquid Glass look and feel following user complaints of the glassy look making the UI more difficult to read, switching back to less translucent and more solid white background in the Notifications and navigation within first-party apps
The iPhone’s new glassy look has been toned down with the release of the third developer beta of iOS 26. This follows user complaints that the update made parts of the user interface more difficult to read. The update sees Apple taking yet another step to dial things back from an overly glassy look in a number of key areas. While beta 2 addressed problems with the Control Center, beta 3 shifts its focus to other areas of the mobile operating system, like Notifications and navigation within Apple’s first-party apps, like Apple Music. For instance, the navigation bar in Apple’s streaming music app no longer sees the background shining through a bit, opting for a more solid white. Notifications are also less translucent, as the background behind the text is darkened, increasing contrast. While the changes arguably make features easier to read, some users now complain that Apple has gone too far in the other direction with a return to more of a “frosted glass” aesthetic. The point of beta software is to allow Apple to collect feedback, find bugs, and address issues before the software rolls out more broadly. That means Apple could continue to tweak the Liquid Glass look and feel over the coming releases to find the sweet spot for the new glassy look within every app and screen.
Coinbase integrates Apple Pay into Crypto Onboarding Solution- apps already using Coinbase Onramp will automatically see Apple Pay as an option when users make an eligible purchase
Coinbase has integrated Apple Pay as a payment method for Coinbase Onramp, its tool for building onramps into existing apps for fiat-to-crypto purchases. This will make it easier for 60 million U.S. users of Apple Pay to onramp and access popular payment methods. Coinbase Onramp provides a solution for onboarding to crypto, which can take a long time and require users to go through a lengthy know-your-customer (KYC) process. With Apple Pay, getting onchain takes only seconds. Apps already using Coinbase Onramp will automatically see Apple Pay as an option when users make an eligible purchase. This is the latest addition to Coinbase’s offerings, following the acquisition of the Utopia Labs team to accelerate its onchain payments roadmap within Coinbase Wallet. In October, Coinbase announced a money movement partnership with Visa, connecting Coinbase to the Visa Direct network and allowing customers to deposit funds into their accounts via eligible Visa debit cards.
Coinbase integrates Apple Pay into Crypto Onboarding Solution- apps already using Coinbase Onramp will automatically see Apple Pay as an option when users make an eligible purchase
Coinbase has integrated Apple Pay as a payment method for Coinbase Onramp, its tool for building onramps into existing apps for fiat-to-crypto purchases. This will make it easier for 60 million U.S. users of Apple Pay to onramp and access popular payment methods. Coinbase Onramp provides a solution for onboarding to crypto, which can take a long time and require users to go through a lengthy know-your-customer (KYC) process. With Apple Pay, getting onchain takes only seconds. Apps already using Coinbase Onramp will automatically see Apple Pay as an option when users make an eligible purchase. This is the latest addition to Coinbase’s offerings, following the acquisition of the Utopia Labs team to accelerate its onchain payments roadmap within Coinbase Wallet. In October, Coinbase announced a money movement partnership with Visa, connecting Coinbase to the Visa Direct network and allowing customers to deposit funds into their accounts via eligible Visa debit cards.
Patreon’s app can now accept web payments circumventing Apple’s own in-app purchases method following the Apple-Epic court ruling
Creator platform Patreon has rolled out an updated version of its app that now allows users to make purchases via the web, in the wake of the Apple-Epic court ruling that forced Apple to allow app developers to include links to alternative forms of payment without being subject to Apple’s commission. Previously, on version 125.4.1 of Patreon’s iOS app, users who wanted to subscribe to a creator’s membership plan would have to do so using Apple’s in-app purchases. In the updated version (version 125.5.0), users now have the option of making a purchase via the web, where they can choose to pay with other payment methods, including credit cards, Venmo, and PayPal, as well as with Apple Pay. The option to use Apple’s own in-app purchases method, meanwhile, is shown only in very small text below the larger, bold “Join” button. This change will likely direct more customers to pay via Patreon’s website instead of through Apple’s in-app purchases. Users who update their app should see the new checkout experience within 24 hours. Patreon also noted creators would now be able to keep more of their money if they didn’t have to pay Apple its commission on purchases.
PlayStation 5 adds Apple Pay; players are presented with a unique code to scan with their iPhone or iPad, which will then prompt the native Apple Pay checkout
PlayStation 5 users can now use Apple Pay to complete purchases of games and content on their consoles. They will be presented with a unique code to scan with their iPhone or iPad, which will then prompt the native Apple Pay checkout sheet. Users can choose their card and authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID. Apple added support for this code-based system with iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 last year. Apple Pay support is now available on PS5 and is expected to be available on PS4 with a future software update. While not as quick and easy as a one-click purchase, it is a nice improvement for those looking to earn 2% Daily Cash with their Apple Card.
Apple’s 20th anniversary iPhone to use an OLED driver display chip (DDI) and possibly eliminating the bezel completely
Apple’s 20th-anniversary model of iPhone is in development, with screen and battery changes expected for the milestone model. For its 2027 release, which marks the 20th anniversary of the iPhone, the company has started to make preparations for the special smartphone. One of the major updates Apple is planning is the use of an OLED driver display chip (DDI) based on the FinFET’s 3D structure. The chip, which issues instructions to the pixels of the display, is currently produced using a 28-nanometer planar process, with the FinFET switch using a 16-nanometer method instead. The change will help reduce the amount of power consumed by the display, alongside the use of high-luminous efficiency OLED elements. This all-new design will be more power-efficient. Supply chain talks with LG Display and Samsung Display, Apple’s chief screen supply chain partners, are expected soon to discuss the tech changes. This may not be the only display change, as a source says that four-sided bending display technologies are being developed as well as under-display cameras. If they can be commercialized, they can make a big change to how the displays are made, including eliminating the bezel completely. While the new display should reduce power consumption at a time when on-device AI processing such as Apple Intelligence needs even more, there can be more power changes as well. The use of a pure silicon battery is also a prospect. The idea is that the use of 100% silicon as a cathode instead of graphite could considerably increase the energy density, so it can hold more power in the cell. A secondary benefit is an improvement to battery endurance. A battery that is more hardy and deteriorates at a slower rate than current-gen versions, meaning users will have more usage of the entire capacity for longer.
Apple is looking to make Siri a full-fledged AI chatbot liken ChatGPT; to work more deeply with apps and trigger actions
Apple’s executives are pushing for Siri to become a proper AI chatbot that scours the web, potentially as a direct competitor to ChatGPT. Such a move could eliminate reliance on OpenAI’s service for responses and keep the queries in-house. A chatbot that Apple has been reportedly testing internally for years has apparently done extremely well in the last six months. Employees claim that the internal bot is on a similar level to responses from ChatGPT. Management has also talked about the possibility of letting the chat bot the option of scouring the Internet and use data from multiple sources to create answers to queries. Refocusing efforts on making Siri work with an Apple chatbot can be beneficial to Apple beyond just making Siri smarter. For a start, a better and more powerful Siri that could answer search queries like ChatGPT could help offset some related costs. Another feature that was announced as coming to Siri but got delayed could also help. The feature of using Siri to work more deeply with apps on an iPhone could let Siri respond to queries and commands by triggering actions in apps on the user’s behalf. Such a feature would keep the App Store relevant and maintain its position as a $20 billion per year business. With the potential for chatbots to take over from apps in terms of general usage by iPhone owners, this functionality could still keep the app economy ticking over.
Apple to release new tools that would let third-party developers create software using Apple AI models and integrate Apple Intelligence across their apps
Apple plans to release a new set of AI products and frameworks at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) this June, including tools that’ll let third-party developers create software using Apple AI models. Apple’s hope is that expanding its AI tech in this way will draw more attention — and users — as the company looks to catch up with its competitors in the AI space. The new framework will let developers integrate Apple Intelligence across their apps. The company is seeking to first allow developers to use its smaller models. WWDC this year will also reportedly see Apple overhaul its operating systems across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Apple is also set to release new device-specific capabilities, including one that helps manage battery life, and a new Health app — powered, of course, by AI (although the app reportedly won’t be ready until next year).