An antitrust lawsuit accusing Apple of blocking tap-to-pay competition is moving forward and will see banks and credit unions able to band together to sue Apple.


U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White this week certified a class in the lawsuit. It will include any U.S. entities that issued any payment card enabled for Apple Pay and paid Apple a fee for ‌Apple Pay‌ transactions on that payment card. He also denied a motion from Apple to exclude expert testimony that plaintiff attorneys allege offers proof Apple has monopoly power over the mobile wallet market.

First filed in 2022, the suit claims Apple illegally collects up to $1 billion annually in fees by preventing rivals from accessing the iPhone's NFC chip to build mobile wallets that would compete with ‌Apple Pay‌. When an iPhone user buys something with a card linked to ‌Apple Pay‌, the card issuer has to pay Apple a 0.15 percent fee for credit cards and half a cent for debit cards, according to the lawsuit. If you make a $1,000 purchase via ‌Apple Pay‌, Apple collects $1.50 from the card issuer.

The complaint alleges that Apple forces card issuers to pay fees by making ‌Apple Pay‌ the only tap-to-pay option. It points to Google's Android, which supports multiple wallets and does not collect a fee from card issuers for contactless payments. It suggests Apple would not be able to continue to charge "substantial fees" if it were forced to support other mobile wallets on Apple devices.

Apple has changed its policies since the lawsuit was filed. As of iOS 18.1, developers are able to offer NFC contactless payments in their apps. Developers have access to the NFC chip in the United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Japan, New Zealand, the UK, the European Economic Area, and many other countries.

Attorneys are seeking repayment of the fees card issuers have paid and injunctive relief to "put an end to Apple's policies."
This article, "Banks and Credit Unions to Team Up Against Apple Pay Fees" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The next low-cost iPad will be equipped with an A19 chip, C1X modem, N1 networking chip, and 8GB RAM, according to details found in Apple's code by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris.


We've heard some of these same specifications in prior rumors, so this is more of a confirmation than a new leak. The ‌iPad‌ 11 has an A16 chip, so the upgrade to the A19 in the 12th-generation ‌iPad‌ will bring a noticeable improvement in performance. More importantly, the A19 supports Apple Intelligence, so the ‌iPad‌ 12 will have all the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ and Siri AI features missing from the ‌iPad‌ 11.

The ‌iPad‌ 11 has 6GB RAM, but 8GB RAM is the minimum for ‌Apple Intelligence‌, and the RAM boost will also speed things up.

Apple's C1X modem supports sub–6GHz 5G networks, and it is more efficient than the Qualcomm modem used in the existing ‌iPad‌. The addition of the N1 networking chip will bring support for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread.

Though not included in the code, it's possible the ‌iPad‌ 12 will be available in new colors.

There is no word on when Apple will release the new ‌iPad‌, and at this point, we're not expecting it until spring 2027. The current ‌iPad‌ is priced starting at $449 after a June 2026 price hike, and the new model will likely have the same starting price.

There's no low-cost ‌iPad‌ coming this year, but Apple is expected to refresh the iPad mini before the end of October. We discovered new details about the ‌iPad mini‌ just this morning. It will have an A20 Pro chip, a new speaker system, and a landscape front-facing camera. Prior rumors say it will feature an OLED display as the main upgrade.

We also found official images of the Apple TV 4K and the HomePod mini, including its colors. The ‌HomePod mini‌ will come in green, pink, blue, white, and black.
This article, "Apple Code Confirms iPad 12 Specs: A19, 8GB RAM, N1, C1X Modem" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Lululook to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a new Apple Watch Ultra 4. Lululook makes all kinds of accessories for Apple devices, including the Apple Watch. The company has a selection of Apple Watch bands that work well with the new Series 12 and the Ultra 4 models.


Lululook's $129.99 Strata Milanese Band matches the ‌Apple Watch Ultra 4‌. It is made from 99 percent woven grade 5 titanium, and it has a coating that protects it from scratches. The Strata band comes in black and natural finishes, and the titanium is about 40 percent lighter than stainless steel.


The band has a spring-loaded titanium locking mechanism with a side-press button to open it. Lululook says the band will stay in place during workouts and activities from running to swimming. While made for the Ultra, the band works with the larger 44mm to 49mm Apple Watch models, and it comes in medium and large size options to fit wrists from 155mm to 210mm.


For a more casual look, Lululook sells the $36.99 MagDuo Reversible Apple Watch Band. As the name suggests, the band has a dual color scheme, and users can flip between two color options. The exterior of the band features pebble-textured silicone, while the interior is made of soft silicone so it is comfortable to wear all day.


The MagDuo band has a breathable hollow design to keep the wrist cool, and it uses a double-sided magnetic closure. Lululook says the magnet was tested to 1.3kg of pull, and there are extra loops for security.


Colors include Graphite Gray/Driftwood, Cobalt Blue/Mist Blue, Pink/Purple, Black/Orange, Desert Dune/Cream, and Onyx Black/Beige. The MagDuo is compatible with all Apple Watch models, and there are two size options: one for the Apple Watch Ultra and larger-sized Apple Watch models, and one for the smaller Apple Watch models.


Lululook is offering MacRumors readers a discount code on the Apple Watch bands. Just use promo code Macrumors for 10 percent off at checkout.


We have an ‌Apple Watch Ultra 4‌ for one lucky MacRumors reader. To enter to win, use the widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner(s) and send the prize(s). You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, following us on Threads, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.


Lululook Giveaway
The contest will run from today (September 25) at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on October 2. The winner will be chosen randomly on or shortly after October 2 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.
This article, "MacRumors Giveaway: Win an Apple Watch Ultra 4 From Lululook" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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