Apple is reportedly working on a new payment service to allow card payments to be accepted on NFC-enabled iPhone devices. This will eliminate users’ reliance on third-party card devices. At present, Apple accepts the card payment function based on third-party hardware such as Square Reader. However, Apple is very concerned about increasing the cost of use. The company is also worried that this could discourage some users from choosing iOS devices.
As early as 2020, Apple acquired Mobeewave, a company dedicated to developing and using NFC modules for smartphones to accept payments. At the time, it announced that the new technology could enter the transfer amount through the official App. This makes the process as simple as an NFC touch.
At present, the built-in NFC module of iOS devices has limited functions. Although it can read bank cards, it is still significantly different from direct card swiping. If it supports direct card swiping, it may be a new business income for Apple. It is more convenient for users who need it.
Gizchina News of the week
Apple iOS 15.4 update adds a controversial ‘pregnant man’ emoji
Apple introduced a new iOS update on Thursday, but it caused some controversy because Apple introduced a “pregnant man” emoji in the iOS 15.4 beta version. In fact, the “pregnant emoji” isn’t new to some. It is part of the September 2021 update to the “encyclopedia of emoji” Emojipedia. However, the difference is that Apple’s “pregnant” emoji came out as part of the iOS 15.4 beta. iOS 15.4 will roll out to all iPhone users later this year. Apple’s “pregnant man” emoji move is now causing controversy. Some cultural commentators argue that Apple’s “pregnant man” emoji removes what makes women different from men. In fact, some even claim that this move dehumanizes women.
Emojipedia also faced some criticism last September when it first announced the emoji for pregnant women and “pregnant men”. Emojipedia later said in a blog post that the new emoji could be used to represent trans men, non-bisexuals, or women with short hair, as well as some other groups such as people who just finished eating or has a big stomach.
Thus the “pregnant man” emoji is not necessarily for a man with a baby in his stomach. Health website Healthline.com says those who were born female but later identified as male are “trans men” and can have children. It’s unclear how many men in the U.S. are pregnant, but figures show at least 22 men in Australia gave birth in 2018. Apple has not responded to a request for comment on the introduction of the “pregnant man” emoji.
