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Will the Apple Card Survive?

Will the Apple Card Survive?

The future is uncertain.

Brandon Butch
December 02, 2023

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Good morning! ☀️ *Tim Cook voice*

Today, we’re discussing misinformation being spread, Apple Card’s future is uncertain, the best apps of 2023, and more!

Estimated reading time: 3.5 minutes

📊 Poll

In the last poll, I asked: Would you feel safe downloading an iPhone app outside of the App Store?

Closer than I expected tbh

Here are some of my favorite replies:

Yes - “It depends where it’s from, of course - not gonna download an app from some dodgy website - but downloading from, say, the Google Play store or Epic Games store, that’s fine.”

No - “There is no real safe way to side load apps from the internet. However, we've had this practice for decades from Windows, Android, even MacOS. It's common place to go to an app's website and download the app directly. However, each time you do that, it's purely based on trust if that app is free from malware, etc. I understand Apple's point of view; iPhones are the most personal devices out there and security of the person should be the highest priority. However, I also understand the customer's point of view, that once they purchase the phone from the store, that they should be able to do whatever they want with it. It should be common sense that side loading will have that security risk, but I can see Apple worrying about the group of people who will side load, get infected, and blame Apple for "not doing better" even when it's the customer's mistake. I can go on about this, but this isn't a spot for a whole article.”

This week: For everyday purchases (grocery store, gas station, etc), do you use Apple Pay or a physical card? Why?

Do you use Apple Pay or Physical Cards?

📲 iPhone Privacy Concerns - They’re Wrong

This week, several Facebook posts (from police departments) went viral for “warning” parents to disable the NameDrop feature that was introduced in iOS 17.

They position this feature as a danger to children and an easy way for strangers to get ahold of your private information.

Since we should all know better than to trust police departments and viral social media posts, let’s break down the feature and how it actually works:

NameDrop only works when both iPhones are unlocked and are placed within centimeters of each other
Even with both phones unlocked, no information is transferred unless both parties approve the transfer by tapping “share” or “receive only”
Regarding AirDrop: this is set to “contacts only” by default, meaning that the only people in your contacts can share info with you by placing their phone near yours

So, the sentiment that parents need to change these settings on their children’s phones to “keep them safe” is simply inaccurate. Even with the default settings, you & your children are not in “danger” by having NameDrop and/or AirDrop enabled.

However, if you do wish to disable this feature, you can do so by going to Settings > General > AirDrop > Bringing Devices Together > toggle this off.

Have you used NameDrop in an actual real-life situation yet? Vote below!

Have you used NameDrop?

💳 Will the Apple Card Survive?

WSJ

This week, WSJ reported that Apple and Goldman Sachs will be terminating their partnership within the next 12-15 months.

Goldman has been voicing their disappointment with consumer banking services ever since the Apple Card launched in 2019. So this news was not a surprise.
However, given that Apple just renewed their Apple Card agreement until 2029, it is surprising that Apple is reportedly giving Goldman an early out.
This can only mean one thing: Apple has found a replacement partner.
Synchrony Financial is one of the top prospects at the moment. They are the largest issuer of store credit cards in America. American Express is another option.

So, for now, the future of the Apple Card is unknown. However, the Apple Card and Apple Savings are not “canceled” like some clickbait you might’ve read online.

You don’t need to worry about the money in your savings account, it is safe and sound, as it is FDIC-insured. Plus, this is Apple. They’re not going to just take your money and run. Apple Card will survive.

My thoughts: I think Synchrony has the highest likelihood of partnering with Apple on the Apple Card. If so, I see the approval rate rising, as they are likely to be less strict than Goldman.

You also can’t rule out Apple handling the Apple Card completely in-house. They can still have a strategic financial partner with experience in co-branded credit cards, but Apple might opt to be more involved after this GS partnership is up. We shall see! What do you think of this?

🏆 Best Apps & Podcasts of 2023

It’s that time of year again! Apple just chose the best applications of 2023!

iPhone App of the Year: AllTrails, from AllTrails, Inc.
iPad App of the Year: Prêt-à-Makeup, from Prêt-à-Template.
Mac App of the Year: Photomator, from UAB Pixelmator Team.
Apple TV App of the Year: MUBI, from MUBI, Inc.
Apple Watch App of the Year: SmartGym, from Mateus Abras.

Games

iPhone Game of the Year: Honkai: Star Rail, from COGNOSPHERE PTE. LTD.
iPad Game of the Year: Lost in Play, from Snapbreak Games.
Mac Game of the Year: Lies of P, from NEOWIZ.
Apple Arcade Game of the Year: Hello Kitty Island Adventure, from Sunblink.

Cultural Impact Winners

“In addition to recognizing the best apps and games, Apple also selected five Cultural Impact winners, recognized for their ability to drive positive change through apps and games.“

Trend of the Year

“Apps are a reflection of culture, and in 2023, generative AI captured users’ collective imagination with its evolution unfolding in real time.

Apps started integrating AI throughout the year in a variety of ways. Although many features are still in their infancy, they gave users a chance to see, firsthand, the technology in action and come to their own conclusions about the benefits and risks.”

Other Tidbits

Apple released a touching video titled The Lost Voice, which displays the power of the Personal Voice feature in iOS 17. This might be my favorite ad from Apple yet.

📰 Quick News Bites

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