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Tag: Mobile

  • Vote sets stage for new Amtrak Gulf Coast service. But can trains roll by Super Bowl?

    Vote sets stage for new Amtrak Gulf Coast service. But can trains roll by Super Bowl?

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    MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — A 6-0 vote Tuesday by the City Council in Mobile, Alabama, has set the stage for Amtrak passenger trains to roll from New Orleans to Mobile next year.

    The Sun Herald reports that the Mobile council voted to fund the passenger train service for three years. The funding had already been approved in Mississippi and Louisiana. Amtrak’s projected start date for the service is spring of 2025. It is uncertain whether it can begin before the Super Bowl is played in New Orleans on Feb. 9.

    “I think everybody wants to get this running by the Super Bowl,” said Knox Ross, chairman of the Southern Rail Commission, the interstate organization promoting rail transportation. “But they can’t guarantee it.”

    Platforms are ready in New Orleans and in the Mississippi cities of Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula. But a platform still has to be built in Mobile.

    Ross said a schedule and fares will be posted on the Amtrak.com website about 90 days before service begins. The current plan calls for two trains a day running from New Orleans to Mobile and two a day heading from Mobile to New Orleans — with brief stops at the cities in between for passengers to get on and off.

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  • Apple to add 30% fee on all Patreon subscriptions made through iOS

    Apple to add 30% fee on all Patreon subscriptions made through iOS

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    As we first announced last year, Apple is requiring that Patreon use their in-app purchasing system and remove all other billing systems from the Patreon iOS app by November 2024.

    This has two major consequences for creators:

    1. Apple will be applying their 30% App Store fee to all new memberships purchased in the Patreon iOS app, in addition to anything bought in your Patreon shop.

    2. Any creator currently on first-of-the-month or per-creation billing plans will have to switch over to subscription billing to continue earning in the iOS app, because that’s the only billing type Apple’s in-app purchase system supports.

    Before we go any further, we want to be crystal clear about one thing: Apple’s fee will not impact your existing memberships. It will only affect new memberships purchased in the iOS app from November onward.

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    Cass Marshall

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  • Podcast: Boosting insight-driven digital engagement at FIs | Bank Automation News

    Podcast: Boosting insight-driven digital engagement at FIs | Bank Automation News

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    The banking relationship has expanded outside of the walls of a branch and now the user experience is often formed through digital channels, including mobile apps. 

    Reward and loyalty solutions provider Prizeout, like many fintechs, is working to fill digital gaps at financial institutions to enhance customer experience, Matt Denham, co-founder and chief product officer at Prizeout, tells Bank Automation News on this episode of “The Buzz” podcast. 

    “Where tech providers come in, big or small, is when there’s a service or customer product that needs to be delivered that‘s not currently [available],” Denham says. 

    To improve the digital and mobile banking experience, Prizeout helps FIs push app engagement, by providing personal insights to consumers based on spending habits or by offering instant cash back where they commonly shop, for instance, Denham says. 

    Prizeout credit union clients include Alloya Corporate Federal Credit Union and Michigan State University Federal Credit Union.  

    Listen as Denham discusses how fintechs can boost digital engagement on FI platforms.  

    Early-bird registration is now available for the inaugural Bank Automation Summit Europe in Frankfurt, Germany, on Oct. 7-8! Discover the latest advancements in AI and automation in banking. Register here and apply to speak here.  

    The following is a transcript generated by AI technology that has been lightly edited but still contains errors.

    Whitney McDonald 10:49:37
    Hello and welcome to The Buzz a bank automation news podcast. My name is Wendy MacDonald, and I’m the editor of bank automation News. Today is August 12, 2024 joining me from FinTech prize out is co founder and chief product officer Matt Denham. He is here to discuss how fintechs work to fill the customer experience gaps that are common at most financial institutions, especially as FIS, invest in their digital platforms, and consumers demand digital and mobile experiences. Thanks for joining us, Matt,Matt Denham 10:50:04
    great. Yeah. So it’s great to be with you, Whitney. So my name is Matt Denham. I’m co founder and chief product officer at prize out price out to FinTech partner to banks and credit unions that provide rewards and loyalty solutions to their customers and members. So our goal is to provide a whole ecosystem of ways to support members and support customers getting more value for their money, whether that’s through their everyday shopping or through their rewards programs with their chosen financial institution, yeah, and we deliver that through a product called Cash Back plus that we deliver to multiple financial institutions across the country. Well, we

    Whitney McDonald 10:50:50
    can get into the technology a little bit in a second, and I do want to hear a little bit more about cash back plus, but first, let’s kind of take it back a little bit and talk about just, kind of where we are today in the digital landscape. There’s changes in demand, what customers need, how to boost customer loyalty, a need for tech providers within the space, you’re seeing, of course, a huge uptick in the partnership environment between bank and fintechs. Why don’t you tell us a little bit about that partnership dynamic, what customers are looking for, and how a solution like prize out fits into the mix.

    Matt Denham 10:51:26
    Yeah, it’s really interesting, because I think historically, you’ve seen relationships be created in the branch when a customer member walks into the branch and starts to get to know the person that’s going to help them with their help them with their banking. And historically, you’ve seen a bank or a credit union be the place where you send money, you keep your money, you take out a loan, you pay for things. What we’re starting to see in this generation, it’ll certainly go forward from there, is those services don’t sort of meet the current needs of customers in today’s day and age where everything’s done by app. It’s more about how efficiently, how quickly, and how great is the customer service. When I do that, what we’re starting to see is that banks and traditional credit unions can’t necessarily deliver on that in a digital world. So it’s about, how do you create that relationship and that service in a digital world? And I think, much like any industry, even if we step outside financial technology, where tech providers come in, big or small, is when there’s a customer service or a customer product that needs to be delivered that’s not currently being there, finding a gap in the market and meeting customer expectations. Yes,

    Whitney McDonald 10:52:43
    as you, I’m sure, are paying close attention to, we’re in the midst of earnings right now. And one of the things that keeps keeps coming up over and over again at many of the institutions, if not all, is that investment in digital capabilities, mobile apps, digital usership and mobile usership is all just soaring. That’s what consumers want. So maybe we can talk a little bit about how technology really has changed the game for how consumers really use and look at their financial institutions. It’s really more of like a day to day tool. Maybe talk a little bit about how the how technology has allowed for that. Of course, we’re all on our phones all the time. You can easily access your accounts. You can look to it for different insights. Maybe walk us through some of the ways that the Tech has changed the landscape and the game.

    Speaker 1 10:53:32
    Yeah. I mean, I think the baseline technology of having a phone in your hands started all this, right? It started the ability for you to not have to use one company for your financial services, but you can use 10, right? And I think a beautiful example of this is the Buy Now pay later industry. Buy now pay later has been created from what used to be layaway, and I said, Hey, what does a customer actually want when they’re purchasing something they want the ability to pay for this over time, not necessarily on a credit card, but when they’re actually shopping. What technology has allowed us to do today is embed that into a checkout experience and actually allow you to pay with that brand within that flow, as opposed to needing to go and say, Hey, go to your bank and say, Can I have a personal loan on this? Can I take out money? What’s my credit score, etc. That’s one interesting example where, either through an app or through a shopping process, technology allowed us to embed financial instruments in there with that having to. Go to your like historic financial institutions. We’re sort of seeing that across the board, from payments to loans to transferring money to spending. It’s attacking, sort of all of those financial services that were historically done from banks.

    Whitney McDonald 10:54:51
    Sometimes it’s a little too easy to make some of those online payments. Right?

    Speaker 1 10:54:58
    Absolutely, it’s, it’s kind of interesting when you when you’re in a checkout flow, and you click on a button and all of a sudden you have three steps down, you’re like, What? What am I doing here? It’s so interesting because brand plays such a big, like, such a big role in that whether you’re clicking Apple Pay or you’re clicking after pay, these are brands that have been created, which we haven’t really seen brands in the banking space before. Outside of your banking brands, your trusted brands, it allows them to leverage, like their brand recognition, to actually win your payments

    Whitney McDonald 10:55:37
    now, when it comes to really looking at financial institutions and even tech providers as a tool, something that you can use day to day for something different than just checking your account balance, how does prize out fit into that, that role, and What role is probably playing in that, that you can access different insights, or kind of be more in the day to day lives of its users.

    Speaker 1 10:56:05
    Yeah, we actually, we think about that in two ways. We think about that in the first ways, how do you encourage engagement with consumers through an app. I think we I spoke about earlier, that a lot of the engagement between a financial institution and their consumers was done in person, through branches and potentially on the phone. What we’re looking to deliver to our customers and members is a way for that engagement to happen digitally. That’s by providing insights to the end consumer to help them with their financial sort of, their financial welfare. So that’s the first thing we like to do is, how do we actually want? How do we allow a person who wants to be smart about their finances to come in and engage, as opposed to, I think what you see with a lot of products that probably don’t go the right way. They’re trying to force someone to come to them. Well, what we’re seeing in today’s day and age is, if you provide great content and if you provide great solutions to people, they will come. So that’s our first thing, is understanding, hey, there’s so much information that your financial institution has that can help you with your financial life, how do we best provide insights into that for the consumer, so they can make informed decisions and still make the decision that they would like based upon their sort of financial landscape, because it’s different for everyone, but just so surface that information, and then the second part of that is provide them ways once they’ve sort of decided what they wanted to do there to take advantage of it. So we have a product that allows them to take advantage of offers when they’re shopping, where they could potentially get better offers of cash back, or they could take advantage of earning cash back in different ways, by taking actions that suit their financial ecosystem based upon insights that we’ve sort of provided to them. So it’s all about an ecosystem that allows consumers to take advantage of their financial sort of person and set up the plan the way that they would like to set it up.

    Whitney McDonald 10:58:04
    Now maybe we could take that a step further and talk through the tech behind that. How do you connect with financial institutions to grab those insights and make sure that you are giving whether it’s helping make a decision, or you should really be tapping these rewards of these places. How do you how do you tap into those insights? Where do you pull the data from?

    Speaker 1 10:58:27
    Yeah, I think you can sort of think about it like technology connections with financial institutions in three ways. Sort of one is the front end integration, which is what you show to a user, so actually connecting to be able to provide them the great experience. But as we’re seeing with sort of the way technology is going today, it’s not only about delivering a front end experience. It’s about delivering something that’s personalized and based on data. So the second connection is connecting to the bank itself to understand consumers and provide them things that are tailored to them. And probably the third, and probably the more standard one, is connecting to spend based information, just like you expect a plaid would. Or you can get that directly from a credit card provider. You can get that directly from the financial intrusion themselves. But it’s about, how do you as a FinTech partner with a financial institution to take all that information and provide it to their customer in a way that they potentially couldn’t do on their own, to sort of help engagement and help the sort of consumers life so. Now

    Whitney McDonald 10:59:36
    to give us a little bit more insight, use the word insight there um, into how prize out really benefits a consumer. Maybe you could walk us through an example or use case of how prize out has kind of changed the user experience with financial institutions.

    Speaker 1 10:59:53
    Yeah. So one thing that prize out does is we partner with brands to provide great offers to customers when they’re shopping. So one of the easiest ways that we help, and sort of a core way that we help a consumer in their life, is understanding if they’re shopping a lot in a certain category or a certain brand, and providing them a great way to earn cash back on that sort of above and beyond what you would see on a credit card program or a debit card program. So actually taking someone shopping, helping them with a budgeting tool, and actually giving them ways to earn cash back on spending that they may already be doing or things they’re looking to do in the future, what we’ve seen a lot of is, especially now we’re in summer holiday period, is people taking advantage of great offers, right? The Carnival cruises matched with a with Delta, right? Or an Airbnb program with JetBlue and allowing people to say, Hey, I’m actually looking to do this. I know I want to do it in three months time. Not only, how do I prepare for that, but then, how do I make even my money go even further when I’m looking to take my kids on a vacation?

    Whitney McDonald 11:00:57
    Yeah, yeah, that’s, I think, especially the key is tapping into the spending that you’re already doing. Tapping into those insights, it really creates a personalized experience. And then, of course, right now, when when data is key, you’re collecting all of this data anyway, and being able to say, oh, so and so shops here all the time. There’s a cash back program for that, so you’re not necessarily having to change spending habits, but you are able to tap into rewards that you didn’t know you were leaving on the table.

    Speaker 1 11:01:26
    Absolutely, it’s how do you how do you make a customer’s experience great, and how do you give them more value for that? That’s sort of our our sort of motto. And maybe someone didn’t know if they wanted to go a Norwegian or carnival. Could Carnival cruises, and help them get through that decision. And then maybe a part of that decision is the price point. Maybe there’s brand loyalists that just want to go with carnival and therefore we help them get some more money back on that. Or maybe they’re not as brand loyal, and they’re just looking for the end outcome.

    Whitney McDonald 11:01:53
    Yeah, no, I think that’s great. Thanks so much for walking through that example now with what you do and what you what you focus on in the space, what are you really paying attention to, focusing right on right now, themes, trends. What’s interesting to you in the payments world right now?

    Speaker 1 11:02:11
    Yeah, there’s some. I mean, there’s, there’s so many interesting things happening right now. And it’s it’s so interesting to see where the tech companies, both fintechs and sort of established all the way up to faang companies, are sort of challenging, right? And I think one of the interesting ones is the point of sale. It’s all about the payment. What we’ve sort of seen over the last five to 10 years is that the way banks are really continuing to engage their members is through their rewards programs, right? That is sort of the place that someone’s really interested in. And I think in banking, there’s a saying that’s like, banking isn’t fun, banking isn’t exciting. So how do you take something that is exciting for a customer or member and provide that to them? And that’s what everyone sees, is their rewards programs or their credit card programs. And well, what we’re all starting to see now is how, how some of the bigger tech companies are starting to come in and try and win that payment. Don’t remember the last time you were buying something online, but there’s Apple Pay, there’s Amazon pay, there’s shop pay, there’s every Google Pay. They’re all trying to get to the front of the line to own that payment experience and then be able to expand from there. So that’s that’s something that we’re watching closely, and we’re playing a part of to help our financial institutions also be able to stay top of wallet there and not use lose that customer to a to an Apple Pay. I think, I think it’s been really interesting, over the last three or four years, the adoption of Apple Pay, and now people are saying they pay with Apple Pay. They’re not paying with their financial institution. So we’re paying a lot of we’re paying a lot of attention to that area, and to make sure that we can help our financial institutions stay top of wallet there.

    Whitney McDonald 11:03:55
    Now with that in mind, and I’m sure that that kind of sparks innovation too within prize out, maybe you could share a little bit about what you’re what you’re working on now, or maybe through the end of the year, any projects, or even recent projects that you’ve been working

    Speaker 1 11:04:08
    on. Yeah, absolutely. So I think one of the benefits we have as a as the company, is a lot of those relationships that we have with merchants already. So how do we actually integrate to be able to provide offers to our consumers when they’re actually shopping, and actually give them back, a little like the Norwegian example that I had those offers in line when they’re shopping and. And allow them and allow that to be the reason why they choose to to pay with our financial institution that we partner with is because of the great deal they’re getting and the great experience. I think, I think everyone knows that Apple pays created one of the best experiences in the market. You don’t need to put in your information. You can just one click pay. So it’s, how do you take that? How do you build a great experience, but how do you also build in the next lever, which gives the optionality to the customer of what they want to pay with that great experience? But how do they actually get more back, continuing to sort of own the top of wallet for our partners? I think, I think there’s a couple of other interesting pieces going on in the market right now. I think that there’s a lot of banks that are starting to work out what is their frontier with their customers. So if they are starting to lose payments to Apple Pay and the Colin is sort of taking over some of their like historic spend that they would get. Where do they continue to own that relationship? And we’ve seen some really interesting pieces there, sort of particularly in the travel space. So I think getting back to what I mentioned before, where banking isn’t necessarily engaging in a siding you’re seeing so many of the standard banks or credit card providers coming out and looking to engage and win the travel space, whether that’s Chase opening lounges, which historically only Amex had really had cap ones getting into that space, all of the providers almost are now trying to get you to book your travel through them, through incentives and as well as sort of the standard pieces that you’d expect around insurance and whatnot, they’re really looking to double down on that travel and experience place where now you can book through us, you can have your best experience, not just when you’re booking or when You’re paying, but actually throughout your travel, through going to go into the lounges, and also, if something goes wrong, there’s insurance, there’s there’s things that help you out. There’s been a large investment from the sort of, at least the big banks there, all the way to some of the other sort of challenge built has come out and made a big play in in travel. So that’s an interesting thing that we’re keeping an eye on, is that financial institutions are now looking to work out how they can augment the engagement with their customers from just like pure financial services to almost like adjacent industries.

    Whitney McDonald 11:07:15
    You’ve been listening to the buzz a bank automation news podcast, please follow us on LinkedIn, and as a reminder, you can rate this podcast on your platform of choice. Thank you for your time, and be sure to visit us at Bank automation news.com for more automation news. You.

    Transcribed by https://otter.ai

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    Whitney McDonald

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  • Russia and Venezuela have blocked encrypted messaging app Signal

    Russia and Venezuela have blocked encrypted messaging app Signal

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    Both Russia and Venezuela have blocked access to the encrypted messaging app Signal, .

    The Russian news service broke the news about the block on the Signal app in Russia. Russia’s telecommunications watchdog Roskomnadzor restricted the app due to “violations of the requirements of the Russian legislation whose fulfillment is necessary to prevent the use of the messenger for terrorist and extremist purposes,” according to the Russian report.

    The cybersecurity tracker on Friday that Russia has restricted access to Signal “on most internet providers.” NetBlocks also noted the app “remains usable with ‘censorship circumvention’ enabled” in Signal’s settings echoing to users who’ve been blocked from their messages in both regions .

    The blocking of Signal in Venezuela occurred in the long shadow of the country’s disputed presidential election results from the end of July. Venezuela’s electoral authority declared President Nicolás Maduro the winner without publishing any evidence of his win, sparking protests from detractors and supporters of Maduro’s opponent Edmundo González, according to the .

    Both regions have been cutting off access to other similar social media apps possibly as a way to quiet dissenting voices. earlier today for a period of 10 days claiming that the company’s owner Elon Musk was inciting hatred and “violated” his social network’s rules. also reported a “mass YouTube outage” in Russia on Thursday.

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    Danny Gallagher

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  • Mobile, digital banking adoption jumps in Q2 | Bank Automation News

    Mobile, digital banking adoption jumps in Q2 | Bank Automation News

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    Financial institutions are investing in their mobile and digital experiences as consumers flock to online channels for self-service banking.   “Consumers are really demanding more and more and expecting that the mobile banking experience at their fingertips is largely the gateway into the relationship now with the [financial institution],” Allison Cerra, chief marketing officer at Alkami […]

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    Whitney McDonald

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  • How to fast travel with the Battle Bus and Bus Stations in Lego Fortnite

    How to fast travel with the Battle Bus and Bus Stations in Lego Fortnite

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    The Battle Bus arrived in Lego Fortnite as of an August 2024 update, giving the option for limited fast travel between Bus Stations.

    Our Lego Fortnite Bus Station guide will explain how to build Bus Stations and how to fast travel — and why you can’t right now.

    How to build Bus Stations in Lego Fortnite

    Image: Epic Games via Polygon

    The Bus Stations you’ll need to summon the Battle Bus to your Lego Fortnite island are a high-level item. You’ll need to have reached the snowy Frostlands biome to build one.

    You’ll need:

    Those first three ingredients are easy enough to find in Frostlands biomes, but the last one — rift shards — a new and unique. Let’s talk about them.

    Where to find rift shards in Lego Fortnite

    Rift shards are a unique resource that you can only get by destroying Bus Stations (more on this in a second). Since they’re made out of high-level (Frostlands) materials, you’ll need an epic pickaxe (8 obsidian slabs, 5 frostpine rods) to deal any damage.

    To destroy one, you’ll need to find said bus stations.

    Where to find Bus Stations in Lego Fortnite

    The short answer is that you find Bus Stations by exploring the world.

    You’ll find one near your world’s spawn point. Beyond that, all we can say is that they seem exceedingly rare. When you’re close to one, you may hear a low pulsing sound. Better yet, you can look for the blue light on the roof (especially at night).

    Why can’t I destroy Bus Stations in Lego Fortnite?

    As of August 7, there’s currently a bug that makes the naturally spawned Bus Stations — the ones you have to destroy to collect rift shards — indestructible. Even in sandbox mode. You can destroy any Bus Stations you build yourself in sandbox mode, but there’s currently no solution for survival.

    That means that there’s no way to gather the necessary rift shards at the moment. You can still use any Bus Station you find to fast travel to the Rebel Base, though.

    Looking for more on Lego Fortnite? Check out our Lego Fortnite beginners guide. We also have guides on how to play multiplayer with your buddies, how to find caves, and how to build a successful village. And if you’re looking for places to go, see our list of the best seeds in Lego Fortnite.

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    Jeffrey Parkin

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  • Can Togedemaru be shiny in Pokémon Go?

    Can Togedemaru be shiny in Pokémon Go?

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    Togedemaru, the roly-poly Pokémon from Alola, can be found in the wild in Pokémon Go. Yes, Togedemaru can be shiny in Pokémon Go!

    Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic

    Togedemaru’s shiny form was launched alongside the “Strength of Steel” event, as part of the Ultra Unlock Part 2 for 2024. It doesn’t evolve and is the resident Pika-clone of its region (Alola) — so yes, it sure is cute.

    What is the shiny rate for Togedemaru in Pokémon Go?

    There’s currently not enough data about Togedemaru’s shiny rate to tell if it’s permaboosted or not.

    What can I do to attract more shiny Pokémon?

    Not much, unfortunately. It appears to be random chance. Shiny Pokémon catch rates are set by developer Niantic, and they are typically only boosted during special events like Community Days or Safari Zones, or in Legendary Raids. There are no consumable items that boost shiny Pokémon rates.

    Where can I find a list of available shiny Pokémon?

    LeekDuck keeps a list of currently available shiny Pokémon. It’s a helpful visual guide that illustrates what all of the existing shiny Pokémon look like.

    For more tips, check out Polygon’s Pokémon Go guides.

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    Julia Lee

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  • Class Action Lawsuit Alleges T-Mobile Broke Its Lifetime Price Guarantee

    Class Action Lawsuit Alleges T-Mobile Broke Its Lifetime Price Guarantee

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    Angry T-Mobile customers have filed a class action lawsuit over the carrier’s decision to raise prices on plans that were advertised as having a lifetime price guarantee.

    “Based upon T-Mobile’s representations that the rates offered with respect to certain plans were guaranteed to last for life or as long as the customer wanted to remain with that plan, each Plaintiff and the Class Members agreed to these plans for wireless cellphone service from T-Mobile,” said the complaint filed in US District Court for the District of New Jersey. “However, in May 2024, T-Mobile unilaterally did away with these legacy phone plans and switched Plaintiffs and the Class to more expensive plans without their consent.”

    The complaint, filed on July 12, has four named plaintiffs who live in New Jersey, Georgia, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. They are seeking to represent a class of all US residents “who entered into a T-Mobile One Plan, Simple Choice plan, Magenta, Magenta Max, Magenta 55+, Magenta Amplified or Magenta Military Plan with T-Mobile which included a promised lifetime price guarantee but had their price increased without their consent and in violation of the promises made by T-Mobile and relied upon by Plaintiffs and the proposed class.”

    The complaint seeks “restitution of all amounts obtained by Defendant as a result of its violation,” plus interest. It also seeks statutory and punitive damages, and an injunction to prevent further “wrongful, unlawful, fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair conduct.”

    “T-Mobile Will Never Change the Price You Pay”

    The lawsuit’s allegations will be familiar to those who read our previous articles on the recent price hikes of up to $5 per line. In January 2017, T-Mobile issued a press release announcing the “Un-contract” promise for T-Mobile One plans. “Now, T-Mobile One customers keep their price until THEY decide to change it. T-Mobile will never change the price you pay for your T-Mobile One plan,” the company said at the time.

    The price guarantee was also hyped by then CEO John Legere at a press event in Las Vegas. But separately from the announcement, T-Mobile revealed a significant caveat that essentially nullified the promise. T-Mobile said in a FAQ on its website that the only guarantee was T-Mobile would pay your final month’s bill if the carrier raised the price and you decided to cancel.

    Many customers saw the prominent lifetime price guarantee but not T-Mobile’s contradiction of that promise and signed up for plans thinking their prices would never be raised. The “Un-contract promise” was offered on certain plans between January 5, 2017, and April 27, 2022.

    T-Mobile started offering a different guarantee called Price Lock on April 28, 2022. This was originally more ironclad than the Un-contract, and customers who snagged it were apparently not impacted by this year’s price increases.

    But T-Mobile then created a confusing situation with Price Lock. The stronger version of Price Lock was offered from April 28, 2022, to January 17, 2024. It was replaced by a weaker version that is still called Price Lock but is basically the same as the Un-contract. Customers who signed up for Price Lock on or after January 18, 2024, don’t actually have a price lock—but they can get their final month’s bill covered if T-Mobile raises the price and they decide to cancel.

    After the price hikes, several T-Mobile customers contacted Ars to express their displeasure. One of those customers said that he canceled and tried to get his final month’s bill covered, but T-Mobile refused to provide the refund. The Federal Communications Commission told us it had received about 1,600 consumer complaints about the price hikes as of late June.

    Class Action Plaintiffs

    The lawsuit says the plaintiffs and many other customers were swayed to switch plans based on promises made in the January 2017 announcement and afterward.

    “The experiences of the named Plaintiffs [are] not unique. Numerous wireless customers were motivated to switch to T-Mobile based upon the Press Events and Videos first promoted at the Las Vegas Trade Show,” the lawsuit said. “The extensive advertising by T-Mobile in print and on television also motivated customers to switch to what have now become legacy plans that T-Mobile customers are no longer able to keep.”

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    Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica

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  • Truist digital engagement grows in Q2 | Bank Automation News

    Truist digital engagement grows in Q2 | Bank Automation News

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    Truist’s investment in digital capabilities helped the bank keep up with growing client demand for mobile and digital channels in the second quarter.  “We continue to show strong and steady growth in our digital capabilities as client mobile app users grew,” Chief Executive Bill Rogers said during the bank’s Q2 earnings call today. During the […]

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    Whitney McDonald

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  • How to find the ‘suspicious shadow’ at Waterfall Soup in Zenless Zone Zero

    How to find the ‘suspicious shadow’ at Waterfall Soup in Zenless Zone Zero

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    To earn the “Timely Assistance Medal IV,” Officer Mewmew tells you to investigate a “suspicious shadow” by Waterfall Soup at night in Zenless Zone Zero. However, there are two nighttime options to pick from, and the target only appears during one of them.

    Below, we explain where to find this suspicious shadow in Zenless Zone Zero.

    How to find the ‘suspicious shadow’ at Waterfall Soup

    The time will need to be set to evening (the symbol with the moon, not the moon and cloud) to find our target. You can change the time by resting on the sofa or by clicking/tapping the time in the top left and selecting “rest.” If you’ve already rested that day, you can spend some time in the Hollow Deep Dive System or Combat Simulations to make more time pass. Completing side quests will also make time pass.

    Once it’s evening, head over to Waterfall Soup (the ramen shop pictured at the top of this post) to find a Treasure Hunter Bangboo chilling on the side behind the delivery moped. Interact with it, solve the puzzle, and that’s all you need to do to fulfill Officer Mewmew’s objective.

    For your efforts, you’ll get 10 Polychrome, one W-engine power supply, and 5,000 Denny.

    For more Zenless Zone Zero guides, see our beginner’s tips, list of codes, a guide to Officer Mewmew Medal locations, or our “Speedy Chaser” and “Let’s Go Bro!” exploration walkthroughs.

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    Julia Lee

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  • Genshin Impact version 4.8 livestream codes

    Genshin Impact version 4.8 livestream codes

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    Hoyoverse just wrapped up the Genshin Impact version 4.8 preview livestream, showing off all sorts of details about the upcoming patch. Most importantly, there were several codes that award Primogems and other rewards shown during the stream.

    Our Genshin Impact 4.8 livestream code list provides you with the three stream codes for rewards and explains how to redeem them.

    It’s summertime! So that means the next Genshin Impact patch will be the massive summer event, where there’s a limited time map, new skins for Nilou and Kirara, and — if it follows the same pattern as previous summer events — a hint about the upcoming region, Natlan. The stream also showed off Emilie, an upcoming Dendro character who will make her debut in version 4.8.

    Genshin Impact version 4.8 livestream codes

    The codes are as follows:

    You’ll want to redeem these codes quickly, as they expire on July 6 at 12 a.m. EDT.

    They not only reward Primogems, but they also give Mora and Adventurer’s EXP to level up your characters.

    How to redeem Genshin Impact gift codes

    To redeem codes, you can log in and input them on the code redemption website. You can also input them in-game through the settings menu, but copy and pasting them in a browser is much easier. You can also click the links above, if you’re logged in on whatever device you’re seeing this post on.

    Once you redeem the codes, you’ll get the rewards via in-game mail shortly after that.

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    Julia Lee

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  • Can Morelull be shiny in Pokémon Go?

    Can Morelull be shiny in Pokémon Go?

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    Morelull, the illuminating Pokémon from Alola, can be found in the wild in Pokémon Go. Yes, Morelull can be shiny in Pokémon Go!

    Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic

    Neither of these mushroom Pokémon see any use in raids, gyms, or PvP content. Their shinies are great, since they go from a spring coloring to a nice autumn red-yellow-brown.

    What is the shiny rate for Morelull in Pokémon Go?

    As per old research by the now-defunct website The Silph Road (via Wayback Machine), the shiny rate for Pokémon on a regular day is approximately one in 500. Morelull is not a confirmed Pokémon that gets a “permaboost” (meaning that it’s a rare spawn and thus gets a boosted shiny rate).

    What can I do to attract more shiny Pokémon?

    Not much, unfortunately. It appears to be random chance. Shiny Pokémon catch rates are set by developer Niantic, and they are typically only boosted during special events like Community Days or Safari Zones, or in Legendary Raids. There are no consumable items that boost shiny Pokémon rates.

    Where can I find a list of available shiny Pokémon?

    LeekDuck maintains a list of currently available shiny Pokémon. It’s a helpful visual guide that illustrates what all of the existing shiny Pokémon look like.

    For more tips, check out Polygon’s Pokémon Go guides.

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    Julia Lee

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  • Nvidia passes Microsoft in market cap to become most valuable public company

    Nvidia passes Microsoft in market cap to become most valuable public company

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    Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang attends an event at COMPUTEX forum in Taipei, Taiwan June 4, 2024. 

    Ann Wang | Reuters

    Nvidia, long known in the niche gaming community for its graphics chips, is now the most valuable public company in the world.

    Shares of the chipmaker climbed 3.2% in mid-day trading on Tuesday, lifting the company’s market cap to $3.33 trillion, surpassing Microsoft. Earlier this month, Nvidia hit a $3 trillion market cap for the first time, and passed Apple.

    Nvidia shares are up more than 170% so far this year, and took a leg higher after the company reported first-quarter earnings in May. The stock has multiplied by more than nine-fold since the end of 2022, a rise that’s coincided with the emergence of generative artificial intelligence.

    Nvidia has about 80% of the market for AI chips used in data centers, a business that’s ballooned as OpenAI, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Meta and others have raced to snap up the processors needed to build AI models and run increasingly large workloads.

    For the most recent quarter, revenue in Nvidia’s data center business rose 427% from a year earlier to $22.6 billion, accounting for about 86% of the company’s total sales.

    Apple shares were down about 1% during trading on Tuesday, giving it a $3.28 trillion market value. Microsoft shares slid less than a percentage point, giving it a market cap of $3.32 trillion.

    Founded in 1991, Nvidia spent its first few decades primarily as a hardware company that sold chips for gamers to run 3D titles. It’s also dabbled in cryptocurrency mining chips and cloud gaming subscriptions.

    But over the past two years, Nvidia shares have skyrocketed as Wall Street came to recognize the company’s technology as the engine behind an explosion in AI that shows no signs of slowing. The rally has lifted co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang’s net worth to about $117 billion, making him the 11th wealthiest person in the world, according to Forbes.

    Microsoft shares are up about 20% so far this year. The software giant has also been a major beneficiary of the AI boom, after it took a significant stake in OpenAI and integrated the startup’s AI models into its most important products, including Office and Windows. Microsoft is one of the biggest buyers of Nvidia’s graphics processing units (GPUs) for its Azure cloud service. The company just released a new generation of laptops that are designed to run its AI models, called Copilot+.

    Nvidia is a newcomer to the title of most valuable U.S. company. For the past few years, Apple and Microsoft have been trading the title.

    Nvidia’s ascent has been so rapid that the company has yet to be added to the Dow Jones Industrial Average, a benchmark of 30 stocks that’s historically included the most valuable U.S. companies. Alongside its earnings release last month, Nvidia announced a 10-for-1 stock split, which went into effect on Jan. 7.

    The split gives Nvidia a better shot at being added to the Dow, which is a price-weighted index, meaning that companies with higher stock prices — rather than market caps — have outsized influence on the benchmark.

    WATCH: The $10 trillion bull fight

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  • Pokémon Go ‘Spelunker’s Cove’ event and Timed Research tasks

    Pokémon Go ‘Spelunker’s Cove’ event and Timed Research tasks

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    Pokémon Go is hosting a water- and rock-type Pokémon event called “Spelunker’s Cove” to coincide with Pokémon Go Fest: Madrid. The event runs from June 15-18 and boosts the spawn rates of the aforementioned types of Pokémon.

    During the event period, any candy obtained from catching Pokémon will be doubled. Crabrawler is also making its shiny debut, so if you’re super lucky, you may see a shiny one.

    Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic

    Below we list out the other perks alongside Pokémon Go’s “Spelunker’s Cove” event, including the paid Timed Research, event Field Research Tasks, and spawns.

    Pokémon Go ‘Spelunker’s Cove’ event Timed Research and rewards

    This is a paid Timed Research for $1.99. Is the “Spelunker’s Cove” paid research worth buying? While the battle passes make it worth the value, we don’t recommend shelling out this extra cash unless you really want guaranteed Crabrawler encounters.

    ‘Beach Bash’ step 1 of 1

    • Power up Pokémon 5 times (2 Premium Battle Passes)
    • Explore 5 km (Crabrawler encounter)
    • Spin 10 PokéStops (Crabrawler encounter)
    • Catch 20 Pokémon (Crabrawler encounter)
    • Power up Pokémon 10 times (Crabrawler encounter)

    Rewards: 3 Premium Battle Passes, Crabrawler encounter, 20 Crabrawler Candy

    Pokémon Go ‘Spelunker’s Cove’ event Field Research and rewards

    Spinning a PokéStop during the event period may yield one of these tasks:

    • Catch 5 rock-type Pokémon (Geodude, Nosepass, or Binacle encounter)
    • Win a raid (Carbink, Crabrawler, or Jangmo-o encounter)
    • Power up Pokémon 10 times (Crabrawler encounter)
    • Spin 5 PokéStops (5 Poké Balls, 2 potions, or 2 revives)

    Pokémon Go ‘Spelunker’s Cove’ event boosted spawns

    These Pokémon will spawn more frequently during the event period:

    • Geodude
    • Rhyhorn
    • Chinchou
    • Marill
    • Shuckle
    • Remoraid
    • Nosepass
    • Feebas
    • Carbink
    • Crabrawler

    Pokémon Go ‘Spelunker’s Cove’ event raid targets

    These Pokémon will be in raids during the event:

    • Crabrawler (1-star)
    • Wimpod (1-star)
    • Jangmo-o (1-star)
    • Onix (3-star)
    • Kabutops (3-star)
    • Crawdaunt (3-star)

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    Julia Lee

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  • Judge Hints at Plans to Rein In Google’s Illegal Play Store Monopoly

    Judge Hints at Plans to Rein In Google’s Illegal Play Store Monopoly

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    A jury in December found that Google broke US antitrust laws through deals and billing rules that gave an unfair boost to its Google Play app store. On Thursday, a judge began laying out how Google could be forced to change its business as a penalty. The remedies under consideration could drive the most consequential shakeup ever to Google’s dominance over the Android universe.

    Fortnite video game developer Epic Games, which beat Google in the trial that saw a jury declare the Play store an illegal monopoly, is demanding that federal judge James Donato ban Google from contracts that deter competition. Epic also wants Google to be forced to help competing stores list more apps, giving them a competitive boost. The changes could enable Epic to realize its long-held plan to increase revenue by processing in-game purchases in Fortnite and other titles without using Google’s payment system, and marketing games via its own app store.

    Google contends that Epic’s demands would threaten its users’ security and impair the businesses of partners, including Android device makers and app developers. The search company is appealing the jury’s verdict, which could delay the rollout of any penalties for many years—or void them altogether. But Google over the past few years already has had to make some costly changes in Europe and Asia due to court losses and new laws affecting the Play store, and a trial with Epic is currently underway in Australia.

    “I want to be clear: Google as an illegal monopolist will have to pay some penalties,” Donato told Epic and Google at a hearing in San Francisco on Thursday. He explained that Google’s loss requires him to pry open the company’s grip on the Android ecosystem in a way that ends Google’s illegal monopoly and also removes its ill-gotten gains from years of unfair dominance.

    That would mean major changes for the industry that has built up around Google’s Android operating system—and potentially more choices for consumers. It could require Google investing cash into new projects to make things right, Donato said.

    Donato expressed frustration with Google’s claims that any changes would be bad for consumers and other businesses. “To jump up and down and say the new way is going to be a world no one wants to live in, it’s unfounded,” he said. But he also spent hours in the hearing quizzing two economists, one appearing on behalf of each company, about how to craft penalties for Google without being unreasonable.

    Among Epic’s requests is that Google be barred from striking deals that prevent or discourage companies from working with alternatives to its app store. In the past the company has required hardware companies that want to offer Google Play on their devices to agree not to work with or promote alternative app stores. That prevented most consumers from ever seeing other app stores, since most device makers want to offer Google’s app store, because it is the largest.

    Rival app stores such as those from Amazon and Samsung also have struggled to persuade developers to list their apps outside of Google Play, because maintaining apps in multiple stores takes extra work. To even the playing field, Epic proposes that Google be required for six years to provide rival stores a way to list apps that are hosted on Google Play. That would allow people to browse alternative stores without feeling they are missing out on popular apps, giving the store a better chance of success in the long term.

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    Paresh Dave

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  • Apple’s new iPad Pro is thin and fast, but the software needs an update

    Apple’s new iPad Pro is thin and fast, but the software needs an update

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    Apple’s new iPad Pro comes in two sizes, and starts at $999. It also has a new add-on case called Smart Keyboard that makes it feel like a laptop.

    Apple‘s new iPad Pro and iPad Air models launch Wednesday. I’ve been testing the new iPad Pro for several days and what I found is that it’s a very nice iPad.

    This is an important launch for Apple. Earlier this month, the company reported a 16% year-over-year drop in iPad revenue for its fiscal second quarter. Apple hasn’t rolled out a new iPad since October 2022.

    The new iPad Pro is fast, with the latest M4 chip, and it has a new OLED display that’s more colorful than prior screens. It’s the thinnest product Apple has ever launched.

    But, it still runs the same iPad software, and that’s starting to feel dated. The fully loaded out model I tested costs about $2,499. That’s before you add the $350 keyboard and $129 Apple Pencil Pro, which will help you get more out of the device.

    It’s time Apple makes this more than just an iPad. The software, called iPadOS, needs to catch up to the hardware.

    Here’s what you need to know about it.

    What’s good

    The new iPad Pro models can be seen at an Apple event. The new iPad Pro is the first Apple device with the M4 chip. The larger version with a 13-inch display is the thinnest Apple device to date with a thickness of 5.1 millimetres. 

    Christoph Dernbach | Picture Alliance | Getty Images

    The new iPad Pros cost $200 more than the models they replaced. I tested the larger 13-inch iPad Pro, which starts at $1,299 before storage and 5G upgrades. The 11-inch model starts at $999.

    The first thing I noticed when I picked it up was its thinness. It’s noticeable compared to the M1 iPad Pro I’ve used for the past several years. And it’s lighter. That’s especially nice on the 13-inch model, which replaces the 12.9-inch version. I always thought it felt too heavy and clunky to use as a tablet. It still feels big, but it’s more manageable.

    The new OLED screen is another highlight. It’s clear and super colorful. It’s similar to the OLED screen Apple has used on its iPhones Pro for years but not on iPads. The screen adapts, getting brighter in dark movies or showing scenes with explosions. And professional video and photo editors will appreciate its color accuracy. I loved using it for movies and while playing Diablo Immortal. The game will look better once Activision Blizzard releases an update enabling improved graphics for the M4 iPad Pro. The four stereo speakers sound nice and loud but not tinny.

    The camera is finally in the right place. It’s along the landscape edge of the iPad so that, when it’s propped up, it’s dead center for FaceTime calls. It used to be on the top of the iPad, forcing that awkward glance to the side during video calls. The quality was nice and clear during my tests and I like that the camera, using the Center Stage features, followed me as I moved around the room.

    2024 13-inch Apple iPad Pro

    Todd Haselton | CNBC

    The iPad has the latest and greatest M4 chip, which hasn’t launched on Macs yet. I ran a GeekBench multicore benchmark test that shows it scoring 48% higher than the prior M2 iPad Pro. Apple promises up to 4x faster rendering over the M2 and 1.5x faster processor performance, which means video editing in Final Cut Pro for iPad and rendering things like 3D models is quicker for professionals who need it. The M4 also has a special engine that helps power the “Tandem OLED” displays. Apple took a unique approach to the iPad by stacking two OLED screens on top of one another, which requires this special part of the M4 chip to work.

    The iPad Pro felt quick when I ran two apps side-by-side, switching between Slack and the web browser, or loading into games. Apps switch in an instant. It wasn’t much different than my M1 iPad for everyday stuff, like browsing the web and opening apps, which seems to be how iPads are mostly used. More on that in the next section.

    2024 13-inch Apple iPad Pro

    Todd Haselton | CNBC

    The new iPads Pro support Apple’s updated $350 Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro (the 11-inch version is $300). It’s awesome and is just like typing on a Mac with a full function row above the number keys to switch apps, adjust the volume or brightness and more. Apple added a much larger trackpad and an aluminum palm rest but kept the same soft outside and “floating” screen mechanism, which allows you to snap the iPad onto the case using its magnetic pins and tilt it back and forth.

    2024 13-inch Apple iPad Pro

    Todd Haselton | CNBC

    The updated Apple Pencil Pro is also a lot of fun. I mostly use the Apple Pencil to sign documents. But folks who draw or paint on their iPads, or need more control in 3D or video apps, will like the new features. I liked squeezing it to change between the tool — pencil or brush or eraser and the color — and the haptic pulse to confirm you’ve squeezed it. Developers can add the squeeze function to their apps so you can access different tools in different apps. The added gyroscope also allows you to tilt and twirl the pencil to change your pencil or pen stroke. Double tap is convenient, too, allowing you to switch between a pencil and eraser tool, for example. The hover function previews where you’re going to touch the display.

    Apple promises the same battery life as the last iPads Pro. So you get about 10 hours of web browsing or watching video, or nine hours if you’re browsing the web on a cellular connection. That lined up with what I received during my tests. Expect to get a full workday of use. Still, it’s impressive given this iPad is 1.3mm thinner and 103 grams lighter than the last 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

    What’s bad

    2024 13-inch Apple iPad Pro

    Todd Haselton | CNBC

    Here’s my biggest gripe about the Pro models: The software, iPadOS, is what you’ll get on any other iPad. And while I think it works great, it’s time for the Pro models to have a better operating system.

    My guess is Apple has something big planned for next month’s Worldwide Developers Conference and I hope it addresses this. I probably won’t get my wish, but I’d love to see the iPad Pro act just like a Mac. Plop it into the keyboard and it turns into a touchscreen MacBook. Lift it off and use it like a regular iPad. It has a newer processor than Apple’s MacBooks, so this should be possible if it’s something Apple wants. Regardless, we need better multitasking.

    Stage Manager on the iPad Pro

    Todd Haselton | CNBC

    Apple’s “Stage Manager” feature was supposed to make it easier to run multiple apps and switch between them, but it’s still too confusing and clunky. Apps should open in separate windows and minimize just like on a Mac. And, since the M-series processors also power Macs, we should be able to run Mac apps, too.

    Apple talked a lot about artificial intelligence when it announced the new iPads. But, most of the AI is what Apple has previously called machine learning. A lot of stuff that happens behind the scenes. The camera can take multiple pictures of a document and scan it more accurately, for example. AI can isolate backgrounds in Final Cut Pro or generate music in apps like StaffPad. Apple CEO Tim Cook has said he’ll talk about generative AI during WWDC in June, so there are likely more features coming.

    Lastly, I wish the iPads Pro supported an always-on display like Apple’s iPhones Pro. It would let me glance at the iPad to see notifications, music, widgets and more. However, the iPad’s screen refresh rate bottoms out at 10hz instead of 1hz, which means it would still refresh too often and drain more power.

    Should you buy the 2024 iPad Pro?

    2024 13-inch Apple iPad Pro

    Todd Haselton | CNBC

    It depends on what you need. It’s my favorite iPad to date, even though I don’t need the faster chip. I love how thin it is and that it’s lighter than the earlier iPads. The updated keyboard is great. The new Apple Pencil Pro works well, but creatives will use it more than I do.

    I still think the 13-inch is a little too big and would steer most folks to the 11-inch model. If you don’t care about needing all the speed, you should consider the new iPad Air, which costs less and also comes with a bigger 13-inch screen. If you just need a tablet to browse the web, play games and check email, get the $350 iPad.

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  • Carousel Digital Signage Cuts Through the Noise with Carousel Daily

    Carousel Digital Signage Cuts Through the Noise with Carousel Daily

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    MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, April 30, 2024 – Carousel Digital Signage has launched a new media delivery service that will change the way organizations engage with their audiences. Carousel Daily allows organizational leaders to take important messages direct to intended audiences, pushing need-to-know news and information to mobile devices. The service extends the reach of traditional digital signage content well beyond the facility walls, enabling seamless communications to thousands of devices.

    Carousel Daily is a unique initiative that was created to cut through the noise of the workplace or learning environments where essential communications may be overlooked or forgotten. The Carousel Daily flips the script by empowering internal-facing organizations to reach the right audience, at the right place, and at the right time. Delivered to iOS devices, Carousel Daily bulletins are accessible through an app installed on organization-issued or personal devices. 

    Carousel Cloud customers can deliver the same visual communications that they display on their fixed digital signage or create unique feeds specifically designed for more mobile audiences. Carousel Daily Feeds are distributed as links, QR codes or configured via MDM for users. The app allows for the inclusion of external URLs within the feed, seamlessly guiding viewers to essential destinations for tasks such as training completion, video viewing, CEO messages, annual enrollment, and any other matters demanding their attention. The service also provides analytics to help administrators measure audience engagement, including responsiveness to each call to action.

    “The Carousel Daily allows our customers to get the most value out of their communications efforts, and it does so without bombarding audiences with endless feeds full of information they don’t need,” said Eric Henry, President, Carousel Digital Signage. “Users can target people with the precise information they need to act on. Our corporate customers can go straight to the employees to announce a new training, or remind them to sign up for new benefits. Our K12 customers have the flexibility to create alternate feeds for students and parents, and retail operations can send internal updates relevant to store managers. The beauty is that nothing fundamentally changes about how they use Carousel Cloud. Customers use the same scheduling and content management toolsets to reach their audiences in new, exciting and impactful ways.”

    Carousel Daily comes free with a Carousel Cloud subscription and is licensed by audience size to meet the organization’s needs. Carousel Digital Signage partners with JAMF for customers that leverage mobile device management (MDM) services to manage, secure and deploy Carousel Daily onto end-user devices. As Apple Education Partners, Carousel and JAMF are dedicated to bringing the best Apple Experience to education and corporate customers.

    About Carousel Digital Signage

    Carousel is Digital Signage Content Management Software that is easy to use, scalable, and  reliable. With a deep feature set and strong technology partnerships Carousel gives you the most value in digital signage. Carousel Digital Signage is a division of Tightrope Media Systems. You can reach the Carousel team at (866) 866-4118, or visit www.carouselsignage.com.

    eSchool News Staff
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  • Can Clefairy be shiny in Pokémon Go?

    Can Clefairy be shiny in Pokémon Go?

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    Clefairy, the fairy Pokémon from Kanto, can be found in the wild in Pokémon Go. Yes, Clefairy can be shiny in Pokémon Go!

    Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic

    The Clefairy family doesn’t see any use in PvE content (raids and gyms), but Clefable does see some use in PvP Ultra League for those interested.

    Its shiny is a simple one, but it gets the point across. It gives more of an alien vibe to the Pokémon that comes from the moon.

    What is the shiny rate for Clefairy in Pokémon Go?

    As per old research by the now-defunct website The Silph Road (via Wayback Machine), the shiny rate for Pokémon on a regular day is approximately one in 500. Clefairy is not a confirmed Pokémon that gets a “permaboost” (meaning that it’s a rare spawn and thus gets a boosted shiny rate).

    What can I do to attract more shiny Pokémon?

    Not much, unfortunately. It appears to be random chance. Shiny Pokémon catch rates are set by developer Niantic, and they are typically only boosted during special events like Community Days or Safari Zones, or in Legendary Raids. There are no consumable items that boost shiny Pokémon rates.

    Where can I find a list of available shiny Pokémon?

    LeekDuck keeps a list of currently available shiny Pokémon. It’s a helpful visual guide that illustrates what all of the existing shiny Pokémon look like.

    For more tips, check out Polygon’s Pokémon Go guides.

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    Julia Lee

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  • Why Apple’s iPhone Browser-Choice Option Sucks

    Why Apple’s iPhone Browser-Choice Option Sucks

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    A few representatives from smaller browser companies also expressed that they wanted more information included with Apple’s choice process, like definitions of what a browser is for less tech-savvy users and descriptions of the different browsers’ specialties. “Giving people information about the choice, and also information about what they’re choosing is really, really important,” says Kush Amlani, a global competition and regulatory counsel at Mozilla, which makes the Firefox browser.

    Sophie Dembinski, a head of public policy and climate action at Ecosia, mentioned how Apple’s pop-up appears for all iPhone users even if they’ve already gone into their phone’s settings and set an alternative browser as their default. In comparison, Google’s browser choice screen for Android users won’t show up if you’ve already gone through the steps of setting a preference for a third-party option.

    While many developers are unhappy with Apple’s implementation, not every company with a browser on the choice screen expressed frustration. “We believe that Apple’s approach to presenting the browser choice screen is fair and acceptable,” says Andrew Moroz Frost, the Aloha Browser founder. He pointed out the randomized order of the browsers shown on the pop-up as one example of Apple designing it in a fair manner.

    Richard Socher, the founder and CEO of You.com, seemed more encouraged by there being a browser choice screen that includes the search-focused startup rather than frustrated by Apple’s implementation. “I think it’s great that there’s not the default already preselected,” he says. Socher highlighted the randomized order as a positive sign as well.

    Is this choice screen a true turning point for alternative browsers to grow their user base? “We’re expecting to have a clear picture on user uplift within months, not weeks,” says Dembinski. While some browsers reported initial upticks in downloads, it still seems too soon to make sweeping generalizations about the long-term efficacy of Apple’s choice screen.

    “We would like to encourage platform providers to also level out the playing field for app developers around the world, not just in the EU,” says Jan Standal, a vice president of product marketing at Opera. Some of the companies WIRED spoke with remain hopeful that the precedent of browser choice screens set by the DMA will inspire international software changes.

    Shortly after Apple’s choice screen launched, the European Commision announced that the screen would be part of its wider investigation into how Apple, Google, and Meta might be breaking these updated regulations: “The Commission is concerned that Apple’s measures, including the design of the web browser choice screen, may be preventing users from truly exercising their choice of services within the Apple ecosystem, in contravention of Article 6(3) of the DMA.” In keeping with its slow-moving tradition, this investigation may take up to a year to complete.

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    Reece Rogers

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  • Can Trubbish be shiny in Pokémon Go?

    Can Trubbish be shiny in Pokémon Go?

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    Trubbish, the trash bag Pokémon from Unova, can be found in the wild in Pokémon Go. Yes, Trubbish can be shiny in Pokémon Go!

    Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Image sources: Niantic/The Pokémon Company

    Neither Trubbish nor Garbodor see any meta use in PvE or PvP, though Garbodor has some really niche uses in some PvP leagues. As meta Pokémon, these guys go into the trash. As Pokémon themselves, they deserve love, care, and a wonderful home.

    What is the shiny rate for Trubbish in Pokémon Go?

    As per old research by the now-defunct website The Silph Road (via Wayback Machine), the shiny rate for Pokémon on a regular day is approximately one in 500. Trubbish is not a confirmed Pokémon that gets a “permaboost” (meaning that it’s a rare spawn and thus gets a boosted shiny rate).

    What can I do to attract more shiny Pokémon?

    Not much, unfortunately. It appears to be random chance. Shiny Pokémon catch rates are set by developer Niantic, and they are typically only boosted during special events like Community Days or Safari Zones, or in Legendary Raids. There are no consumable items that boost shiny Pokémon rates.

    Where can I find a list of available shiny Pokémon?

    LeekDuck keeps a list of currently available shiny Pokémon. It’s a helpful visual guide that illustrates what all of the existing shiny Pokémon look like.

    For more tips, check out Polygon’s Pokémon Go guides.

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    Julia Lee

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