Tag - Walmart
Apple rises in Fortune 500, drops in Barrons brand poll
Apple has risen from fifth place to third in Fortune's rankings of the top 500 corporations in the US, ending a two-year run at fifth place, and now trailing only Walmart and Exxon Mobil. This year, Apple move pushed Chevron and financial firm Berkshire Hathaway down to fourth and fifth. While Apple was out-earned by both Walmart ($482.1 billion) and Exxon ($246.2 billion), it remains the most profitable publicly-traded company in the world, with profits of $53.4 billion -- more than Walmart and Exxon's annual profits combined.
Walmart Pay QR code-based payments active in Texas, Arkansas
Walmart has started to make its attempt at a mobile payments service available for customers to use, with close to 600 stores in two states set to start offering payment of groceries via an app. More than 480 Walmart stores in Texas and over 110 retail locations in Arkansas are now able to use Walmart Pay, updated in the retailer's iOS app last month, to make payments at the checkout without having to access cards from a wallet or purse.
Walmart rolls out QR code-based Walmart Pay to iPhone app
Walmart is finally rolling out its competitor to Apple Pay to its mobile app, making it one of the last few major retailers to offer some form of mobile-based payment system in its stores. Walmart Pay will allow customers to register their credit, debit, and gift card details to an account in the app, which can then be used to make payments at the checkout at the retailer's stores across the United States, though when individual stores will gain the ability to accept the payments remains unknown.
Walmart Pay takes on Apple Pay using register-mounted QR codes
Walmart is continuing its ongoing avoidance of supporting Apple Pay, by launching its own rival mobile payment service for use in its retail outlets. Running within the current Walmart app, Walmart Pay will let customers pay for goods at the checkout in stores using their smartphone, with payment extracted from any major credit, debit, pre-paid, or Walmart gift card linked to the account via the app.
Daily Deals: Amazon Prime Day, Walmart sales, Newegg event
Today is going to be replete with deals. Since Walmart and Amazon aren't so nice as to have mostly all-day sales. Instead of being witty and talking about what something is, and what it isn't, we're going to do a bulleted list, with stop times as best as we can find them. Every so often, we'll check what's still available, pop in new deals, and bump this to to the top and label a time for an update so you've got an idea about relative freshness. And we're done here! This final frequent update is at 3:30 PM EDT, but we may still add as the day goes on, just with less fanfare.
Walmart ships Vudu Spark video streaming HDMI dongle
Walmart has commenced sales on the Vudu Spark video streamer on its website, in addition to 2,500 stores US-wide. The HDMI dongle is, as expected, a one-feature device intended only to provide streaming content from the Walmart Vudu service powered by a USB port, controlled by a dedicated remote control. Connectivity is through 802.11n Wi-Fi. Resolutions supported include 1080p 60Hz, with the addition of 7.1 surround sound audio.
Virgin Mobile no-contract data sharing plans available tomorrow
Virgin Mobile has become the first prepaid carrier in the United States to offer no-contract data sharing plans. The "Data Done Right" plans, going on sale from tomorrow though Walmart, will provide LTE data on Sprint's cellular network to multiple lines under the same prepaid account, along with unlimited calls and unlimited texts across all lines.
Briefly: Walmart price-matches Amazon, Domino's Pizza on Pebble
Walmart stores will soon offer price matching against Amazon product listings, in time for the holiday shopping period. Managers at the retailers stores have been informed of the policy change, formalizing a practice already being conducted at half the stores according to Reuters, with the ultimate aim of encouraging customers to continue visiting its stores rather than shopping online.
Walmart plans price cuts, gift cards for Apple items on Black Friday
Walmart will be including Apple products in three different US Black Friday sales "events," the retailer has announced. The first event, actually scheduled for November 27 starting at 6PM local time, will include a 16GB non-Retina first-gen Wi-Fi iPad mini for $199 ($50 less than Apple's price), bundled with a $30 gift card. Customers also be able to buy a set of Beats Wireless headphones for $149, $130 below normal retail price.
Vudu Spark HDMI streaming dongle appears in FCC filing
Walmart is preparing to launch a streaming HDMI dongle, similar to the Google Chromecast, Amazon's Fire TV Stick, and the Roku Streaming Stick, according to an FCC filing. The Vudu Spark is similar in shape and size to its competition, connecting directly to the HDMI port on a television, though it is unclear if it will have the same level of utility as other devices.
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Cirrus creates Lightning-headphone dev kit
Apple supplier Cirrus Logic has introduced a MFi-compliant new development kit for companies interested in using Cirrus' chips to create Lightning-based headphones, which -- regardless of whether rumors about Apple dropping the analog headphone jack in its iPhone this fall -- can offer advantages to music-loving iOS device users. The kit mentions some of the advantages of an all-digital headset or headphone connector, including higher-bitrate support, a more customizable experience, and support for power and data transfer into headphone hardware. Several companies already make Lightning headphones, and Apple has supported the concept since June 2014. http://bit.ly/29giiZj
Apple Store app offers Procreate Pocket
The Apple Store app for iPhone, which periodically rewards users with free app gifts, is now offering the iPhone "Pocket" version of drawing app Procreate for those who have the free Apple Store app until July 28. Users who have redeemed the offer by navigating to the "Stores" tab of the app and swiping past the "iPhone Upgrade Program" banner to the "Procreate" banner have noted that only the limited Pocket (iPhone) version of the app is available free, even if the Apple Store app is installed and the offer redeemed on an iPad. The Pocket version currently sells for $3 on the iOS App Store. [32.4MB]
Porsche adds CarPlay to 2017 Panamera
Porsche has added a fifth model of vehicle to its CarPlay-supported lineup, announcing that the 2017 Panamera -- which will arrive in the US in January -- will include Apple's infotainment technology, and be seen on a giant 12.3-inch touchscreen as part of an all-new Porsche Communication Management system. The luxury sedan starts at $99,900 for the 4S model, and scales up to the Panamera Turbo, which sells for $146,900. Other vehicles that currently support CarPlay include the 2016 911 and the 2017 models of Macan, 718 Boxster, and 718 Cayman. The company did not mention support for Google's corresponding Android Auto in its announcement. http://bit.ly/295ZQ94
Apple employees testing wheelchair features
New features included in the forthcoming watchOS 3 are being tested by Apple retail store employees, including a new activity-tracking feature that has been designed with wheelchair users in mind. The move is slightly unusual in that, while retail employees have previously been used to test pre-release versions of OS X and iOS, this marks the first time they've been included in the otherwise developer-only watchOS betas. The company is said to have gone to great lengths to modify the activity tracker for wheelchair users, including changing the "time to stand" notification to "time to roll" and including two wheelchair-centric workout apps. http://bit.ly/2955JDa
SanDisk reveals two 256GB microSDXC cards
SanDisk has introduced two 256GB microSDXC cards. Arriving in August for $150, the Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Premium Edition card offers transfer speeds of up to 95MB/s for reading data. The Extreme microSDXC UHS-I card can read at a fast 100MB/s and write at up to 90MB/s, and will be shipping sometime in the fourth quarter for $200. http://bit.ly/294Q1If
Apple's third-quarter results due July 26
Apple has advised it will be issuing its third-quarter results on July 26, with a conference call to answer investor and analyst queries about the earnings set to take place later that day. The stream of the call will go live at 2pm PT (5pm ET) via Apple's investor site, with the results themselves expected to be released roughly 30 minutes before the call commences. Apple's guidance for the quarter put revenue at between $41 billion and $43 billion. http://apple.co/1oi1Pbm
Twitter stickers slowly roll out to users
Twitter has introduced "stickers," allowing users to add extra graphical elements to their photos before uploading them to the micro-blogging service. A library of hundreds of accessories, props, and emoji will be available to use as stickers, which can be resized, rotated, and placed anywhere on the photograph. Images with stickers will also become searchable with viewers able to select a sticker to see how others use the same graphic in their own posts. Twitter advises stickers will be rolling out to users over the next few weeks, and will work on both the mobile apps and through the browser. http://bit.ly/29bbwUE
