Delta to swap out Microsoft devices for Apple gadgets

If you’re taking a Delta flight in the near future, you’ll soon see the company’s employees using iPhones and iPads instead of Nokia phones and Surface tablets. The airline plans to switch to iOS devices in 2018. The news about this move came from an email that was obtained by MacOSKen from two different sources; however, Delta hasn’t publicly announced the news just yet. The iPhone 7 Plus will be taking the place of the Nokia phones they use, while the iPad Pro will be replacing the Microsoft Surface tablets. These mobile devices have been used for things like in-flight customer service and sales as well as electronic flight bag. The change will affect over 23,000 flight attendants and 14,000 pilots. Delta says it plans to maintain its partnership with Microsoft but the entire suit of tools used by the pilots and flight crew will be powered by iOS. Delta is joining other Joint Venture partners like Aeromexico, Air France, KLM, and Virgin Atlantic in adopting iOS as its platform of choice. 

Source: Cult of Mac

Paid music streaming services to have bigger impact on Billboard charts in 2018

With paid streaming services changing the music landscape, it’s not surprising to us that Billboard is changing its ranking system to reflect this new reality. The streams from paid subscription services like Amazon Music and Apple Music as well as those hybrid paid/ad-supported services like Spotify and SoundCloud will have a bigger influence on Billboard’s charts in 2018.

According to a post on Billboard’s site, “Beginning in 2018, plays occurring on paid subscription-based services (such as Amazon Music and Apple Music) or on the paid subscription tiers of hybrid paid/ad-supported platforms (such as SoundCloud and Spotify) will be given more weight in chart calculations than those plays on pure ad-supported services (such as YouTube) or on the non-paid tiers of hybrid paid/ad-supported services.”

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Mastercard wants to get rid of having to sign for credit and debit card purchases by 2018

Mastercard wants to get rid of having to sign for credit and debit card purchases by 2018

Signing off on credit and debit card purchases in this day and age feel like such an archaic activity in this day and age. And Mastercard acknowledges this as fact. According to the company, now there are only about 20 percent of its transactions in North America still need cardholders to sign for purchases. Mastercard is looking to eliminate this altogether by April next year—for both credit and debit transactions.

With the introduction of technologies like the card’s chip, tokens, biometrics, and digital platforms with better security, there shouldn’t be a concern about security. Mastercard claims most people aren’t even concerned about the loss of signatures. This move, in fact, could reduce time spent at store checkouts as well as reduce costs.

Source: Mastercard