M. Night Shyamalan signs on to develop original series for Apple TV

Gage Skidmore

Apple is adding another big name to its roster of creatives that is developing original programming for them. Variety reports that M. Night Shyamalan is creating a 10-episode original TV series for the Apple TV platform. The series is said to be a psychological thriller and will be written by Tony Basgallop, who has been credited for working on Berlin Station, 24: Legacy, and 24: Live Another Day. We don’t know anything else about plot and the like at the moment but the show will be produced by Shyamalan’s Blinding Edge Pictures. This series marks the director’s second foray into the small screen. He was the executive producer of Wayward Pines, which just finished its two-season run.

Source: Engadget

ASUS goes all out with MWC launch, introduces new ZenFone 5 line

Taiwanese tech company ASUS does what it’s been doing in recent years, releasing multiple variants of its smartphone line to cater to specific user needs. This time around the new ZenFone 5 line gets three versions: the ZenFone 5Z, ZenFone 5, and ZenFone 5 Lite.

The first two share its physical characteristics with a 6.2-inch 19:9 LCD displays with 90% percent screen-to-body ratio, which makes it possible to fit all that phone into the body of a standard 5.5-inch phone. But the phones also share a look with another popular device from an even bigger brand in smartphones. Yes, you see it has a notch and ASUS acknowledges somewhat that they’ve taken the design cue from Apple.

“Some people will say it’s copying Apple,” said Marcel Campos, Asus’ global head of marketing, “but we cannot get away from what users want. You have to follow the trends.”

Click to read more ...

Ritual app ushers in Eats Week Toronto exclusively with Apple Pay at 550+Restaurants

Ritual, a social ordering app that connects users to their favourite local eateries, announced Eats Week Toronto -- an on-demand digital food festival at more than 550 of the city’s top fast-casual restaurants and cafes. During Eats Week Toronto, participating restaurants and cafes will feature signature items at up to 50 percent off when you order on Ritual and pay with Apple Pay. The special offers will start February 26th and conclude March 9th in Toronto.

“Think of it as an on-demand restaurant week,” said Ritual CEO Ray Reddy. “Using Ritual and Apple Pay, customers not only gain access to hundreds of deals at the best cafes and restaurants in the city, but have an easy and more secure way to get their food fast - with just a touch or a glance.”

Click to read more ...

Mastercard and Dream Payments speed up insurance payments

Mastercard  announced a global partnership with Canadian-based Dream Payments aimed at getting insurance customers paid quickly, simply and securely. Northbridge Financial, a Fairfax company, will be the first insurance provider in Canada to use the Mastercard Send platform through the Dream Payments Hub, followed by international markets.

Mastercard Send is a global push payments platform designed to work with banks, businesses, digital players, governments and money transfer services, helping them to modernize the way they send money, both domestically and cross-border.

Both Mastercard and Dream Payments share a vision where insurance policyholders will receive fast payments into any payment card or account, when they need it most.