BlackBerry shutting down BB10 store, paid apps to disappear on April 1

BlackBerry OS 10 has hung around longer than expected even after developers and top-tier apps have long moved away from the failed platform. While many intrepid and loyal BB10 users have tried to get by with sideloading Android APKs just to get by.

The inevitable is coming to pass, however, as paid apps on the BB10 will be gone by April 1. BlackBerry will continue maintainance and support until 2019, but it really is time to let go and transition to another platform. BlackBerry transitioned to Android way back in 2015, and then effectively sold or licensed off its hardware business to various players, the most notable of which is TCL whose revivalist KEYOne handset brings the best of BlackBerry's design and security while offering the Android ecosystem and all the apps and services that come with it.

Source: The Verge

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.”

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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.

Sonos One speaker now has Amazon Alexa assistant enabled

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Owners of the Sonos One smart speaker are getting a delightful surprise today as the Amazon Alexa smart assistant is now enabled and offers a variety of welcome features. Users who are also subscribed to services like Spotify, Amazon Prime Music, TuneIn Radio and other streaming music services can simply ask their Sonos One to find and play music by song, artist, genre or playlist.

For users who have the Sonos One as part of a multi-room, multi-speaker setup, the $249 CAD smart speaker can now ask Alexa to play music on specific speakers or rooms which simplifies the process of managing a variety of sources and playback devices.

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