Blackberry fans line up here: pre-orders for the new Classic are open

<b>Platform loyal BBM addicts have a new device to consider -- other than the Passport -- now that Blackberry is taking pre-orders for its upcoming phone.</b><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGIjPZBXAfca5YhyXLCH8f7hamPlFbvIGJ9BGgnEC2oHSz9FrCLkZJCqIczLz9nfnAyg-QdBZgsI3a7dVO7zzYeF2Jj-QuYS0M7w5mK3XWFE5C56OcSE4ow2LsSPuXTiHOVvwrMF_RV6f/s1600/Blackberry-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blackberry fans line up here: pre-orders for the new Classic are open" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGIjPZBXAfca5YhyXLCH8f7hamPlFbvIGJ9BGgnEC2oHSz9FrCLkZJCqIczLz9nfnAyg-QdBZgsI3a7dVO7zzYeF2Jj-QuYS0M7w5mK3XWFE5C56OcSE4ow2LsSPuXTiHOVvwrMF_RV6f/s1600/Blackberry-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="Blackberry fans line up here: pre-orders for the new Classic are open" /></a></div> <div> <b><br /></b> <div> The Classic (aka Q20) brings the design, keyboard and trackpad users are used to, plus a large square touch screen, the latest version of BlackBerry OS and support for Android apps. Currently only a GSM version is available (no Verizon, Sprint or US Cellular support here) in the US for $450 and shipments are expected to start in mid-December. Oddly, BlackBerry hasn't revealed more details or specs about the phone, but those should be revealed closer to its release. Our best look at the phone came from this leak, feel free to take a look back before deciding to whether to place an order.</div> </div> <div> <br /></div>

Blackberry fans line up here: pre-orders for the new Classic are open

Platform loyal BBM addicts have a new device to consider -- other than the Passport -- now that Blackberry is taking pre-orders for its upcoming phone. The Classic (aka Q20) brings the design, keyboard and trackpad users are used to, plus a large square touch screen, the latest version of BlackBerry…

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Some Bank of America customers double-charged with Apple Pay

<b>Some Bank of America customers have been double-charged for purchases made with Apple Pay, the payment system Apple launched on Monday.</b><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-S2mMd1KsRAyOvEgNaSc-AJSn7WOZ_cb0xtfIzFxl-7uIqLkCkKBcP5YjuFNSc5CI82D5zL_T8dfn3DVfIj_-Xl7iOglvLwW5A6L1BpVVsfrvI8bY-L3oWY1Sv1-VzUNOus7d3MJMdyi/s1600/Apple-Pay-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-S2mMd1KsRAyOvEgNaSc-AJSn7WOZ_cb0xtfIzFxl-7uIqLkCkKBcP5YjuFNSc5CI82D5zL_T8dfn3DVfIj_-Xl7iOglvLwW5A6L1BpVVsfrvI8bY-L3oWY1Sv1-VzUNOus7d3MJMdyi/s1600/Apple-Pay-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="Some Bank of America customers double-charged with Apple Pay" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some Bank of America customers double-charged with Apple Pay</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div> Roughly 1,000 transactions made with Apple Pay were logged twice in customer accounts, said Tara Burke, a spokeswoman with Bank of America, which is one of the largest U.S. banks and was an Apple Pay launch partner.<br /> <br /> “We apologize for the inconvenience and are correcting the problem,” said Burke.<br /> <br /> The duplicate transactions should be removed by the end of Wednesday.<br /> <br /> Apple Pay utilizes a secure chip inside Apple’s new iPhone 6 that enables the phone to emulate an NFC (near field communications) payment card. When the Apple Pay app is loaded with a customer’s credit or debit card, payments can be made at NFC terminals by bringing the phone close to the terminal.<br /> <br /> The system is being positioned as easier and more secure than current payment cards because the card number is not passed to the retailer’s terminal. Instead, a substitute number called a token is offered to the merchant, which sends it on to the card issuer for approval.<br /> <br /> The token can only be used once, so if it’s stolen it should prove useless to cyberattackers. It’s tied to the actual card number deeper in the financial services network, further away from the retailer terminals that have been the target of so much hacking recently.<br /> <br /> Apple Pay is compatible with existing NFC payment terminals, which can be found in around 200,000 shops and taxis across the U.S.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <br /></div>

Some Bank of America customers double-charged with Apple Pay

Some Bank of America customers have been double-charged for purchases made with Apple Pay, the payment system Apple launched on Monday. Some Bank of America customers double-charged with Apple Pay Roughly 1,000 transactions made with Apple Pay were logged twice in customer accounts, said Tara Burke,…

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200,000 Passports ordered since launch

<h2 style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: blue;">200,000 Passports ordered since launch</span></h2> <b>The device is already sold out on its own website and Amazon.</b><br /> <br /> The BlackBerry Passport is off to a decent start.<br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGaYe4-ut46xslkmEsKZp4DIfbl7Bsx41JTZ6jMwt0l0d4-hMHt2QTeQ15WHBiINi8rOwJ238xj-a9TKk1Gz-U-qpt3U7QwZ4JpdZNmoO616sPe6CXlr9JxaNkr3_0QWfLRl5jjPX_oVMw/s1600/BlackBerry-Passport-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGaYe4-ut46xslkmEsKZp4DIfbl7Bsx41JTZ6jMwt0l0d4-hMHt2QTeQ15WHBiINi8rOwJ238xj-a9TKk1Gz-U-qpt3U7QwZ4JpdZNmoO616sPe6CXlr9JxaNkr3_0QWfLRl5jjPX_oVMw/s1600/BlackBerry-Passport-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">200,000 Passports ordered since launch</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <div> <div> The unusually shaped smartphone garnered 200,000 orders since its launch on Wednesday, according to CEO John Chen. The smartphone sold out in six hours on its own website, and sold out in 10 hours on Amazon, he said. Before it sold out, the Passport was the top unlocked smartphone on the e-tailer's site.</div> <div> <br /> The strong early start to the Passport is critical to company's efforts to turn itself around. It's the first flagship smartphone that BlackBerry has released this year, representative of the new tenure under Chen. The company is attempting to go after "power professionals" -- productivity-focused individuals who prefer a keyboard and focus on messaging and e-mails.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IOdtmcPOOBq4KcDpEhWFJ3AhtvNxGAb5QwhQL0NOTYp2GtIzcdv6JkyW22ZgIcT1LoedkbNmuTsVmvFVw_CoANUVkT1JFVlUIfxX1UYscnpIK7JWRj4LFHntcLslkBGfa_Cv6BW4ra5Q/s1600/BlackBerry-Passport-02-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IOdtmcPOOBq4KcDpEhWFJ3AhtvNxGAb5QwhQL0NOTYp2GtIzcdv6JkyW22ZgIcT1LoedkbNmuTsVmvFVw_CoANUVkT1JFVlUIfxX1UYscnpIK7JWRj4LFHntcLslkBGfa_Cv6BW4ra5Q/s1600/BlackBerry-Passport-02-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="" /></a></div> <div> <br /> The Passport is indicative of Chen's strategy shift toward more people who work in large corporations and government agencies that value security and messaging capabilities. AT&T has confirmed that it would sell the Passport, but hasn't provided a price or date of availability. The smartphone is already available unlocked for $599 in the US.<br /> <br /> One reason why the BlackBerry Passport sold out so quickly was because the company only provided a small initial order. Chen said a larger order would come next Wednesday.<br /> <br /> Next up for BlackBerry on the device front is the Bold-like BlackBerry Classic.<br /> <br /> BlackBerry earlier Friday posted a narrower fiscal second-quarter loss that topped Wall Street expectations.</div> </div>

200,000 Passports ordered since launch

200,000 Passports ordered since launch The device is already sold out on its own website and Amazon. The BlackBerry Passport is off to a decent start. 200,000 Passports ordered since launch The unusually shaped smartphone garnered 200,000 orders since its launch on Wednesday, according to CEO John …

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Apple iPad Air 2: What we expect for the release date, specs and price of the next iPad

<h2 style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: blue;">Apple iPad Air 2: What we expect for the release date, specs and price of the next iPad</span></h2> <b>Now that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are real products, speculation about Apple's other overdue devices are getting more traction in the rumor mill.</b><div> <b><br /></b>A refresh to the Apple iPad is expected before the arrival of the gift-giving holiday seasons, along with some new Mac computers, and an updated iPad Air and iPad Mini are on the short list of predictions.</div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGD9HktZZtyA6gLSoQ3inFgD74tl1rik38_FnvTYSeVF_THp2gwy51ADlcQhR_QsVl4v1gbzEikSq5mdn-7VuQJCbcpxzuwgwidsuQwLnAJT-TRsCD8JKx2FK7ECumYfOScvmUZRkGapz/s1600/ipad-2-air-02-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGD9HktZZtyA6gLSoQ3inFgD74tl1rik38_FnvTYSeVF_THp2gwy51ADlcQhR_QsVl4v1gbzEikSq5mdn-7VuQJCbcpxzuwgwidsuQwLnAJT-TRsCD8JKx2FK7ECumYfOScvmUZRkGapz/s1600/ipad-2-air-02-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apple iPad Air 2</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div> The Cupertino, Calif., company hasn't revealed details of when an announcement for the next generation of iPads will happen, but lately there have been hints at an October release date. Apple has a consistent history of refreshing its tablet line-up during the fall, so the presumption of an October date falls in line with the company's MO.</div> <div> <br />At this point, nothing is for certain, but there are a few safe bets on what we can expect to see. The upcoming iPads will run iOS 8 and Apple is expected to add a Touch ID sensor, an A8 processor, and possibly NFC capabilities, all of which can be found on the new iPhones. However, more details on new features remain purely speculative.</div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycbAKhyphenhyphen6iupzMhl34GJdGKzLRyHSjGpjXPDYY7pjS5iDUYjgXpqLCzJeMFQoC6Xl9PNicUYc37lRfNJjia328o8CGIaDlkh9TxFMk7NNa0SOL_vZOg8aL8hf4Z6saHbd94N6oJrfez21S/s1600/ipad-2-air-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycbAKhyphenhyphen6iupzMhl34GJdGKzLRyHSjGpjXPDYY7pjS5iDUYjgXpqLCzJeMFQoC6Xl9PNicUYc37lRfNJjia328o8CGIaDlkh9TxFMk7NNa0SOL_vZOg8aL8hf4Z6saHbd94N6oJrfez21S/s1600/ipad-2-air-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are rumors about a 12.9-inch iPad</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div> On the iPhones, Apple doubled the available capacity at the top two price points (64GB and 128GB for the price of last year's 32GB and 64GB models, respectively). Currently, for the 64GB and 128GB models, the Apple iPad Air is priced at $699 and $799, respectively. If Apple replicates its game plan, that would make those prices could drop to $599 and $699. It would be a welcome sight, since anexpandable storage option is highly unlikely, but it's unclear if we'll get that.<br /><br />There are dubious rumors surrounding the announcement of a super-sized 12.9-inch Apple iPad, however, the gossip points towards a 2015 release. Extra large tablets haven't exactly caught on, with Toshiba and Samsung being two of the most recent manufacturers to attempt to tackle the task, but Apple's strong following might catch on to the flailing trend.</div>

Apple iPad Air 2: What we expect for the release date, specs and price of the next iPad

Apple iPad Air 2: What we expect for the release date, specs and price of the next iPad Now that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are real products, speculation about Apple's other overdue devices are getting more traction in the rumor mill. A refresh to the Apple iPad is expected before the arrival of the …

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BlackBerry Passport hands-on: 5 things you'll love and 4 things you'll hate

<h2 style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: blue;">BlackBerry Passport hands-on: 5 things you'll love and 4 things you'll hate</span></h2> <b>BlackBerry has officially announced pricing and availability details for its new Passport smartphone, which was previously unveiled and detailed through a variety of blog posts on the company’s Inside BlackBerry blog. (Specific pricing and availability information can be found at the end of this post.)</b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbOdLa2X305daxb4c6gqJyHqcH1Q9m4OxxMn7I5pLlM81-fN11Fdcf0Y6NU34EK4tL9Lf4i_546_DxOxX-lDIB54hLZgF4x_jrzjQU_SIYa01ilXxQDKpaPS8LF3GfNVZvZHkW1mvhZCb/s1600/BlackBerry-Passport-01-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbOdLa2X305daxb4c6gqJyHqcH1Q9m4OxxMn7I5pLlM81-fN11Fdcf0Y6NU34EK4tL9Lf4i_546_DxOxX-lDIB54hLZgF4x_jrzjQU_SIYa01ilXxQDKpaPS8LF3GfNVZvZHkW1mvhZCb/s1600/BlackBerry-Passport-01-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="BlackBerry Passport" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BlackBerry Passport</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div> I was fortunate enough to spend some time with the Passport before the announcement. The device is unlike any smartphone I’ve seen before. It’s big. It’s square. It has actual buttons—a lot of them. It’s kind of awkward. It’s definitely not for everybody.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3Sm6Ri_Bb37mQQhbG08811oCLnCMml_7sq1mQJupS0h3VGuL9pRIU6IY8zKiXxcQs_zSZOtYUh_81kgsGIXEXY3cNVRHn-jBSmc-e8wof9umkfDfLFd_Twhnmumt0maYSYjm_QFSRTCV/s1600/BlackBerry-Passport-02-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3Sm6Ri_Bb37mQQhbG08811oCLnCMml_7sq1mQJupS0h3VGuL9pRIU6IY8zKiXxcQs_zSZOtYUh_81kgsGIXEXY3cNVRHn-jBSmc-e8wof9umkfDfLFd_Twhnmumt0maYSYjm_QFSRTCV/s1600/BlackBerry-Passport-02-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="" /></a></div> <div> <br />The most unique thing about the BlackBerry Passport is its keyboard, which is both traditional/physical BlackBerry keypad and touch keyboard. It’s composed of three sets of physical buttons and up to four additional rows of on-screen touch keys. The physical buttons themselves are touch enabled so you can use a number of gestures for navigation and faster typing. (Check out the video below to see the keyboard in action.)</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-q35JqcP544R2zEqACMw7Ma1XFgxYqa24UBufX644OePyO38PMa8df2ByswUf1cpbBjaEvoxwxjaskefxoKoyujj5BEd5yJMF_37CinXKmiEE0hNPIRCvk7tE55sOubRYiciWRT1qtUxn/s1600/BlackBerry-Passport-03-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-q35JqcP544R2zEqACMw7Ma1XFgxYqa24UBufX644OePyO38PMa8df2ByswUf1cpbBjaEvoxwxjaskefxoKoyujj5BEd5yJMF_37CinXKmiEE0hNPIRCvk7tE55sOubRYiciWRT1qtUxn/s1600/BlackBerry-Passport-03-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="" /></a></div> <div> <br />The Passport’s combination of touch-enabled physical buttons and on-screen keys is refreshing in a world of cookie-cutter mobile keyboards. Most importantly, it can help you get more work done on your smartphone. The thought of typing out this post on my new iPhone 6 quite literally gives me chills. The job wasn’t exactly enjoyable on the Passport, but it was better than whipping out my 15-inch laptop to write on the plane in my cramped economy seat.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcabjg2wEYBcQCh4fTSIapLgmQCazvuuPRKnfCaJbQ6jdSejDDTcmAAggUAN3XFYgwn4Mp8trLs1KxkV8DVHxPbOZ9biH0m7nk6WWycotexmk3LMSpzR2hSBofLshBgX8sU_JReBPKKhN/s1600/BlackBerry-Passport-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcabjg2wEYBcQCh4fTSIapLgmQCazvuuPRKnfCaJbQ6jdSejDDTcmAAggUAN3XFYgwn4Mp8trLs1KxkV8DVHxPbOZ9biH0m7nk6WWycotexmk3LMSpzR2hSBofLshBgX8sU_JReBPKKhN/s1600/BlackBerry-Passport-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" /></a></div> <div> <br /></div>

BlackBerry Passport hands-on: 5 things you'll love and 4 things you'll hate

BlackBerry Passport hands-on: 5 things you'll love and 4 things you'll hate BlackBerry has officially announced pricing and availability details for its new Passport smartphone, which was previously unveiled and detailed through a variety of blog posts on the company’s Inside BlackBerry blog. (Spec…

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