NEWS – Apple announced in a recent press release that Target and Taco Bell will be joining the growing (and already large) list of merchants who will accept Apple Pay.
Apple Pay is rolling out now in Target stores and will be available in all 1,850 locations across the US in the coming weeks. Customers can use Apple Pay today at more than 245 Hy-Vee stores in the Midwest and inside the store at all of Speedway’s approximately 3,000 locations across the Midwest, East Coast and Southeast. Apple Pay is also rolling out to more than 7,000 Taco Bell and 2,200 Jack in the Box locations in the next few months.
Target, in particular, seems to have been holding out on Apple Pay, instead focusing on its own Wallet app launched in late 2017 for speedy in-store checkout. As someone who uses their Apple Watch to pay for nearly everything from gas to groceries, I’m happy to add another frequently visited store to that list.
However, on a sour note, Target confirmed via Twitter that their REDCard, which saves members 5% each time they use it, will not be added to Apple Pay. Hopefully, they can remedy that quickly, as now I’m forced to make the decision at the register as to whether I want to dig out my REDCard and remember my pin to save 5% or simply wave my hand over the terminal and be on my way.
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This is a sponsored post; while the views expressed here are mine, consideration was paid to me by IndieDoGood to write this article.
The Maker Movement is a group of inventors, designers, engineers, artists, and craftsman that embrace the do-it-yourself spirit and excitement of bringing consumers one of a kind products. IndieDoGood.com was created to help makers succeed while at the same time give back to society. How do they do that? IndieDoGood.com connects entrepreneurs and inventors with consumers on their website who are looking for innovative and unique products. Every purchase of a maker’s product on the Indie Do Good site includes a “do-good” which is a 5% donation of the total purchase price of the product to a charity that the buyer can choose from a list of their partner charities.
I don’t know about you, but knowing that even a small portion of my hard earned money gives back to charity, is an incentive to buy from that maker. I’m not alone in this feeling. Currently, 75% of consumers age 22-36 consider it important to support brands that give back to society, and 37% of those same consumers are more likely to buy items associated with a particular cause, especially if they are causes that they and their friends support.
IndieDoGood.com was founded by Ron and Sue Otten. Sue had a successful corporate career at Apple before she and her husband Ron became makers themselves and created the Indie Do Good website to help other makers.
The Founders, Ron and Susan Otten, had successful corporate careers and now are successful entrepreneurs and makers themselves. What drives them is their passion for two things; one, providing an environment for other entrepreneurs to begin their story; two, giving back to charities and local communities, contributing to a better world.
As of this writing, Indie Do Good is featuring almost a dozen different makers and their selection of products. Here is more info about just a few of the makers that are currently offering their products through the IndieDoGood.com
Shore Boards
Shore Boards started by building hollow-wood paddle boards, that can even be customized and are gorgeous pieces of art. These top-quality, heirloom boards are handmade for all types of board sports including Stand Up Paddle Boards (SUPs), Longboards, and Wakesurf boards. Using sustainable materials, Shore Boards brings to life a high-performance art that is grown to ride. Here’s a fantastic video that gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the way these boards are made and provides some insights to this home-grown artisan company.
Fair Anita
Fair Anita is a social enterprise that exists to create opportunities for women and girls, selling trendy (and affordable) fair trade jewelry and accessories made by over 8,000 talented women in 16 countries. Fair Anita provides dignified jobs in countries with extreme poverty and domestic violence. The company’s talented artisan partners carefully design and create all products by hand—gorgeous accessories you can be proud to wear.
Cycle Force
Cycle Force is the home of unique and hard to find bikes from around the world. It was founded and is operated by bike enthusiasts who have a goal of a bicycle for every man, woman, and child on the planet. In addition to its awesome bike selection, Cycle Force also offers parts and accessories for just about any make, model or style of cycling. Company founder Nyle Nyms firmly believes that his company does not just sell bicycles…they provide Independence to their customers around the world.
If you would like to help support the Maker Movement and learn more about the Indie Do Good makers, head over to IndieDoGood.com for more maker stories and their catalog of unique products.
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I know that you just put away the Halloween decorations a few days ago and you haven’t even planned your Thanksgiving menu yet, but like it or not, the holiday shopping season is already upon us. Each year stores start talking about their Black Friday shopping deals earlier and earlier. To help you get the most out of your holiday gift shopping budget, we’ll be bringing you gift guides and shopping deals on a regular basis. Today I want to share some info on Best Buy’s top tech gifts for 2017.
According to researchers at Best Buy, 73% of techies like you and I prefer to buy gifts for ourselves. I’m on this list. If there’s something that I want, I will buy it for myself because I know exactly what I want and am savvy enough to find the best price for it. Also, Jeanne never buys me tech gifts because she has no clue what I’d need, want, or already have.
What about the most popular gifts based on gender and age? Best Buy’s research finds that Millennials and men under 50 want video games and computers more than any other gifts. While women under 50 are split between computers/tablets and smartphones, and both men and women over 50 want a new TV.
I’m in that over 50 female demographic and a new TV is almost always at the top of my new tech wish list. Though right now a new one isn’t a priority for me because I’m still happy with the 65″ Hisense TV which I reviewed two months ago. This is a very nice TV and is currently only $850 through Best Buy.
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Google is opening pop-up stores in New York City and Los Angeles to sell their new products announced at the Pixel 2 launch event earlier this month. They will have interactive pods that let you play with the Pixel 2, Google Home, and Daydream View, plus more. If you’re on either coast you can visit the stores from now until December 31 to get your holiday shopping on, or perhaps buy something for yourself! You can find out more about events and products at the Google store website.
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It’s time for a new school year to start and with that comes the adventure of shopping for new gear. To help you out, I have a few deals that can help you save some cash on Apple laptops and accessories. And a bonus idea for anyone who might want to update their home theater.
Now through September 4th (Labor Day), all headphone orders through Master & Dynamic will receive a free set of black ME03 Earphones (worth $159) along with two free audio books courtesy of the largest U.S. audio book producer and retailer: Audible.
Check out this deal at www.masterdynamic.com
Seagate Backup Plus Drives keep your work backed up
Capacity: The Backup Plus comes in capacities up to 5TB that will give you the storage capacity to store hundreds of hours of media or thousands of photos and documents. The drives are lightweight, thin and durable so you can put one in your pocket, or your backpack and not have to worry about the safety of your files.
Prices start at just $79.99 for the 1TB drive.
Check them out at www.seagate.com/consumer/backup/backup-plus
Samsung CF591 Series Curved 27-Inch FHD Monitor
Do your homework in style with this monitor and then when you’re done studying, kick back and binge watch your favorite shows on Netflix.
The Samsung CF591 is big on screen size, but the price isn’t bad at just $299.99 through Amazon.
Hisense 65″ H8 series 4K smart TV
If you haven’t heard of the Hisense brand of smart TVs, you should definitely check them out because they make a very nice (and a surprisingly affordable) 4K TV with some great smart TV features built right into the system.
For less than $900 ($849.99 from Best Buy), you get an LED TV with very thin bezels, 2160p 4K resolution, HDR, really deep blacks, rich color, edge-lit local dimming, built-in WiFi, 4 HDMI inputs, 3 USB inputs and more.
The Smart TV apps include Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Instant Video, and Vudu. So you can ditch a stand alone Roku device.
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