Apple unveiled their new iPhone 13 line on Friday, with pre-order sales opening at 8 a.m. that morning. For over an hour and a half after of the opening, customers were raising concerns about trouble ordering their new iPhone using the Apple Card, with many unable to purchase using their iPhone Upgrade Program.
Though users were able to purchase using other card payment options, this option takes away from some of the main benefits if getting an Apple Card, like 3% cash back and payment plans.
Users took to Twitter to express their frustrations about not being able to order an Apple product despite using an Apple service, eventually making “Apple Card” a trending topic on Twitter that day.
Some dealing with the issue expressed frustration.
Well that process went horribly wrong: my Apple Card kept getting denied, and also my Upgrade Program application, even though I’ve been in it for years. Eventually using a different credit card worked 🤷🏻♂️ pic.twitter.com/72EuDsI45L
Apple addressed the issue on their system status page, stating that “some Apple Card customers are not able to make iPhone Upgrade Program purchases.” The company updated the system status page at 12:36 p.m., claiming that the issue was resolved. The problem lasted for over four hours before Apple was able to address it.
It’s quite evident that football’s biggest night is the perfect opportunity for companies to persuade all who are watching to utilize/buy their products through the use of captivating commercials. In saying that, this year’s Superbowl had commercials that ranged from happy, to humorous, to serious/emotional, to completely strange and seemingly pointless.
To get a professional opinion on these commercials, KDKA sat down with Shannon Baker–the president of a local ad agency to get her opinion on which spots were the winners and the losers on football’s biggest night. Baker is president of the Gatesman Agency in Pittsburgh and has 18 years of experience in the ad business (so she knows a good bit about how companies and clients can accurately convey a message that resonates with audiences and further persuades them to either adopt an idea, utilize a software, or buy a product.)
According to Baker, she believes that if you craft a story that is short, tight, and memorable, it is going to make people feel something–which is critical to the success of the commercial.
She says Google set the bar very high with its emotional “Loretta” ad, and many others would agree. Millions of people were raving about the heartfelt tearjerking ad that was based on a true story. For those who didn’t get to see the commercial, it begins with a man typing into Google “how to not forget,” and then asking his Google Assistant device to show him photos of his late wife named Loretta. The man continues to ask Google to remember certain things about her, like the fact that she hated his mustache, loved going to Alaska, and always snorted when she laughed. In the end, Google recites all of the things the man had asked the device to remember. It closed out with the man saying, “remember I’m the luckiest man in the world.”
Overall, Baker and many others believe that Google set the bar very high with their ‘Loretta’ ad because not only did it tug on the emotional heartstrings of audiences, but it also marketed the product in a simple yet compelling way.
Mind reading technology is the latest gadget that is going to blow your mind. With this new possibility, “the future is now” has a whole new meaning. With a growing number of companies beginning to focus on “Brain-Computer Interface”, this industry is expected to reach around $1.5 Billion by the end of this year.
The devices use sensors to record brain signals on the scalp. By tracking where the eyes are focusing, the devices can control an object without physically moving. A company such as NextMind has created a prototype that can create commands on objects. NextMind CEO, Sid Kouider, says the eyes are only used to see, but the vision process and interpretation is in the brain. Brain-Computer Interface uses that information in the brain to process what commands to make. For instance, a subject was able to change the color of a lamp only using her thoughts. Another example is how a subject was able to mute, change channels, or change the volumes only by focusing her eyes on a certain part of a screen.
As this device is still in its beginning phases, companies using this technology are already focusing on what could come next. As E-Sports and gaming communities have skyrocketed over the past few years, there are unlimited amount of possibilities in how Brain-Computer Interface systems can be used.
NextMind’s technology is not available to the public yet, but a developer kit is being sold to other companies who can add applications to the product. Contributing ideas and technologies in order to release the best product they can offer.
Another company such as BrainCo focuses on the frontal cortex of the brain. While the technology is similar, BrainCo has used the technology on VR games. In one game, the harder the player focuses on the rocket ship, the faster the rocket ship moved. Different colors light up on the front of the headband depending on how hard the user is focusing. This technology can be brought into education, because it can train kids on how to focus better.
Brain-Computer Interface can be very effective in prosthetics as well. It can enhance the response and reaction of controlling a prosthetic limb. As the user builds a connection with the prosthetic limb through Brain-Computer Interface, it can begin to learn habits of brain signals and respond even quicker.
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