eBay dropping Amex card support, citing ‘unacceptably high fees’
eBay is dropping Amex card support, emailing users to advise that it will no longer accept American Express cards for payments from mid-August …
Expand Expanding Close
Vision Pro selling at a discount on eBay ahead of global launch
We’re three months into Apple Vision Pro launching in the US and expectations are building for international availability to arrive after WWDC 2024 in June. But what do after-market sales look like now? As it happens, you can pick up a new Vision Pro on eBay at a $500 or more discount – although there are some caveats.
Expand Expanding Close
eBay now supports Apple Pay payments on its desktop website
Little by little, more companies and stores are starting to integrate Apple Pay payments into their ecosystem. This week, eBay has finally added Apple Pay integration to its desktop shopping experience.
Expand Expanding Close
eBay announces MVNO partnership to pair wireless plans as low as $5 w/ smartphone purchases
eBay is one of the most popular platforms for reselling smartphones, and the company today announced a new partnership with Red Pocket Mobile. Through this partnership, customers will be able to buy a lower-priced wireless plan in conjunction with their smartphone purchase.
Some of you will be able to use Apple Pay for eBay purchases from this fall
eBay has announced that it will be supporting Apple Pay as a payment method for purchases from this fall.
Apple Pay is one of the most ubiquitous forms of payments and provides users with an easy, fast and secure way to pay. Offering Apple Pay as a form of payment on eBay is the first step in providing more choice and flexibility in payment options to our tens of millions of buyers …
eBay for iOS update allows you to list an item just by scanning its barcode
Another reason to hold onto product boxes for your gadgets: not only do they tend to help items fetch a better price when you sell them, but listing an item on eBay can now be as simple as scanning its barcode …
eBay revamps iOS app ahead of holiday shopping with improved browsing, product pages, more
Ahead of the holiday shopping season, eBay today has updated its iOS and Android apps with a new, more user-friendly interface and browsing process. The update comes following the addition of Touch ID and Android Wear support over the summer.
eBay adds support for Touch ID, introduces new ‘One Time Password’ login method
After releasing major updates to its apps on both Android and iOS back in May, eBay has just updated its apps yet again to introduce brand new features. For iPhone and iPad users, that includes long-awaited supported for Touch ID as well as the addition of eBay’s new “One Time Password” login method.
eBay refreshing mobile apps with updated design + speed improvements
eBay has begun rolling out major UI and overall app improvements to its mobile applications today. Most notable will be both iOS and Android apps seeing a redesign of the main navigation menu. Previous versions of both mobile apps utilized a custom navigation menu: a mix between a top navigation bar and hamburger menu. The app update rolling out from today utilizes standard UI navigation elements for both iOS and Android. Android will be seeing the update released today, and the iOS update will be available in the coming days.
Apple’s iPad Pro Pencil delays lead scalpers to seek $400 eBay payouts
With the accessory in short supply at Apple Stores, the new Apple Pencil stylus for the iPad Pro is listed for as high as $400 on eBay, four times the $99 sticker price through Apple.
Most models of Apple’s new 12.9-inch iPad Pro launched last week are available at Apple Stores and shipping for online orders in 1-7 days, but accessories for the device are harder to find. Despite Apple’s new Smart Keyboard case and Apple Pencil stylus being among the the standout new features alongside the iPad Pro’s larger display, they appear to be in shorter supply with both backordered 4-5 weeks online and hard to find in stores after hardly being available on day one.
The short supply of the accessories frustrated early adopters of the new iPad Pro enough that Apple offered a comment last week, noting that it has “limited supply of Apple Pencil and the Smart Keyboard” and that it will continue “regular shipments” of the accessories to Apple Stores.
We, however, managed to get our hands on the new Apple Pencil for an unboxing over the weekend, while Ben has been logging his day-to-day experience with the iPad Pro.
If you’re absolutely desperate for an Apple Pencil, can’t wait a month or more for Apple to catch up with demand, and want to pay a little higher than retail price, you can find a handful of listings on eBay here.
9to5Toys Last Call: MFi Lightning cable $5, Sony Bluetooth headphones $135, Wake Alarm Clock goes free, more
Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.
Today’s can’t miss deals:
Last Call Updates:
Apple 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro (newest) 2.2GHz/16GB/256GB: $1,550 shipped (Reg. $1,999)
- 1Password secure password manager for Mac: $30 (Reg. $50)
- USB-C roundup: Aukey 3-Port USB Hub w/ Gigabit Ethernet $17, Aukey USB Adapter $7, more
- The new Light digital camera uses 16 lenses (!!!) to craft the perfect picture
- Sports/Fitness: extra 25% off PUMA shoes/workout apparel, 58-pc. backpack survival kit $105 (Orig. $230), more
- Freebies: 75 songs from Google Play + XDA Premium for Android + Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 for PC + More!
- Crosley Ranchero Classic AM/FM Radio and Aux Speaker: $65 Shipped (Orig. $100, CA Tax Only)
- This clothes-folding washing machine brings first-world laziness to defcon zero
- Multi-year magazine subs from under $4.50/yr: Wired, GQ, ESPN, Dwell, Pop Science, Men’s Health, Rolling Stone, many more
- 6-pack LED bulbs: SunSun 60W $19 (Orig. $50), Philips SlimStyle 65W Dimmable $34 (Orig. $60), more
- Home: Shark Lift-Away Vac $130 (Orig. $180), 12-Ounce Coffee Press $15 (Orig. $25), more
Monoprice MFi Apple-Certified Lightning Cables in black or white w/ free shipping: 3-ft. $5, 6-ft. $6
Over-Ear Headphones: Sony Bluetooth/NFC $135 (Reg. $199), Beyerdynamic from $170 (Reg. up to $270), more
App Store Free App of the Week: Wake Alarm Clock ($4 value)
13″ Retina MacBook Pro (newest) 2.7GHz/8GB/256GB: $1,280 shipped (Reg. $1,499)
13″ Retina MacBook Pro (newest) 2.7GHz/8GB/128GB: $1,080 shipped (Reg. $1,299)
Giveaway: Trinity Delta aluminum earbuds feature a unique design and top-notch sound ($135 value), 20% discount
More new gear from today:
Games/Apps: Bloodborne from $25, Kirby Rainbow Curse $32, Shades Puzzle Game free, more iOS freebies
- Ecco shoes for Men and Women 50% off: Men’s Oxford Dress Shoes $70, more
- Daily Deals: Zipper Headphones $13, Aukey Car Jump Starter $50, more
More deals still alive:
Sony announces official PlayStation 4 price drop, bundles now start at just $349
Mac Bundle: 14 Mac Apps incl. RapidWeaver, Voila Screencapture, Kinemac 3D, more: $18
- Prime Members: Free 4-month subscription for 3 print magazines – GQ, Wired, more
- Headphones: Bose SoundTrue $100 (Reg. $120), Earbuds from $20, more
- JayBird BlueBuds X Sport Bluetooth Headphones $90 shipped (Reg. $130), more
- Freebies: Star Wars – Heroes Path for iOS + Iced Tea + Roast Beef sandwich + More!
- KMASHI 15,000mAh USB $14 (Reg. $20), Aukey 2A Wall Charger $8 (Reg. $16), more
- Pre-order Microsoft’s latest gadgets right now: Surface Pro 4, Surface Book, Band 2
- TP-LINK Wireless N Nano Router w/ 3-pack of networking cables (Refurb) $8 shipped
- Aukey USB Power Roundup: 6-Port 50W: $15, 5-port 40W: $10
- iPhone 6/s Accessories: 2-Pack Tempered Glass Screen Protector $3, more
- Harman Kardon 6-Piece Home Theater Speaker System $190 shipped (Orig. $649)
- Omaker 10W(2x5W) Portable Bluetooth 4.0 Speaker $22 Prime shipped (Reg. $35)
- Lytro Illum Camera, captures the entire light field: $700 shipped (Orig. $1,300)
- Tweetbot for Mac drops to $10 (Reg. $13)
- Philips hue Lux LED Starter Kit $60 shipped, 750-Lumen 9W LED Light Bulb $15
- Bluetooth Speakers: OontZ Splashproof $25 (Reg. $35), Aukey $13 (Reg. $20)
- Xbox One Gears of War bundle + 40″ HDTV $470 w/ .EDU, more
- Beyerdynamic A200p Portable DAC Headphone Amp $140 shipped (Reg. $200)
- Pebble Steel Smartwatch for iOS/Android in black or sliver $100 shipped (Orig. $230)
- Add Bluetooth/mic to any Aux speaker or headphones for $10 Prime shipped
- TiVO Roamio OTA HD DVR w/ Lifetime service for a one-time $300 fee
- VIZIO 49-inch 120Hz M-Series LED Smart 4K Ultra HDTV: $580 shipped (Reg. $720)
- Logitech Harmony Touch 15-Device Universal Remote: $100 shipped (Reg. $140)
- The Executive for iOS goes free as IGN’s Game of the Month ($5 value)
- Media: Blu-ray & DVDs from $3, Jurassic World pre-order, more
- TP-LINK AC Gigabit Router $40, more
- M-Audio Bundle: USB Condenser mic w/ stand, more $79 shipped (Reg. $100)
- Garmin nüvi 6-inch GPS w/ Bluetooth (Refurb) $140 shipped (Orig. $270)
- Motorola Nexus 6 Unlocked 32GB in Midnight Blue: $300 shipped (Reg. $499)
New products & more:
DJI’s new Osmo 4K camera is one expensive selfie stick
The latest littleBits DIY electronics kit turns any kid into an inventor
- Handmade at Amazon launches with an eye on knocking off Etsy
- Marvel’s updated plans for phase three of its cinematic universe + comicbook goodies
- Dyson includes air purification in its newest hot + cool bladeless fan
- Ever wonder what a $130K VIZIO Ultra HDTV looks like? Now we know.
- The latest entry in the Far Cry series goes Primal, taking gamers back to 10,000 BC
- Logitech’s new Harmony Home Hub Extender lets the pizza man in with your remote
- Roku’s new streaming media player supports 4K and finds your remote control for you
- Review: Rock Band 4 makes an old favorite come alive
- The new Dr. Who LEGO set looks just like TARDIS time machine
- Mattel’s retro-rebooted $30 VR View-Master is now available for iOS and Android
- Robo Wunderkind uses iOS connectivity and LEGO-like blocks to teach coding
Developer eBays Apple TV 4 development kit, claims loophole in Apple’s no-resale terms
A developer who won two Apple TV 4 development kits on both developer accounts is ebaying one of them, claiming in the ad that a loophole allows them to do so despite Apple’s no-resale clause. The auction has a starting bid of $300, well above the $149/199 retail price when it goes on official sale next month.
It is against the policies of Apple to resell this unit “while it is running Apple pre-release software” according to the terms of service but good news! This unit ships without any OS installed on it. You can just download the firmware update from the developer portal and restore it with iTunes when you get it.
Apple made the kits available to developers by lottery, with winners notified a week ago. Developers paid a token of $1, and are of course meant to use the boxes to create Apple TV apps..
The seller, based in Houston, Texas, says that if the buyer doesn’t have a developer account, they can be directed to a download source after the auction. As with almost all of his or her recent eBay sales, the auction is listed as Private, meaning that neither the buyer nor details of what was sold can be seen once the auction ends.
You can find full details of what Apple announced about the new Apple TV, which came as no surprise after our earlier exclusive reporting.
This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Handy flowchart outlines your options for picking up a shiny new iPhone [Poll]
In the old days, buying and paying for a new iPhone was simple: you typically paid $1-200 up-front, then the rest of the purchase cost was absorbed by carriers into the monthly rates they charged for their contracts. There was no easy way to tell how much of that monthly payment was for calls/texts/data and how much was paying off the balance of the cost of the phone.
Today, things are very different, with carriers being much more transparent about what you pay for your contract – if you choose to have one – and how much you pay for the iPhone itself. The WSJ has put together a simple infographic outlining the main options open to you …
Expand
Expanding
Close
eBay 4.0 arrives on iPhone, offers simplified selling and revamped UI
In celebration of its 20th birthday, eBay has launched a brand new mobile app with a new focus on selling and a more attractive and intuitive user interface. eBay describes the app as having a “more browsable design” with much easier access to features like top deals, promotions and events. What’s more, the seller dashboard has been refreshed to offer a more personalized look at how well you’re doing and give you relevant tools, tips and guides on how to improve.
Focused on creating more vibrancy in our marketplace, we’ve elevated selling within eBay 4.0, and have designed a more personalized experience based on a seller’s level and activity. The new app offers more information to help first-time and new sellers be successful, and a new dashboard for more regular sellers with at-a-glance activity updates. We are passionate about creating a great experience for our buyers and enabling the continued success for our sellers.
eBay 4.0 offers a new Activity feed giving consumers personalized updates on the objects and goods that are important to them. Alongside that is the new Shop tab, with a bespoke feed of items tailored for each individual user. eBay 4.0 is available to download from the App Store.
[vimeo 138589685 w=500 h=281]
How-To: Get the best iPhone trade-in price deal to help buy a new iPhone 6S
Update: In the year since we posted this, we’ve decided to seek out the best partner and do the trade ins ourselves. After doing a lot of research, we’ve decided to work with Myphonesunlimited who consistently offer the best prices for iPhones, iPads and other Apple, Windows and Android devices. Go check them out.
Apple releases new iPhones every fall, guaranteeing that a massive number of old iPhones will be traded in or sold. The rush will dramatically change the market for used iPhones, so I wanted to help you stay ahead of the curve and get the best deal possible. Having just sold my own iPhone 6 Plus to upgrade to a newer model, I have some strong opinions about your smartest options.
Below, I’ve put together a guide to some of the iPhone selling and trade-in options you should consider. There’s no single “right” answer, since some options trade greater convenience for lower prices, and others have higher prices but greater risks or hassles. You can choose the one that’s best for your needs, but whatever you do, make your choice before iPhone values begin to fall…
eBay discontinuing several mobile apps including Fashion and Motors for iOS
Commerce company eBay announced today that it will soon retire several of its mobile apps including ones on iPhone and iPad. eBay’s primary iOS app will not be going anyway, however, and several of the discontinued apps will eventually see their features appear in the main eBay app.
In an effort to simply the shopping experience, eBay says it will be shutting down its Valet, Fashion, and Motors apps soon and later integrate their features into eBay’s primary app.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Apple joins Confederate flag boycott, removes apps that use flag in offensive or mean-spirited ways [U: Statement]
[Update: Apple has confirmed the policy with us. Statement below.]
[Update #2: Reports are now surfacing that Apple is now reinstating some apps with the Confederate flag to the App Store. The company is working with developers who use the Confederate flag, but not in a mean-spirited manner.]
[Update #3: TouchArcade specifies that affected games are able to change their app icons and App Store screenshots to avoid removal.]
A couple of days after Zac Hall called for Apple to join large retailers like Walmart, Target, Sears, Amazon and eBay in withdrawing from selling items featuring the Confederate flag, Apple appears to be working on doing just that.
Touch Arcade noticed that many Civil War games like Ultimate General: Gettysburg and the Hunted Cow series have all disappeared. An App Store search for ‘Confederate’ on Tuesday found plenty of games featuring the flag, while the same search today appears to show only apps dealing with the history (such as the reference work shown) above. All of the games shown in Tuesday’s search (below) have been removed from the App Store …
Expand
Expanding
Close
Trade-in services begin accepting Apple Watch, but don’t expect to profit
While Apple Watch models were selling for a premium on eBay and elsewhere for quite a while after launch, now that the device is in Apple stores and stock of most models almost caught up to demand, trade-in services have officially started accepting the device. One of the first bigger companies to announce support for Apple Watch is NextWorth, which as of today will buy your Apple Watch, but without the eBay premiums. The company is capping Apple Watch trade-in payouts at $500, and you’ll be getting much less than that for the cheaper models that start at around $350 from Apple.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Contract drivers for Apple and other tech companies vote to unionize in quest for better conditions
Contract workers driving shuttle buses for Apple, eBay, Yahoo and other Silicon Valley companies have voted to unionize, reports USA Today.
A majority of the 120 full-time and part-time drivers who transport those companies’ employees have signed authorization cards with the union, said Rome Aloise, International vice president and secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 853.
The drivers are employed by South San Francisco-based Compass Transportation, which has contracts with Apple and the other firms to transport its workers to and from work.
The vote follows a call by Jesse Jackson for Tim Cook to create “world-class working conditions” for low-paid contractors. Cook subsequently met with Jackson to discuss income and diversity issues ahead of a small protest which briefly entered the lobby of the Apple campus.
Although the hourly rates for the drivers range from $18-20, they argue that high living costs make it difficult to live close to work, and working further out does not allow them to return home between split shifts in the morning and evening–meaning they are effectively at work for far longer than their paid hours.
William Gould, a professor at Stanford Law School said: “These workers, as a practical matter, have to wait in certain areas to do their work (and) they are not compensated for that wait.”
Facebook shuttle bus drivers joined the Teamsters union in November.
Photo: wired.com
eBay offering Apple accessory deals to celebrate launching redesigned iPad app
eBay announced today that it’s releasing a completely redesigned experience for iPad that introduces a new layout, larger images, redesigned notifications, improved search and much more.
The completely redesigned iPad app is available globally in the Apple App Store, and features a more consistent, simplified design that puts sellers’ products at the forefront and creates an engaging shopping experience for buyers. “Our aspiration is to make eBay the most inspiring place to shop,” said RJ Pittman, chief product officer at eBay. “This new experience is aimed at giving sellers the best platform to showcase their products and make it effortless for buyers to discover and engage with their inventory.”
Other new features include a new “Today” screen with featured collections, Google and Yahoo ad integration, redesigned seller profiles, and a enhanced search that Yahoo says will now “show you what you asked for, and also other items related to your search.”
To celebrate the launch, eBay is also offering a number of exclusive deals on iOS and Apple accessories through the app:
eBay for iPad Exclusive Deals
- Jambox Mini JAMBOX Bluetooth Speaker – $64.99
- 360 Rotating Smart iPad cover case – $5.75 to $6.95
- Monster DNA on-Ear Noise Isolation headphones – $69.00
- Micro bluetooth speaker – $12.99
- Beats By Dre Studio High Definition Noise Cancelling Headphones – $249.00
- Apple Airport Extreme Router – $138.99
- Apple Lightning cable – $7.99
- GOgroove FlexSMART X2 Bluetooth Wireless In-Car FM Transmitter – $39.99
- Seagate Backup Plus 5TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive
None of these prices are earth shattering, but decent enough if you’re currently in the market for one of these items. Keep tuned to 9to5Toys if you want to score Apple and other tech gear at all-time low prices.
The new eBay iPad app is available on the App Store now. A full list of what’s new in version 3.4.0 below:
What’s New in Version 3.4.0
- Browse through eBay-curated channels including, Today, Deals and Following, as well as Motors, Fashion, Electronics, and Collectibles.
- View item refresh – placing photos of products front and center
- Seller profile pages redesigned to place sellers’ products at the forefront
- Redesigned notifications with a new notification bell on the home screen
- New Search landing interface
- Google and Yahoo Ad integration
- An enhanced selling experience
Must-have iPhone, iPad, & Apple Pay apps for holiday gift shopping this year
Shopping this year through iPhone and iPad apps is significantly more convenient thanks to Apple Pay and Touch ID. The latest iPhones and iPads allow you to avoid the arduous process of re-entering your credit card information each time at checkout and instead pay for your purchase with the touch of your finger.
Hopefully our holiday gift guides are steering you in the right direction for what to buy this year, especially with guides focused on using your iPhone and iPad in the car, making music with Apple devices, outfitting your home with connected smart devices, and more, and these shopping apps should continue to help you along the way.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Want to queue-jump to grab your iPhone 6? Homeless charity auctions off its spot
Update: The winning bid was £570 ($940).
If you’re in London and want to grab an iPhone 6 tomorrow morning without all that tedious queueing, the homeless charity Depaul UK can help. They’ve grabbed a space close to the front of the queue at the Regent Street store and are auctioning it off on eBay to raise funds for homeless, vulnerable and disadvantaged youngsters.
This auction is for one spot near the front of the queue outside the Apple Store on Regent Street, London for the launch of the iPhone 6 and a Depaul UK t-shirt.
This auction is for the physical space outside the Apple Store and a Depaul UK t-shirt, not the iPhone 6. Just turn up and take your place in the queue before the store opens to make your purchase.
The auction runs until 6am on Friday, with the store opening at 8am. At the time of writing, the high bid was £105.
This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
A MacBook and a few parts from eBay allow hobbyists to take control of an abandoned NASA spacecraft
A MacBook, a flatscreen monitor rescued from a dumpster, a few parts bought on eBay and an abandoned McDonalds as a base may seem a reasonable basis for a hobbyist electronics project of some kind – but taking control of an abandoned NASA spacecraft might feel a little ambitious. Not so, says a team of nine geeks who have successfully taken control of ISEE-3, a spacecraft launched by NASA 36 years ago to measure the solar wind and radiation. The story of what has to be a strong candidate for coolest thing ever is told in full in BetaBeat.
The satellite’s battery has been dead for over 20 years, but it had solar panels to power 98 percent of the satellite’s full capabilities. In its heyday, it ran missions around the Moon and Earth, and flew through the tail of a comet. But technology gets old, and everyone happily let the successful satellite go, knowing it would be back in Earth’s orbit someday — namely, 2014.
Since the satellite went offline, the team had retired, the documentation was lost and the equipment was outdated. They could still hear the satellite out there talking, but they’d need to build the equipment to talk back.
They did have a few more expensive requirements, like a helicopter to lift a transmitter into place, but a crowdfunding campaign took care of the costs. There was then the small matter of getting permission from NASA, no doubt helped by one of the team being a former employee.
They brought the idea to NASA, but there was no precedent on which to base an agreement. No external organization has ever taken command of a spacecraft, but NASA didn’t want to say no, so they asked the team if they needed any help.
Astonishingly, they’ve now successfully placed the craft in a new orbit around the sun, and Google has helped them build a website that will be used to share data transmitted back from it – appropriately enough named Spacecraft For All. The full story is well worth a read.
This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Sam Sung Apple Specialist raises a smile as he auctions last business card for charity
The idea of a former Canadian Apple Specialist auctioning his last business card might sound rather bizarre until you see his name.
The amusing card is being auctioned on eBay, with all proceeds going to the Children’s Wish Foundation, a charity whose mission is to fulfill the wishes of children diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses. The charity fulfills the wishes of more than a thousand children a year.
At the time of writing, the high bid was $4,850 with eight days to go. If you’re feeling well-off and generous, you can bid here. The winner will get the framed shirt, lanyard and card.
This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
