Apple Can't Become a 'Full-Stack Bank'

Fintech startups are not as disruptive as they might be because they are not “full-stack” companies, Ron Shevlin wrote at Forbes. Can Apple beat them at their own game and became a full-stack bank, he wondered? Probably not.

Apple likes to tout that its new credit card was created “by Apple, not a bank.” I guess we should pay no attention to the folks from Goldman Sachs and MasterCard behind the curtain. Apple’s moves with Apple Card, Apple Pay, and Apple Cash are big moves towards a full(er)-stack bank, but the company is hampered by one big weakness: It’s DNA is in tech products. For all the innovative moves Apple makes across industries like financial services, entertainment, and health, one thing is constant: It wants to sell devices. This prevents Apple from achieving the openness needed to become a full-stack bank.

iOS 13 Code Hints at Apple AR Headset With 'StarBoard'

Code within iOS 13 hints at an Apple AR headset, with a codename called ‘StarBoard’ that can launch apps, similar to iOS’s SpringBoard.

Namely, internal builds of iOS 13 include a “STARTester” app that can switch in and out of a head-mounted mode, presumably to replicate the functionality of an augmented reality headset on an iPhone for testing purposes. There are two head-mounted states for testing, including “worn” and “held.”

Apple Card is 90% Made of Titanium

The Apple Card is made out of titanium, but just how much? Bloomberg Businessweek wanted to know, so they sent one off to an expert to find out.

A Bloomberg Businessweek reporter sent his card to a mineralogist, University of California, Berkeley professor Hans-Rudolf Wenk. Professor Wenk used what’s known as a scanning electron microscope, or SEM device, to determine the card’s atomic makeup. He found that the answer is about 90%. The rest of the card is aluminum, according to the analysis. The Apple Card isn’t the first credit card to be made with metal, as both American Express and Chase offer their own heavy cards, but Apple’s stands out, given the company’s push to market its metallic essence.

Happy Labor Day, from Everyone at TMO!

It’s Labor Day in the U.S., and The Mac Observer will be taking the day off for some outdoor fun with friends and family. Better yet, we hope you are, too. We’ll resume our regular publishing schedule on Tuesday, September 3rd. Enjoy the holiday!

AirZeus 3-in-1 Fast Wireless Charging Pad: $33.99

We have a pre-Labor Day sale on the AirZeus 3-in-1 Fast Wireless Charging Pad. This device allows you to wirelessly charge your Qi-compatible phone, smartwatch, and earbuds at the same time. It uses a wall-wart to charge itself, and each of the designated spots sends the right power for your devices. It’s $39.99 through our deal, but coupon code SAVE15TODAY brings it down to $33.99 at checkout.