Report: Apple Pay will launch on October 20

By Mike Flacy October 15, 2014

Apple Pay — Image used with permission by copyright holder

According to an internal memo distributed within restaurant chain Panera Bread, Apple Pay will be available to consumers as soon as October 20, 2014. Likely mentioned by Apple in tomorrow’s press conference related to the new iPad models, consumers can expect to be able to use Apple Pay in more than 200,000 stores. Leaked by Apple enthusiast site 9to5Mac, the Panera Bread memo indicates that the company expects to see an influx of Apple users that will want to use Apple pay on the first day of the launch.

Likely similar to other featured Apple Pay retail partners, Panera Bread is training employees on how to accept an Apple Pay payment as well as payment platforms that include Google Wallet and Softcard. The company also plans on displaying information about accepting Apple Pay on doors or windows as well as promoting the use of Apple Pay in an email sent to all MyPanera Rewards members. Besides Panera Bread, other popular companies that will be supporting Apple Pay either on October 20 or near the official launch will include Target, McDonalds, Starbucks, Uber, Staples and Disney.

The Apple Pay launch should coincide with the launch of iOS 8.1, an update to iOS 8 that’s expected to bring some performance improvements, iCloud Drive functionality and more security updates. In addition, Apple is also working on iOS updates 8.2 and 8.3 according to traffic data reports on various tech news sites.

Yet another leak on Apple’s site displayed information on the iPad Mini 3 as well as the iPad Air 2. Both tablets are expected to include Touch ID as well as burst mode when shooting photos, the A8X processor for improved performance and color options that are identical to the two iPhone 6 models.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributing Editor

By day, I'm the content and social media manager for High-Def Digest, Steve's Digicams and The CheckOut on Ben's Bargains…

Mobile

iPhone SE deals: Refurbished 2nd and 3rd Gen iPhones

apple iphone se 2020 news new black camera and touch id 04152020

While many of the best Apple deals don’t often include newer iPhone models, there are some iPhone deals available to help you land some savings on the popular phone lineup. One model that comes in at relatively low price points is the iPhone SE. There are two generations of the iPhone SE on the market, and while both are only available in refurbished condition at this point, that allows for even more savings. In fact, if a cheap iPhone is what you’re after the iPhone SE might make your list of the best phone deals to shop right now, which is why we’ve tracked down all of the best iPhone SE deals and listed them below. Read onward for those details, and you can find some similar phone deals among the best iPhone 14 deals, best iPhone 15 deals, and best refurbished iPhone deals.
iPhone SE 2nd Gen deals

The second generation of the iPhone SE was initially launched in 2020, but it still manages to keep up with the needs of many phone users today. It utilizes the body of the Apple iPhone 8, which means it will have a home button and fingerprint ID instead of the Face ID technology in current iPhone models. That’s not much to give up, however, as the second generation iPhone SE still has a great display, a 12-megapixel camera with the ability to shoot 4K video, and wireless charging capability.

Mobile

Apple is planning something big for the iPhone 16 Pro Max camera

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max's camera module.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The iPhone 16 is still several months away from its anticipated fall launch, but we’ve already gotten plenty of leaks about what to expect from the lineup, including design changes, color options, battery size upgrades for the Pro Max, and more.

Mobile

Best iPad Memorial Day deals: Get an Apple tablet from just $245

The iPad Pro (2024) during JerryRigEverything's bend test.

If you’re looking for a new iPad, it’s worth checking out the iPad deals going on right now. In particular, we’re spotting some awesome early iPad Memorial Day deals so you can easily snag a great new tablet for less. Tablet deals often feature prominently during sales events so we’ve rounded up all the best iPad Memorial Day deals below to save you time and effort in seeking them out yourself.
Best iPad Memorial Day deals

The standard iPad is one of the best tablets for basic everyday tasks. The latest iPad 10th generation has a lot to love even if there are speedier models around. If you’re keen to keep costs down, here are the best iPad Memorial Day deals currently available, including both the latest model and the 9th generation iPad.