Consumer Reports recently stated the Apple iPhone X Camera is the best anywhere, no other phone is close.
Now they have come out with their evaluation of Peer to Peer payments, security, ease of use, privacy..I wonder who they found to be outstanding? I use Peer to Peer, and if you read the results of Consumer Reports testing anyone using Zella might want to reconsider. I gather Apple joining Thread is a big deal, never heard of it but since I just installed a Mesh Router system the article caught my attention…. If you every want your home to be secure behind the iOt devices, be it door locks, lights, plugs, switches, blinds, thermostats, garage door openers, cameras, etc. etc. then having each devise HomeKit certified will be a huge step in knowing these little goodies will not provide malware to get into your network. John Consumer Reports finds Apple Pay Cash to be the best P2P payment platform Consumer Reports today published <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.consumerreports.org_digital-2Dpayments_mobile-2Dp2p-2Dpayment-2Dservices-2Dreview_&d=DwIFaQ&c=OAG1LQNACBDguGvBeNj18Swhr9TMTjS-x4O_KuapPgY&r=F2GFXrjLFqVo3VwvIlo_XYeEiRRjHv15rxcenz7A21woG2aFGcrzndoSsskxfmOs&m=F2ia3Ryo-2Wcrj6VYCqmcIgY6ee69IbvCCZBoPDBp8U&s=E_romKh8fViCL9mrFQl0aUyzbPJeccP_nSHM6u8krgs&e=> its first-ever breakdown of the best peer-to-peer mobile payment platforms. Comparing Venmo, Square Cash, Facebook Messenger, Zelle, and Apple Pay Cash, the tests found that Apple’s offering scored “significantly higher” than competitors… Overall, Apple Pay Cash received a score of 76, with features such as payment authentication and data privacy giving it a leg up on competitors. Apple was also well-rated in data security and data privacy, though it faltered in “broad access” when compared to its competitors. Venmo was the second-highest scored platform with a 69 rating, while Square Cash received a 64, Facebook a 63, and Zelle a whopping 50. Zelle was particularly slammed for payment authentication, data security, data privacy, and broad access. A score of 81 to 100 is excellent, 61 to 80 is very good, and 41 to 60 is good, according to Consumer Reports. Consumer Reports explains that Apple Pay Cash received high security marks because of Apple’s efforts to limit data collection and for the fact Apple doesn’t store credit card and debit card numbers: Apple Pay was the only service that got top marks from CR for data privacy, because its policies state that it limits the information it collects and shares on users and their transactions. It doesn’t store credit card or debit card numbers, and it states in the terms and conditions that it doesn’t sell users’ personal information to third parties, CR found. The tests also highlighted that support for added security layers, such as a PIN and two-factor, Apple Pay cash was the only one to require such authentication, with other platforms making users opt-in. In a statement to Consumer Reports, an Apple spokesperson touted that Apple Pay combines ease of use, privacy, and security: An Apple spokesperson told CR that “Apple Pay Cash is unique from an ease of use, privacy, and security standpoint, as Apple Pay Cash functions seamlessly through hardware, software, and the service all combined.” Apple Joins Technology Group for Mesh-Connected IoT Devices Bryan ChaffinAug 6th, 2018 9:26 PM EDT Apple joined the Thread Group <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.threadgroup.org_&d=DwIFaQ&c=OAG1LQNACBDguGvBeNj18Swhr9TMTjS-x4O_KuapPgY&r=F2GFXrjLFqVo3VwvIlo_XYeEiRRjHv15rxcenz7A21woG2aFGcrzndoSsskxfmOs&m=F2ia3Ryo-2Wcrj6VYCqmcIgY6ee69IbvCCZBoPDBp8U&s=8aNA9AAn546SGK26sz8EXJg57oVuYHbVSN8RdiJ6k9o&e=> on Monday, the group behind the Thread protocol. Thread is an IPv6-based technology for creating mesh networks out of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and using Thread requires membership in the Thread Group. BIG NEWS: Apple has joined @TheThreadGroup <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__twitter.com_TheThreadGroup&d=DwIFaQ&c=OAG1LQNACBDguGvBeNj18Swhr9TMTjS-x4O_KuapPgY&r=F2GFXrjLFqVo3VwvIlo_XYeEiRRjHv15rxcenz7A21woG2aFGcrzndoSsskxfmOs&m=F2ia3Ryo-2Wcrj6VYCqmcIgY6ee69IbvCCZBoPDBp8U&s=LfUqLTIi-Sya_ROV_9kmsrci_TScMZ5oFmFuHysZfwc&e=>. Today they joined the list of members at "Sponser BoD" level. This is potentially huge for Thread, esp if added to HomeKit. <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__twitter.com_intent_like-3Ftweet-5Fid-3D1026581347832397825&d=DwIFaQ&c=OAG1LQNACBDguGvBeNj18Swhr9TMTjS-x4O_KuapPgY&r=F2GFXrjLFqVo3VwvIlo_XYeEiRRjHv15rxcenz7A21woG2aFGcrzndoSsskxfmOs&m=F2ia3Ryo-2Wcrj6VYCqmcIgY6ee69IbvCCZBoPDBp8U&s=zaEdr8oH4VPrVdtf4wzse_YYcw8h6lxDO3H9FkO-ias&e=> Thread Protocol As Mr. Ratliff said, this could turn into big news for HomeKit. If Apple were to support Thread with HomeKit, it could greatly expand the number of HomeKit, or at least make it easier for device makers to incorporate HomeKit support. Additionally, it could make HomeKit networks more useful and capable. Here’s the Thread Group’s description of Thread: It’s hard to get devices to talk to one another. And once they do, the connection is often spotty and power hungry. Thread changes all that. It’s a mesh network designed to securely and reliably connect hundreds of products around the home – without blowing through battery life. Designed specifically for the home Robust self-healing mesh network No single point of failure Interoperable by design using proven, open standards and IPv6 technology with 6LoWPAN as the foundation Requires just a software enhancement for today’s 802.15.4 products Designed to support a wide variety of products for the home: appliances, access control, climate control, energy management, lighting, safety, and security. As someone who wants to see HomeKit become amazing, Apple joining the Thread Group is terrific news. I hope this group membership leads to substantial progress in the HomeKit ecosystem, but it will take some time.
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