Source: Apple
What you need to know
- The full rollout of Apple Pay has been delayed on the New York metro.
- COVID-19 has delayed the completion of a new fare payment system.
- OMNY will be rolled out two months behind schedule, likely at the end of the year.
A new fare payment system on New York's metro system that would have brought full Apple Pay support has been delayed.
As reported by WSJ:
The new way of paying for subway and bus trips using a smartphone or contactless credit card couldn't have come at a better time for New Yorkers wishing to avoid touching a MetroCard vending machine.
But the coronavirus pandemic has delayed by about two months the completion of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's new fare payment system, OMNY, across the subway, officials said Tuesday.
The new OMNY system will bring a full rollout of fare payment through contactless credit or debit cards, smartphones and smartwatches including Apple Pay, According to the lead of the OMNY project Steve Brunner, work on the system was halted in March due to concerns that workers might become infected with COVID-19.
The system was due to be finished by October, so a delay of two months will take it right to the end of the year, with support for 7 and 30-day passes coming next year.
The system is however making its way to MTA busses in Manhattan by "the end of July", and citywide by the end of the year.
The rollout of some OMNY contactless units at the start of the year caused a stir following reports that users were being charged accidentally through Apple Pay as well as through their card, effectively paying twice for one journey.
Gorgeous new Pride Apple Watch bands are now available at some Apple Stores
Apple's latest Pride Apple Watch bands are now available to buy in some Apple Stores, although whether you can walk into a store and pick one up yourself will very much depend on where you happen to be.
Rare Steve Jobs check for $9.18 goes under the hammer, could fetch $25k
A rare check signed by Steve Jobs dated July 23, 1976, has just gone up for auction and could be worth a lot more than it was originally written out for...
Apple store workers get surprise pay rise as union pressure grows
Apple plans to give U.S. workers a pay rise in the face of growing pressure from unions that are emerging in some retail locations.
These accessories will go great with your Apple AirTags
Apple's AirTag doesn't have any hooks or adhesive for attaching to your precious items. Luckily there are plenty of accessories for that purpose, both from Apple and third parties.