James Martin/CNET Magnetic stripe cards are outdated, susceptible to fraud, and deserve an award for sticking around despite being older than the first computer. Plastic payment cards are finally changing with two things: Chip and PIN cards, and NFC-based mobile payments. Apple is the latest — and perhaps the most significant — player in the …

Twitter executive Adam Bain talks about the iPhone 6 and Apple Watch. Roger Cheng/CNET LAS VEGAS — Twitter is a big fan of Apple’s new mobile-payment service. Apple earlier Tuesday unveiled Apple Pay, a new service that lets you use your iPhone 6 to pay at the register, utilizing its Passbook app to store credit-card information. It comes a day …

LAS VEGAS — Microsoft’s Lumia 830 smartphone has a new home at AT&T. Microsoft’s head of devices, Stephen Elop, talks up the new Lumia 830. Roger Cheng/CNET The colorful Windows Phone-powered handset, which was unveiled last week at the IFA consumer electronics trade show, will come to AT&T during the holidays, said Stephen Elop, head of Microsoft’s devices business. Elop …

The HTC One M8 (left) and the Samsung Galaxy S5. Josh Miller/CNET In addition to the larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch wearable, Apple unveiled the iPhone 6, a stylish 4.7-inch handset with a faster A8 processor, NFC, and a 720p Retina HD display. Available on September 19, the phone will launch in eight countries, including the US, …

Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, reviews the messaging features of iOS 8 at Wedensday’s event. James Martin/CNET Apple’s iOS 8 goes live Sept. 17, two days before the company’s new phones go on sale, Apple announced at its launch event Tuesday in Cupertino, Calif. The software is available for download for the iPhone 4S and above. …

Apple packed more than usual into its yearly iPhone event. The company unveiled two new larger iPhones: the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus . It’s offering a new way to pay at stores and online without a wallet. And it introduced a new product — the Apple Watch . But what took Apple two hours to reveal, you can …

CNET Yes, we got some new iPhones, a new line of watches and some other nifty new software and services today. That should all add up to a pretty satisfying helping of Apple products for one meal. But as is their nature, Apple launch events have a tendency to leave some people a little peckish. With that in mind, here’s …

Apple reveals the new Apple Watch. Apple Apple on Tuesday unveiled the new Apple Watch smartwatch, diving into the wearables market for the first time. CEO Tim Cook called the smartwatch a “breakthrough” product, describing it as a “comprehensive” health and fitness device, walkie-talkie, remote control for the Apple TV streaming-box, among many other capabilities. The device is “the most …

James Martin/CNET As part of the announcement of the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus , Apple revealed some of the new tech you’ll find helping you get those perfect shots. For starters, you’ll find optical image stabilization in the 6 Plus (it’s just electronic for the 6), faster autofocus, and slow-motion video up to 240 frames per second, which …

With a so-called iWatch — or some other wearable device — apparently imminent, rumors have swirled that Apple will also offer app store capability for it. But would Apple really need one? In July, Apple was awarded a patent for a “wrist-worn electronic device.” Apple/USPTO Apple’s iOS app store has earned billions for developers and even more billions for Apple …

The new iPhones get a new commercial. Video screenshot by Lynn La/CNET Let’s let the rumor monsters return to their slumber for a few days (until iPhone 7 speculation starts). The iPhone 6 is here and Apple is pumping it up to be the greatest flagship smartphone yet. Apple has been under constant pressure to trump its previous iPhone offerings …

Barnes & Noble now sees its future in its bookstores, not its Nook devices. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Barnes & Noble significantly slimmed down spending on its Nook digital business during its fiscal first quarter, as the book retailer prepares to split off the money-losing business next year. The company in June said it would break apart into two companies, separating …

A battle between Qualcomm and MediaTek continues to brew. Stephen Shankland/CNET Qualcomm appears to be taking a direct shot at rival chipmaker MediaTek, introducing on Tuesday a new mobile processor aimed at lower-end devices — MediaTek’s bread-and-butter business. San Diego, Calif.-based Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon 210, its first chip focused on bringing 4G LTE to entry-level smartphones and tablets. The …

Comedian, writer and broadcaster Stephen Fry looking suitably Californian Steven Fry! #[email protected]/SWFpQFM9H3 — Jason Parker (@jparkerCNET) September 9, 2014 Musician Will.i.am stands awkwardly close to Apple’s head of retail and online stores Angela Ahrendts http://t.co/tQxk5bUVaL and Angela Ahrendts are in the house (via @lkahney) pic.twitter.com/RGtg7KoW3w — Buster Hein (@bst3r) September 9, 2014 Gwen Stefani makes her way out of the …

Did you hear? Apple announced some new products today. Yes, the news of the new iPhones and Apple Watch dominated the news cycle — but it wasn’t the only thing that happened in the tech world today. So, no matter which side of the fanboy divide you’re on — whether you delightedly keep the iBlinders on, or you think Apple …