Tag Archives: card reader

VMUltra Drive Adds DVD Burner, Hard Drive, USB Ports and SD Reader: The Ultrabook Sidekick

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Having a slim and lightweight laptop is great for your back, but the hardware that it’s missing could be bad for your productivity. If you’re missing some of the bells and whistles of your desktop computer, PC and tablet maker Velocity Micro has got your back with the VMUltra Drive.

vmultra drive by velocity micro

Short of a beefier CPU and GPU, the VMUltra Drive is basically everything that’s been cut out of traditional laptops to make the so-called Ultrabooks. In exchange for taking up a USB 3.0 port, this peripheral will give you an 8x DVD±R/RW burner and reader, two USB 3.0 ports and one USB 2.0 port, an SD/SDHC/MMC reader and a hard drive bay that fits 2.5″ SATA drives. As if that wasn’t enough, it comes with a 500GB installed in the bay.

vmultra drive by velocity micro 2

You can see more images of the VMUltra Drive on The Verge, but if you’re already throwing money at the screen – I’m keeping some of it! – head to Velocity Micro and pre-order the gadget for $200 (USD).

[via Engadget]


Square launches in Canada, streamlines payments on the world stage

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Square launches in Canada, streamlines onthespot poutine payments

For all of Square's fast growth, it's been exclusively the domain of US shopkeeps; others had to scrounge for an alternative, if there was one at all. The payment pioneer clearly isn't content to isolate itself or anyone else, as it's making its international debut with support for Canada. Locals can immediately request the free Mobile Card Reader and swipe credit cards with an Android or iOS device at the same flat, 2.75 percent rate that more experimental American stores know very well. Complete equality isn't available to Canucks just yet, as Square Wallet won't be available until 2013, but the access remains a step forward for Canadian merchants that don't want to be tied down to a terminal any more than their southern neighbors.

Continue reading Square launches in Canada, streamlines payments on the world stage

Square launches in Canada, streamlines payments on the world stage originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 11:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PayPal Here goes on sale at AT&T stores: like a one-stop shop for account hiccups

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PayPal Here goes on sale at AT&T stores like a onestop shop for account hiccups

PayPal Here, despite all its focus on in-store transactions, hasn't really been available to buy in a US store -- that's been the domain of the seemingly ubiquitous Square reader. eBay's payment wing has at last established that retail beachhead through a deal with AT&T. About 1,800 of the carrier's stores are now carrying PayPal Here readers, and they'll keep the service's big rival from hogging the spotlight at a time when most aren't even aware that there's any competition. If you're still cynical, you can look at the AT&T move as a matter of convenience: at least this way, all your account headaches will come from one place.

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PayPal Here goes on sale at AT&T stores: like a one-stop shop for account hiccups originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 20 Oct 2012 21:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TechCrunch  |  sourcePayPal Blog  | Email this | Comments

Security experts hack payment terminals to steal credit card info, play games

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Security experts show payment terminal vulnerabilities by playing racing game with pinpad

If a payment terminal could be forced into servitude as a crude handheld gaming device, what else could it be made to do? Researchers at the Black Hat conference showed just what mischief a commonly used UK PoS terminal could get up to when they inserted a chip-and-pin card crafted with malicious code. That enabled them to install a racing game and play it, using the machine's pin pad and screen. With the same hack, they were able to install a far less whimsical program as well -- a Trojan that could record card numbers and PINs, which could be extracted later by inserting another rogue card. On top of that, criminals could use the same method to fool the terminal into thinking a transaction was bank-approved, allowing them to walk out of a store with goods they hadn't paid for. Finally, the security gurus took a device popular in the US, and used non-encrypted ethernet communication between the terminal and other peripherals to hack into the payment device and take root control. Makes you want to put those credit cards (and NFC devices) away and stick to cash -- at least you can see who's robbing you blind.

[Original image credit: Shutterstock]

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Security experts hack payment terminals to steal credit card info, play games originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 06:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PayPal and Softbank announce new joint venture in Japan, mobile app

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PayPal has joined forces with Softbank to bring its mobile payment system/digital wallet to Japan. PayPal Here uses an encrypted card reader -- like its BFF Square, and more recently, VeriFone -- to minimize users' cash dependency. There's also a redesigned app that makes it easier for customers to locate participating merchants while they're out and about. The $25 million joint venture targets small businesses, especially those using iPhones (though it also works just fine on Android), and will be made available to the Japanese masses over the next several weeks. We're sure the setup will be used exclusively by the forces of good to stimulate the local economy.

PayPal and Softbank announce new joint venture in Japan, mobile app originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 15:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Reuters  |  sourceVirtual Press Office  | Email this | Comments