TechBytes: Mobile Payment Test

Aug. 20, 2010— -- The so-called digital wallet is about to get a big test. Bank of America and Visa plan to begin testing a program in New York next month that lets customers use their smart phones as credit cards.

Customers will install a small chip in their phones, and then wave their phones in front of a scanner when paying, similar to contactless credit cards.

Some people predicted the iPad would be another nail in the coffin of traditional magazines. But Time Inc. sees the two living side by side. The publisher has reached a deal with Apple to allow People subscribers to download the magazine's iPad application for free. Time Inc. plans to offer the same deal for its other magazines.

Baseball fanatics can now turn the iPad into a virtual scorecard. ESPN has released the iScore Baseball Scorekeeper app. The $9.99 program lets users track every pitch at the ball park, whether it's the big leagues or your kid's Little League game.

USA Today's Ed Baig thinks baseball fans will be impressed. "It really is a lot of fun and it's not as messy as using paper and pencil," Baig said. "But I wish it were a little cheaper, I wish a few of the wrinkles were ironed out so it was a little bit more intuitive in spots.

"But, overall, I think the guys at ESPN have hit, if not a home run, at least a double to deep-left center field."

You can read more from Baig on USAToday.com. ESPN is owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC.

Cameron Diaz has received a high Hollywood honor, of sorts. The actress tops this year's list of most dangerous celebrities to search for online. That means hackers use her more than any other celebrity to trick people into visiting malicious websites. Other celebs on the list include Julia Roberts, Jessica Biel, Gisele Bundchen and Brad Pitt.