The Google Wallet Card has finally appeared in the real world after months (and perhaps even years) of chatter behind the scenes on its official status. This Google Wallet connection takes the form of a debit card with the support of MasterCard, using your Google Wallet balance wherever a MasterCard is accepted. At the moment […]
Much as Google Wallet tried to get NFC and phones in general to be the payment form of the future, it seems that the company has realized that many folks are still attached to plastic. To meet that luddite demand, today Google began offering a pre-paid Google Wallet debit card to give access to your Google-fied funds when you don’t have your handset handy. The card is issued as a MasterCard and grants ATM access, and is currently only available to US residents who have already been through Big G’s identity verification process. Should you fit into that category of folks, you’ll find all the info needed to sign up at the source links below.
Filed under: Misc, Mobile, Google
Via: Droid Life
Source: Google Wallet (1), (2), Google Commerce
There’s a collection of factory images prepared by Google just waiting for the final push to airwaves for Android 4.4 KitKat on the remaining Nexus smartphones out in the wild this week. Meanwhile the Nexus 4, the smaller of the two smartphones offered up by Google right this minute, is seeing its Android 4.4 KitKat […]
Last week, Google announced that KitKat would arrive on the Nexus 4 and data-packing Nexus 7 models “soon.” Well, it appears that around seven days was the wait time as Android 4.4 is rolling out to last year’s Nexus handsets — a day after Verizon starting pushing the update to the Moto X. We’ve seen multiple reports of the update’s arrival with the promise of improved performance and a wealth of new features in tow. Keep an eye on those notifications, as the latest version of Google’s mobile OS should be on it’s way to your Nexus 5 predecessor.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile
Source: @fakeninjitsu (Twitter)
These days, a mobile OS is only as good as its ecosystem, and no company knows this fact more than Microsoft. Its smartphone platform known as Windows Phone has had plenty of growing pains during the first three years of existence, which is mainly related to a limited number of big apps and game titles. Despite these struggles, Microsoft has slowly but surely been able to court heavy-hitting developers — even if only one or two at a time. Today, however, a gaping hole in the Windows Phone Store will be plugged, as Instagram will be available as a free download beginning today around 2pm ET.
The Instagram app, which will be available only for Windows Phone 8 (sorry, legacy users), will offer Live Tiles that refresh with new data on the Start screen, and will also come with support for fast-resume; sadly, there are quite a few features that won’t be available right away, such as video capture and uploading, photo tagging, viewing geotaxis and — arguably the most important — in-app image capture. Instagram explains that it wanted to get the app out to users as quickly as possible, so a few features had to be left out of the first version (which Instagram is calling a beta), but it assures us that future updates will come with plenty more functionality (as updates are often wont to do). Still, the addition of official support by Instagram is a good indicator of health for Windows Phone.
Update: Despite Microsoft’s and Instagram’s repeated assurance that in-app image capture would not be available, it appears that it’s actually included in the official app after all. Pressing the camera button takes you into the camera roll by default, but choosing the camera icon allows you to take a pic. Once you take the image, it auto-selects that shot and lets you upload it through Instagram.
%Gallery-slideshow122524%
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Microsoft
This week you’ll have a new Google service available to you straight from Google itself, one going by the name of Google Play Newsstand. This interface allows Google Play to roll with Magazines, Newspapers, and even Blog Feeds in a single centralized location, one that’s available to the masses just as the Google Play store’s […]
Google is overhauling its approach to serving you articles and news. With "Newsstand" Google’s taking another shot at building a one-stop app for all the different stuff you might want to read online. It’s a bit like Flipboard meets your magazine subscriptions in a single application for your phone.
     |
While the world is left in shock by the fact that the Verizon version of the Motorola-made Moto X saw the Android 4.4 KitKat update before the rest of the Nexus family, HTC has assured that the HTC One will be next. They’ve made this re-assurance in the form of a mini-tweet and subsequent push […]
Google is not particularly great at keeping secrets. Its Nexus devices always leak and peeks at code are constantly revealing features before they’re announced. So, it’s no surprise that, exactly one month after we reported references to a Google Play Newsstand popping up, Mountain View is taking the wraps off the new content hub. Like its Apple counterpart, it will play home (get it?) to both newspaper and magazine subscriptions, and it’ll even pull in articles from sites and blogs you choose to follow (like this one, we hope). And, even though you’ll be able to have your New York Times subscription delivered through Newsstand, you’re not forced to use it. The stand alone Times app will continue to be available directly from your home screen.
Articles viewed through the new Newsstand app will be specifically formatted for your tablet or phone, complete with images, audio or video inline. And they’ll be available offline so you can can catch up on your news, even if you happen to be on one of the few flights left in the US without WiFi. And, if you come across something particularly interesting, but don’t have the time right now for a 4,000 word expose on how Facebook uses your personal data, you can mark it to read later.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Mobile, Google
Source: Google Play Newsstand
This week the folks at Parrot have announced that they’re working with Microsoft closely to release not only apps and connections between Windows Phone and their Parrot.AR Drone 2.0 and Zik, but Windows 8 as well. This means that you’ll be able to work closely with the Zik headphones and pilot this beastly drone from […]
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
