Hasta La Gadget!

Processing mobile payments via an external dongle? That’s so early 2011. Charge Anywhere has a less troublesome idea, and if you’re the lucky owner of a Google Nexus S, you could soon be accepting cold, hard virtual cash via NFC. For those already familiar with the space, you’ll know that this very company already has applications out for the iPhone, BlackBerry and Android devices, but all of those obviously require a credit card swiping mechanism to be connected. According to CNET, the latest version will include support for the NFC module embedded within the Nexus S, enabling it to be a full-on mobile payment terminal with no additional hardware required. Both MasterCard PayPass and Visa Blink payments could be ingested, but don’t go searching for the update in the Android Market; the company’s done with the new build, but it won’t be let loose to the public until it’s ran past larger customers first. We don’t get the impression that the NFC-compatible version will run any more than the $9.99 per month, but it’s obviously a wait-and-see affair for now.

Charge Anywhere update turns Nexus S into full-on mobile payment terminal originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 21:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Comcast is back with what it’s calling the third major release of its Xfinity TV app for iOS, and while the product team says it’s added streaming content from IFC, Adult Swim, BBC and more the key upgrade is in customizations. It features a new favorites list that is most improved by its ability to sync with the XfinityTV website, a new channel keypad for quick changes when used as a remote and the ability to jump to specific dates in the TV listings. The iPhone version has also gotten a tweak, with the addition of a “flip through previous channels” feature previously restricted to the iPad version. Of course the next question is when we can expect these enhancements to filter over to the recently launched Android version, and also when Comcast is planning to follow Time Warner through the live channel streaming door, despite the loud protests of some of the TV networks against it.

Comcast’s Xfinity TV app for iOS updated with more streaming and customization originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There’s a lot of folks out there drinking and driving, and Congress sees DUI checkpoint location apps as enablers of all that cruising and boozing. Senate Majority leader Harry Reid and his fellow Democrats have decided to use their powers of political persuasion to address the issue and ask Google, Apple, and RIM to pull such apps from their respective stores. The letter didn’t name names, but Reid and co. want offending software yanked or “altered to remove the DUI checkpoint functionality” to prevent checkpoint circumvention. Of course, the creators of one such app, PhantomAlert, claim it provides such information to deter drunk driving by letting users know the risk of getting caught (yeah, right). RIM agreed to comply with the congressional request while Google said no thanks, but mum’s the word out of Cupertino — time will tell if Apple gets on the banning bandwagon too.

Senator Harry Reid calls for DUI checkpoint app removal: RIM’s game, Google isn’t, Apple’s undecided originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 16:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T is keeping up its wheeling and dealing this week, signing an agreement with Ford to provide the built-in wireless connectivity for its upcoming Focus Electric hatchback. The deal’s pretty simple, really. Ford has put together a comprehensive MyFord Mobile application to go with its EV, which will allow you to keep track of and schedule charging, while also serving up status notifications, range information, and nearby recharging stations’ locations, the latter facility being provided with the help of MapQuest. All that data exchange will need a nice dumb pipe to carry it between the Focus and your smartphone and AT&T is obligingly fulfilling that role — and don’t worry if your phone doesn’t support the app (works with Android, BlackBerry and iOS), Ford’s got a web interface too. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Ford Focus Electric hooks up wirelessly with AT&T, incurs jealous looks from T-Mobile

Ford Focus Electric hooks up wirelessly with AT&T, incurs jealous looks from T-Mobile originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 11:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember Blio? Yes, our memories of this colorful ebook-reading software are starting to fade too, but now T-Mobile’s about ready to yank it from the shadows of obscurity with a newly announced partnership. Content provider Baker & Taylor will be responsible for installing the Blio Android app on “select future products from T-Mobile USA” and populating it with compelling content. The Blio store has grown to now encompass a healthy three million titles, both free and paid, and should you have the Windows version of its software, you’ll get the sweet automation of having it sync with your mobile device as well. To get your reading started nice and early, jump past the break for the full press release.

Continue reading Blio e-reading software still alive, will come preloaded on T-Mobile Android devices

Blio e-reading software still alive, will come preloaded on T-Mobile Android devices originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 07:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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