Cult of Android - page 11

Walmart takes on Apple Pay and Android Pay with… Walmart Pay

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Walmart is launching its own mobile payment service.
Photo: Walmart
Walmart is launching its own mobile payment service. Photo: Walmart
Walmart is launching its own mobile payment service. Photo: Walmart

Walmart, a.k.a. the world’s largest retailer, has announced the launch of its new Walmart Pay service — a mobile payment service for both Android and iOS, designed to work with all major credit, debit, and Walmart gift cards in the retailer’s U.S. stores.

Google’s mind-bending quantum computer actually works

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Quantum computers will lead to advancements in artificial intelligence.
Photo: D-Wave Systems Inc.
D-Wave 1000Q quantum computing - lower res1
Quantum computers will lead to advancements in artificial intelligence. (Photo courtesy of D-Wave Systems Inc.)

A major breakthrough from Google’s quantum-computing team could eventually lead to artificial-intelligence systems complex enough to make sci-fi nerds lose sleep in fear of the robot apocalypse. The breakthrough sounds simple, but it has massive implications: The quantum computer the team co-operates with NASA actually works.

And not only does it work, but it can do the same process up to 100 million times faster than its predecessors.

Samsung on the up again as iPhone’s share falls in key markets

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Apple and Samsung return to court
Apple and Samsung are battling it out again.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Is Samsung back? Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Is Samsung back? Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Samsung saw its market share grow last quarter for the first time in 2015, as Android continues to dominate the market worldwide. Google’s platform also saw growth throughout Europe’s “big five” markets, while Apple’s fell for the first time in over a year.

Instagram brings 3D Touch gestures to Android

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Instagram
Who needs an iPhone?
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Who needs an iPhone? Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Who needs an iPhone? Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

3D Touch isn’t just for iPhone users anymore!

The same 3D Touch gestures that Instagram integrated into its iOS app following the release of iPhone 6s are now available inside its Android app — and you don’t need a pressure sensitive display to use them.

Sony splits PlayStation Messages into standalone app

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PlayStation Messages gets its own app. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
PlayStation Messages gets its own app. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Sony’s PlayStation app for mobile has always been something of a disaster, with a poor user interface and painfully slow performance. That’s still true today — but now you don’t have to use it when all you want to do is message friends on the PlayStation Network.

In an effort to be a better messaging service, PlayStation Messages has gone solo. With the new PlayStation Messages app for Android and iOS, you can keep in touch with the rest of your clan without having to use the main PlayStation app at all.

Dropbox is giving up on Mailbox and Carousel

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One of the nicest email clients on mobile is dead. Photo: Dropbox
One of the nicest email clients on mobile is dead. Photo: Dropbox

Dropbox has announced that it is killing its Carousel and Mailbox apps in early 2016.

The company says it will use what it has learned from these products to improve its core Dropbox service, and to increase its focus on Paper, the tool that allows you to create new documents and collaborate on them in real-time in the cloud.

Apple Watch goes from strength to strength, while Samsung falls

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Apple Watch continues to grow, while Samsung drops off the top five list.
Photo: Apple
Apple Watch continues to grow, while Samsung drops off the top five list. Photo: Apple
Apple Watch continues to grow, while Samsung drops off the top five list. Photo: Apple

The Apple Watch continues to go from strength to strength, while Samsung’s own wearable devices are eclipsed by new arrivals, according to new figures released by International Data Corporation (IDC).

Samsung will finally pay Apple the patent infringement damages it owes

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Apple will finally get its hands on Samsung's sweet, sweet cash.
Photo: Cult of Mac
Apple will finally get its hands on this sweet, sweet cash. Photo: Cult of Mac
Apple will finally get its hands on this sweet, sweet cash. Photo: Cult of Mac

Following quite literally years of appeals and retrials, Samsung is finally paying Apple the $548,176,477 it owes for infringing on patents owned by the Cupertino company.

Four months before the fifth anniversary of the original complaint, Apple will receive the money from Samsung by December 14 — with Apple and Samsung filing a joint case management statement with the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, stating that Samsung, “has made arrangements to complete payment to Apple.”

Google’s new app transforms phones into VR cameras

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Google Cardboard Camera simulation
Like this, but you’re wearing a big thing on your face.

Google has unleashed a free app that will let anyone with an Android phone take panoramic videos and record sound. Later, you’ll be able to use your virtual-reality headset of choice to relive those moments in 3-D.

The app is called Cardboard Camera, after Google’s own build-it-yourself VR goggles, and it’s available now in the Google Play app store.

Google breaks promise to not collect student data

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Google breaks its privacy promise. Photo: Google
Google breaks its privacy promise. Photo: Google

Google has been accused of breaking its student privacy pledge by collecting data and browsing habits from Chromebooks used in schools and Google Apps for Education.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has called upon the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate Google’s conduct, and to prevent it from using the data it has collected so far.

Instagram update lets you seamlessly manage multiple accounts

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Instagram now supports more than one account. Photo: Instragram
Instagram now supports more than one account. Photo: Instragram

Instagram is bringing a great new update to Android and iOS that allows users to seamlessly manage multiple accounts. The change means you’ll finally be able to access your personal and professional feeds — and the one dedicated to your cat — without having to log out and back in.

Google unleashes wonderfully nerdy Star Wars Easter egg

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This is certainly the Easter egg you're looking for.
Photo: David J. Rodger
Photo: David J. Roger
Photo: David J. Roger

As a company staffed by some bona fide geeks (and, hey, we’re not complaining!) Google is undoubtedly excited about the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

And what better way to show it than with possibly my favorite Easter egg in Google history? If you haven’t heard about it yet, read on to discover more.

If you care about special needs kids, choose Android Pay over Apple Pay on Black Friday

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tappaygive-blog

While Apple Pay has become a near ubiquitous payment option at stores across America, Android Pay is having a harder time getting off the ground. But here’s a reason to feel good about using Google’s service over Apple’s: until the end of the year, Google will donate money to special needs students across America every time you use Android Pay.