Google this week announced a new payment service that unifies Android Pay and Google Wallet into one entity. The new app is dubbed Google Pay and has already started rolling out.
Android Pay allowed users to make purchases with their smartphones in physical store locations by holding their devices to a reader at checkout, while Google Wallet let Android users send money to friends and family. The new service integrates these functions and adds more.
How do I get Google Play on my device?
If you are already using Android Pay on your phone, then all you have to do is wait, as a software update will automatically replace Android Pay with Google Pay. The app also showing up in the Google Play Store.
After announcing the merger, Google noted it is currently working on bringing Google Pay to all Google products.
Furthermore, the Mountain View-based giant is working with online and brick and mortar partners to make the new paying service available on websites, in apps and physical stores around the world. Through apps, users will be able to check out using their Google credentials rather than typing in their credit card info over and over again.
In the meantime, Google Wallet is temporary getting renamed as Google Pay Send until it will slowly get incorporated into Google Pay.
Included in the upgrade is an updated Home tab for the Google Pay app, which bundles information on recent purchases and where to find nearby stores. The Cards tab, where users store their credit cards, as well loyalty programs, has also been given a fresh coat of paint.
More features are coming
Google also said public transport users in Portland, London and Kiev can use Google Play for transit. Support for this feature will soon be expanded to include other cities.
The search giant also added that it is working on more features for Google Play. For example, users in the US or UK should be able to send and request money in the next few months.
What do you think about Google’s idea to unify Android Pay and Google Wallet into one service? Let us know in the comment section below.
We all go through phases when we feel like we’re not smart enough, attractive enough or exciting enough. No matter how fulfilling our lives are, there are bound to be days when you’ll find yourself wishing you could be someone else. The notion of needing self-help is very real.
These fluctuations are part of life, and every individual goes through them at some point or another. And the good news is, there are steps you can take to pull yourself out of feeling this way.
No, we’re not talking about expensive couch sessions with your therapist. Instead, you could try installing a few apps on your Android phone. Mobile tech influences numerous aspects of our lives. They teach us how to cook, get fit and manage our finances. But they can also help us feel more confident and self-empowered.
We’ve rounded up some of the best self-help and motivational apps for Android for when you feel like you’d need a fresh perspective.
Pacifica
What it is:
Stress and anxiety are a big component of our modern lives. Want some help in minimizing their effects on your well-being? Pacifica could be the answer.
Why you should try it:
The app offers psychologist-designed audio lessons and activities to help you cope with stress, anxiety and even depression.
Pacifica includes a database of mindfulness meditation audio tools and mood tracker so you can see your progress over time.
Comes with an elegant interface that’s very easy to use
An app which takes on the hard task of helping you cultivate new and worthy personality traits.
Why you should try it:
We all have things about our personalities we want to work on. Whether we’re trying to cultivate a character trait or to get rid of some unwanted habit, this app could prove helpful.
The app includes useful tips, training, skill sharing and quotes on 150 topics of self-improvement.
It provides easy to understand content for various personality types.
This app addresses two very common issue today: phone addiction and the inability to stay focused on a task by employing a very unique technique.
Why you should try it:
Forest provides an interesting solution: it challenges you to plant a seed in the Forest and watch it grow. But for it to develop and prosper you need to leave the app on and restrain from playing a quick round of Super Mario Run or text your best friend.
As you continue to stay away from social media and other temptations, you’ll be able to unlock more tree species and earn reward.
You can easily share your forest and compete with friends.
This app is a tool for better understanding your deepest wants, needs and desires. It’s super easy to use and produces results based on personal color preference.
Why you should try it:
Uncover the hidden depths of your personality with the Luscher Test app. The test was developed by Dr. Max Luscher in Basel, Switzerland. Since color preference is subjective and seated in the unconscious, Dr. Luscher theorized that color selection can reveal the person as they really are, not as they perceive themselves to be.
The test is very easy to take. You’ll simply have to choose from 8 colors in order of preference: tap on the one you like best, then the second and so on.
You have to take the test twice so that the app can generate a more accurate interpretation. This helps ensure that the subject has been sure about his choices rather than simply being impulsive.
Mindly is a creative little app aimed at individuals leading busy lives who are in need of decluttering their minds in order to better organize their ideas.
Why you should try it:
When you feel like you have too much on your plate, it’s easy to get demotivated. Mindly wants to help you organize things, so you can take it one by one.
Mindly is a great app for visual people who will certainly appreciate the clean and minimalist design.
The app is basically an organizer for your thoughts. You add thoughts which take the form of colorful circles, as they gravitate around the main idea, which is also represented as a (larger) circle (it could be a speech or a presentation or a design project).
An app which looks at the whole concept of creating habits a bit differently. With Habitica it’s easy to form new habits and stick to your daily tasks.
Why you should try it:
Habitica puts a different spin on doing chores and completing tasks because it treats everything as a game.
Input your habits, daily goals and to-do list and create your avatar. As you check off tasks you will unlock new features such as armor, pets and yes! even quests.
Users can team up with friends and fight monsters to keep each other accountable.
Chances are that if you’ve done some headphone research, you’ve heard of Beyerdynamic. The long-standing German audio manufacturer isn’t necessarily mainstream but well recognized in the audiophile community, with numerous classics to its name. The company’s latest on-goings in the pursuit of perfected audio is its home-brewed Tesla driver. It debuted in the Tesla T1 over-ear flagship and proved to be a force to be reckoned with. Hence, Beyerdynamic wasn’t going to stop there.
The motto for the Xelento are “An audible piece of jewelry”, and rightly so.
Finding that it was lacking in an in-ear flagship, the company went to work. But to have an earphone with performance that could stand up with its larger brethren, it had to have as capable as technology. Yes, Beyerdynamic made the excellent decision to attempt to miniaturize its prized Tesla driver, and it succeeded – meet the Xelento Remote.
Design
Generally, Beyerdynamic headphones have a distinct aesthetic but aren’t really flashy or exotic in design. The company lets the material, construction, and attention to detail do the talking, rather than something that will turn heads. Interestingly enough, the Xelento push on that philosophy, as the earpieces are enveloped in a shiny facade.
The motto for the Xelento are “An audible piece of jewelry”, and rightly so. The metallic sheen matches that of polished silver jewelry. Many times with these expensive earphones, buyers don’t really get their money’s worth in design, so we welcome Beyerdynamic’s slick presentation in that respect.
But it won’t be everyone’s style. Still, we’d argue it shouldn’t detract. The brushed metal cap on the outward surface of the earpieces provides a substantial contrast (which is also largely what you see when the earpieces are in your ears) and the cue needed to depict a “Beyerdynamic” headphone.
However, you get a different story in-hand. The silver chassis feels more like plastic than metal. But not low quality by any means. It may be a point of contention when you’re investing close to $1K on audiophile-class earphones, but bear in mind that the driver shell does affect audio output, and Beyerdynamic may have strategically chosen this material because it’s better for the ultimate result.
Some high-end headphones sometimes put everything into the audio development and earpieces, but not enough focus on the cable. This isn’t the case here. The Xelento have the best cable we’ve used in any earphone. It’s robust, thin, and as pretty as the earpieces themselves. The translucent shrinkwrap shows silver twisted wires, and the Y-splitter, chin slider, and 3.5mm jack are all brushed metal (real) bits.
The “Remote” in the Xelento’s name implies that it’s smartphone-friendly, unlike many of its class. In the stock cable, you’ll get a three-button control unit with microphone for quick functions on the connected device. There are volume up and volume down, and the middle button primarily pauses/plays but can also move forward and back in tracks.
The remote unit is in-line on the right channel cable. However, it’s really lightweight and feels like it’s not there.
Weirdly, while double pressing moves to the next track, you hold down the button to move back (at least, on my Android phone). And I don’t see a way to toggle Google Assistant. Typically, holding down the middle button would toggle the virtual assistant and three presses would go to the previous track. If you don’t care about the remote, Beyerdynamic generously includes an extra cable in the box that excludes it.
Usability
The wear of the Xelento follows the around-the-ear convention like many of its class. Donning isn’t as convenient as just simply sticking the thing in your ear (rather, you have to orient the earpiece, stick it in, and adjust the cable up and around your ear), but the benefit becomes clear after some use. It’s a much more secure fit and eliminates microphonics noise.
The Xelento’s silicone tips are rather unique. They’re shallow and have this bell shape to them. It makes sense with respect to the design. The shallow nozzles don’t go deep in the ear canals, so widening the eartips helps make sure that you get an appropriate seal.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the best approach with regard to isolation (which benefits from going in as deep as possible). The Xelento’s sound isolation isn’t bad, per-se, but it’s average-ish. Thankfully, Beyerdynamic includes foam tips in the box for those times you’d struggle with noise.
Despite being thin, the rubbery makeup of the cable notably resists tangles. We can see that Beyerdynamic didn’t overlook any details. The only drawback (but minor) is that the rubbery material has a springy nature. So depending on your posture, the cable may not want to fit perfectly around your ear. The chin slider is there to assist in keeping things tightly in place, but even still, the cable will have some movement when you turn your head (but shouldn’t pop out off your ear).
Like many earphones of this class, Beyerdynamic also made the Xelento detachable from the cable (using the common MMCX connector standard). This is always appreciable, especially under the consideration of protecting your investment. Cables can fail, and replacing the cable is much better than having to buy the whole thing again. You also get the freedom to switch to a third-party cable if desired, like if you wanted the capability for Balanced output.
Beyerdynamic’s attention to detail also included the packaging. We liked how the unboxing presentation first started with a simple showcase of the most important part of your purchase – the earpieces. Then digging in shows a barrage of eartips and other high-quality accessories.
Sound
I dived into the sound review of the Xelento having little idea of what to expect. I haven’t gotten a chance to hear Beyerdynamic’s preceding Tesla T1 headphones for reference, but have briefly auditioned the company’s initial attempt at this earphone, the T8iE, which was a collaborative effort with Astell & Kern. I loved the airy, energetic, and full-bodied sound of that earphone. I have also heard a couple of other well-received in-ears at this price range.
Technically being a variant of the Astell & Kern partnership, and boasting the same Tesla driver technology, it’s natural that I can hear some of the same qualities in the Xelento. But I think it’s for the better that Beyerdynamic has full reigns of the tuning with the Xelento. The T8iE leaned on a warm sound signature (accentuating the bass response) where the Xelento is noticeably more balanced. Well, balanced except for the heightened sub-bass.
You’ll get the most out of the Xelento when paired with a high-res DAC, but they’ll still get you excellent sound from a smartphone.
The sub-bass is no doubt the signature element of the Xelento, and the first thing you’ll most likely appreciate. Now, I’m not talking about some bloated, head-shaking bass tuned to satisfy bassheads. It is weighty and hits hard, but as much as it is impactful it is controlled and superiorly defined. When the low-end bass parts of a track hit, I’m sure not just audiophiles will be able to really appreciate how much body is there. It demands your attention, making it easily to recognize the magnitude of depth and dimensionality it’s able to convey. Not exaggerating; it’s that good.
This kind of implies that Beyerdynamic didn’t aim to make the Xelento exactly a “reference” earphone, but we feels it lands a fantastic balance between energy and accuracy. Everything above the sub-bass range sounds mostly on the same level, with mild waviness. At first, we felt like the mid-bass range was a bit light, and while it is compared to a midrange-forward earphone like the Shure SE846, we wouldn’t really deem the Xelento a V-shaped signature. We think it’s a perception issue. The mid-bass doesn’t have quite the vigor that the sub-bass has, and since they’re back-to-back, the pair can come off as mildly disjointed. But in actuality, the mid-bass has just as good definition and an authoritative presence. We’d suggest Beyerdynamic to smooth out the transition next time.
We hear a little more strength (mildly) as we move to the mid-range. Unlike the Sennheiser IE 800 (a direct German-made single dynamic driver competitor), the mids don’t dip and lose impact. In fact, we really appreciated how airy and spacious vocals sound. This is another area where the Xelento punch above their in-ear weight, as it’s where you really appreciate the dimensional dynamics of the different sounds.
Separation and clarity are certainly where they should be at, at this price-point. Same goes for soundstage, which isn’t super wide but a decently spacious oval shape around the head. The treble follows a similar quality and presence of the mids. It’s extension (that high frequency sparkle) is noteworthy, but it’s not a peaky or fatiguing reproduction. The treble is smooth nature to it, in which it trades a little listenability for that sharp clarity you’d find in few earphones, like the Sennheiser IE 800. Overall, the Xelento make it easy to analyze and appreciate the details you may have been missing in your favorite music.
Final Thoughts
It’s a critical decision when you’re spending this much on a pair of headphones. There are actually more in-ears at this price-point than you’d think, and plenty that well surpass it. But we’d say that you’re at a good place with Xelento in the grand scheme of things. Every aspect of it is solid, from the unique, eye-pleasing design and spot-on construction to the comprehensively proficient acoustics. The Xelento is more evidence that Beyerdynamic’s Tesla driver is a pivotal achievement.
Most Chromebooks are cheap and simple, but Google’s been known to launch high-end laptops that run Chrome OS for years now. The latest product in the series is the Pixelbook, a gorgeous laptop fit to compete with the likes of the iPad Pro and Surface Pro.
But only the most hardcore Google fans with plenty of disposable income can consider the super expensive Pixelbook, which normally starts at $999.
Get your discounted Google Pixelbook
But for a limited time, customers who have been mulling over the high-end Chrome OS laptop will be able to get it with a $100 discount. The price cut applies to all three versions as follows:
Pixelbook with Intel Core i5, 128GB SSD – $899
Pixelbook with Intel Core i5, 256GB SSD – $1,099
Pixelbook with Intel Core i7, 512GB SSD – $1,549
Interested parties can purchase the discounted Google Pixelbook from the Google Store, Amazon, Best Buy or B&H until March 3.
What’s more, if you are an Amazon Prime Student member, you can take an additional 10% off the price. Best Buy also has its own Student Deals you can sign up for.
You can use the amount of money you saved towards the purchase of a sleeve for the Pixelbook or the Pixelbook Pen, both price at $100.
The Pixelbook is the thinnest (10.3mm) and lightest laptop (2.4 lbs) ever released by Google. The product offers a 4-in-1 form factor while combining the best capabilities of a laptop, smartphone, and tablet. It boasts a 12.3-inch touchscreen display with 2400 x 1600 resolution and 235 ppi.
Google says the Pixelbook offers 10 hours of battery life and can be charged right back up pretty quickly. A short 15-minute charge will add two hours of life to it.
We should also mention that the Google Pixelbook is the first laptop to come with Google Assistant built-in. So you’ll be able to verbally command the laptop to do things like search for something, check whether or set a reminder.
Introduced last month during CES 2018, the Samsung Galaxy A8 and Galaxy A8+ are now available for purchase in the US.
Samsung did not mention anything about possible availability in North America at launch, so this is a surprise, albeit a welcome one.
Interested parties can pick up the unlocked Samsung Galaxy A8 and Galaxy A8+ from B&H for $479.99 and $529.99 respectively. Both handsets come with one-year warranty in the US and are compatible with GSM/LTE carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile. So Verizon and Sprint subscribers will have to look somewhere else for a capable mid-ranger.
What are the Samsung Galaxy A8 and Galaxy A8+ all about?
In case you missed the announcement last month, let us remind you the Galaxy A8 and Galaxy A8+ are successors of last year’s Galaxy A5 (2017) and A7 (2017).
Both phones come equipped with an Infinity Display with 18:9 aspect ratio and 1080p+ resolution. The Galaxy A8 relies on a smaller 5.6-inch display, while the Galaxy A8+ includes a more spacious 6-inch one.
The duo incorporates a dual selfie camera which pairs a 16-megapixel sensor with an 8-megapixel sensor with f/1.9. As for the main camera, it’s a single 16-megapixel lens with f/1.7, phase detection autofocus and digital stabilization.
Samsung Galaxy A8 in Gold
The phones are powered by octa-core chipsets, and both carry 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable storage (up to 256GB).
Other specifications include Samsung Pay support, IP68 certification, fast charging over USB-C and Gear VR support. The Galaxy A8 relies on a 3,000 mAh powerhouse, while the Galaxy A8+ includes a 3,500 mAh battery.
While the Galaxy A8 and Galaxy A8+ appear to be great mid-rangers, the fact that they come pre-installed with the outdated Android 7.1.1 Nougat might not sit well with a lot of potential buyers.
Nevertheless, if you’re willing to look past that, the phones are waiting for you at B&H in Black, Gold and Orchid Gray.
The line between Chrome OS and Android has always been blurry, and that was even more the case when Android apps got support for running natively on Chromebooks. Now the seemingly desktop operating system from Google has been given support to run Android apps in split-screen while using tablet mode.
To activate it after opening up multiple Android apps while in tablet mode, press the multitask button to see all the apps that are currently open. From here, you can hold down an Android app and you’ll see highlighted areas of the screen where it is able to be snapped for split-screen viewing. There’s even a middle bar that you can drag to adjust the size of each window.
The feature is currently only available in the Canary channel of Chrome OS, which is an opt-in version for those wanting to test new features. It’s an experimental version so proceed with caution if running on your daily driver and expect to see some odd behaviour. If you’d choose to wait till split-screen apps make it into the stable version then I’m sure it won’t be too long.
Have you tried split-screen in Chrome OS? Drop us a comment below.
Not everyone can commit hours of their day to playing games on their phone. Fortunately, there are hundreds of casual games in the Play Store, perfect for when you want to unwind and waste some time.
We’ve rounded up some of the best games to be played on the go and you can download right now. These are games that you can pick up and drop at any time and then pick up again whenever you feel like it.
Cooking Witch
Cooking Witch is an addictive time-management game in which you have to serve the customers of your magical restaurant
As you go through the levels, you’ll be able to upgrade your restaurant by adding more and more enchanted items on the menu
Decorate your restaurant and transform it into the best eating place in the kingdom
The game manages to capture the colorful, bewitching vibe of fairy tales
You step into the shoes of a wanderer who is walking ahead on a fixed path from one camp to the next, attempting to survive the wilderness and ultimately make it to the big city
Players collect resources as they go and use them to craft tools, clothes and other items
The game features beautiful environments to explore and a town-building simulation hidden in the center to provide plenty of things to keep you entertained at all times
The game has a fantastic story-line, in which a scientist tries to create a special strain of lacto-bacilli that would ultimately prologue human life
You stand to learn a thing or two about science, as you take control of a lacto-bacillus that’s navigating through the human digestive system
The inside of the human body has been re-imagined as a delightful playground for friendly lacto-bacilli that are trying to survive the hidden dangers of the human digestive system
Atomas is a puzzle game that uses scientific elements to keep you entertained. Isn’t A bit counter-intuitive? Not at all. Atomas shows you that science can be lots of fun
You step into the shoes of an aspirant alchemist as you try to create precious elements such as gold, platinum or silver. The game starts out with hydrogen atoms, which you need to fuse together to create energy-rich atoms that in turn, will help you create the more valuable elements.
Atomas might look simple enough at first, but as you play you’ll find it’s quite difficult to master.
Mandora takes advantage of an adorable art style, bright and warm that will win your heart immediately
The little plant people in Moonycat Village have taken up farming in the hopes of being able to harvest the special Mandora plant (it has magical properties) and you have to help them grow it
You’ll discover the various types of Mandora plans, as you try to figure out what the best time for harvesting is (harvest too late and you might end up with a simple potato)
TwoDots is filled with creative illustrations and playful animations in the menus, which makes up for some of the super hard levels you will have to go through
Connect dots of matching colors horizontally or vertically by clearing squares of corresponding colors out of the game board
The game is a challenging experience as it limits you to a specific number of moves in which you have to complete the given challenges. For example, clearing 50 red dots, 50 blue dots and 50 yellow dots with 30 moves
Had enough of personalized ads on your Android device? Google uses your browsing history to determine what you might be interested in, in order to display targeted ads on your smartphone or tablet.
But most Android users find these ads extremely annoying, especially if they are sharing said the device with someone else. Fortunately, there’s a way to opt-out of these interest-based ads, so that Google won’t use your activity for advertising anymore. You can disable it from your phone with a few simple taps. Here’s how to do it:
Disable personalized ads on your Android device
Turn on your Android phone and go to Settings
When in Settings, scroll down and tap on the Google option
Note: depending on your smartphone model, you might find the Google entry on the main page or hidden away somewhere else. The best thing to do is use the search bar in Settings to find it.
From there select Ads
Enable the “Opt out of Ads Personalization” option
You will get this message: “You will still see ads, but they may not be based on your interests. Note that if you clear your cache, you will lose your opt-out setting.” Tap OK to continue and implement the change.
Now your advertising ID won’t be used by Google for its advertising purposes. Yes, you will still be tracked by Google, but you will see random ads instead. At least it will be less creepy.
So is that it? Well, not exactly. You can take one extra step to make sure you won’t see personalized ads on your phone anytime soon.
Reset your Advertising ID
Notice the Reset Advertising ID option which sits above the opting out toggle. Tap it to remove all the data which has been already collected from your apps and Internet usage.
The database will be cleared, and the new data will be collected under a new advertising ID (which you can see at the bottom). So if you want to minimize the amount of data collected, you could try resetting your advertising ID at least one time a week.
As a side note, Google lets you report adverts, but you need to tell Google why. Feedback options include: Ad was inappropriate, Seen this ad multiple times, Not interested in this ad and Ad covered content.
In anticipation of the new Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus, some carriers and retailers are trying to clear out their inventories by offering generous discounts on the soon-to-be previous-generation flagships, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus.
It’s the case of AT&T’s prepaid branch, Cricket Wireless which has a pretty sweet promotion going on. Customers looking to switch to Cricket can get a 50% discount on the Galaxy S8.
You’ll have to bring your number to the carrier and sign up with a data plan that costs $30/month or more. Once you’ve done that, you’ll be able to purchase Samsung’s 2017 flagship for $349.99.
Current Cricket Wireless subscribers adding a new number or looking to upgrade their phone will pay $699.99.
There are a few other conditions you need to take into consideration before taking advantage of the deal. For example, the first month’s service charge and sales tax are due at the time of the purchase. Also, if you buy the Galaxy S8 from a brick and mortar Cricket store, you will have to pay up to $25 for an activation fee.
Even so, the deal sounds pretty great. Unless you’re looking to get the Galaxy S9. In that case, don’t forget to tune in on February 25 to learn more about Samsung’s new flagship.
Last week Essential Products unveiled three new color options for the Essential Phone including Ocean Depths, Stellar Gray, and Copper Black.
Well soon after introducing the new colors, the company also announced a new version of its flagship handset. It’s called the Essential Phone Halo Gray and comes with Amazon’s Alexa virtual assistant built-in.
Halo Gray or Stellar Gray?
Visually, the Halo Gray version doesn’t seem to be much different from the Stellar Gray model, but Essential notes that the former features a black matte ceramic back and natural-colored titanium frame, while the latter boasts a matte black ceramic back and black titanium frame. Hmm, sounds like you’ll need glasses to tell them apart.
In case three new Essential Phone colors weren't enough, today we're unveiling Halo Gray, the first Essential Phone to come with Alexa built-in. Halo Gray is available for pre-order exclusively from Amazon starting today. https://t.co/hkwkBKGyprpic.twitter.com/lDad2xngBq
Oh yes, and there’s a difference in pricing too. While the Stellar Gray model will be sold for $599, the Halo Gray version can be yours for only $449.
As for specs, the Halo Gray variant retains exactly the same specs as all the other versions. That means you’ll get a 5.71-inch handset with 18:9 aspect ratio and 2560 x 1312 resolution. Other specs include a Snapdragon 835, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, dual cameras on the back and a 3,040 mAh battery to keep things alive on board.
Unlike the new color versions, you can pre-order the Halo Gray Essential Phone from Amazon. The handset is expected to start shipping out to customers starting February 21. Any takers?
