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Android pay and PayPal: A new way to pay

AndroidGuys
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With millions of us already fully emerged in the “PayPal way” some big news has dropped for both Android pay and PayPal users today:

Whether it’s picking up those last minute bargains or making those 2AM “I can’t sleep” impulse purchases (we’ve all been there) very soon we will all be able to start using that exact same PayPal account to tap and pay with our mobile devices in shops and breeze through checkouts in Android apps via Android pay.

Pali Bhat – Global Head of Payment Products over at Google went on record earlier today via the Official Google Blog stating:

“We’re thrilled to bring you even more options at checkout, thanks to a new strategic collaboration between Android Pay and PayPal, one of the world’s leading online payment platforms”

To begin with, PayPal users will be able to pay using their available balance and over time they will have the ability to use cards that have been linked to their PayPal account.

PayPal’s integration with Android Pay is coming to Android OS 4.4 and higher, which means anyone with KitKat, Lollipop, Marshmallow and Nougat OS will be free to make the most of this exciting new financial collaboration.

For now, this is only available to people in the U.S. and to get things up and running all end users need to do is simply link their PayPal account to use with Android Pay, and that’s it, JOB DONE.

We are expecting to see this new feature becoming visible in the Android Pay and PayPal apps within the next few weeks.

Watch this space.

OnePlus has a long way to go

Donovan Jeska
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When Google announced the Pixel, it signified the end of an era – no longer would Google play the foil to Samsung and LG, the money-grubbing, flagship peddling corporate whores. But who would take up the mantle? In my head, it was unquestionably OnePlus – which, at the time was fresh out of its ill-advised invite-only program and announcing its first real game changer; the OnePlus 3T. At only $439, the 3T is $300 cheaper than even the cheapest of the flagships, positioning OnePlus to sit upon the throne vacated by Google. But it still has a long way to go before it can replace what Google brought to the table as a Flagship Killer.

Let’s start with the teaser image, and the ensuing April Fool’s joke. It all started with the little guy above – a simple image, teasing some news about the “future of Dash” – which is the (rather amazing) charging standard used by the OnePlus 3 and 3T. Excited owners hypothesized that it would be news about the (often out of stock) Dash car charger, or perhaps a new power bank – or some combination of the two. As it turns out, this was an April Fool’s joke gone wrong – and posted a day early, here in the States. Seems like a bit of an oversight. OnePlus was teasing a Dash energy drink – a day’s power in half an hour. Ha. Ha. Get it?

In a time where Dash accessories are extremely limited – to wit, the only Dash charger not included in-box with the OnePlus 3T is the always-sold-out Dash Car Charger – OnePlus thought it would be cute to tease its customer base about new accessories and then laugh at our pain.

THESE green lines.

Story time: I bought a OnePlus 3T a couple weeks ago, and was enamored instantly – the frame is crisp, the hardware is zippy, and the OS is delightfully Stock Android with some very smart tweaks and customizations. I installed all my apps, logged in to all my services – everything was going smooth. Then I tried to send a selfie to my lady friend – and noticed the green lines. For whatever reason, the selfie camera would add little green lines to a photo after it had been taken. The live view didn’t show these hideous green things, but the final product sure did. It wasn’t just the stock camera app, either. Hangouts, Snapchat (this one was the worst – dozen of little green artifacts all over the picture), Instagram, Kik – all of them showed the lines. So I contacted OnePlus Support, thinking it would be as simple as sending me a new device, and then returning the defective unit. 

Not exactly.

First, support had me take screenshots from five different apps and upload them – this was fine, I didn’t just expect them to take my word for it. Then, the nice lady had me wipe my phone, just in case it was an update gone horribly wrong. This was also fine – I figured at worst I’d have to deal with adding a few key apps and dealing with it for a few days while they shipped me a new unit. Needless to say, it didn’t quite go down like that. The rep assured me that my request was being handled, and that I should open a service request in the meantime. I did so – she confirmed the number and pushed it through – and I thought everything was good.

A few days later, I checked back into my service request, and it still said “Processing.” I reached out to Customer Support again, and was informed by the new rep that I’d need to resubmit my screenshots to prove the problem. I told him that I had submitted pictures already, and he was able to confirm that. Then he asked me a message I didn’t quite expect:

May I know if you were able to ship the item using the shipping label? And provide us with the tracking number to track of the parcel. Please note that replacement will follow once the device pass inspection. In all cases, we will inspect the Product and verify the fault. To qualify for a replacement or refund, devices must be in “as new” condition and, if possible, with the original sealed packaging intact.

The estimated turnaround time for this request once the service center confirmed they have received the parcel will be: 2 business days for inspection. Once passed, one business day will be for our team to create the Replacement order. Once replacement order was made, 2 business days for processing, 3-7 business days for shipping (Maximum of 12 business days from the time the service center received the parcel)

I was a little taken aback. Not only did the rep expect me to ship the defective unit back to OnePlus before I had a replacement unit, but he went on to say that the process from start to finish could take 12 business days? This would leave me without a phone for almost three full weeks of my time – which, obviously, is simply not an option in today’s world. I clarified with the rep, and he informed me that this was my only option when it comes to a replacement device.

That…is not acceptable. I requested a refund – we’ll see how that process goes. I suspect I’ll have to send the defective unit back and have them inspect it before I get my refund – in the meantime I’ll have to spend more money – from Amazon, not OnePlus – on a new phone. It should be noted that I’m not the only one that’s had these issues.

OnePlus does a lot of things very well. Its phones are innovative, well-built, and inexpensive, its customer service representatives are friendly and understanding (if hamstrung by policy), and it strives to be the best manufacturer around. But it’s tough to be King. Return policies, viral marketing, April Fool’s jokes, invite-only ordering…the list of OnePlus’ gaffs is not small – but it always seems to learn from them.  If OnePlus has shown us anything in its still-young life, it’s that it’s not afraid to take risks, make mistakes, and come back better. If we’re lucky, OnePlus’ slogan isn’t just a recommendation to prospective customers, but a mantra by which the Oppo-backed company operates.

Never Settle, OnePlus. You’ll get there.

MyPostcard, the next evolution of eGreeting Cards (Review)

AndroidGuys
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Overview:

MyPostcard is a service that allows you to create and send physical personalized postcards and other greeting cards to your friends and family from the comfort of your smartphone. You can choose any pictures you want, and add custom borders as well to make it unique.

Developer: MyPostcard

Cost: Free (with in-app purchases)

Impressions:

MyPostcard is reminiscent of the classic eGreeting cards that your grandparents still insist on using to this day. Those cards were digital of course, which is what makes MyPostcard different. The people behind the MyPostcard service have brought the process full circle and made the online postcard a physical product again.

The app is rather slick to use, with clear and easy to use menus to help you make a tasteful greeting card or postcard that you would be happy to send to a loved one. The app allows you to choose photos from your gallery, camera or straight from Instagram if you want to use those stylish filters. You choose your style of card, then add a photo, border, and message in a few simple steps and then you’re all set to send it out. The cards all have an option to be sent in an envelope for discretion as well, for an extra charge. Also, you can make the postcards extra large for an additional charge as well, if you’d like.

None of this is free, of course. The cards all cost about 2 dollars for a postcard and 4 dollars for a greeting card. You can also send a gift card valued at 15-100 dollars, but the app isn’t clear if the gift cards are for use anywhere or just to send more greeting cards.

The app is very good for the most part, user-friendly and well designed. However, the biggest complaint I have is that you can’t pay on a card-by-card basis, you have to buy credits valued based on the number of cards starting at 5 cards, which is about 11 dollars. That is the minimum amount you can pay even if you just want to send one card ever. This makes the app lose a ton of value unless you’re going to be sending a lot of greeting cards with your phone.

Conclusion:

I like the premise of MyPostcard, despite its poor payment system. The novelty of a well-meaning greeting card to a loved one is always appreciated and a physical, tangible card is much nicer than a digital “ecard”. If you can get passed the cost of entry, this service could be a real winner next holiday season.

Download MyPostcard from the Google Play Store

The Huawei Watch 2 Has Landed In The US Bundled With 10 Weeks Free Google Play Music And A Wealth Of New Features.

AndroidGuys
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The wait is over, the highly anticipated Huawei Watch 2 is now available to purchase in the United States.

As of April 18, you are able to get your hands on the device by taking yourself down to your nearest Best Buy store or for the more digitally inclined of us : Walmart – Target – Amazon and of course Best Buy’s website – (to name but a few) will be readily equipped to relieve you of your digital currency and have you eagerly awaiting your package of tech-filled joy landing on your doorstep helping you avoid the need to be in anyway socially active.

This year we see Huawei adding to what arguably was the best android smartwatch of 2016 in the form of two jaw-droppingly gorgeous offerings; aptly named STANDARD and CLASSIC.

The STANDARD is the sportier styled version and will come in Carbon Black or Concrete Grey while the CLASSIC offering will come in the modern sleek Titanium Grey.

Both models come With a 45mm (1.8”) diameter and the ratio of a traditional wristwatch, plus a high-definition AMOLED display with an impressive 390×390 pixel resolution.

The battery has also had an uplift, the 420 mAh optimized battery features greater density and a longer life, it can last up to two days with regular use.

When in training mode with both the heart rate sensor and GPS on, the device lasts up to 10 hours. It can also last up to three weeks in Huawei’s exclusive Watch Mode and keep counting steps and display time.

 


The Standard’s pricing will start at $300 and the Classic will see you reaching for a minimum of $370. A reasonable price point for both I might add, and with myself having lovingly worn my Huawei 1 watch every day since its purchase mid last year find myself again in awe of Huawei’s continuing insistence at offering high-end devices at prices that can do nothing other than inspire the purchase.

The HUAWEI WATCH 2 is being penned as the perfect health and exercise companion, featuring innovative design details. Its chronograph double-crown design is inspired by sports watches, and makes controls easy to access.

Original reports and renders all leaned towards the Huawei Watch 2 featuring a SIM card slot, cellular connectivity seemed a dead cert but at this time we have heard no further mention of this feature and it does not appear to be included in this batch of US releases.

What we can confirm is that the Huawei Watch 2 will be running Android Wear 2.0 out of the box, meaning full support for iPhone or iPad with iOS 8.2+, or any smartphones with Android 4.3+.

 

Also To help U.S. consumers enjoy the online and offline music features, for a limited time HUAWEI WATCH 2 will come with 10 weeks free access to Google Play™ Music, a music and podcast streaming service from Google.

Can Huawei improve on what already is a solid well-respected piece of wearable smart tech, in a year that will see an absurd amount of new players into the smart watch game?

Only time will tell…..

Instagram for Android adding offline support soon

Alexandra Arici
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Instagram for Android will soon offer a pretty handy, new feature. And no, it’s not inspired by Snapchat or Pinterest this time.

Instagram wants to make it easier for users in emerging markets to use the app, so during the Facebook Developer Conference (F8), the company announced it will be rolling out offline mode.

We’ve all know how it feels – browsing social media only to be disconnected suddenly due to spotting reception or a failing Wi-Fi connection. But with Instagram’s new tool, Instagram fans will be able to continue browsing content that was previously downloaded in their feed. They can also leave comments, like posts, save media or unfollow users. All these changes will be applied once the Internet connection has been restored.

For the time being Instagram’s offline mode will only be available on Android, as Android is the dominating mobile OS in emerging markets. Why is Instagram targeting developing market? Well out of its 600 million users, the vast majority (up to 80%) is located outside the US in countries with slow networks and expensive data plans. So like Facebook and Twitter, which launched a Lite version of their apps aimed at developing countries – Instagram is also looking to bring more subscribers onboard from these regions.

The Galaxy S5 is still the most popular Samsung phone in the US

Alexandra Arici
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Following the launch of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, Samsung’s mobile chief revealed that pre-orders for the flagships have exceeded those of the previous S7 device. By the looks of it, the Korean tech giant’s latest efforts in terms of premium mobile technology, have quickly gained the admiration of Android enthusiasts across the world.

But interestingly enough, Samsung’s most popular device in the US remains the Galaxy S5. According to a report coming out of Kantar World Panel, American customers exhibit a pronounced fondness for the Galaxy S5, at the expense of newer models such as the Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge.

Samsung Galaxy S6

As of February 2017, 15.6% of all active Samsung smartphones in the country are Galaxy S5 units, while only 11.5% are Galaxy S7s and 11.4% Galaxy S6s. The Galaxy S7 edge accounted for only 5.8%.

It’s quite puzzling how the Galaxy S5 managed to maintain this position in the US market, as the flagship is known for being one of Samsung’s under-performers. The company managed to sell only 12 million Galaxy S5 units in the first three months after launch, which if compared to its predecessor, is 4 million less. Samsung overall sold nearly 40% fewer than projected. It’s after the Galaxy S5 that Samsung decided to overhaul the design language of its flagship lineup ditching the cheap plastic in favor of metal and glass.

Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge

The report at hand also revealed that 28% of Samsung users in the country plan to upgrade to a new Samsung smartphone. 57% of these customers are targeting a Galaxy S7 edge, while only 28% are looking to upgrade to a Galaxy S7 and 10% to a Galaxy S6. The remainder choose between 48 devices to upgrade to, which shows that while the majority of users is interested in flagships, Samsung’s portfolio in the US remains quite varied.

Samsung Galaxy S8

20% of polled Galaxy S7 owners said they want to upgrade this year – to a Galaxy S8 presumably, while 40% of Galaxy S6 also said they are entertaining the idea of buying a new models. Last but not least 55% of Galaxy S5 owners said they intend to upgrade, which means the remaining 45% plan to keep using the phone. But with the Galaxy S8 out and about and tempting our senses, more Galaxy S5 users might decide it’s time to retire this 3-year old phone and go for something new and shiny instead.

Xiaomi Mi 6 goes official with Snapdragon 835, dual main camera

Alexandra Arici
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As anticipated by the deluge of leaks of the past few months, Xiaomi unveiled its next-generation flagship, the Mi 6, today. The phone is the fourth handset to be announced with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 835 processor, after the Sony Xperia XZ Premium, Samsung Galaxy S8 and the Sharp Aquos R.

Aesthetically speaking, the design language hasn’t changed much since the Mi 5, as the newcomer retains the curved glass back and metal frame of its predecessor, although the rear glass panel now curves along all four edges.

The Xiaomi Mi 6 is quite conservative in its looks, so people who were expecting something more along the lines of the bezeless Mi MIX will be pretty disappointed. Speaking of which, the phone also makes use of an old-school physical home button which also doubles as a fingerprint scanner (Qualcomm Sense ID-enabled).

When it comes to specs, the phone comes carrying a 5.15-inch fullHD display (1920 x 1080 resolution) and 6GB of RAM and either 64GB or 128GB of built-in storage. Following this year’s trend in smartphones, Xiaomi has adorned its latest flagship with a dual-camera setup that pairs a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens with a 12-megapixel telephoto lens for 2x lossless zoom. As for selfies, an 8-megapixel camera should be enough for snapping great self-portraits.

We need to mention that the phone doesn’t have a 3.5mm headphone jack, which will come as a disappointment to some. On the bright side of things, the company has placed the stereo speakers on the front of the device.

The Mi 6 relies on a 3,350 mAh battery which thanks to the less demanding FHD display and power-efficient 10nm SoC onboard, should be able to sustain a long life onboard. Not to mention the handset ships with Android 7.1.1 Nougat (with Xiaomi’s MIUI 8 on top) out of the box, which comes with further battery optimizations. The phone will be up for grabs in Black, White, Silver, Blue and Gold (?).

Like always, Xiaomi is offering its newest flagship in with a very affordable price-tag attached. The 64GB version will go on sale for approximately $360, while the 128GB storage option will take customers as far as $420. A ceramic version with 128GB storage will also be available for $435. But don’t get your hopes up about the phone officially making it stateside. However, you’ll surely be able order it from third-party websites like Geekbuying.

Despite rumors, Xiaomi didn’t unveil a Mi 6 Plus variant alongside the Mi 6.

Hiya Business Profiles lets Galaxy S8 users search for businesses right from the dialer app

Alexandra Arici
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In anticipation of the Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+ global release on April 21, caller ID and call blocker specialist, Hiya announced it’s expanding its partnership with the Korean tech giant in order to bring the new Business Profiles product onboard the new devices.

Business Profiles offers a novel way of finding and contacting business without having to leave the phone dialer. Now, when Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ users open up the phone app on their device, they will see a new tab called Places (which replaces the old Favorites tab) next to the Log and Contacts tabs. From there, owners can quickly find and call any local business, by searching categories such as Restaurants, Shopping, Health, Automotive, Financial, Travel, Public Services and more.

Places will also provide recommendations based on the user’s location and time of day. So if you are passing through the center at launch time, the service will show you the best restaurants in the area where you can stop for lunch.

According to Hiya, most mobile business searches with the intent to make a phone call, originate via web search or third-party apps. With Business Profiles, Hiya wants to help customers bypass these unnecessary stages of switching between apps, by allowing them to search and contact business directly from the dialer app. And to provide more relevant results, Hiya has partnered up with third party companies like Yelp and Whitepages.

Hiya’s new Business Profile feature is launching in 27 countries across America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Samsung’s own called ID and spam protection service, Smart Call is already powered by Hiya Caller Profile and in the Galaxy S8 will be updated to include Hiya’s newest Reputation Service Engine for advanced spam protection.

Belkin BOOST↑UP Wireless Charging Pad review

AndroidGuys
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One of the most common features being added to smartphones today is the ability to charge it without need of wires. Many of the flagship models released in the last few months come with wireless charging capabilities. Key models for 2017 already include the LG G6, the Samsung Galaxy S8, and Samsung Galaxy S8+.

Thanks to consolidation in the wireless charging space, we’re finally seeing some industry standards fully emerge. One option, Qi charging, has been around for more than a couple of years now and has been found in phones from Samsung, Motorola, Nokia, and the Nexus line. And, in the cases where the phones don’t feature the charging option, there are plenty of cases you can purchase to add it on. It’s pretty damn pervasive to say the least. Looking ahead, we could even see it in future iPhones.

Just because you have a device that’s capable of charging wirelessly doesn’t mean you have a wireless charger. Indeed, you’ll have to purchase accessories like that separately. One such product is the BOOST↑UP Wireless Charging Pad, a unit we’ve spent some time with over the last few weeks.

There’s not much at all to setting up a wireless charging pad. It’s essentially plug it into the wall and place your phone on it. At most, you may have to find the proper placement to get the charge to activate. For a lot of phones you will hear an audible tone or see something on-screen to indicate charging has started.

The Belkin pad has a nice finish to it that keeps your phone from sliding around, potentially disengaging from the charge. You should be just fine for placing the handset on it; it takes a somewhat concerted effort to slide it or move it off. It’s not completely sticky or rubbery, but it does the trick.

There’s a green LED light indicator to let you know your phone is properly aligned to the pad and charging. Should you have an issue, the light switches to red so you can easily identify errors or foreign objects hindering charging. The BOOST↑UP Wireless Charging Pad can charge through cases up to 3mm thick so there shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Thicker cases, though, may be tricky.

The Wireless Charging Pad features the most recent Qi standards and supports charging up to 15W. For smartphones and tablets that Qi enabled and also support 15W, this is as fast as it gets. Yes, even quicker than what Samsung has in its 9W Fast Charge wireless pad.

At $70, the Belkin solution doesn’t come cheaply. But, given the flexibility and what we assume to be long-term viability, it’s a practical investment. Having one of these in a home office or central location could be quite handy in a home full of phones with wireless charging capability. The neutral colors and design ensure it looks great in any environment.

Master & Dynamic expands beyond headphones with MA770 Wireless Speaker

AndroidGuys
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Master & Dynamic, a brand known thus far for its wired and wireless headphones, is today launching its first wireless speaker.  Indeed, the New York-based company has partnered with Sir David Adjaye, the renowned architect behind the most recent Smithsonian museum, on the MA770 Wireless Speaker.

Weighing in at a massive 35 pounds, the speaker is comprised of a proprietary concrete composite and features a unique and distinctive design.  It’s a luxury piece that not only begs for attention, but promises an incredible audio experience.

“This speaker is not about the traditional idea of making boxes, but about a directional form. I became fascinated with the idea of using triangles to break down the mass of the box, and to see if we could dissolve the sense of volume through sculptural detail. We created a new geometry for this speaker. A new geometry of sound.” – SIR DAVID ADJAYE

The MA770 can work on its own, delivering enough sound to fill a large room, but also pairs to other speaker via Wi-Fi for a larger footprint. As the first speaker to offer built-in Chromecast for multi-room stereo audio, it treads into an increasingly popular space.

Why concrete, you ask? For started, its unique composite provides five times the dampening properties of wood. Moreover, it offers up ten times that of plastic.

In addition to concrete, the MA770 is comprised of woven kevlar, diamond-cut anodized aluminum (controls), and a stainless steel grille. The grille, for its part, can be removed, giving the speaker a completely different look.

The speaker is big, beautiful, powerful, and feature-rich. As such, it does come with a premium price tag. The MA770 launches with an $1,800 cost; like we find with its headphones, though, we suspect true audiophiles might not bat an eye.

Specs

  • 100W Class D 3 Discrete Channels
  • Dual 4″ Woven Kevlar Long Throw Woofers
  • 1.5″ Titanium Dome
  • Chromecast built-in, Bluetooth 4.1 with BLE, 3.5mm Auxiliary Analog, TOSLINK Optical Audio
  • Dual band 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac WiFi and Bluetooth 4.1 with BLE

The MA770 Wireless Speaker is available for pre-order through Master & Dynamic’s website starting from today. Moreover, it will also be sold at the Museum of Modern Art on April 25.

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