The Android Pay details Google didn’t tell you

Google’s had a bumpy ride in the mobile payments world, but now it’s looking at a second chance. Android Pay is the new Google Wallet, and it’ll more convenient, secure and ubiquitous than ever. Here’s what you need to know. A fingerprint scan isn’t required. Fingerprint scanning is the most secure smartphone authentication method right …

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Apple recalls Beats Pill XL speakers on risk of overheating

Apple is recalling its Beats Pill XL speakers and issuing a refund due to a potential fire hazard. Sarah Tew/CNET Consumers who purchased Beats Pill XL speakers from Apple are being asked to stop using them due to a potential fire hazard. On Wednesday, Apple announced a voluntary recall of the speakers, complete with refunds to customers who bought them. …

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​Creative pros: Do Adobe’s Fotolia photos have a place in your work?

Adobe’s Fotolia site sells royalty-free photos, video and illustrations created by thousands of contributors. Screenshot by Stephen Shankland/CNET Three years into its transformation into a subscription-funded company, Adobe Systems is still refining the technology you get for those monthly payments — and we want to know what you think of its latest steps through a new survey. The most significant …

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Huawei to US: Our smartphones deserve your attention

The Huawei P8 Lite is an affordable midtier smartphone available on Huawei’s US direct-to-consumer site. Juan Garzón/CNET Huawei, the telecom giant you’ve probably never heard of, is getting serious about breaking out of its anonymity. A year ago today, the Chinese company, which is the top-ranked telecommunications equipment in the world by revenue and the fourth-largest smartphone vendor by market …

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AMD inside? Dell finds new chipset inspirations for its Inspiron range

Dell’s Inspiron 5000 range will have AMD as an option for its CPU. Nic Healey/CNET TAIPEI — Dell is once again offering customers the choice between AMD and Intel processors. Here at Computex 2015, the computer giant revealed an extensive new lineup of products in its Inspiron range, including new laptops in the 5000 and 7000 series, new all-in-one PCs …

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Dish and T

T-Mobile CEO John Legere would serve as CEO of the combined company, according to the Wall Street Journal. Sarah Tew/CNET After years of talk that Dish Network and T-Mobile might merge, a tie-up between the two might be near. The satellite TV provider is in early-stage talks to merge with the wireless provider, according to a report Wednesday by the …

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How to make Facebook send you encrypted notification emails

Matt Elliott/CNET Facebook introduced an option for users to add OpenPGP public keys to their profiles and select to receive encrypted notification emails — account recovery emails, in particular — in an effort to better protect your privacy online. PGP stands for Pretty Good Privacy and is used to encrypt email communications. It requires two keys — one public, the …

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Godzilla is Japan’s newest, most imposing citizen

A 12-meter (39-foot) tall Godzilla replica head is seen on the 8th floor terrace of the Hotel Gracery Shinjuku in Tokyo. The Godzilla replica, based on the original 1954 film is the main attraction of a new commercial complex. Chris McGrath/Getty Images He’s terrorized citizens in several movies, but apparently all is forgiven as Godzilla, one of Japan’s scariest kaiju, …

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​Google commutes death sentence for Panoramio photo site

Google planned to shut down Panoramio, a site for sharing geotagged photos, but has given it a reprieve. Screenshot by Stephen Shankland/CNET Google is no longer a small, nimble company able to change rapidly, but apparently the wrath of 10,000 people can be enough to shift the Internet behemoth’s direction. It took eight months of pressure, but Google this week …

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Yahoo scores NFL’s first global live stream

Yahoo and NFL are teaming up on exclusive online streaming. NFL The gridiron is coming to Yahoo in October, the company and the National Football League announced on Wednesday. On October 25, Yahoo, Yahoo Sports, and Tumblr, among other Yahoo properties, will be the exclusive online streaming home to a game between the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars. The game, …

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Staying safe on public Wi

Now playing: Watch this: Tips to stay safe on public Wi-Fi 2:38 Stuck without a data connection on the road? Free public Wi-Fi is one of those little luxuries that can make travelling easier, but you do need to exercise caution in how you use it. Here are some tips on what to look out for when using public Wi-Fi, …

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​Cardboard for kids: Google’s bet on the future of VR is children

Scott Stein/CNET My 6-year old son tried on the folded cardboard pair of goggles as I sat next to him on the sofa. My iPhone 6 Plus was in it, running Google’s Cardboard app, the company’s virtual-reality (VR) software long available on Android and just released on iOS. I loaded a panorama of the Museum of Natural History — his …

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LG Display’s next act: A roll

LG Display will fold up and roll over. LG Display The days of being able to roll up a computer or television screen are (kinda) upon us. LG Display will feature prominently at the 2015 Society for Information Display conference in San Jose, Calif. this week, showcasing an 18-inch flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display. According to LG Display, the …

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Google hit with antitrust complaint over banned privacy app

The Disconnect app is still running on Apple’s iOS. Disconnect Already under investigation by regulators in Europe, a new complaint against Google claims its ban of one privacy application violates antitrust regulations. Disconnect, the maker of a privacy app that stops surreptitious user tracking and malicious advertising, filed a complaint with the European Union on Tuesday. The complaint argues that …

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Han Solo mini

This Han Solo mini-fridge would make a cool addition to a “Star Wars” geek’s home. ThinkGeek “I love you,” you say. “I know,” says your fridge. ThinkGeek has released an amazing mini-fridge that’s sure to please “Star Wars” geeks, as it looks just like Han Solo frozen in carbonite. What better way to keep your beverages cool than by putting …

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