Google Wallet is turning one, but the application that was supposed to transform the smartphone into a wallet and revolutionize how consumers pay for things has barely gotten off the ground. Why? The reason may be that Google has bet on the wrong technology: NFC. A year ago, Google execs, along with its partners MasterCard, …
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Looking forward to Ice Cream Sandwich on the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play? Not so fast, my friend — Sony has quietly dropped the Play from the list of phones set to upgrade to Android 4.0. Sony has already tried to convince us that in some ways Ice Cream Sandwich isn’t as good as Gingerbread, trying to persuade Xperia owners to …
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So it’s been a year since Google unveiled its Google Wallet mobile payment app for Android smartphones. Just like many folks, I wanted to find out if there’s anything worth purchasing with the high-tech service and if it’s easier to use than traditional plastic. The best way to really get a handle on Google Wallet, though, or any mobile payment …
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Remember the Huawei Ascend P1 from CES? Well, it looks like it could be coming to the U.S., thanks to a recent FCC filing. Its ultrathin — 0.27 inch thin, no joke — and stylized white-on-black design is the Ascend P1’s beauty that matches the brawn of its dual-core processor, 8-megapixel camera, and a cutting-edge Android Ice Cream Sandwich OS. …
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The back of the rumored LG LS970 “Eclipse” BriefMobile Dubbed the next LG “superphone,” the rumored LG LS970 is boasting the kind of specs that will whet anyone’s appetite. According to BriefMobile, the LS970, or “Eclipse” as its working title is known to be, may be available on Sprint’s yet-to-exist 4G LTE network. Related stories TV in the Bathroom: Technically …
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The wallet-friendly Nokia Lumia 610 will be out in the UK in early June, the Finnish phone-maker has confirmed. If you want to pick up this budget slice of Windows Phone, expect to find it lurking in UK shops in the first week of June, available to snap up on a £15 per month contract. The Lumia 610 is Nokia’s …
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The mid-range Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 is in line for a scoop of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, if a Samsung promo video is to be believed. The clip, spotted by Sammyhub, shows the Android-powered Ace 2 swirling around to some uptempo, accessible music. At the 14-second mark the Ice Cream Sandwich logo is shown on screen, along with the words, …
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Facebook’s new Camera app for iOS lets you upload snaps straight to your profile, as well as adding tags and Instagram-esque retro filters. Cropping and rotating is also on board, but perhaps the best news is the ability to upload loads of photos at once. There’s one glaring omission, however — you can’t create new albums or upload new snaps …
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Panasonic TY-ER3D4MU ($55 each) The Panasonic TY-ER3D4MUs are universal glasses compatible with the Full HD 3D standard and offer decent build quality and appreciably better picture quality than cheap glasses. Read the full review. Xpand X104 YOUniversal ($90 each for large blue/black version with RF dongle) For the narrow niche of viewers who need active 3D glasses that work with …
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The JBL SB 300 has only two inputs on the back, but you can connect many more devices by using your TV as a switcher. Many sound bars offer a shockingly small number of inputs, with often just a single digital and analog audio input on the back to handle your gear. That’s hardly enough for a modern home theater …
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Climbers on Mount Everest have been documenting the harrowing journey to the peak using their iPhones and Instagram. Over the last month, the climbers on National Geographic’s commemorative climb to the top of the of the world’s tallest peak have captured moments filled with steep terrain and friendly locals, according to the Instagram blog . The expedition is expected to …
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Google today announced a new feature for Android applications offered through the Google Play store. Available immediately for Android developers, in-app subscriptions will allow users to pay for monthly or annual subscriptions directly inside of apps. And as detailed by Google, the feature is set to auto-renew by default with transactions managed by the Google Play store. In addition to …
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Research In Motion had at least considered licensing BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) before its chief executive Thorsten Heins shifted focus, according to a new report. Late last year and early into 2012, RIM’s executives were drawing up plans to make BBM available for licensing to device makers and carriers, the Wall Street Journal is reporting today, citing sources. According to the …
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Computer maker Asus is gearing up for a big second half of the year, with the company aiming for a July launch date for two of its major upcoming Android-powered devices. A phone, a tablet, a laptop: the Asus Padfone. (Credit: Asus) According to comments on the Asus Australia Facebook page (and spotted by the chaps over at Ausdroid), both …
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Fresh leaks indicate that Sprint and LG are poised to deliver one of the first Android 4.0 smartphones with a sliding QWERTY keyboard. In addition to its few preliminary specifications, BriefMobile has also obtained the first glimpse of the new LS860 handset. Also known by its Cayenne code name, the rumored hardware matches up nearly identical with Sprint’s LG Viper …
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