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These are the major US retailers that accept Apple Pay
Apple Pay is more secure than your debit card. Here's who accepts it and who does not
Apple Pay is everywhere. Restaurants, stores, and gas stations have the Apple logo next to their payment terminals, inviting iPhone users to tap their devices and be on with their day. Google Pay is less ubiquitous in the United States, but NFC technology means even the cheapest Android phones can use Apple Pay terminals. So how does it work, and who accepts Apple Pay in the United States?
Google's landmark antitrust lawsuit explained
The company is under investigation for its default search engine deals
Google is among the biggest companies around, providing us with a great search engine and the underlying software of many great smartphones. It’s clear that it shapes the world through its products and services, and it’s definitely made many things a lot easier for many people. But at the same time, the company is concerned about keeping its products at the top of the food chain, and that might sometimes involve anti-competitive practices. At least, that’s what US regulators are alleging in a landmark antitrust trial against the company.
Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter are known for exploring every potential avenue for monetization. All these platforms rely on ads, while some of them paywall features to make profits. TikTok, in particular, reportedly plans to experiment with another monetization strategy for its customers in the US. The platform could soon sport a new feature called TikTok Shop, so users of the short video sharing platform can purchase products directly in the app while watching live streams.
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More people now use iPhones than Android phones in the US
Should Android smartphone makers be worried?
Many consider the iPhone series the only true rival to the best Android phones, and for the first time, Android has lost a big title in the US market. Data reveals that exactly half of all the smartphones in use in the US are iPhones now. It may be a reason for Android OEMs to worry, but the solution could be straightforward.
Samsung's newest mid-range tablet has made its way across the world, but until today, it wasn't to be seen in the United States. But things have changed as American retailers are now selling the Galaxy Tab A8.
The US and Canada are getting the Pixel 5 after everywhere else
And Japan gets the Pixel 4a 5G first
Google's Pixel 5 is official, and the pre-order floodgates have been opened. But this year, there's a bit of a twist when it comes to actual availability: The US and Canada won't be getting the phones first or on the same day as most other markets. In fact, we're getting it last, on October 29th compared to October 15th everywhere else.
Google Maps speed limit coverage upgraded in US and 17 other regions, downgraded in 100 others
Good news for some of us, not-so-good news for many others
Google will usually adjust its Maps speed limit support for a handful of countries every so often. Last we saw, Google had upgraded it in nine regions, but downgraded it in nine others. This time around, many more regions are involved — 18 regions, including the US, have had their speed limit coverage improved, but a whopping 100 others have had theirs worsened.
20 US states are working on contact tracing apps using Google and Apple tracking tech
These states cover roughly 45% of the US population
Apple and Google don't often collaborate, but they came together to create an API for a Bluetooth-based coronavirus exposure notification system called the Exposure Notifications System (ENS). Back when this initiative was first announced, we didn't know exactly how many US states would be on board, but Google has announced that 20 states are now exploring this technology.
The AT&T Galaxy Note9 is receiving the July security patch
Following the update for the unlocked models
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Shortly after the Galaxy S20 series started receiving the July security patch in Korea and Europe, all kinds of unlocked US Galaxy phones started receiving it, too, as 9to5Google and Redditors reported. And now, the update is also available on the Galaxy Note9 on AT&T.
United States Justice Department expected to file antitrust lawsuit against Google this summer
The result of a year-long probe
Google is one of the largest tech conglomerates on the planet, and its dominance of online advertising and web searches has made it a prime target for antitrust lawsuits. The U.S. Department of Justice has been conducting a probe into the company's potential antitrust violations for around a year, and now it looks like legal action could begin in the coming months.
MX Player launches its free movie and TV streaming service in the US, UK, and 5 more countries
It offers slightly older content with ads
Most of us know MX Player as the best video player on Android, able to handle any file format, codec, bitrate, or subtitle extension. What you may have missed though is that MX also has an on-demand movie and TV show streaming service in India. It's now expanding availability to seven countries, including the US and UK.
In less than a week after releasing the fourth One UI 2.0 beta, Samsung has pushed out another one for Galaxy S10 owners. As usual, a bunch of bugs have been fixed, and the list appears to be getting shorter as the beta program shows signs of winding down. Samsung also made an announcement on its Korean forum announcing the start of the Android 10 beta program for Galaxy S9 and Note 9 devices.
Samsung’s early 2019 flagship lineup has begun receiving its fourth beta update with fixes to several issues that previous releases introduced. This is supposed to be a simultaneous rollout in all markets where One UI 2.0 beta is currently live for the Galaxy S10 variants. For now, we’ve got confirmation from both the US and the UK, while SamMobile could verify the update’s rollout in Germany.
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- Samsung has apparently pulled the Android 10 beta update for its 2019 Note devices after briefly taking some registrations earlier today, according to a report by SamMobile. The update wasn't meant to be pushed out today and has been delayed until next week, when it's expected to arrive only for unlocked units. Something similar happened to the Galaxy S10 beta testers in the UK last week when Samsung withdrew the first beta update hours after its release.
The One UI 2.0 beta release brought Android 10 to the Galaxy S10 line last week, but the S10 5G and the Note 10 series couldn’t make the cut. The two omitted models are now being brought under Samsung’s beta program in different parts of the world, as per SamMobile’s learnings. These devices are joining the program while, concurrently, S10 units already in the test program are getting the second beta.
It seems like almost every hour, some new small-town bank in the US backwoods picks up support for Google Pay. Well over two thousand financial institutions already work with Google's payment platform, including all the big names you expect, but a few more of smaller stature have been recently added. For those with an account at one of the banks listed below, it's time to celebrate.
It's been nearly three months since ASUS announced its latest flagship, the Zenfone 6, with its quirky flip-up camera that springs up and becomes a front-facing cam. In the months since, the device has shipped to many countries around the world, received several updates, and gotten some positive community support, but it hasn't yet launched in the US. Things are looking out though, as the Zenfone 6 is now finally available for pre-order on B&H.After not one, not two, but three false dates, the Zenfone 6 is now truly up for pre-order. Only B&H seems to have the device — I can't find it on Amazon, ASUS's own store, or Best Buy — and although you can order the phone now, the shipping date isn't specified so you may have to wait a little to get it. You can choose between black and silver colors and 64GB or 128GB variants. The former costs $499.99 and the latter $549.99. All models are unlocked and come with a free 3-month Mint Mobile prepaid SIM card.Other specs include a 6.4" FHD+ display, Snapdragon 855, 6GB of RAM, a 5,000mAH battery, the 48MP and 13MP ultra-wide lenses that flip up, and Android 9 Pie. If you need to know more about the Zenfone 6 and see if it's worth buying, you can read our own review.
Google took the wraps off of the Nest Hub Max back in May, but it's been mostly radio silence on the large smart display since then. Today the company revealed via a support page that the Nest Hub Max would be going up for sale on September 9 in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, meaning that we still have a 1.5-month wait.
Google likes to mark occasions with search Easter eggs (like the Thanos gag for the release of Avengers: Endgame a couple months back) and doodles, and for the Fourth of July this year, it's done both. Searching "fireworks" will fill your screen with a light show, and a baseball-themed Google doodle leads to a fun minigame.
Hell officially froze over when Google and Amazon decided to bury their squabbles and stop locking each other out of their respective TV ecosystems. Of course, Amazon apps have been available on Android for a long time, and the company would've shot itself in the foot if it didn't distribute its content and store to the biggest mobile OS in the world. However, TVs have always been a sensitive topic for Amazon and Google, as they're both directly competing with their Chromecast and Fire TV. Shortly after their truce, Amazon announced in April that it's bringing Alexa integration to Sony TVs powered by Android. As per a Play Store listing, it appears that this service is imminent, soon making it possible to control them via Echos.
Smart lights are often cited as the first product you get for any smart home. They're easy to install and set up, and they're convenient to have whether you just want to automate your lighting, control it via voice commands, or use it to pretend someone is home when you're away. If you haven't started building your smart home yet or if you're looking for extra lights to brighten up your rooms, there's a secret deal on LIFX bulbs today that can save you up to $120.LIFX' lights differ from Hue or Ikea by not using ZigBee or requiring a separate hub: every light has Wi-Fi and connects directly to your network. This may not be the most ideal strategy for smartening up an entire home, but if you only need a few smart lights and don't want to bother with another hub, they're a great option. They're also known for their accurate colors and brightness (1100 lumens). Other benefits include Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa compatibility, as well as support for IFTTT and Samsung SmartThings. You can check out my review for more details.