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Android 15's default apps menu has a brand new setting
You can now easily change your wallet app — no more digging around in NFC settings
Since its inception, Android has always been an OS that is flexible and open to customization. While there are tons of surface level changes that can be made, some of the core parts of Android have always been under lock and key in order to provide a safe environment for its users. While the ability to set default apps on Android has been around for some time, setting a default wallet is another story.
Best Google Pixel 8 Pro wallet cases in 2024
Convenient, durable wallet cases from the most reputable brands
The Google Pixel 8 Pro sets an impressive standard when it comes to features, design, and processing power. While the phone itself is actually quite durable, it's also pretty expensive, so you'll want to do everything in your power to keep it safe from everyday wear and tear.
Google Pay gets Aussies ready for digital vaccine cards
Faster and more convenient vaccine verification
As more and more countries are starting to require vaccination certificates to enter restaurants, gyms, and other public venues, it's becoming increasingly critical for people to easily access their official proof of vaccination. One of the most convenient ways is obviously to digitalize it and save it on your mobile phone. To enable this, Google recently updated its Passes API, allowing government agencies to distribute vaccination cards digitally. Australians will be amongst the first to benefit from this offering, as they'll be able to store their vaccination certificates directly in Google Pay.
Google Pay is adding support for the most important card in your wallet
You'll soon be able to save your Covid vaccination card to Google Pay
Vaccination cards are becoming an increasingly important part of our lives as more people are getting vaccinated against COVID-19, but carrying some paper proof with you all the time is a hassle. Google wants to make things easier and has updated a core Google Pay API to allow the distribution and storage of vaccination and test cards right in its wallet app.
This is what Android 11's new power button menu will look like
Smart home controls and easy wallet access all in one place
Google decided some time ago that the power button on Android phones could be useful for quick access to commonly-used features. An iOS-style wallet was added to the Pixel in March so you can switch between payment cards or bring up travel passes and loyalty cards when you need them, and next on the list is smart home controls. Evidence of this arrived with Android 11's developer previews, but freshly leaked documentation now shows us what the final product is going to look like.
Google Pay has an alternative, cleaner interface accessible from your Pixel’s power menu
It lets you view payment and loyalty cards at once
Google Pay's new power menu quick access interface has been in the making for a long time and finally became official as part of the March Pixel feature drop. Thus, we've been using the quick wallet for a few weeks already, but we've only recently been pointed to another interesting new UI hiding behind the rightmost "View all" entry. When you enter Google Pay that way, you're greeted by a bottom-bar-less design that shows you both your payment methods and your loyalty cards in a one-page layout.
Google's second Pixel Feature Drop rolls out today with piles of new features
New power button wallet, scheduled dark theme, play/pause gesture for Pixel 4, and loads more
As we predicted last week, Google's latest quarterly Feature Drop is rolling out for Pixel phones today. Unlike the regular monthly security releases, this update includes a ton of new features, including a new play/pause gesture for Pixel 4's Motion Sense, a wider rollout of car crash detection, dark theme scheduling, Live Caption for the Pixel 2, a new power button wallet, live Duo AR effects, a pile of new emoji, and a whole lot more.
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- The latest public beta for Opera is out (version 48.0.2310.131725) and the changelog references the Crypto Wallet feature, meaning its now open for anyone to try out. The update is available from the Play Store, plus we also have it over at APK Mirror if you'd rather download it from there.
In what seems to be a theme today, Opera has revealed it's launching a private beta for a crypto-integrated version of its browser. This new beta adds a built-in wallet for cryptocurrencies as well as support for Ethereum-based decentralized applications (Dapps, for those in the know).
Samsung Pay and Android Pay/Google Pay have been around for years at this point, but there are plenty of other mobile payment solutions. LG Pay has existed in South Korea for a while, and now Huawei's payment app has been uploaded to the Play Store.
If you were around for yesterday's activities, you've already seen that Android Pay has been switched over to the new Google Pay branding, along with some upgrades to both the look and function. As part of the announcement, we were told that the Google Wallet app would be undergoing a short term rebranding of its own, taking on the name Google Pay Send. That version is now here, and unsurprisingly, it has been given some minor visual touch-ups. But not only that, it actually also got the reminders feature that was recently spotted in a teardown.
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It's time for a new version of Android Messages. The latest update takes a slightly larger than average jump from v2.5 to v2.7, but no obvious changes to the UI are really popping out. However, the apk did get much smaller with this release, and there are some things visible through the lens of a teardown. We'll keep watching for other changes, but let us know if you see anything.
The Google Wallet app hasn't seen a lot of activity in a while, but an update began rolling out late yesterday that shows that there's still quite a bit happening to the app. Version 21 brings a number of visual enhancements that make the app look a bit cleaner and not quite as formal. Under the covers, a teardown also shows that the Wallet developers are about to launch multi-person money requests for those times when everybody splits the cost, a new reminders system to keep you from forgetting to take care of business, and confirms Android Messages integration is coming soon.
Android Pay is spreading. If you manage your finances with a big bank, chances are you can make payments by tapping your phone against a payment terminal -- yes, even if you use Chase. If you do your banking with a smaller institution, you may have to cross your fingers.
To all of you Chase customers who have been longing for Android Pay support, it seems that your prayers have been heard. No longer will you have to purchase a Samsung or Apple device to be able to pay for things with your phone. According to an anonymous Chase employee, Chase will begin supporting Google's NFC-based payment system in just over two weeks.
Android Pay has been gaining support for a ton of banks and credit unions lately, and 44 more have just been added. Most of these banks and credit unions are local ones most of us haven't ever heard of, but hey, maybe your local bank is included. No, Chase isn't on here; I double-checked. There are a few Australian banks and credit unions on here as well.
Back in March, Google began notifying Google Wallet users that the physical Wallet Card was on its way out. The card would continue to work normally until May, after which it would no longer be possible to top it up with funds from a bank account, and on June 30th, Wallet Card would be officially retired. Unfortunately for the dozens of customers who signed up for Wallet Card, that day has finally arrived.
All good things must come to an end, and that goes double for things that aren't very good. Google is sending out emails to everyone who has a Google Wallet card explaining that support for the card is ending on June 30th. We first reported on this a few days ago when strings in a new version of the Wallet app made it clear Google was preparing to discontinue the card.