Google to revive Google Wallet, launch Android Pay at I/O
In what is being seen as an attempt to revive its mobile payment system – Google Wallet, the search engine giant is set to unveil a new service called Android Pay at Google I/O. Expected to be launched today, Android Pay lets retailers accept card payment through mobile apps and tie customers in to loyalty programs.
According to reports, Apple is planning to tie merchants in to similar loyalty programs next month that let customers gather points and perks.
A lot of mobile apps and services have made peer-to-peer payment aspect quite popular, and Google is hoping to cash in on the trend by repackaging Google Wallet as Android Pay.
If you look at Google Wallet’s current features, it has peer-to-peer payment support, NFC payment support, loyalty/gift card wallet etc. So basically, everything that Android Pay is going to be. With help of Google’s marketing might, it will not be surprising to see Android Pay taking the Play Store by a storm in the near future.
Source: Android and Me
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Oppo kicks off World Tour with Indonesia launch of the R7, R7 Plus, and R7 Lite
Oppo just unveiled the sleek R7 and R7 Plus, and now the Chinese company is kicking off their global rollout starting in Indonesia.
Oppo is taking a page from the book of larger players like Samsung and LG, by hosting a series of launch events in a “dozen countries and regions worldwide.” The first stop of the Experience World Tour is the capital of Indonesia, a large and fast growing market where Oppo came in the sixth place in April 2015, according to data from mCent, via The Information.
With the R7, Oppo is trying a new strategy of offering multiple variants of the same device. The 5-inch R7 and the 6-inch R7 Plus share their core specs, which include a Full HD LCD display, a Snapdragon 615 processor, 3GB of RAM, a 13MP rear camera, a 5MP front camera, VOOC fast charging, and LTE. Differences include the extra 16GB of storage on the R7 Plus and the larger size of the battery, which is 4,100 mAh on the R7 Plus and 2,320 mAh on the smaller device.
Oppo announced today a third variant of the R7, dubbed R7 Lite, to “better meet the needs of users in different regions”. There are no details on the specs of the R7 Lite, but it’s likely that the device will feature a lower price tag, at the cost of a slower processing package. But the R7 Lite will feature the same metallic design and 2.5D glass as the R7 and R7 Plus, which Oppo likes to compare to the smooth curves of a violin.
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We’ll keep you posted with more details on the R7 Lite and its siblings as they come out. Meanwhile, check out our hands-on with the R7 and the R7 Plus and let us know your thoughts.
OPPO Starts their Experience World Tour Campaign for New R7 Series
[May 26, Jakarta] Hot on the heels of their debut in Beijing, the OPPO R7 and R7 Plus were officially unveiled in Indonesia. This quick marketing pace illustrates OPPO’s strong confidence in the market performance of its R7 series. These two launches marked the commencement of OPPO’s Experience World Tour for the R7 series. Coming up next, similar activities will take place in a dozen countries and regions worldwide, all held under the banner of OPPO R7 Experience World Tour, where local consumers will be introduced to the “Style in a Flash” product experience of the R7 series. This is the first time that OPPO has introduced its products to international users in the form of a World Tour. The R7 is also OPPO’s first single-product series to offer multiple variants.
“OPPO has always been keen to listen and respond to users’ needs by providing products and services which best meet their needs, as best demonstrated by the R7 series,” said Sky Li, Vice President and Managing Director of OPPO’s International Mobile Business, “We integrate the core features of the R7 into different variants to give all offerings in the series the same soul. Meanwhile, different configurations make it possible to offer diverse variants to different markets. Therefore, we have adopted a ‘Tour’ approach to unify our similar activities around the R7 series. No matter where our users are, they will have the same OPPO experience.” At the same time, OPPO has confirmed that it will add a new variant to the R7 series in the form of the R7 Lite to better meet the needs of users in different regions.
All variants in the R7 series have a full metal unibody and “violin arch” design for outstanding handling comfort. Furthermore they will all include a 2.5D curved screen making sliding of the finger much more natural. Together these features ensure each model boasts a beautiful and artistic form.
The new Flash Shot technology used exclusively for the OPPO R7 features a dual-drive hybrid focus system, comprising of the standard Contrast Detection Autofocus (AF) and the new Phase Detection Auto Focus (PDAF). It’s also combined with an exclusive anti-shake optimization algorithm to deliver an auto focus speed of 0.1s. The series offers 3GB RAM (with select variants), which supports simultaneous running of apps and increases app loading speed by up to 100%. The industry’s fastest charging technology, VOOC flash charging, is available on the R7 series, providing the best interpretation of the “Style in a Flash” idea represented by the R7 series.
As the OPPO R7 Experience World Tour travels to global markets, the R7 series will be more widely available to consumers worldwide both online and off-line. With elegant design, sophisticated manufacturing, superior specifications, and diversified variations, the R7 series is set to stand out in the crowded smartphone market.
Lenovo announces the $49 Lenovo Cast streaming device
Lenovo has been unveiling its latest creations at its Tech World 23015 conference, and here we have the Lenovo Cast streaming device that fills a similar role to Google’s Chromecast device. Instead of looking like a weirdly shaped USB stick though, the Lenovo Cast looks rather like a hockey puck, black and round.
Whereas the Chromecast uses Google’s proprietary casting technology, the Lenovo Cast uses Miracast and DLNA standards that are present in almost Android smartphone or tablet. The Lenovo Cast will mirror your phone or tablets display, much like you can with the Chromecast, the downside of which is that when your display times out, the content being cast to the TV will also vanish.
The Lenovo Cast can cast Full HD movies, images and games from up to 20m away, with the ability to get its signal through two walls. Unlike the Chromecast, the Lenovo Cast offers dual-band WiFi (2.4GHz & 5GHz) compatibility. The device connects to the TV or monitor via HDMI cable, and if you were worried about having to find room in your TV cabinet for the Lenovo Cast, fear not. A bracket is included in the box that allows you to mount the device on the back of your TV.
At $49, Lenovo Cast is a little more expensive than the Chromecast, although it does offer slightly higher specifications than Google’s device. For me, the Chromecast still edges it by giving the user the option to stream content without needing to keep the phone or tablet display on. There’s also a good chance we will see the second generation Chromecast being announced at Google I/O 2015 later on today. Still, you can never have too many options, am I right? Remember to check out our complete Google I/O 2015 coverage by clicking here.
We have the full specifications of the Lenovo Cast below.
Source: Lenovo
Come comment on this article: Lenovo announces the $49 Lenovo Cast streaming device
Google’s URL shortener deeps links directly to iOS and Android apps
You know those goo.gl shortcuts you regularly come across on Twitter or Facebook and other places online? They now open the exact pages they link to either on the website’s official app or on your browsers. For instance, if you click on a shortcut that links to a Google Maps page showing how to go from San Francisco to LA by land, it will automatically launch the navigation app if it’s installed and load those step-by-step directions. If you haven’t downloaded the app to your device, it will launch a browser instead. This change affects both new and old goo.gl shortcuts, so long as the website or app developer took steps to set up App Indexing for Android and iOS. Yup, that means the new feature works on both iOS and Android devices, and you can try it out for yourself right here: https://goo.gl/BpMdqp
Source: Google
Lenovo VR Goggles announced, takes on Samsung and Oculus
Lenovo has entered the Virtual Reality race at its TechWorld event in Beijing today, with the introduction of the Lenovo VR Goggles. The virtual-reality headset works with Lenovo Android phones and provides an immersive experience by sliding the smartphone into the headset and using it as a display.
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The headset is made up mostly of plastic and features a dial on either side to independently adjust each lens and a dial at the top to bring the image into focus. The VR Goggles are similar in design to Oculus Rift and the Samsung Gear VR and like the Gear VR, there’s no touchscreen meaning you navigate on-screen controls using a handheld remote control.
Pricing and availability is yet to be revealed but a representative told us that they should launch towards the end of the year. Interestingly, their debut will apparently not be in China with the representative suggesting that Lenovo will hold a global launch that kicks off outside its home country.
Virtual Reality in Videos:
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The Lenovo VR Goggles require a Lenovo smartphone in order to work, which means the VR Goggles will only launch where Lenovo smartphones are sold. Considering that the company has little presence in the UK and USA, there’s very little chance they’ll launch here but with Lenovo owning Motorola, hopefully the company will also provide compatibility for Motorola smartphones.
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Lenovo’s ‘Magic View’ smartwatch concept hides a private display
Smartwatches, you know the drill: a touchscreen display, and it feeds you notifications and stuff. Pretty boring, right? Lenovo agrees, so has cooked up a “Magic View” concept to show things don’t need to be this way. The problem Magic View solves is simple: the small displays inherent in watches. The answer? A small, second screen in the strap that initially appears cosmetic, until you hold it to your eye. Once you do, you’ll see an image the company claims is 20 times larger than the watch’s main display. Lenovo says it’s using “optical reflection” to achieve this, and that the second display can be used for viewing maps, looking “around” images (using the accelerometer in the watch we gather) and even viewing videos — should you be ok with holding your wrist to your eye to do so.
The prototype was on show at Lenovo’s Tech World show in Beijing, and bares more than a passing resemblance to a Moto 360 — hardly surprising. Android Central say that the demo device was running an Android-based OS that was different to both Wear and Google’s main mobile operating system. The second display might seem a little goofy at first, but Lenovo is likely pitching it as a security feature, too. Given that only you can see what’s on the second screen, it’s ideal for private viewing, or showing notifications you don’t want the person next to you catching. Given that Lenovo also showed some smart shoes, that display your mood on a screen, the Magic Eye doesn’t seem so crazy after all?
Filed under: Cellphones, Wearables, Mobile, Lenovo
Apple Store app offers same-day delivery in select locations
The Apple Store app now offers same-day delivery service through Postmates, the same company bringing Big Macs to New York City homes and Starbucks coffee to households and offices in several US cities. To be clear, the two companies have been working together long before this, and you can actually order Apple products from Postmates’ iOS app if you live in one of the many locations where the company operates. This new on-demand delivery option, however, is available only to San Francisco Bay Area residents willing to pay a fee to get their items ASAP.
So long as you live in the region and what you’re buying is available from a nearby store, you’ll see an option that says “Delivers Today within x hours.” The value of “x” varies and could be an hour or four, based on the examples we’ve seen. After you order, you’ll get notifications containing the package’s estimated delivery time and tracking number, though you can track it live directly on the Apple Store app. Cupertino hasn’t officially announced the service yet, but the driver that dropped off Mac Rumor’s order said it’s brand new and has just begun today.
[Image credit: Shutterstock / 1000 Words]
Via: TechCrunch
Microsoft is adding a headset port to Xbox One controllers
Even though the Xbox One controller has earned many plaudits, one thing universally hated is the lack of a headphone port. So far the best solution has been to buy the $24.99 Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter, but even that’s not without its problems. Although it won’t be much consolation to gamers that already bought the adapter, Microsoft is going to release a refreshed controller this June with a 3.5mm port built in.
The news comes via Microsoft’s own support site, which says the port (number 16 on the diagram above) will feature on “controllers released after June 2015.” It also notes that only “compatible” 3.5mm audio devices can be connected to this port. Chances are you’ll be able to hear audio through any headphones, but there will be some headset mics that won’t work due to the pointlessly different way manufacturers order the conductors on their jacks. The PlayStation 4, and many phones, suffer from the same issue, so that’s not really something Microsoft can control.
Filed under: Gaming, Microsoft
Via: Windows Central, SilentDisco (NeoGAF)
Source: Xbox One Support
Lenovo shows off dual-screen Magic View concept smartwatch
At its Tech World event in Beijing today, Lenovo has showcased a new concept smartwatch that aims to address some of the main concerns with current wearable devices. Alongside the circular display, which is synonymous with the Moto 360 smartwatch, the Magic View concept has a second screen which is located between the watch face and the wrist strap.
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The display uses a “Virtual Interactive Display” and according to Lenovo, this can help overcome small smartwatch displays by letting you viewing larger maps or photos through the secondary screen. Lenovo claims the VID can allow you to view images up to 20 times the normal size of the watch face and can also be used to display private information that you would rather not show on your main watch face.
Talking at the TechWorld keynote, Lenovo CTO Peter Hortensius said that the company had to develop more than 120 patents in order to make the Magic View concept a reality, including the world’s thinnest touch displays. Hortensius says that Magic View is still a concept product but did point out that the company’s Yoga tablet range started out as a concept before becoming one of the company’s major product lines.
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When will Magic View be introduced in a consumer product and will it ship under the Lenovo or Motorola brands? Will it be used in the Moto 360 (2015) edition? We’ll be keeping a close eye on Lenovo in the months ahead and we’ll bring you more info when we have it.
Lenovo unveils concept smartphone with laser projector
At its TechWorld event in Beijing today, Lenovo has unveiled more than just a concept smartwatch as the company’s latest smartphone concept is unique and impressive. The company has already released a handheld pico projector and the Smart Cast concept smartphone aims to bring projectors to the main stream as it has the world’s first laser projector in a smartphone, as well as the world’s smallest pico projector.
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Smart Cast comes with a unique rotating projector system – which appears similar to the Lenovo Pocket Projector – which allows you to project movies, TV shows or video games onto a wall. The projector can also be used to project keyboard and other controls onto nearby surfaces, allowing you to expand your keyboard rather than rely on a small on-screen keyboard. Lenovo then uses its gesture recognition software to recognise gestures such as clicking and sliding and presumably, this gesture recognition could also be used in other non-projector Lenovo and Motorola smartphones.
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At its keynote, Lenovo showed off the projector with a keyboard demo from Chinese pianist Lang Lang and the demo definitely showed that the technology has a lot of real-world applications. From being used as a piano keyboard to a multi-touch keyboard as a teaching aid and a lot more, the Smart Cast may not be a consumer device but given the company’s past record, we’ll see a consumer release at some point in the future. Maybe in the Moto X 2015?
AIVAnet 
