Soon you can get cash from an ATM with your smartphone
Soon, you won’t need your card to withdraw cash from JPMorgan Chase ATMs. Upgraded machines arriving later this year will be accessible with your phone, using codes generated from its smartphone app. That’s only the first stage: second-generation upgrades will offer up NFC access to bank accounts, like Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. Yep, you’ll still be able to use your cards, but importantly, the new machines will also have higher withdrawal limits during banking hours — up to $3,000. Future upgrades include the ability to cash checks and pay bill through the machines, but expect to see those features some time in 2018. Chase isn’t the only bank looking to involve your smartphone with your money.
At the same time, TechCrunch reports that Bank of America and Wells Fargo are working on their own mobile connected solutions, with Apple Pay mentioned in discussions with both banks. Accordiing to Bank of America, it’ll “enable customers to leverage NFC ( technology on their smartphone in order to authenticate and complete transactions at a Bank of America ATM.”
“We will roll out this capability in late February with associates at select ATMs in Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Charlotte, New York and Boston followed by a broader roll out to customers mid year.”
Source: AP (Mashable), TechCrunch
Apple Developing iPhone With Extended Range Wireless Charging for as Soon as 2017
Apple is reportedly developing a wirelessly-charged iPhone for as soon as 2017, according to Bloomberg. The company is working with its partners in both the U.S. and Asia to create the technology.
Apple is exploring cutting-edge technologies that would allow iPhones and iPads to be powered from further away than the charging mats used with current smartphones, the people said, asking not to be identified as the details are private. The iPhone maker is looking to overcome technical barriers including loss of power over distance with a decision on implementing the technology still being assessed, they said.
Current wirelessly-charged devices require users to place their phones or other devices on charging mats. In September 2012, Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller said that the company wasn’t sure of how convenient wireless charging is as most wireless charging systems still have to be plugged into a wall.
In early January, it was reported that Apple was working on wireless charging for the iPhone 7. However, that report warned that the feature could be pulled from the iPhone 7 for a future iteration of the device as Apple is working on the technology currently.
Apple has held an interest in wireless charging since the first iPhone, gaining patents for wireless charging stations and wireless charging through a near field magnetic resonance, which wirelessly charges a device within a certain region. The Cupertino company has also shown an interest in WiTricity’s wireless charging technology, which uses “hidden charging” technology that allows magnetic fields to wrap around barriers. This allows users to place their charging pads wherever they want.
Last November it was reported that the iPhone 7 would see the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack for an all-in-one Lightning connector that allows users to both power their device and plug in headphones. While the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack would mean that Apple would be able to make the iPhone thinner, it would not allow users to listen to headphones and charge their phone at the same time. A proprietary wireless charging solution from Apple in future iPhones with all-in-one Lightning connectors would likely allow for that.
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The Aiwatch C5 Sports GSM smartwatch is on sale for four more days at $62
Android Wear smartwatches are still highly limited in functioning away from a smartphone. But there are still full-featured smartwatches like the Aiwatch C5 with built-in GSM capabilities, so you can free yourself from your smartphone. The Aiwatch C5 is an unlocked smartwatch on sale now for just $61.99 at Gearbest.com with free shipping and a full 45-day satisfaction guarantee.
All you have to do is drop in a compatible SIM card and you can send texts and make calls from your wrist. In addition to those major functions, the Aiwatch C5 also works as a sport watch. Track your steps, heart rate, UV rays, monitor temperature and more with the Android compatible smartwatch. It comes with a circular face in an all metal case and comfortable and water resistant silicon watchband.
It’s on sale for four more days at just $61.99 at Gearbest.com.
Specification:
 Basic Information
Brand: AiWatch |
 Network
Wireless Connectivity: GSM |
 Display
Screen type: Capacitive |
 Camera
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 Connectivity
SIM Card Slot: Single SIM |
 Media Formats
Picture format: JPEG, PNG |
 Languages
Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Russian, polish, Turkish |
 Additional Features
Additional Features: MP3, Bluetooth, Recorder, Alarm, Calendar,People,2G |
 Package Contents
Cell Phone: 1 |
 Dimensions
Product size: 4.600 x 4.600 x 1.150 cm / 1.811 x 1.811 x 0.453 inches |
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USC will publish its student’s games on PlayStation and Xbox
The premise of college is that it’s going to prepare you with what you need to survive in a real-world work environment, but whether or not it fulfills that is another matter altogether. To that end, the University of Southern California has launched its own publishing label for video games in an effort to help students experience every aspect of making a game — all the way to getting it in the hands of people outside of academia and onto PCs, PlayStations and Xboxes. USC Games Publishing’s Tracy Fullerton tells Wired that the imprint is akin to the MIT Press. “These are not books that are going to necessarily be on The New York Times best-seller list, but these are the books that are important, that need to be out there in the zeitgeist.”
In fact, you’ve probably already played a few games that started out as student projects from the school: Journey predecessor Fl0w, The Unfinished Swan and The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom (pictured above) all came out of USC’s lab. The school also counts Uncharted designer Richard Lemarchand as one of its professors.
One of the key points Wired‘s piece makes is that USC doesn’t want to futz with a creator’s vision. Fringe ideas are celebrated rather than scoffed at, and the label exists as an alternative to working with a bigger, profit-minded publisher. The more off-kilter the student projects are, the better. Wired says that even though the initial crop will be homegrown titles, the idea is to essentially give creators full creative control to “be innovative, artistic or just plain weird.”
Considering the new publisher’s already impressive pedigree, that seems to have worked out pretty well so far.
Source: Wired
Reddit starts testing its official Android app
Reddit is finally developing an official Android app, and it has started its closed beta testing phase today. CEO Steve Huffman has announced the development in the middle of a long post talking about how Reddit has changed over the past year and what’s in store for its users. Unfortunately, you can’t sign up for the beta testing phase anymore, and only those who volunteered to test it back in December have gotten access today.
9to5google and Android Police both had the chance to try it out and posted a number of screenshots showing the app’s blue/white (day) and black (night) interface. They both agree that like other software and apps still in beta testing, it still suffers from bugs and could benefit from more features.
Huffman didn’t say when the app will be released to the public, but there’s no shortage of third-party Reddit applications you can use till then. He did reveal, however, that the company’s also developing an iOS version. It’s unclear if that one’s completely separate from Alien Blue, which Reddit snapped up and turned into its official iOS app in 2014.
Source: Reddit
Amazon’s latest figures prove Prime is booming
Amazon has announced that its fourth quarter sales figures have reached $35.7 billion, adding that the group’s Prime service continues to grow internationally.
The numbers from Amazon make for an interesting read and show that net sales have increased 22% to reach the mammoth fourth quarter sales total.
According to the latest figures, Prime memberships increased worldwide in 2015 by 51%, 47% in the U.S and even faster outside of the U.S. On top of that, Prime Video now boasts ‘nearly double’ the streaming customers compared with fourth quarter of 2014.
Speaking about Amazon’s growth, founder and CEO Jeff Bezos said:
“Twenty years ago, I was driving the packages to the post office myself and hoping we might one day afford a forklift. This year, we pass $100 billion in annual sales and serve 300 million customers.”
“And still, measured by the dynamism we see everywhere in the marketplace and by the ever-expanding opportunities we see to invent on behalf of customers, it feels every bit like Day 1.”
Amazon is pleased to report that its own Fire TV remains the best-selling streaming media player in the U.S., with the group adding that over 1,000 new apps have been added to the device since September. The Fire tablet is also doing well for itself, now the most gifted product on Amazon.com since its arrival around 19 weeks ago.
On the subject of Prime Music, the latest facts and figures from Amazon reveal that streaming hours ‘more than tripled’ in the U.S. compared with the fourth quarter of 2014.
According to news arriving from The New York Post, Amazon is set to launch a music-streaming service to rival industry giants such as Spotify. Sources ‘familiar with the project’ claim that a $9.99-per-month fee could be on the cards.
In short, it looks like Amazon is taking over the world.
Amazon.com Announces Fourth Quarter Sales up 22% to $35.7 Billion
SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jan. 28, 2016– Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced financial results for its fourth quarter ended December 31, 2015.
Operating cash flow increased 74% to $11.9 billion for the trailing twelve months, compared with $6.8 billion for the trailing twelve months ended December 31, 2014. Free cash flow increased to $7.3 billion for the trailing twelve months, compared with $1.9 billion for the trailing twelve months ended December 31, 2014. Free cash flow less lease principal repayments increased to $4.7 billion for the trailing twelve months, compared with $529 million for the trailing twelve months ended December 31, 2014. Free cash flow less finance lease principal repayments and assets acquired under capital leases increased to $2.5 billion for the trailing twelve months, compared with an outflow of $2.2 billion for the trailing twelve months ended December 31, 2014.
Common shares outstanding plus shares underlying stock-based awards totaled 490 million on December 31, 2015, compared with 483 million one year ago.
Fourth Quarter 2015
Net sales increased 22% to $35.7 billion in the fourth quarter, compared with $29.3 billion in fourth quarter 2014. Excluding the $1.2 billion unfavorable impact from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates throughout the quarter, net sales increased 26% compared with fourth quarter 2014.
Operating income increased 88% to $1.1 billion in the fourth quarter, compared with operating income of $591 million in fourth quarter 2014.
Net income was $482 million in the fourth quarter, or $1.00 per diluted share, compared with net income of $214 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, in fourth quarter 2014.
Full Year 2015
Net sales increased 20% to $107.0 billion, compared with $89.0 billion in 2014. Excluding the $5.2 billion unfavorable impact from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates throughout the year, net sales increased 26% compared with 2014.
Operating income was $2.2 billion, compared with operating income of $178 million in 2014. Net income was $596 million, or $1.25 per diluted share, compared with net loss of $241 million, or $0.52 per diluted share, in 2014.
“Twenty years ago, I was driving the packages to the post office myself and hoping we might one day afford a forklift. This year, we pass $100 billion in annual sales and serve 300 million customers,” said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. “And still, measured by the dynamism we see everywhere in the marketplace and by the ever-expanding opportunities we see to invent on behalf of customers, it feels every bit like Day 1.”
Come comment on this article: Amazon’s latest figures prove Prime is booming
[Deal] Up to 75% off select NVIDIA SHIELD titles
Bargains are waiting as NVIDIA’s four-day SHIELD Winter Games Sale kicks off, with price cuts on titles including Hotline Miami, Titan Souls, the LEGO series and more.
It looks like the team over at NVIDIA are feeling mighty generous, with discounts now listed on titles playable on Android TV, portable devices and tablets.
Three popular games in the LEGO series have made their way to the winter sale, LEGO The Hobbit, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes and LEGO The Lord of the Rings. All of these titles can be played on NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW game-streaming service and offer up plenty of family-friendly thrills.
Other popular Android games getting the money-off treatment include hectic top-down shooter Hotline Miami and its sequel, both available on the Play Store. High-octane action title Hotline Miami is set in an alternate 1989 and boasts a unique art style and foot-tapping soundtrack. It’s the best kind of mayhem.
Check out our full review of the NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet K1 if you haven’t yet got one of your own.
Source: NVIDIA
Come comment on this article: [Deal] Up to 75% off select NVIDIA SHIELD titles
My Tracks is being stopped in its tracks this April
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Google‘s My Tracks tracking app has been around for a good few years now, but it’s become painfully obvious that competition from around the industry, particularly in the fitness space, is tight – very tight. Even so, My Tracks has built up a very dedicated user base and plenty of people have benefited from the use of the app. Which is probably why it’s such a surprise that Google will be ending support for the tracking app on April 30th 2016 – here’s the official statement:
After April 30, 2016, My Tracks will no longer be available. We apologize for the inconvenience this might cause My Tracks users. We’ve made the tough decision to invest our efforts into other, more wide-reaching, mapping projects. Below are some resources to help you manage or export your data and find other apps to continue tracking your activities.
If you’re worried about losing all the data you’ve collected in My Tracks, Google details in its post methods by which you can save your data and lists a whole number of apps that serve the same purpose, like Strava, Endomondo and, of course, Google’s own Google Fit. For heavy users of the app, this is no doubt a bummer, but we can only hope Google will come back with an even more polished experience with whatever the next iteration is.
What do you think about Google shutting down My Tracks? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Google Support via Droid-life
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HP’s smartwatch has Swarovski crystals and a see-through screen
The product of HP’s collaboration with American designer Isaac Mizrahi wouldn’t look out of place next to ordinary analog watches designed for women. It looks just like any other Swarovski-encrusted arm candy, which could be good or bad, depending on your preference. Only difference is that its glass is actually a transparent screen that can be activated by a dial. It connects to an iOS 8+ or an Android 4.4+ device via Bluetooth and shows you incoming calls, messages, emails and even the steps you’ve taken, thanks to its built-in pedometer. You can’t, however, use it to send voice messages, listen to music, pay for purchases or monitor your heart rate, among other features more robust smartwatches have.
Its battery can last for years if you just use it as an ordinary watch, but only five days if you use its more high-tech offerings.The “Engineered by HP” device’s watchface measures 42mm and is available in silver or gold-tone stainless steel. Its bands are interchangeable, but each color (black, white, sky blue, baby pink and light gray) will cost you an extra $40. The product itself will set you back $250 — not too bad if you just want a wristwatch with a handful of smart features.
Source: HP
Bernie Sanders shuns Microsoft’s vote-counting app
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is taking matters into his own hands. Rather than use the Microsoft-provided tools to tabulate the results of the upcoming Iowa caucus, the Vermont senator’s campaign has (rather impressively) built its own measurement tools, according to MSNBC. Why is the campaign so leery? It’s concerned about impartiality seeing as how Microsoft employees have donated more than $200,000 toward his party rival Hillary Clinton’s career over the years. Pete D’Alessandro is running the Iowa campaign for Sanders and told MSNBC, “You’d have to ask yourself why they’d want to give something like that away for free.”
For its part, Redmond says that there aren’t any nefarious activities afoot. It simply wants to make sure the caucus results are accurate on both sides of the political aisle with easy-to-use Azure-based tools. “Microsoft is providing technology and services solely to administer and facilitate a neutral, accurate, efficient reporting system for the caucuses,” it said in a statement to MSNBC.
One of the Sanders’ camp’s questions is why the Democratic committee didn’t go with an Iowa-based company for the measurement software (there’s been previous concerns over corporate involvement in voting results). “Microsoft and their app partner, InterKnowlogy, are global leaders in the technology industry, and we completely trust the integrity of their staff and the app,” the Iowa Democratic Party said in a prepared response.
Clinton’s campaign has apparently built its own measurement tools as well, and they mirror Sanders’ with a telephone hotline system and an independent app. Lets step this back a second though: rather than use the Microsoft-provided tools for measurement, each campaign has built its own set and they’re up and running already. Impressive, yeah? Regardless, the response from Sanders could be seen as being a bit paranoid, but considering how previously contested elections have gone it might be hard to blame each team for its respective caution.
[Image credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Via: CNBC
Source: MSNBC
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