MasterCard is lending its mobile payment tech to banks
MasterCard is hoping to make in-store mobile payments — the ability to wave your phone at a terminal to buy something — more accessible. The company is teaming up with several banks, including Citi and Bank of America, to let customers pay for stuff using bank apps on their phones. Meaning, you won’t have to download a dedicated app.
This will be enabled through MasterCard’s Masterpass service, which is already available for in-app and online purchases, but now can be used in-stores. Consumers will be able to use it at over 5 million in-store locations in 77 countries. However, the feature will only be on Android phones that have built-in NFC chips. iPhone users will be left out because Apple doesn’t permit other companies to use its chip, which already powers a similar service in Apple Pay.
Tech giants like Google helped introduce the concept of mobile payments to the US a few years ago, and last year they accounted for $8.7 billion in sales. This will more than triple in 2016, according to leading media and commerce researcher eMarketer.
Mastercard believes that the ability to provide more information, like balances and rental car coverage, will give Masterpass a slight advantage over more established services like Android Pay. The company has also introduced a new logo to kickstart its shift towards mobile payments.
The rollout will start this month in the US, followed by Europe, Africa, and the Middle East later this year, and other areas in 2017.
Source: MasterCard
Crappy smartphone ‘for women’ does everything wrong
What’s small, cute, fashion-focused and pink? The Keeco K1 — a smartphone ‘designed for women,’ of course. No, we’re not kidding. The K1 is destined for the Chinese market, and is being marketed with a veritable check-list of gender stereotypes. It comes in an array of fashionable colors, features a hexagonal design to fit the “small hands of women” and boasts a front-facing selfie camera that “automatically makes your skin look delicate and smooth.” That’s not condensing at all.
To be fair, there is something to be said about small-form smartphones, but at the end of the day the K1 just isn’t very impressive. The mid-range Android phone features a 720p 5-inch display, 2GB of RAM with 16GB of (expandable) internal storage and a 1.3GHz processor. To top it off, the phone is stuck on Android 5.1. Mediocrity with a side of sexism. Move along.
Via: Verge
Source: Keeco
DomiNations brings some of history’s greatest figures to battle in latest update
Great leaders of history are at the center of the latest update to hit popular mobile strategy game DomiNations. Now you’ll be able to tap the minds of historical figures like Leonardo DaVinci and Sultan Saladin at your university in order to unlock new skills for your civilization and more.
Here’s a quick look at all that’s new in the Great Leaders update for DomiNations:
- Expand your civilization’s skills at the University with the help of Great Leaders like Leonardo DaVinci, Catherine the Great, King Sejong, Sultan Saladin, and Suleiman the Magnificent!
- Italian and Turkish language support!
- Battle for Glory and the top spot on the World War Leaderboard!
- Research a cunning new Tactic: the Decoy!
If you’re a big fan of DomiNations, you can dive into the battle with the help of historical greats by downloading the latest update on Google Play now.
Pokemon Go: How to stop your data usage from getting out of control
Chances are you’ve been walking around all week – with your smartphone glued to your hand, playing Pokemon Go.
As Pokemon Go rolls out around the world, many excited trainers have melted their brain away simply by hunting for rare creatures in strange places and flinging Poke Balls left and right… all while potentially flushing their precious data away. It’s fun. It’s addicting. It’s quickly sweeping the world. It could also be a huge data-suck. Maybe even you have been warned by your carrier that your monthly data allotment is up.
A quick search on Twitter will show you plenty of users from around the globe who have complained about the augmented-reality game using up all their mobile data. But does Pokemon Go really hog up data? And if so, what can you do about it? Here’s what we found.
Does Pokemon Go use a lot of data?
Despite tonnes of Twitter users blaming Pokemon Go for their mobile data woes, the game likely isn’t killing your data plan, according to The Wall Street Journal, which spoke to a Verizon spokesperson. The carrier said that Pokemon Go, which has become one of the top downloads since it was released in the US last week, makes up less than 1 per cent of its overall network data traffic.
Pokemon Go eats through data worse than anything ever…so sad that I can only play when connected to Wifi..I just want to be, the very best
— T Roth (@Troth24) July 7, 2016
A separate network analytics firm, called P3 communications, reportedly also determined the app only consumes between 5MB to 10MB of data per hour. Watching a high-definition video online, on the other hand, can consume as much as 350MB per hour. CNET ran a test as well and found that, on the iPhone, Pokemon Go is a battery hog — but not a data one.
In fact, Verizon said if the game sucks at most 10MB per hour, you would have to play for about 7 hours a day for 30-days straight to consume a standard 2GB data plan, which costs $55 a month.
But what about that T-Mobile deal?
Still, there has been a lot of concern that the game is brutal toward data plans. John Legere, T-Mobile USA’s chief executive, even tweeted that since last Friday, Pokemon Go users on the carrier’s network have quadrupled their data usage. Then, in an effort to capatalise on the mania surrounding the game, he later tweeted that T-Mobile will give special treatment to Pokemon Go.
Since last Friday, the number of #PokemonGO active players on our network doubled, & their data usage QUADRUPLED!! pic.twitter.com/TPB77vtrjl
— John Legere (@JohnLegere) July 12, 2016
Starting 19 July, T-Mobile customers will have all data used by Pokemon Go exempted from their data caps for a year. You can read about the details of this promotion from T-Mobile’s website.
What should you do then?
You need to keep in mind that Pokemon Go requires your phone to be constantly checking and transmitting your location via GPS. And because the app also requires you to be outdoors and moving around, you will definitely be using a cellular connection rather than a Wi-Fi connection. To top it all off, the game uses your camera a lot, so your battery will quickly drain too.
If you’re at all concerned about using data, even if it’s a small amount, which is apparently all the game needs, there are fan sites like Pokemon Go Database that offer tips on how to limit data use so you can continue indulging in your addiction. We’ve also listed a few of them here.
- Download all app updates and in-app purchases over Wi-Fi.
- Only play in areas where public Wi-Fi is available.
- Set a mobile data limit for yourself. On Android, go to Settings > Wireless & Networks > Data Usage > Data Usage Date Cycle > And select a date range. On iPhone, you’ll have to either ask your carrier to contact you or download a free data-tracking app. On iPhone, you can disable the app from using data altogether by going to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Usage.
- Avoid downloading/streaming videos, music, and media while playing.
- Close out of other open apps that may be sucking up data.
- Restrict background app data. On Android, go to Settings > Application or Apps > Pokemon Go > Data Usage > Restrict Background Data. On iPhone, you can stop apps from refreshing in the background by going to Settings > General > Background App Refresh> Pokemon Go.
- Disable notifications under your phone’s Settings app. Email and push notifications from various apps also eat into data.
- And finally, we know it’s hard, but pace yourself. Moderation is key.
Wirecutter’s best deals: Save over $450 on a Dell XPS 13 Touch laptop
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. Read their continuously updated list of deals at TheWirecutter.com.
You may have already seen Engadget posting reviews from our friends at The Wirecutter. Now, from time to time, we’ll also be publishing their recommended deals on some of their top picks. Read on, and strike while the iron is hot — some of these sales could expire mighty soon.
Nespresso Inissia Espresso Maker
Street price: $100; MSRP: $100; deal price: $75
Here’s a great drop on an item we rarely see on sale. This is only the second sale we’ve seen, with the first being around a week ago for $82.
The Nespresso Inissia is our fully automatic pick for the best espresso maker. Cale Guthrie Weissman said, “If you want a decent espresso drink at home, but don’t have the time or patience to practice and learn the ins and outs of making espresso, try Nespresso. Machines start at just over $100 and you can pay more for features like faster preheating, and built-in milk frothing—but they all share the same brewing mechanism and produce the same decent-tasting coffee.”
In terms of the value, “The coffee pods themselves cost about 70¢ a shot (it works out to about $50/pound), which isn’t bad for a consistently decent espresso (with crema!) that tastes as good (or better than) Starbucks, yet requires almost no effort on your part.”
Dell XPS 13 Touch 256GB Laptop
Street price: $1,400; MSRP: $1,400; deal price: $920
This is the best price we’ve seen on the Dell XPS 13 Touch, $80 below the previous low, which we haven’t seen since February. We’ve noticed that the Touch model of the XPS 13 sometimes has huge discounts, while the non-Touch version rarely goes on sale at all. This deal is almost a full $500 below the usual price, and almost $200 under the non-Touch version with these specs. You take a hit on battery life, but you do get a higher-res touchscreen.
The Dell XPS 13 Touch 256GB Laptop is our upgrade pick for the best Windows ultrabook. Kimber Streams wrote, “If you need an ultra-high-resolution touchscreen, don’t mind the extra cost, and can live with a few hours less battery life, you should get the touchscreen configuration of the Dell XPS 13.”
Refurbished Samsung Galaxy S7 Verizon Smartphone
Street price: $680 (new); MSRP: $680 (new); deal price: $430
We haven’t seen many decent deals on the S7, with most of the price drops being on import models without a warranty or questionable open-box sales. This $430 refurbished deal comes with a 90-day warranty through Best Buy, and their return policies tend to be fairly liberal if you run into any issues. Keep in mind, this is a Verizon model.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 is our pick for the best Android phone. Ryan Whitwam said, “The Samsung Galaxy S7 has the best screen and camera of any Android phone we’ve tested. It includes a larger battery and a microSD card slot (which last year’s Galaxy lacked), but the UI remains somewhat cluttered.”
Vornado VH10 Heater
Street price: $80; MSRP: $80; deal price: $24
This is the best price we’ve seen on this space heater to date. The price has continued to fall steadily since mid-June but the incremental drops have started to taper off, and we can’t imagine the price getting significantly lower than where it is now. So if you know you’re going to be needing a space heater in a few months when it starts getting chilly, buy it now while it’s cheap.
The Vornado VH10 Heater is our runner-up pick for small rooms Space Heater. Seamus Bellamy wrote, “The Vornado VH10 was the fastest heater we tested this year, raising the temperature of our test area higher than any other heater could manage in the same amount of time.”
In terms of heating capabilities and features, the VH10 has, “blisteringly-fast heating capabilities, eight different temperature levels, quieter operation than our main pick, and a casing that stays surprisingly cool to the touch (considering how much heat it generates). Plus, it comes with a five-year warranty—that’s two years longer than the coverage on our main pick.”
Deals change all the time, and some of these may have expired. To see an updated list of current deals, please go to The Wirecutter.com.
T-Mobile is giving away free ‘Pokémon Go’ data for a year
T-Mobile has been watching you play Pokémon Go, and it knows you’re guzzling data every time you head out to catch Pokémon. That’s why the next T-Mobile Tuesday is poised to offer unlimited data for Pokémon Go through August 2017.
The Un-carrier is keeping an eye on this massive global phenomenon, and wants to help you get out there and be the very best like no one ever was. Along with your year of free Pokémon data, you can also claim a free Frosty, a free Lyft ride up to $15 and 50% off of certain accessories via T-Mobile, such as battery packs so you can keep the game going long after your battery has succumbed to incessant GPS usage.
A handful of lucky winners will win free trips to anywhere in the US to go Pokémon hunting, while 250 others will receive $100 to spend on Pokécoins, the in-game currency of Pokemon Go. If you happen to miss claiming your year of free data, the offer will last all the way through Tuesday, August 9th. You should start seeing these offers in the T-Mobile Tuesday app tomorrow.
If you do happen to take advantage of this lavish offer of free Pokémon Go data, make sure you’re responsible and don’t fall victims to robbers or throw Poke Balls in the Holocaust Museum. Be safe and respectful!
Source: T-Mobile
Elon Musk: Autopilot was turned off in PA Model X rollover
The driver who crashed his Model X on the Pennsylvania Turnpike earlier this month blamed Tesla’s Autopilot for his accident. But according to Elon Musk, onboard vehicle logs showed the car’s semi-autonomous mode was switched off when the incident happened. Tesla’s CEO revealed that info on Twitter, adding that if Autopilot was on, the accident wouldn’t even have occurred.
If you’ll recall, the Model X owner told authorities he slammed into a guard rail because of the feature. The cops who investigated the incident, however, said there’s wasn’t enough evidence to show Autopilot was to blame. Plus, the company asserted from the very start that it had no reason to believe the feature was on during the crash. We reached out to Tesla for more details about its investigation, and we’ll update this post when we hear back.
Tesla’s Autopilot has been getting a lot of flak recently due to a few incidents involving the feature. Besides the crash in Pennsylvania, it’s also being blamed for a fatal accident in Florida that killed the driver of a Model S. Consumer Reports suggests changing the name of the feature altogether, because the word “autopilot” gives drivers a false sense of security, and removing beta features from the company’s vehicles. Tesla said it won’t be changing Autopilot’s name or pulling it from its cars, and to be fair, the automaker recommends keeping your hands on the wheel while it’s switched on.
Despite the controversy surrounding Autopilot, it still gained approval in some European countries. Just recently, authorities in the Netherlands said they found “no safety concerns” in the system, while a German regulator said it would be approved in his country so long as Tesla presents it as a driver assist and not a self-driving system.
Onboard vehicle logs show Autopilot was turned off in Pennsylvania crash. Moreover, crash would not have occurred if it was on.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 14, 2016
Source: Elon Musk (Twitter)
Regulators reject plan to fix 85,000 diesel Volkswagens
Although Volkswagen has those ambitious plans to launch 30 new electric vehicles in the next 10 years, the German automaker is still on the hook for that $14.7 billion class-action settlement related to the diesel emissions scandal. While VW has already agreed to buy back nearly half a million 2.0L diesel engine vehicles, the California Air Resources Board rejected the company’s plan to fix another 85,000 3.0L diesel VWs, Audis and Porsches that are still on the road.
As Ars Technica reports today, the CARB called VW’s plan “substantially deficient” and that it “fall[s] far short” of the state regulator’s standards. CARB also claims Volkswagen “failed to disclose and provide a complete description of all defeat devices” and accuses the company of being vague about how the fix will actually affect the vehicles’ emissions, fuel economy, and On Board Diagnostics systems. According to a statement provided to Ars, however, the rejection is just “a procedural step under California state law.”
It is worth noting that CARB initially rejected the 2.0L recall plan citing similar reasons. According to Volkswagen’s attorneys, the defeat devices on the 3.0L vehicles are different and they initially believed those vehicles could be fixed without a full-scale buyback program.
Nintendo won’t offer additional games for the Classic Mini
Bad news, Nintendo fans: The Classic Mini that was announced earlier today won’t be able to play R.C. Pro-Am, Stadium Events, Little Nemo: The Dream Master or anything else beyond what’s in the NES-themed box. Nor will it be able to connect to the internet to download additional games beyond the 30 that come packed with it, according to a report from Kotaku. Nintendo won’t sell additional games for micro console, either, nor does the Chamber Lid (that’s what it’s called!) open for a nostalgia-fueled look-see. In that sense, this isn’t much different than similar offerings from Sega and Atari.
Any disappointment you may be feeling is similar to what those of us with big feet who were left out in the cold by the recent Nintendo/Vans collaboration endured. If you’re hoping for a possible mini version of a Super NES or Nintendo 64, the company’s mum on that for now. We’ve reached out with additional questions, however, and will update this post if there’s a response.
Source: Kotaku
2016 Volkswagen Golf TSI S review – Roadshow
The Good Its styling won’t age quickly and butcher resale value, its infotainment loadout is impressive on lower trims and its hatchback layout provides ample rear-seat and cargo space.
The Bad Its five-speed manual is old and seemingly fragile, and its fuel economy isn’t exactly all that and a bag of chips.
The Bottom Line For those that prefer to fly under the radar, the 2016 Volkswagen Golf’s practicality is sure to charm.
For those who err on the side of caution, the Volkswagen Golf has always been a pillar of sensible vehicle ownership. Not everybody needs to be flashy. Most people just want a car that doesn’t look bad, has competitive equipment and won’t be worth $1,000 in six months’ time. In that sense, the Golf is a damn smart purchase.
Two-door cars aren’t the most sensible vehicles, and Volkswagen does offer a four-door Golf variant, but this Golf I tested made up for its lack of doors with a rear hatchback, providing more than enough space for both cargo and rear passengers. Most competitors don’t even offer coupe variants of their vehicles, nevertheless hatchbacks, and especially not two-door hatchbacks (VW doesn’t call this a three-door, for whatever reason). The only one that comes to mind is Mini.
So if you are looking for a small hatchback, options are limited. Thankfully, the Golf won’t really leave you wanting for more. It’s not loaded with standout equipment, but based on what you get for the price you pay, it’s a solid bet.
Straightforward and easy on the eyes
If you’ve seen one Golf, you’ve seen them all. It doesn’t matter if it’s an old one or a new one, the formula hasn’t really changed in decades, and neither has the design language. There’s no flash here, like there is on a Civic Coupe. It’s restrained, it’s approachable.
You won’t be breakin’ necks in this car, that’s for sure.
Andrew Krok/Roadshow
Volkswagen’s conservative design is largely a good thing, as cars with fantastical elements and sharp creases from fore to aft don’t age well, which can affect resale value. The Golf doesn’t have that problem.
The Golf maximizes the feeling of usable space by keeping the dash nice and thin, too. I don’t like excess dashboard real estate — if I can’t reach the area where dashboard and windshield meet, that’s interior space wasted.
Overall interior layout is ace. HVAC and seat-heater switches live in one area, and the touchscreen infotainment system and its corresponding buttons and dials (hooray!) live above that. I found it easy to commit everything to muscle memory in a short time.
A monochrome information display tucks in between the straightforward black and white gauges, which you peruse with the help of buttons on the steering wheel.
The cloth seats feel rugged and waxy. Personally, I prefer this kind of material, but other editors have called it out for being a bit too hard. The leather-wrapped steering wheel isn’t too chunky, but also not thin enough to belong on a 1994 Buick.
While I usually associate coupes with cramped rear seats, the Golf’s hatchback shape works wonders. My 6-foot frame fit easily in the back, with loads of headroom and a front seat with a built-in handle for quick ingress and egress. It also benefits cargo volume, and with the rear seats stowed flat, I wasn’t exactly hurting for storage space.
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Tech: Pretty fly for a car this cheap
Infotainment is slowly expanding beyond the head unit and incorporating smartphones, and it’s encouraging to see Volkswagen at the forefront of this trend. Even on the next-to-base TSI S model, the Golf comes equipped with a 6.5-inch touchscreen display that includes both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with Volkswagen’s own App-Connect system.
The Golf’s screen contains a proximity sensor, adding more options to the display whenever your hand draws near.
Andrew Krok/Roadshow
The infotainment system itself is a breeze to use. Navigation buttons on the side make switching from page to page a low-distraction affair, and it even features a proximity sensor, hiding the icon dock from view until your hand nears the screen. It’s a pretty trick feature on a $20,000 car.
Oddly enough, this is actually the first year that Volkswagen offers a USB port on the Golf. Before this, it relied on a proprietary cable system, which was both expensive and annoying for families with multiple brands of phone. I wish there was more than just the one port in the center stack, but it’s better than nothing.
A backup camera is also standard on this trim level. Its resolution is high, which is an issue with not just competitors, but certain automakers in general.
The information screen between the gauges is absolutely loaded with information. Unlike others, the music tab will actually tell you what song is playing, not just the radio station you’re tuned into. Once I got a feel for the steering wheel buttons, I found it easy to flip between pages without even looking. Much of the Golf’s information can be easily accessed with a minimal amount of distraction.
AIVAnet 