Samsung Pay will soon tap into your PayPal account

Samsung Pay has been steadily increasing its payment options since it debuted two years ago, and now it’s adding a new vendor to its services. Soon, Samsung Pay users will be able to use PayPal in-app, in-store and online.

Users can add their PayPal accounts to Samsung Pay and use their PayPal wallet anywhere Samsung Pay is accepted. And because it uses proprietary MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) technology, which allows you to use Samsung Pay at terminals that don’t accept NFC, it’s accepted more places than any other mobile payment platform. Merchants will also be able to accept Samsung Pay online through PayPal’s Braintree.

Using PayPal wallet with Samsung Pay is only currently available in the United States. However, Samsung is working on expanding PayPal wallet support to the 18 other markets it serves, including Spain, South Korea, China and India, soon.

This is a good move for PayPal as well. The service has been moving more and more into mobile payment methods. With these integrations, you may soon be able to use your PayPal account just like a real bank account.

Source: Samsung

Researchers discover one of the brightest galaxies ever seen

Scientists at the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias, a research institute in the Canary Islands, just discovered one of the brightest galaxies we’ve ever come across. It’s around a thousand times brighter than our galaxy, has a very high rate of star formation and is 10 thousand million light years away.

The researchers found the galaxy using the gravitational lensing effect wherein really massive objects in space, like galaxies or galaxy clusters, warp and enhance the light of smaller objects nearby. This phenomenon has helped researchers track down exoplanets, black holes and unexpected galaxy types. This discovery, which was recently published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, was made possible by a galaxy cluster that lies in between us and the newly observed bright galaxy. “Thanks to the gravitational lens produced by a cluster of galaxies between ourselves and the source, which acts as if it was a telescope, the galaxy appears 11 times bigger and brighter than it really is, and appears as several images on an arc centred on the densest part of the cluster, which is known as an “Einstein Ring,” Anastasio Díaz-Sánchez, an author of the article, said in a statement.

The light amplification and multiple images of the galaxy produced by the gravitational lensing effect helped the scientists see the galaxy and will help them analyze more details about its composition in the future. The researchers have dubbed this galaxy the Cosmic Eyebrow because of the similarities to another galaxy called the Cosmic Eyelash. That galaxy got its name because it was found near a young galaxy called the Cosmic Eye, which looks like its namesake due to its image being warped by gravitational lensing.

The Cosmic Eyebrow, which because of its distance we’re seeing the earlier stages of, will help researchers understand the formation of large distant galaxies and how they evolve into elliptical galaxies that exist today. Susana Iglesias-Groth, another author of the study, said, “This type of objects harbour the most powerful star forming regions known in the universe. The next step will be to study their molecular content.”

Source: Astrophysical Journal Letters

ESL eSports makes cable TV debut on Disney XD

For the first time, eSports league ESL is coming to cable TV, broadcasting ESL Brawlers and ESL SpeedRunners on Disney XD. The two series will feature on Disney’s D|XP, a summer programming block devoted to gaming. ESL Brawler pits the best Street Fighter V players in a first to 10 match, with winners defending their title against a new contender each week and fighting it out in a final Vainglory championship on week seven. The SpeedRunner event is more of a free-for-all, pitting the best players against each other to finish the game fastest, while chasing a world record.

Though the shows are appearing in a very nichey spot on Disney XD, their arrival heralds a mainstream breakthrough for eSports. The D|XP programming spot is aimed at students on summer break, showcasing not just eSports but “games, publishers, events and prominent personalities across the gaming landscape,” ESL said in a news release.

Disney will also broadcast the EVO 2017 fighting game championship finals for Street Fighter and Super Smash Bros. on ESPN2 and Disney XD. The network recently aired its many of its own-branded games at D23 on the web (its D23 site, Twitch, YouTube and Facebook), including Kingdom Hearts III, Insomniac’s Spider-Man and Star Wars: Battlefront II.

ESL Brawlers will debut on Thursday, July 20th and ESL SpeedRunner will happen at some point in August. D|XP debuted on July 15th, with a programming block running between 9PM and 3AM every Saturday Night. That’s not exactly prime-time, but it does let Disney air some content not appropriate for younger kids. The network will no doubt keep its on the ratings and possibly expand it if things are looking good — pushing gaming and eSports further into the mainstream.

Take a peek at the new iOS emoji arriving later this year

If you’ve been not-so-patiently waiting for the 56 emoji approved by the Unicode Consortium last month to hit your iPhone . . . well, you have to wait a bit longer. But for World Emoji Day, Apple has hit us with a preview of what these emoji will look like when they finally arrive.

The emoji include new smiley faces, more diversity options and new animals. There’s the addition of a sandwich emoji (FINALLY) as well as mythical creatures, such as a zombie, and a tiny-armed T-Rex. You can also find emoji for a woman with a headscarf, a bearded man and a woman breastfeeding.

You’ll likely have to wait until the release of iOS 11 to enjoy these emoji on your device. With the release of the Android emoji preview, however, it’s nice that Apple followed suit.

Source: Apple

Anyone can steal your old Myspace account by guessing your birthday

You probably haven’t touched your Myspace account in ages, but you might want to pay it a visit just in case — as it turns out, it’s trivially easy for someone to take control. Security guru Leigh-Anne Galloway has discovered that Myspace’s account recovery site only validates your real name, user name and birthday. Given that the first two are easily obtainable, you only really have to guess the birthday to hijack an account — and that’s not necessarily hard depending on how publicly someone celebrates the occasion. In theory, someone with a knack for Google searches could impersonate you with little to no warning.

We’ve asked Myspace for comment. Time’s social network hasn’t exactly been responsive so far, though. Galloway says she emailed Myspace about the issue in April and hasn’t had a response. In the meantime, though, she suggests deleting your Myspace account if you’re at all concerned about it. A data thief or prankster could use it to get further insights into your personal life (albeit from several years ago), and they could tarnish your online reputation by messing with your profile. If nothing else, this illustrates how crucial it is to constantly update security measures — it shouldn’t be possible to recover an account this easily, especially not in an era when data breaches are a seemingly regular occurrence.

Via: The Verge

Source: Leigh-Anne Galloway

New ‘Blade Runner 2049’ trailer teases more of Deckard’s story

We got our first real look at the upcoming Blade Runner sequel in May and today we get a little more with a new trailer. In this one we’re given more views of the futuristic California setting and a few more plot details. And maybe even another hint as to Rick Deckard’s true identity.

Previous glimpses into Blade Runner 2049 have shown us that Officer K (Ryan Gosling) has been searching for Deckard (Harrison Ford) who has been missing for thirty years. The first trailer teased us with K telling Deckard that he had some things to ask him and here Deckard responds to K’s question of what happened by saying, “We were being hunted.” The answer to whether that “we” means replicants will most certainly have to wait until October.

We also get a little bit more Robin Wright in this trailer, who again warns of war, and we see Dave Bautista for the first time. A very eerie Jared Leto is also a bigger focal point in the second trailer. Leto plays replicant maker Neander Wallace who at one point says he could only make so many replicants and that while he had the lock, someone else — presumably Deckard — had the key. He later follows all of that up with a very ominous “The future of the species has finally unearthed.”

This trailer provides some tidbits that lay out an interesting storyline for the long-awaited sequel, which can hopefully stand up to the original. Blade Runner 2049 hits theaters on October 6th and you can check out the trailer below.

Source: Warner Bros.

LinkedIn’s incessant connection requests are coming to Windows 10

If you’re running Windows 10, your job search may have gotten a bit easier. Microsoft has announced that with the new LinkedIn app for its desktop OS, you’ll be able to access the full business-minded social network experience from the Start menu and task bar along with all those ads. You can even make it a Live tile if you’d like. So yep, all the people you’ve never met before who want you to join their professional network will invade your serene desktop experience if you install this.

LinkedIn says that you’ll have full control over the types of notifications you’ll get on desktop, so maybe it won’t be as bad as we’re imagining. Not seeing it in the Windows Store? You might have to be patient. Microsoft says that its $26.2 billion baby’s app will roll out to everyone by the end of the month.

Via: Microsoft

Source: LinkedIn

Olloclip and Incase Launch Limited Edition iPhone 7 ‘Filmer’s Kit’ Exclusively at Apple Stores

Smartphone accessory companies Olloclip and Incase today announced a new collaborative product called the “Filmer’s Kit” for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. The $199 kit includes “curated essentials” for users who regularly find themselves filming, taking photos, or live streaming on an iPhone 7.

Specifically, the Filmer’s Kit includes an Olloclip Core Lens Set with Fisheye, Super-wide, and Macro 15x lenses, an Olloclip Active Lens Set with Telephoto and Ultra-Wide lenses, an Olloclip Pivot articulating mobile video grip, and a carrying case that was a joint effort between Olloclip and Incase.

“olloclip remains committed to finding new and exciting ways to making inspiring videos and photos fun and easy to capture on your mobile device. Partnering with Incase made sense to us since they, too, understand the importance of the photographic category and offer a complete collection aimed at the modern-day photographer and videographer,” said Patrick O’Neill, founder of olloclip.

“We also appreciate how Incase’s minimalistic and easy-to-use design language complements olloclip’s design ethos by focusing on maximizing functionality while delivering the finest details and finishes.”

The companies are releasing the $199 Filmer’s Kit in a super-exclusive supply run of less than 2,000 copies worldwide. The kit won’t be made available to purchase on Apple.com, or on Olloclip’s and Incase’s websites, so those interested will have to visit an Apple retail location to pick up a copy before they sell out.

Olloclip did refer to the Filmer’s Kit as the “inaugural” edition, suggesting there could be more of the product, perhaps in a wider release, coming in the future.

Tags: olloclip, Incase
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App Attack: K.O. on-the-go with Street Fighter IV Champion Edition

If you’re looking for a blast from the past arcade game to play in the comfort of your own home — or anywhere for that matter — you’ll love Street Fighter IV Champion Edition for iOS.

Growing up with an older brother who was a video game fanatic, I can easily say I’m in-tune with the classics of the ’90s. But being the annoying younger sister, I wasn’t allowed to play the games and was rather instructed to sit and watch. Since then, not much has changed other than our age and I’ll admit I’m still not an avid gamer. When I saw the new Street Fighter was released for the iPhone, I decided to take a chance and try out the one fighting game everyone raves about.

The new release for iOS takes you back to those Sega Genesis days — pressing down violently on all the controls to make sure you get every last move in. While the one major difference is obviously the touchscreen, the controls still mimic an arcade setup with a joystick and multiple buttons. You can also customize the configurations based on comfort and size for optimal K.O. power. For the far more hard-core gamers, the version is compatible with MiFi game controllers such as the ones from Gamevice. The only downside is the controllers don’t work with the menu screens so you’ll still have to use touchscreen for that.

There are options to play as single player Arcade mode, and if you’re on Wi-Fi you can battle against players from around the world. I opted for single player partly because I can count on one hand the amount of times I’ve ever played Street Fighter.

Under single player, you can choose between Survival mode — which tests your endurance without boosting your health meter — or traditional Arcade mode. You also have the option of training your fighter or going into challenge mode allowing you to fight against a still opponent who only dies when you perform a combo. Once you get through all the levels, you’ve officially beat the game.

I decided to be strategic about this one and started with training mode. You can choose between 25 different characters with three new characters included in the mix. I went with Cammy — because, girl power — who I recognized from the past Street Fighter games when she was one of the few female characters to choose from. You’re also forced to choose who you’re training with so I went with Blanka since he reminds me of the Hulk.

I personally liked this stage of the game best because you literally get to beat the crap out of your opponent while they just stand there and take it. But in terms of its actual purpose, this mode is a great way for gamers new to Street Fighter to familiarize themselves with the controls and even for veterans to brush up on their skills. Among the list of added features is the “SP” button to unleash the unique super moves each player has onto their opponent. You can also choose between four levels of difficulty — beginner, normal, hard, and grueling.

After I felt trained enough, I moved on to Arcade mode which brings you to different stages and settings around the globe to fight. This is where I realized how handy having the MiFi controllers must be. Every angle of the joystick and button combination elicits a different move from your fighter –before each round, you’ll also get a list those special moves and the buttons to press for each one. But with touchscreen it was difficult to accurately pinpoint the joystick in the direction I wanted it in, which can easily get frustrating with a game like this where you have to be quick.

In terms of graphics it’s easy to say they’re disappointing after becoming accustomed to what’s available in the current mobile game market, but if we’re comparing it to past versions of Street Fighter then I think Capcom managed to do a good job without compromising the integrity of the entire franchise. This time around, it also has widescreen support along with support for larger iPhones. In Champion Edition, the graphics are high-res and super bright but you can see where details like the backdrops and character features could have used more work to look a lot less pixelated. But after all, aren’t pixels essential to nostalgia?

Street Fighter IV Champion Edition can be found in the App Store and will run you $5 — a somewhat steep price in comparison to other games. To be fair, you don’t get ads and there aren’t any in-app purchases required to get through the levels.

Brace for impact: The best rugged phones can endure anything you throw at them

Every time you drop your phone face down, there’s a slight moment of fear that overcomes you right before you pick it up to (hopefully) see that your phone’s screen didn’t crack. We’re accustomed to this feeling because we all know that smartphones have a delicacy problem. Some companies are aware of this, and they’ve spent years trying to make the best rugged phones they can.

Over time, smartphones have gotten more water resistant, and for most people a protective case is all they’ll ever need. But a case and some water resistance isn’t enough for people who work in construction or engineering and need something that can survive rain, dust, and the occasional fall.

From our list, you’ll see everything from a phone developed by a construction company to a flip phone that can hang with the best of them. Keep in mind that not all of these phones may work for your carrier, but there are ways to fix that.

Note: All of the following smartphones run on Android Marshmallow, unless otherwise noted.

Cat S60

The Cat S60 is just as tough as any other Caterpillar product, but the S60 brings more to the table than just a smartphone wrapped in a metal and carbon fiber frame.

Its coolest — and most useless to 99.9% of the population — feature is the built-in FLIR thermal camera. As the name implies, you can take thermal photos and videos, and it looks just like it does in the Splinter Cell games. The display is 4.7 inches and 720p, made from tough Gorilla Glass with raised edges to ensure that your screen won’t crack.

The phone is also IP68 certified, so it can be submerged in water that’s 16 feet deep for up to an hour, take a six foot dive onto concrete, or be left out in below zero temperatures or 130 degree Fahrenheit weather and still work with no problems.

It comes equipped with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, and you can add more storage thanks to its MicroSD slot. Along with its SOS button and dual SIM card slots, the phone is a construction worker’s dream, but its $629 price tag is off-putting, especially when you can find the S50 (which is basically the same, minus the FLIR feature) for hundreds of dollars cheaper.

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Kyocera DuraForce Pro

The DuraForce Pro’s exterior is a mix of polycarbonate and thick rubber, and its backside is conveniently curved so that it can fit comfortably in anyone’s hands. It’s only IP68 certified to be dustproof and waterproof for up to 30 minutes under 6.5 feet of water.

The DuraForce Pro also comes equipped with a really cool feature called Smart Sonic Receiver. While you’re on the phone, the receiver cancels up to 100 decibels of background noise by sending vibrations directly to your eardrum. If you’re constantly working around loud machinery, this feature is for you.

The phone doesn’t have a SIM card slot, and you can’t buy it unlocked, which means you have to go through a carrier, and that leaves the phone loaded with bloatware. The battery can last up to a day with medium use, which is actually on the low side for rugged smartphones. It does fortunately have a nifty Quick Charge feature that lets you charge up to 60 percent of the battery in 30 minutes.

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Homtom HT20

The HT20’s biggest draw is that it’s the cheapest smartphone on the list, at just over $100, but that comes at a price.

Don’t get us wrong, this phone is still incredibly durable. It’s IP68 certified to be waterproof for up to three feet of water for up to 30 minutes, it has a heavy duty Gorilla Glass screen that prevents scratches and cracks, and its magnesium alloy frame and rubber bumps make it virtually shockproof.

Where the phone is really lacking is internally. It tends to run slow if you have multiple apps open thanks to only having 2GB of RAM. The 3,500 mAh battery holds a decent charge, but it lacks a rapid charger (which is uncommon for rugged phones). But on the plus side, it has dual SIM slots, and the 16GB of storage can be bumped up to 64GB if you put in a MicroSD card.

You’re losing some standard features that come with rugged phones, but the HT20 is durable enough, and its price point will be hard to pass up for some.

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Blackview BV6000

The BV6000 is pretty much the CAT S60’s little sibling. It looks similar to the S60 and even has a lot of the same features, like an SOS alarm, dual SIM slots, and IP68 certifications in water, dust, and shock resistance. It even outshines the S60 in some regards, especially when you compare batteries. The BV6000’s 4,200 mAh battery can last for two to five days depending on usage. The S60’s 3,800 mAh battery is also great, but it’s just not on the same level.

The phone is tough and dependable, but it doesn’t have any outstanding features like some of our other picks for the best rugged phones. The processing power is the equivalent to the iPhone 5S, and Blackview’s interpretation of what Android Marshmallow should be is pretty off putting. This might seem like a slight problem, but when you’re not allowed to delete apps from the home screen and icons for things like Facebook and Google Play look unrecognizable, the little things start to add up.

What makes this phone great is its durability and price point. If you like the CAT S60, but don’t want to pay extra for the bells and whistles, then this is what you’re looking for.

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Kyocera XV+

Believe it or not, flip phones are making a comeback, and if you really want to cut out any danger of breaking your phone, then you might want to consider getting one. Sounds archaic at first, but the XV+ is an old school phone with new school features like GPS navigation and Kyocera’s patented Smart Sonic Receiver which made the DuraForce Pro such a standout.

There’s obviously no touchscreen, and you won’t be able to play Angry Birds on it, but the XV+ is IPX68 certified to be submerged under six feet of water for 30 minutes and endure shock, rainstorm, extreme temperatures, and dust. The XV+ is specifically for Verizon, but you can find variants of the same phone for other carriers at Kyocera’s website.

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