Microsoft’s two-screen Andromeda may arrive in 2019 with Productivity Mode

Ryna Smalley | Behance

A clue regarding Microsoft’s Andromeda device was recently discovered inside a Windows 10 driver, indicating that the device will have a productivity mode. This mode is used in a class — a set of attributes that Windows 10 uses to make a window — called MultiTaskMode. The driver in question handles the display settings (SettingsHandlers_Display.dll).

Given this driver provides no other clues, we can only guess what this productivity mode will provide. It likely defines a laptop-style mode that shoves a virtual keyboard onto one screen and the desktop environment onto the second screen. Other modes will be provided as well, but this is the first time we’ve seen a mode actually labeled.

Recent reports regarding the state of Andromeda indicated that Microsoft put the project on hold indefinitely. The components in Windows 10 needed to run the device were reportedly removed from the upcoming “Redstone 5” feature update slated to arrive later this year. The device supposedly didn’t have a target audience or an ecosystem to support its unique form factor, so executives halted the project.

But sources close to the project indicate that it isn’t dead in the water, but merely pulled back to the drawing board for a significant overhaul. In its current state, there was nothing compelling about Andromeda that would push the device off store shelves, it wouldn’t transform the mobile market or push the Surface brand into new, innovative, compelling territory.

That said, sources indicate Microsoft may release Andromeda toward the end of 2019. That is an interesting release window, as products based on Intel’s 10nm processors are expected to arrive during the 2019 holiday season as well. That may be part of the equation; Microsoft wants to use Intel’s 10nm chips, but mass production won’t happen until then.

Then again, Microsoft could go with an ARM-based Qualcomm Snapdragon chip as seen in always-connected PCs. But the company’s latest Surface-branded products solely rely on Intel-based processors, such as the new $400 Surface Go with the Pentium 4415Y. Keeping the Surface brand on Intel-based processors across the board just makes sense.

Andromeda will supposedly be a two-screen device you can cram into your pocket. It will provide five distinct modes: Laptop, tent, tablet, full, and closed, the latter of which closes the screen together to put Andromeda in sleep mode. Full mode would see the screens touching back-to-back in a smartphone-like form factor. Laptop mode will likely be renamed with the Productivity Mode label as discovered in the Windows 10 driver.

A recently uncovered patent possibly points to three-way calling on the Andromeda device. Illustrations show an individual holding a pocket-sized two-screen device, with each screen featuring an embedded camera. While the standing individual holds the device with the backs of the two screens touching (full mode), he’s chatting in a video call on one screen while a second, sitting individual chats via the second screen.

Given Microsoft has not officially acknowledged Andromeda, everything here is speculation and rumor. But signs indicate there is still life in Andromeda after all, but will it disrupt the mobile market?

Editors’ Recommendations

• Microsoft’s foldable ‘Andromeda’ pocket device may never surface
• Intel’s 10nm ‘Cannon Lake’ processors won’t arrive until the 2019 holiday season
• Microsoft’s foldable Andromeda PC could transform into five distinct modes
• Microsoft’s latest Windows 10 Insider Preview release all about fighting malware
• Dell is reportedly working on its dual-screen version of the Surface Phone

Microsoft’s two-screen Andromeda may arrive in 2019 with Productivity Mode

Ryna Smalley | Behance

A clue regarding Microsoft’s Andromeda device was recently discovered inside a Windows 10 driver, indicating that the device will have a productivity mode. This mode is used in a class — a set of attributes that Windows 10 uses to make a window — called MultiTaskMode. The driver in question handles the display settings (SettingsHandlers_Display.dll).

Given this driver provides no other clues, we can only guess what this productivity mode will provide. It likely defines a laptop-style mode that shoves a virtual keyboard onto one screen and the desktop environment onto the second screen. Other modes will be provided as well, but this is the first time we’ve seen a mode actually labeled.

Recent reports regarding the state of Andromeda indicated that Microsoft put the project on hold indefinitely. The components in Windows 10 needed to run the device were reportedly removed from the upcoming “Redstone 5” feature update slated to arrive later this year. The device supposedly didn’t have a target audience or an ecosystem to support its unique form factor, so executives halted the project.

But sources close to the project indicate that it isn’t dead in the water, but merely pulled back to the drawing board for a significant overhaul. In its current state, there was nothing compelling about Andromeda that would push the device off store shelves, it wouldn’t transform the mobile market or push the Surface brand into new, innovative, compelling territory.

That said, sources indicate Microsoft may release Andromeda toward the end of 2019. That is an interesting release window, as products based on Intel’s 10nm processors are expected to arrive during the 2019 holiday season as well. That may be part of the equation; Microsoft wants to use Intel’s 10nm chips, but mass production won’t happen until then.

Then again, Microsoft could go with an ARM-based Qualcomm Snapdragon chip as seen in always-connected PCs. But the company’s latest Surface-branded products solely rely on Intel-based processors, such as the new $400 Surface Go with the Pentium 4415Y. Keeping the Surface brand on Intel-based processors across the board just makes sense.

Andromeda will supposedly be a two-screen device you can cram into your pocket. It will provide five distinct modes: Laptop, tent, tablet, full, and closed, the latter of which closes the screen together to put Andromeda in sleep mode. Full mode would see the screens touching back-to-back in a smartphone-like form factor. Laptop mode will likely be renamed with the Productivity Mode label as discovered in the Windows 10 driver.

A recently uncovered patent possibly points to three-way calling on the Andromeda device. Illustrations show an individual holding a pocket-sized two-screen device, with each screen featuring an embedded camera. While the standing individual holds the device with the backs of the two screens touching (full mode), he’s chatting in a video call on one screen while a second, sitting individual chats via the second screen.

Given Microsoft has not officially acknowledged Andromeda, everything here is speculation and rumor. But signs indicate there is still life in Andromeda after all, but will it disrupt the mobile market?

Editors’ Recommendations

• Microsoft’s foldable ‘Andromeda’ pocket device may never surface
• Intel’s 10nm ‘Cannon Lake’ processors won’t arrive until the 2019 holiday season
• Microsoft’s foldable Andromeda PC could transform into five distinct modes
• Microsoft’s latest Windows 10 Insider Preview release all about fighting malware
• Dell is reportedly working on its dual-screen version of the Surface Phone

This high-tech cooler keeps food for over a week — and it makes margaritas, too

The last time an allegedly awesome cooler sought crowdfunding, the results left something to be desired. The so-called Coolest Cooler ultimately never materialized for many backers, despite shattering Kickstarter records and becoming one of the most-backed items in the platform’s history. But here to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself is a new cooler with a similar promise, but a different goal – that is to say, actually delivering product to customers. Meet the Infinite Cooler, a new portable refrigeration solution that comes complete with Bluetooth speakers, a blender, phone charger, touch screen, LED lighting, and more.

Now available on Indiegogo (where it raised more than $60,000 within a few hours), the Infinite Cooler hopes to be your next party’s one-stop shop for a good time. First and foremost, it offers some serious refrigeration capacity, with a 61-quart volume and the ability to cool stored items for up to 17 days (allegedly) thanks to its nano-powder insulation.

Aside from actual cooling capabilities, the Infinite Cooler boasts a literal blender attachment. Sure, it looks a little odd (it literally sits on top of the lid, but seeing as it works as both a blender and a coffee grinder, we’re not ones to pass judgment purely based on aesthetics. Once the blender is fully charged (it’ll take about two hours), you should have the horsepower to make 100 drinks. Moreover, the cooler boasts a built-in Bluetooth speaker, as well as a USB device charger so you can keep other smart devices going for as long as you need.

“We wanted to bring together all the 21st century amenities we’ve come to rely on day-to-day into one smart outdoors device,” said Infinite Cooler CEO Alvin Gao. “Infinite Cooler will also include some unexpected features, like a 360-degree rotatable LED lamp and an insect repellent lamp.”

The team calls the cooler the Swiss Army knife of the cooler world, and with its veritable cornucopia of purported features, it’s not hard to see why. If you’re looking to host a picnic or tailgate, the Infinite Cooler comes in handy with its six cup holder, a cutting board with utensils, and even a bottle opener and corkscrew. In short, just about everything you need (and more), in your outdoor appliance.

To keep tabs on the status of your cooler, the appliance comes with a digital screen, which shows the internal temperature of the cooler, and  also allows you to control the speakers, LED lights, and built-in camera (honestly, we’re not sure why you’d ever want a camera on your cooler, but welcome to the 21st century).

With all of the features in play, the cooler is able to last for four to five hours on a single battery charge, and requires about two hours to completely re-juice.

As it stands, the Infinite Cooler is available on Indiegogo, where the team is offering early bird pricing of $229. Of course, given the non-existent success of the most recent smart cooler offering, you’ll likely want to exercise caution before backing this project. The Infinite Cooler’s expected delivery date is slated for April 2019, so we’ll have a few months yet to determine whether or not our faith in smart coolers has been restored.

Editors’ Recommendations

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Everything You Could Want Is Packed In This Smart Wallet

Keep your phone charged with this futuristic wallet!

We’re living in an increasingly cashless society where even your debit, credit, and loyalty cards are starting to go digital, too. That might make that leather wallet in your back pocket feel pretty obsolete, but that doesn’t mean that all wallets are made equal in 2018.

The Volterman team has been working on a lineup of the most technologically advanced wallets you’ve ever seen. These slim and lightweight leather wallets include useful features including a built-in power bank, GPS tracking, a distance alarm so you never leave your wallet (or phone) behind, and even a tiny camera that becomes active when you set your wallet to “Lost Mode” in the Volterman app — available for Android — that will snap a picture if any would-be thieves.

Volterman wallets are made of premium leather or faux leather (you get to choose which you want) and feature a sleek and stylish design. There are three styles to choose from: a basic Cardholder wallet, a more traditional Bifold wallet, and a larger Travel wallet that’s big enough to stow away your passport. All the high-tech features are included in each model, so no matter which style you opt for you’ll get one all the cool features, including wireless charging functionality!

You can get the Volterman Cardholder perk with a $115 pledge, the Bifold wallet perk with a $169 pledge, or the Travel wallet with a pledge of $179. You’ll save up to 40% off the retail price for these wallets so it’s quite a deal for a futuristic wallet that you’ll cherish for years.

This is the first Indiegogo campaign by Volterman which has already raised nearly $2.5 million and have already started shipping to backers — but you’re still able to pledge to get your own. Volterman has been active on their page responding to backers and they seem to be set to support their products for the foreseeable future.

See Volterman on Kickstarter

Occasionally we find some really cool Kickstarter projects that are so cool we feel the need to share them with our valued readers.

How to watch the 2018 NFL season on your Android phone or tablet

Get ready to witness battle on the gridiron.

There has been no better time to be an NFL fan on the go than today. More and more, the NFL and their associated network partners are making mobile availability of football games a chief priority. Verizon and Sprint have been helping that cause for quite some time now, but even more cooks are getting into the kitchen and it only means good things.

For instance, did you know that the NFL has decided not to renew their exclusive mobile streaming contract with Verizon? That move effectively opens the floodgates for any and all — or, at least, those with a smartphone and a sizable pool of data to work with — to enjoy football on their smartphones.

With that, we’re here to show you all your options for following the 2018/2019 NFL season on your Android phone in the US. Note that there will be a mix of free and paid options, but we’ll go over them all the same. Let’s go!

FOX Sports

With a compatible TV provider, you’ll be able to watch live, local FOX games on your Android phone for free. The app also offers access to scores, news, and other live programming such as Undisputed with Skip and Shannon, The Herd with Colin Cowherd, and more.

See at FOX Sports

CBS

CBS handles the rest of the network broadcasting load for the NFL, and they have broadened access in a big way. You can now watch live, local NFL games on your smartphones and other streaming devices through CBS All Access.

CBS All Access is a paid tier option that nets you unlimited streaming with limited ads for $5.99, or ad-free viewing for $9.99 per month. That package includes nearly all CBS shows and broadcasts.

And because CBS is hosting Super Bowl LIII, this is where you’ll go to watch the big game (though that’s sure to be available for free once the big day arrives).

See at CBS

ESPN Monday Night Football

If you’re an ESPN subscriber, you can watch Monday Night Football by signing into the WatchESPN app with your cable provider credentials. Then, wake up the next morning to see what the talking heads are saying about the action that unfolded on First Take.

That’s because ESPN also gives you access to their other live channels via the WatchESPN mobile app, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNU, SEC Network, SEC Network Plus, ESPNews, ESPN Deportes, and Longhorn Network. Once you’re done with the NFL, you can catch up on all your other favorite sports, including College Football, the NBA, the MLB, and a whole lot more.

See at ESPN

NFL Network Thursday Night Football

You could watch Thursday Night Football on the NFL Network by logging in with your cable credentials, but there are also two other ways to watch those games on mobile. You can either go in with an Amazon Prime Subscription to watch through Amazon’s mobile app or check those same games out on Twitch for free.

See at NFL

NBC Sunday Night Football

If your TV provider offers access, you can enjoy Sunday Night Football for no extra charge through the NBC Sports app. Sign in with your credentials and tune in once that catchy intro song hits.

See at NBC

NFL Sunday Ticket on DirecTV

While most low-cost or free streaming options are typically limited to locally-broadcast games, there is one route to take for those who want to watch live games that wouldn’t normally show up on their TV: NFL Sunday Ticket. Unfortunately, Sunday Ticket is still a DirecTV-exclusive option.

That exclusivity not only forces you to use their service and apps but also means you can expect to pay a hefty penny for this glorious privilege. Thankfully, the service is worth every penny for the die-hard football fan who wants to follow literally everything live. You can get the service as an add-on to your DirecTV package (it goes for close to $300 per year, though some packages will get you the first year free) or as a standalone streaming option in select markets starting at around $70 per month.

See at DirecTV

NFL GamePass

Don’t need to watch live but still want to see all the action at your own leisure? NFL’s GamePass is your ticket. You’ll be able to watch every single football game that airs this season shortly after broadcast.

GamePass is also interesting for its multiple camera angles, including an All-22 option that gives you the same top-down view that coaches use when they’re going over game film. They also have the option of viewing condensed versions of the games, meaning you’ll only need to watch about 30 minutes of raw action instead of the 3-hour broadcast littered with ad breaks and miscellaneous downtime.

The added bonus of live streaming of all pre-season games and the backlog of regular season and playoff games dating back to the 2009 season makes its $79 price tag quite attractive.

See at NFL

NFL RedZone

RedZone remains one of the most efficient ways to keep up with weekly Sunday goings-on. While you won’t be catching full games here, it lets you keep up on all the biggest highlights, including every single scoring play, right as they happen. RedZone is included with most premium sports packages alongside the NFL Network.

See at NFL

YouTube TV

Don’t have or want a cable subscription? YouTube TV is a viable option if you don’t mind getting linked up to another subscription. Available for $40 per month, a YouTube TV subscription gets you access to dozens of channels, and those channels include all the major networks that’ll be broadcasting NFL games this year.

ABC, FOX, CBS, NBC, NFL Network, NFL RedZone, and ESPN are all included if you’re willing to eek into that $50 to $60 price range. That gives you a full slate of weekly local games that can be accessed on the go by using the YouTube TV mobile app.

See at YouTube

Are you ready for some football?

The NFL Season officially kicks off Thursday, August 2nd with the Hall of Fame game on NBC. It’s there where the Chicago Bears and the Baltimore Ravens will do battle at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

The preseason will continue from August 9th and run for four weeks until we hit the regular season on Thursday, September 6th. The NFL playoffs will kick off in early January 2019, with all of it culminating with the Super Bowl — that big sporting event where the world champions of American football will be crowned — in early February 2019. Let us know how you’ll be watching in the comments ahead.

Best NFL apps for Android

Acer announces four new Chromebooks, two of which are 2-in-1s [Update]

The Chromebook 13 and Spin 13 are coming to the U.S. next month.

While we sit around dreaming of what we’ll see with the Pixelbook 2, Acer’s got a few new Chromebooks for us to check out in the form of the Chromebook 15, Chromebook Spin 15, Chromebook 13, and Chromebook Spin 13.

The 13-series Chromebooks are actually the more powerful of the bunch, so let’s start there. Both come with 13.5-inch 2256 x 1504 IPS displays with a 3:2 aspect ratio, but the Chromebook Spin 13 comes with a 2-in-1 design that allows you to flip the keyboard back and use it like a tablet. There’s also Wacom stylus support if you’re into that sort of thing.

Powering the Chromebook 13/Spin 13 is your choice between 8th-generation Intel Core i3 or i5 processors (non-North American markets also have Pentium and Celeron configs for the 13). The 13 comes with 8GB RAM and 32GB of eMMC storage while the Spin 13 offers 8GB/16GB RAM and 64GB/128GB of eMMC storage.

As for ports, you’ll find two USB 3.1 Type-C ones, a full-sized USB 3.0 Type-A, and a microSD card slot.

Moving over to the Chromebook 15 and Spin 15, these actually have less impressive specs than the two 13-inch models. Go figure.

The screen for both models measures in at 15.6-inches with a 1920 x 1080 IPS panel. The processor selection includes two Intel Celeron options and one Pentium chip, you can get up to 8GB RAM, and you’ve got a choice between 32GB and 64GB of eMMC storage. The port selection is the same as the 13 series.

As for pricing and availability, Acer has confirmed that the Chromebook 13 will start at $649.99 while the Chromebook Spin 13 will be $749.99. Sales for both machines will begin in the U.S. starting in September.

The $349 Chromebook 15 has yet to make its way to the U.S., but the Chromebook Spin 15 is available now for $449.

Best Chromebook as of August 2018

Chromebooks

• The best Chromebooks
• Chromebooks in education: Everything you need to know
• Should you buy a Chromebook?
• Chromebook Buyers Guide
• Google Pixelbook review
• Join our Chromebook forums

Updated August 2, 2018: Updated with new pricing and availability info.

How to use Alexa Cast with Amazon Music and Echo speakers

Now you can cast your tunes from Amazon Music to your Echo speakers!

Amazon’s Alexa Cast is a new feature built into the Amazon Music app that lets you cast music to your Echo speakers and control everything from your phone.

While Spotify has allowed you to connect and play music on smart speakers using Spotify Connect, the functionality has been missing from Amazon’s music streaming service. For that reason, many Amazon Prime subscribers are also Spotify subscribers despite Amazon Music included in the price of the Prime subscription.

If you’re a Prime subscriber with Echo speakers around your house but you’ve never checked out what Amazon Music has to offer, now is the perfect time to see what Amazon and Alexa Cast has to offer.

Using Alexa cast in the Amazon Music app

If you’ve used Google’s Chromecast before, you’ll be happy to know that Alexa Cast works nearly identically — in fact, you’ll also see any Chromecast devices show up on Alexa Cast. Here’s how to connect your Echo speaker to your Amazon Music app.

Open the Amazon Music app and log into your account.
Tap the Alexa Cast icon in the top right corner of the screen.

Tap the Echo speaker you wish to connect to.

Now it’s just a matter of choosing a playlist or picking music to play. Alternatively, you can Cast to your Echo speaker from the Now Playing screen in the Amazon Music app. You also use the Alexa Cast menu to disconnect from a speaker and connect to another one in your home — even Chromecast-connected devices.

Tap the Alexa Cast icon. It’s located between the Shuffle and Repeat icons.
Tap disconnect to change to a different speaker.

You’ll be able to see which speaker you are connected to on the Now Playing screen.

How do you stream your music?

Do you use Amazon’s music streaming service? Now that casting functionality is built into the service are you more inclined to check it out? Let us know in the comments!

Amazon Echo

• Tap, Echo or Dot: The ultimate Alexa question
• All about Alexa Skills
• Amazon Echo review
• Echo Dot review
• Echo Spot review
• Top Echo Tips & Tricks
• Amazon Echo vs. Google Home
• Get the latest Alexa news

See at Amazon

Microsoft Launcher picks up custom icon gestures, Android O support, and more

Now you can perform custom actions with nothing more than a swipe of an icon.

Following a couple of weeks in the oven with beta testers, Microsoft is shipping out another new set of features for Microsoft Launcher on Android. Included in the latest update are custom gesture controls for app icons, full Android O support, updates to the relatively new family card, and more.

The most notable of these additions is the new gesture controls for apps. Microsoft Launcher users will now be able to swipe up from icons to perform custom actions. To set the action you want to associate with the gesture, you can tap and hold on an icon to see a new option to add an action to be associated with the gesture. Once you’ve set things up, you’ll be able to swipe up on the icon or folder to take whatever action you’ve chosen.

Other bits tagging along in this update are web filtering for the family card, alphabetical sorting for folders in the app drawer, and general UI and animation improvements. Here’s a look at the full release notes:

• Folder and app icon gestures (swipe to open or click to launch).
• Choose how to use the last row of expanded dock: Apps, pinned contacts, folders, search bar or widgets;
• Parents can enable web filtering through the Family card.
• Folders in the app drawer are now sorted alphabetically.
• UI improvements: Animation adjustments; blur effect as an option; App badges in the app drawer;
• Fully support Android 8.0 and remove support for 4.0.X and 4.1

If you’re already using Microsoft Launcher, you can grab all of these features now via the latest update on Google Play.

See at Google Play

How to master the new Android P gestures

A little practice never hurt.

Android P is almost here, and just like every big yearly update, there’s a lot to get familiar with. This time around, the most notable change is the presence of Google’s new gesture-based navigation bar.

We’ve seen OEMs like Motorola and OnePlus try crafting their own gestures following the release of the iPhone X, and with Android P, we finally have a default method of navigating through the OS that’ll be available for every OEM to use.

You won’t be forced to use these new gestures after updating your phone to Android P, but should you decide to give them a shot, there are a couple things you’ll want to keep in mind to ensure you have as enjoyable of an experience as possible.

The app drawer

Prior to Android P, opening the app drawer is something that didn’t require any thought. You swiped up, the app drawer opened, and you went about your day. With Android P’s gestures, that’s not entirely true anymore.

Swiping up from your home screen still takes you to the app drawer, but you can no longer do a mindless swipe up and get there. Instead, you need to be more deliberate with this action.

If you do a quick swipe up from the home screen, you’ll now be taken to Android P’s recent apps page. Here you can cycle through your recently used apps, access the Google search bar, and see five apps that Google thinks you’ll want to open. If you do another swipe up from here, you’ll finally get to the app drawer you know and love.

Doing two swipes to perform the same action that used to require one isn’t fun at all, but thankfully, there are a couple ways to still get to the app drawer with one swipe — you just need to change the way you do it.

Instead of swiping up quickly and taking your finger off the screen instantly, drag it up so that you’ve brought the app drawer up around 60-70% of the way (eyeballing this should be fine). Once you do, let go and the app drawer will pop up into place.

Alternatively, just keep your swipe going to the very top of the screen. It certainly feels awkward at first, but it quickly becomes second nature after enough practice and allows you to open the app drawer in about the same amount of time as before.

Here’s the upside to this. You can still do that same swipe from the bottom all the way to the top to access your app drawer while using Twitter, Instagram, or anything else. So, while the new swiping action may take some time to get used to, you no longer have to go to your home screen just to access all your apps.

Recent apps

I mentioned the recent apps page a couple times already, but lets now talk about how that’s also affected by Android P’s gestures.

To access your recent apps in Android P using the new gestures, just do a quick swipe up from the bottom of your screen. From here, you can easily scroll through all of the apps that you’ve recently used. To open up one of these apps, either swipe down on it or simply tap it.

The recent apps UX feels more alive and fluid than it does on older Android versions.

This all works well for moving between various apps, but if you want to quickly jump back and forth between your two most recently used ones, there’s another gesture that works even better.

When you’re in an app, do a fast horizontal swipe on the navigation bar to the right. This will bring up the app you were previously using before it, and if you do that swipe again, you’ll be taken back to the first app you were in. That may sound confusing at first, but after doing this a couple times, it quickly becomes a natural gesture for quickly going between your two most recently used applications.

If you want to take that gesture a step further, do a horizontal swipe to the right on the nav bar but then hold your finger there for a second. You’ll see a transparent bar appear across the bottom, and once you see this, you can slide your finger across it to cycle left and right through all of your recent apps.

After finding the app you want, take your finger off the screen and it’ll open up.

Questions?

Android P’s gestures can cause for some headaches at first, but after spending a few minutes playing around with them, they should start to feel very natural after a while.

If you have any additional questions/concerns, drop a line in those comments below!

Android P’s gestures are a jagged pill you should learn to swallow

Android P

• Android P: Everything you need to know
• Android P Beta hands-on: The best and worst features
• All the big Android announcements from Google I/O 2018
• Will my phone get Android P?
• How to manually update your Pixel to Android P
• Join the Discussion

Google Pay: Everything you need to know

Here’s what you should know about Google’s big bet to take on Apple Pay.

Gone are the days of messing with Android Pay and Google Wallet. Instead, the home of all things mobile payments on Android now rests on the shoulders of Google Pay.

Google Pay first started rolling out to handsets in early 2018, and while there’s still some work to be done, it’s clear that Google is finally ready to take on Apple Pay with everything it’s got.

From the latest news to all the important details, here’s everything you should know about Google Pay!

• The latest Google Play news
• Everything you need to know

The latest Google Pay news

August 2, 2018 — Google Pay comes to Croatia; now available as a payment method in the Starbucks app

A couple Google Pay tidbits have surfaced over the last few hours, starting first with the service coming to Croatia. This is the third nation in Central Europe to get Google Pay, so be sure to keep an eye out for the app if you live in the area.

Secondly, Google Pay can now be used when reloading your card in the Starbucks app. Google Pay is added to your account automatically, and at this time, can only be used for one-time reloads.

July 20, 2018 — Revolut in the UK is now supported

Good news, UK readers that bank with Revolut! The bank’s been sending out emails to its customers confirming that it’s now starting to support Google Pay.

In am email Revolut’s been sending out to its 2 million+ users:

Test drive the convenience of paying with your phone by adding your Revolut card to Google Pay, to make quick and secure payments – instantly.

All the big details

Google Pay has replaced Android Pay and Google Wallet

Rather than maintaining two separate services for in-store payments and sending money to friends, Google decided to replace Android Pay and Google Wallet with one new app called Google Pay.

There was an awkward transition period at first in which you had to use a separate Google Pay Send app to send/receive money, but Google’s since brought that feature over to the main Google Pay app.

As such, Google Pay is now your one-stop-shop for all things mobile payments if you’ve got an Android phone.

How to get started with Google Pay

That’s all fine and dandy, but how does one actually start using Google Pay?

Thankfully, Google’s made this fairly simple. After downloading the app, you’ll be able to quickly add credit/debit cards, gift cards, loyalty programs, and more.

Need a helping hand? Check out Marc’s how-to guide right here!

What countries are supported?

Google’s regularly adding support for more and more countries that can use Google Pay, and as it currently stands, the list of supported areas is as follows:

• Australia
• Belgium
• Brazil
• Canada
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Germany
• Hong Kong
• Ireland
• Japan
• New Zealand
• Poland
• Russia
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Spain
• Taiwan
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom
• United States

Make sure your bank/card is compatible, too

Live in a country that supports Google Pay? Awesome! However, that’s just half the battle in ensuring you can use the service.

Even if you live in one of the above countries, you still need to have a bank and card that supports Google Pay before you can start making payments in stores with your phone. Thankfully, Google’s been building up this list for quite a few years meaning there’s a good chance you’re covered.

Major brands like AMEX, Capital One, Chase, Discover, and Wells Fargo are all on-board with Google Pay in the U.S. Along with this, you’ll also find a huge list of smaller banks/credit unions that are supported as well.

See the full list here

You can use the app to store boarding passes, event tickets, and more

In addition to your credit/debit cards, you can also use Google Pay to store gift cards, loyalty programs, and most recently, boarding passes and event tickets.

You’ll find all of these items in the Passes section of the app, and if you’ve got a lot stored in there, you can hold down on an item and move it around to make sure everything’s as organized as can be.

Support for passes/tickets is still relatively new, with brands like Southwest Airlines, Ticketmaster, and the Las Vegas Monorail being among the only ones available at the moment. Similar to what iPhone users have been treated to for years with Apple Pay, you’ll now see an “Add to G Pay” button when ordering a ticket from these brands so you can easily store everything under one single app.

Track your payment activity on the web

While you’ll likely interact with Google Pay on your phone the majority of the time, you can access it from your computer, too, by going to pay.google.com.

Here, you can see all of your Google Pay activity, send or request money, edit/add/remove payment methods, manage any active subscription services you have, edit your addresses, and more.

Google Pay is present in Android Messages and the Google Assistant

Google occasionally fails to make its various services play nicely with one another, but thankfully, Google Pay has been an exception to that rule.

While sending money to people is pretty simple through the Google Pay app, you can also do this through Android Messages and by talking to the Google Assistant on your phone.

In Android Messages, just tap the + icon at the bottom left and you’ll see two G Pay buttons for sending or requesting money from the person in your conversation. Just enter the amount you want, tap attach money, and your payment/request will be sent off just like that.

Alternatively, you can simply open the Google Assistant and say something along the lines of “Send Tom $15 for Pizza.” After confirming your identity (e.g. fingerprint or PIN), the Google Assistant will send the money for you — all without having to ever open up the Google Pay app.