How to set up Android Pay
Android Pay is here. Well, actually, it’s always been here but just under a different moniker: Google Wallet.
Google Wallet has been slimmed down, simplified, and given a overall design face-lift for the rebranding. In all actuality, though, it’s still the Google Wallet app you knew and loved.
I have enjoyed using Google Wallet for years. There are some die-hard Android fans out there that may mock others for only being interested in Google’s mobile payment system utilizing NFC technology now that Apple has Apple Pay, but I say that this is actually Google’s fault. The marketing and support from Google itself for its Wallet app was dismal.
Maybe Google didn’t put its full support behind it because it wasn’t sure if it was worth it until they saw the excitement generated by Apple users? Who knows what the thinking was in Mountain View, but if they had made an effort two years ago, there definitely wouldn’t be this false perception that Google is only now releasing such an app.
All of that prologue aside, let’s get you up and running with Android Pay.
The first thing you’ll see if you already have Google Wallet is a new app in your drawer called (you guessed it) Android Pay. Open!
You’ll now be greeted by a screen that may be different based on whether or not you just downloaded Android Pay directly from the Play Store or if you had Google Wallet already downloaded. As I had Google Wallet already downloaded, this screenshot shows what I saw when first opening Android Pay.
“Your old Google Wallet app has updated to Android Pay,” the app informs you. The top card will ask you if you want to get things set up. Yes, yes you do.
Even if you have cards loaded into Google Wallet, they won’t show automatically, indicating that they’re not loaded into the app. Fear not, they are still in Google’s database. Next to where it says “Add a credit or debit card”, click the plus button.
And there are your old Google Wallet entries! Please note that you’ll need your cards on hand because it’ll ask you for those three little numbers on the back of your cards for security purposes. Now would also be a good time to get any other information current, such as your address, in case you’ve moved and have had that changed with your bank but forgot to update Google Wallet/Android Pay.
After you have your card(s) loaded in, clicking on the plus button after that will show you some new options like Add a store gift card and Add a loyalty program.
Once you’re finished will all of this, you’ll be ready to go! Just break out your phone, unlock it, tap it on a payment terminal, and follow the instructions on your phone.
At this moment in time, Android Pay will still be using a four-digit PIN for payments. With Android 6.0 Marshmallow right around the corner and offering native fingerprint scanning support, this will most likely move over to that format should you so choose.
Special note: If you did already have Google Wallet installed, you’ll notice that you still have the app icon in your drawer. This is the app icon for the old Google Wallet app, not that new one they’re using for banking transfers. To get rid of it, I suggest this solution: select the app and you’ll be greeted by that same screen you were at the start, but at the very bottom, it’ll ask you if you want to remove the old Google Wallet app icon from your tray.
There, that will take care of that!
Click here to view the embedded video.
Again, there’s nothing too new with this app. It’s a simplified Google Wallet. In a way, I actually miss the old Google Wallet app. I liked the side panel on the left that would show me categories of things and let me manage banking stuff. I don’t want two separate apps! Less is more, Google. And while you might have simplified the payments part of Google Wallet, you made an overall increase by making two separate apps… At least for me.
You also might have noticed I have a Google Wallet debit card. This is tied into the new Google Wallet app. You can pay with it using Android Pay, but you manage its funds from the new Google Wallet app. This, too, irritates me.
In the end, though, if you’re only interested in doing mobile payments, Android Pay is probably a much better app than the old Google Wallet. As I was heavily invested in utilizing all of the functions of the old Google Wallet, that’s probably why you might detect a negative tone about all of this. Android Pay will be my solution for mobile payments payments, though, so I better get used to it! I can’t use Samsung Pay because I decided to root my Galaxy S6 Edge early on in my ownership, which trips the Knox flag and will not allow you to use Samsung Pay. Android Pay does not have this roadblock.
Come comment on this article: How to set up Android Pay
Android fans unite to take Apple down: swarm of 1-star reviews hitting the ‘Move to iOS’ app
Did you guys know Apple released its first Android app in the Google Play Store just last week? Most people were in disbelief. We never thought Apple would ever bring one of its services to Android… but then we checked what the app actually was and realized it all made sense. The application is called Move to iOS, and it essentially help users migrate all their content to Apple’s devices, including contacts, messages, photos, bookmarks, calendars and more.
Needless to say this hits a very delicate spot for Android fans across the globe. How dare they?! We suppose it’s a helpful tool for those who really do want to switch to iOS (even if you can sync many of these via Google’s services), it just seemed a bit too disrespectful to most users. Everyone was hoping for Apple to actually make some of its services available to Android. Instead we get this?! Either way, something rather comical has been going on at the Move to iOS page in the Google Play Store.
It turns out the Android community is much more united than some of us may think it is! Move to iOS managed to get almost 30,000 reviews in under a week, which is definitely an accomplishment. The bad news (at least for Apple) is that almost 25,000 of these are 1-star reviews! Now Apple’s app sits at a 1.7-star rating, which puts it pretty low in the scare of ratings from the Google Play Store.
And you guys have to read some of these reviews!
App locked my Android phone and told me I needed to buy an iPhone to unlock it. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. – Christopher Chavez
This app killed my goldfish! Everything was working great on my new iPhone 6s, but this morning I looked at my goldfish Sparky and he was dead, floating upside down in his tank! Nothing in my life has changed except for this app, so the two must be linked somehow! I want an explanation now!!! -Time Wrobel
Now let’s hear it from you. Have you left a comment and review in the Move to iOS Google Play Store page? Hit the comments and share it with us!
More capabilities are coming to Google Play Games
Google is working hard to make YouTube Gaming one of the most popular apps for live-streaming games. Today, the company announced it will be adding new functionalities associated with Google Play Games.
Soon, Android users will be able to live-stream games from their Android device to YouTube Gaming. With integration of its Play Games service, users will be able to screen record their video games and broadcast them to YouTube Gaming in real-time. This report comes from Android Police who found snippets of code in addition to icon assets being put into v3.3 of Play Games.
The code reveals support for 480p and 720p. Icons show us what appear to be toggles for different controls in addition to buttons offering actions and different options. Hopefully we’ll find out more at Google’s upcoming conference scheduled for September 29. Invites have already rolled out.
Source: Android Police
Come comment on this article: More capabilities are coming to Google Play Games
Android Authority this week – September 19, 2015
It’s been a busy week in the world of Android, and much of the buzz was generated by an unlikely player – BlackBerry. Check out our BlackBerry Venice close-up and the other news of the week: Qualcomm announced details about Snapdragon 820 and Quick Charge 3; more rumors about the HTC One A9 surfaced; Google announced the date of its Nexus event; Google Now on Tap became available; Amazon introduced its newest Android tablets; and details about the next Chromecast leaked out.
Inside AA HQ
Can we still be excited for new smartphones? In a world where leaks are the norm and truly new features and designs are increasingly rare, is there room left for genuine surprises? Matt wrote a very interesting piece on how the “leak culture” makes it increasingly hard to experience the joyful wonderment that used to accompany new product announcements “back in the day.” But while genuine surprises are harder to come by, we just can’t quit our addiction. “It is this lust for more that paradoxically encourages further leaks, and yet in the process, only further traps us into the vicious cycle of information excess,” as Matt puts it.
It’s definitely ironic that just a couple of days after Matt published his post, we brought you an exciting (and exclusive) leak. Perhaps even more ironic, the device that’s got all of us excited is a slider-phone with a mechanical keyboard from BlackBerry. And it runs Android. Those are words I never thought I would ever type. Check out hands-on images and video tour of the BlackBerry Venice, and thanks again to the fine folks at Baka Mobile for sending the media our way.
Sunday Giveaway: A big congratulations to last week’s winner of the OnePlus 2 giveaway: Sergiy G. from Ukraine. This week we are giving away a Samsung Galaxy Note 5, enter here.
The stuff you shouldn’t miss
- Tips and tricks: Here are Edgar’s tips for making the most out of your smartphone camera
- Unboxing: Josh takes a very unusual phone out of the box: the Marshall London
- Quick look: Will a fresh look and a focus on cloud integration set the Nextbit Robin apart?
- Opinion: Simon looks at the dangers that could bring down the high flying Xiaomi
- How to: You can get close to stock Android, without rooting: here are some pointers
- Opinion: Apple’s latest products speak about the dominance of Android, argues Matt
- Comparison: Galaxy S6 vs OnePlus 2: bold marketing can only get you so far
- Review: Is Google’s Project Fi worth your attention? Edgar weighs in
- Review: Lanh reviews the highly anticipated Moto X Pure
Top news of the week
Qualcomm’s next big things
- Qualcomm introduces Quick Charge 3.0 – powering up devices 4x faster!
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 to feature super fast LTE, powerful WiFi and smarter connectivity
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 and 430 processors – performance meets affordability
One A9 rumors
- HTC One A9 rumored to launch in November with modest specs
- HTC A9 Aero flagship reportedly will feature Marshmallow out of the box
Nexus 5x is coming
- Here are the front and back of the Nexus 5X in mint
- Google announces an event to be held on September 29th
BlackBerry Venice: up close
- Exclusive: New leaked images of the BlackBerry Venice
- Blackberry Venice shown off in quick look video
Google Now on Tap is here
Amazon sells a tablet six-pack
- Amazon announces latest Fire tablets, priced as low as $50
- Amazon announces revised Fire TV and Fire TV Stick
Next Chromecast
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Google has sent out invites to Sept 29th event to likely announce new Nexus devices
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It was foretold that September 29th would be the day that Google would be announcing something, and now Google has sent out invites to an event that day. In the not-so-subtle invite, Google says to “join us for some tast new treats and much s’more” – in case that’s too much of an Americanism for you, a smore is a cracker sandwich with marshmallow and chocolate inside. No doubt this is referring to the official release of Android Marshmallow, though in true Google style, doesn’t give away anything else.
However, that’s not going to stop us speculating about what’s going to be at the event. Based on the rumours we’ve heard, Google will be announcing the LG Nexus 5X and the Huawei Nexus 6P, two new Nexus smartphones – and we’re interested to see how they are differentiated despite being similiarly sized. We’re also expecting to see a new Chromecast with slightly more bulbous frame, as well as a new Nexus Player, but we don’t have much information on this one. We doubt there’s going to be anything else announced, but we’re always up for being pleasantly surprised.
What do you think about Google’s event on September 29th – what are you expecting to see? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Android Police
The post Google has sent out invites to Sept 29th event to likely announce new Nexus devices appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Huawei Nexus 6P could be available with 128GB storage
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Google Nexus devices have never had microSD expandable memory slots, for whatever reason, but with 4K video recording and huge photos starting to clog up our devices, the idea that flagship smartphones can survive with a small amount of storage memory is well and truly out the door. With even 32GB looking a little small these days, a rumour has surfaced that suggests that the Huawei Nexus 6P could be available with 128GB storage, giving it 3 storage variants including 32GB, 64GB and 128GB versions.
Naturally, this would come at a premium – we’re guessing about $50 more with each level, but for power users who manage to use a lot of it, that extra cost is priceless. As for the LG Nexus 5X, today’s rumour suggests that it – like the old Nexus 5 – will only come in 16GB and 32GB versions, which is a little disappointing if true. We’ll have to see what is announced come September 29th when Google announces both these devices at an event in their hometown of San Francisco.
What do you think about the possibility that the Huawei Nexus 6P could be available with 128GB storage? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Android Police
The post Huawei Nexus 6P could be available with 128GB storage appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Score some deals on awesome Android games: GTA San Andreas, Dragon Quest IV, Horn and more
Trying to find some good games to enjoy this weekend? The Google Play Store is always full of great deals, but it’s often hard to find these in a sea of over 1.6 million apps. We know sometimes you need some help finding these exciting offers. Today we have a list of great deals on fun games for you. Let’s dig right in, shall we?
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
This one happens to be an all-time favorite game in which crime, drugs, corruption and murder are your daily cup of tea. The game has an immersive map and an engrossing story. You really can’t go wrong with this one, which happens to be on sale at $4.99 right now. That doesn’t sound very cheap, but keep in mind Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas usually costs $6.99, and it’s a game that will provide you with endless hours of entertainment.
Buy Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas from the Google Play Store
Dragon Quest IV
RPG fans will go nuts over this deal, especially those who are fond of Square Enix titles. With Dragon Quest IV you will embark on an epic adventure revolving around 5 main characters. As it goes with any good classic RPG, gamers will see their characters grow stronger as the story unfolds. And about that story line, it will be as intriguing, exciting and full of emotion as always.
The game is still expensive at $9.99, but keep in mind this is a Square Enix title, and the company is known for its premium prices. These games are so worth it, though! And the original price is $14.99, making this a 33% discount. Not too shabby.
Buy Dragon Quest IV from the Google Play Store
The Deer God
Some games go beyond entertainment. These can become beautifully orchestrated works of arts, with amazing visuals and extraneous story lines. The Deer God happens to be one of these. It focuses around survival and has you traveling through a beautiful 3D pixelated world.
Buy The Deer God from the Google Play Store
Horn
Need more action? Horn is a 3rd person adventure game that will definitely keep you on your toes. Imagine this: you are a blacksmith’s apprentice and wake up to a world suddenly taken over by monsters. Crazy? It doesn’t end there! It turns out these creatures are actually people and animals from your village. It’s your duty to free them… or you can just go explore the intricate map.
Buy Horn from the Google Play Store
Huawei Nexus 6P reportedly will be the first Nexus device to have 128GB of storage
A new report by way of Android Police says that a few of its trusted sources indicates that the new Huawei Nexus 6P will come in 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB storage options.
Smartphones traditionally come in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB storage options, but interestingly, last year’s Nexus 6 was only available in 32GB and 64GB variants. 16GB is slowly going the way of the dinosaur, as it doesn’t offer enough storage to meet a user’s standard needs.
This news would make the Huawei Nexus 6P the first Nexus device to offer a massive 128GB model. However, it does come with its caveats. It is unlikely that Huawei will include microSD support in this upcoming device, according to sources close to Android Police. Those interested in a 128GB variant can expect to pay a $50-100 premium for this larger storage capacity.
It’d be expected that LG would provide the Nexus 5X in similar storage options, however, it’s highly possible we’ll only see the device in 32GB and 64GB storage options.
Google has scheduled an event for September 29 in San Francisco, where we expect all to be revealed. Only a few more weeks to go before we see the next big thing from Google!
source: Android Police
Come comment on this article: Huawei Nexus 6P reportedly will be the first Nexus device to have 128GB of storage
Google sends out invites for September 29 event, Nexus devices and updated Chromecast incoming
Google just made its September 29 event official. Invites are beginning to roll out. Google fans can expect to see new Nexus devices announced in addition to an updated version of the company’s Chromecast.
Google will indeed hold an event on September 29 in San Francisco. We are expecting to see an announcement of the LG Nexus 5X as well as the Huawei Nexus 6P. A recent report also suggests we could see an updated version of Google’s Chromecast media streaming player with new options and faster Wi-Fi support.
The Nexus 5X and the Nexus 6P will debut Android 6.0 and will most likely have Google’s new Android Pay service pre-installed and ready to go. Both devices will likely include fingerprint scanners to support Google’s new Fingerprint API and built-in NFC for mobile payments. One can also expect to see good hardware, high-resolution cameras, fast processors and extraordinarily unique designs.
According to Google’s teaser image, the event will start promptly at 9:00 PT. If you’re not attending, Google will have a live-stream on its YouTube channel at youtube.com/google. We hope you’re as excited as we are.
Come comment on this article: Google sends out invites for September 29 event, Nexus devices and updated Chromecast incoming
Google announces an event to be held on September 29th
Google has been up to some big things in the past few months, including playing around with the very ABC’s that structure the company and announcing Android 6.0. Rumors and leaks have been flowing freely as well, of new Nexus products and even a second Chromecast. While we don’t know exactly what Mountain View has on the plates, we do know when it plans to serve them: earlier today the search giant sent out official RSVP invites for an event to be held on September 29th from 9AM in San Francisco.
Given the aforementioned leaks, we expect the conference will include the official announcement of not only the LG-made Nexus 5X/Nexus 5 (2015) but presumably the larger and more premium Huawei Nexus. It has been widely speculated that this year will not see the release of a new Nexus tablet device, something that appears all the more believable in light of the absence of leaks. Yesterday word broke that a new Chromecast refresh will also be introduced.
The LG-made Nexus is rumored to come with a 5.2-inch display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, 3GB of LPDDR3 RAM and a 13MP rear-facing camera. The Huawei-made device is said to sport a 5.7-inch Quad HD display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor and 3GB of RAM. Both devices will likely come with USB Type-C ports and rear-mounted fingerprint scanners, as well.
While it’s possible additional products or services will be announced, the event will most likely focus on the Nexus devices, their pricing, availability, and to an extent, the Android 6.0 Marshmallow build running on them.
We will be there live to bring you full coverage of the event, so make sure to tune in on the 29th to see what Google has in store for what is soon to be in stores.
AIVAnet 