Samsung Pay on the Gear S3 works with any Android smartphone
Samsung’s constantly trying its hand at exclusive apps and services it hopes will add value to its products, even though this strategy has been responsible for more than a few flops. Samsung Pay is one of these exclusive services, but the company has decided to change tack slightly with its newly launched Gear S3 smartwatches. Samsung confirmed on Twitter that its new wearables support mobile payments regardless of the brand of Android smartphone they’re paired with. Good news for anyone that’s steering clear of the company’s handsets following the Note 7 debacle, then.
Previously, a Samsung smartphone has been a strict requirement, even if you’ve been settling up using the device on your wrist. With the Gear S3 duo, though, all you need is a handset running Android 4.4 KitKat or above for Samsung Pay to work. To be clear, Samsung isn’t releasing its mobile payment app far and wide, squaring up to Android Pay in the process. Instead, you manage your Samsung Pay account within the Samsung Gear app.
Opening the door to other Android handsets makes a lot of a sense, as it means potential customers without a Samsung smartphone won’t be put off by missing out on one of the wearables’ key features. And the news couldn’t come at a better time. The Gear S3 Classic and Frontier have been available in South Korea for a week, but today they’ve launched in several other countries across the world, including in the US and UK.
Whether it’s the sleeker S3 Classic or the busier, more rugged S3 Frontier you’re after, both Tizen-powered wearables start at $350/£349. Various mobile carriers are also on hand to sell you the device, and you might want to check those deals out first if you plan to make use of the Frontier version’s built-in LTE radio.
Via: 9to5Google, Android Central
Source: Samsung (Twitter)
Some Users Experiencing ‘Three Finger Drag’ Issues on New MacBook Pro
A small but growing number of users have reported issues using the “three finger drag” gesture on the new MacBook Pro’s trackpad.
Affected users say the gesture either works only intermittently or does not work whatsoever on both 13-inch and 15-inch late 2016 models.
MacRumors reader Luke said the three finger drag gesture does not work in the upper left side of his MacBook Pro’s trackpad.
I have the new 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, and it seems there is an issue with the trackpad. Although it is enabled, the three-finger drag feature doesn’t work in the upper left side of the track pad. It’s most bizarre.
Some users have speculated the trackpad’s palm rejection feature could be to blame, particularly since the gesture appears to be buggiest along the edges.
A handful of topics have been posted about the issue on the MacRumors discussion forums (1, 2, 3, 4) and Apple Support Communities over the past few weeks.
MacRumors reader David:
With the 13-inch MacBook Pro, I switched to three finger drag, and the palm rejection kind of gets in the way. If you go from typing to try and drag a window, you have to hit the center of the trackpad with your finger tips, or it doesn’t register.
MacRumors reader Mustafa:
I always enable 3 finger drag. Ever since OS X 10.11, Apple tucked that feature away under Accessibility. I turned it on as usual and I am finding that it does not always move the windows as intended.
Apple Support Communities user Darren:
Try to enable three finger drag and do a 3 finger drag gesture on the bottom left of the trackpad. There is a 40% chance that it’s wrongly detected as a secondary click. Sometimes it failed to detect 3 finger drag at the middle of the trackpad as well.
MacRumors forum member C.clavin:
Just bought a 2016 15″ MacBook Pro and I am having an issue with the 3 finger drag. Since enabling the gesture, it works about 50-60% of the time. It’s strange because it works at times on one window, and not others, and sometimes not at all.
“Three finger drag” is a Multi-Touch gesture supported on both traditional and Force Touch trackpads on many MacBook Pro models. It lets you use three fingers to move the active window on your screen without clicking.
On OS X Yosemite and later, the gesture can be toggled on by clicking on System Preferences > Accessibility > Mouse & Trackpad > Trackpad Options > Enable Dragging. Select “three finger drag” from the dropdown menu and check off the box.
Apple does not appear to have publicly acknowledged the issue, while it remains unclear if the issue is software or hardware related. If related to software, the issue will likely be addressed in a future macOS Sierra update.
Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Buyer’s Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
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MacRumors Giveaway: Win a Cozmo Robot From Anki
For this week’s giveaway, we’ve teamed up with Anki to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win one of Anki’s new Cozmo robots. Cozmo is an adorable little robot that’s able to explore and react to the environment, play games, and interact with people in unique ways.
Priced at $179.99, Cozmo comes with a charging stand and three interactive Power Cubes that the robot can stack up, knock over, and use for games like Quick Tap and Keepaway. Cozmo rolls along on four tread-covered wheels, manipulating objects with an attached arm, while a front display lets you know just what Cozmo’s feeling. Anki has designed Cozmo to have a mischievous temperament that changes over time.
Each palm-sized Cosmo develops a unique personality based on daily activities and interaction. Cozmo owners are encouraged to play games and meet a series of daily goals listed in the Cozmo app to keep Cozmo healthy and happy, and over time, Cozmo will develop new capabilities and unlock new skills, furthering what Cozmo can do.
At first, Cozmo might only be able to roll and stack cubes, but later, he’ll learn to stack additional cubes and perform tricks like wheelies. Play also unlocks new games and activities, and additional content is added through app updates. There’s also an open source Cozmo SDK that allows Cozmo to be connected to third-party APIs like Twitter, Hue, and IFTTT.
Cozmo is made from more than 300 parts, with four motors and over fifty gears. A 30 fps camera equipped with facial recognition capabilities allows Cozmo to recognize different people and remember interactions over time, while the front display and unique sounds add charm.
Cozmo can be purchased directly from Anki or from Amazon, but we’ve got one to give away. To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner and send the prize. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years of age or older are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
a Rafflecopter giveawayThe contest will run from today (November 18) at 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time on November 25. The winner will be chosen randomly on November 25 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.
Anki is also planning to give away a Cozmo robot on Instagram, so make sure to follow Anki on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for more details on Cozmo and a chance to win additional giveaways.
Tags: Anki, giveaway
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Snag the excellent Ecobee3 smart thermostat at one of the best prices we’ve seen
Make your home a little smarter and save a few bucks while you do it.
If you’re looking to add some extra smarts to your home and save a little money over the long-term, a smart thermostat is a great place to start. Luckily, the Ecobee3, a favorite in the space, is currently on sale for just $199.99 at Amazon. That’s a full $49 discount off of its usual price tag and one of the lowest prices we’ve seen.
With the Ecobee 3, you can potentially save big on your energy bills throughout the year. The thermostat is able to sense when anyone is home, and can adjust the temperature accordingly, keeping you comfortable while you’re around, and saving energy while no one is in the house. The Ecobee3 also keeps an eye on the weather outside and thousands of other data points to make sure you’re always comfortable. Add in Amazon Echo integration, and the Ecobee3 is a compelling choice.
If you’re up for adding a smart thermostat to your home, you can snag the Ecobee3 and take advantage of this discount at Amazon now.
See at Amazon
Eagle Flight review: One hell of a ride!
Paris is free from humans and nature has had enough time to take over. Wild animals roam the streets, vines climb the Eiffel Tower, and the Metro is flooded. How you live in this post-apocalyptic city is really up to you. Follow a story, take to the skies with some friends and defend your territory against other players, or enjoy yourself as your soar freely over Haussmann’s iconic architecture. It’s great to be a bird.
Read the full review at VR Heads!
Sony’s Xperia Ear finally launching Dec 13 for $199
Do more without picking up your phone with the Xperia Ear.
First announced back at Mobile World Congress in February, Sony has revealed its always listening in-ear Bluetooth piece, the Xperia Ear, will be available December 13 on Amazon. It will also be available through retailers such as Fry’s, B&H and other retailers. Retail price for the Xperia Ear has been set at $199.99.
The Xperia Ear is a lightweight earpiece that’s designed to fit snugly in your ear. Packed into its tiny Graphite Black casing, Sony has included an accelerometer, gyroscope, and proximity sensors which allow the Xperia Ear to turn itself on automatically once inserted and allow users to use head gesture commands, such as a quick nod to confirm. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone — it’s very similar to the idea of the Moto Hint from Motorola.
It comes with multiple earbud tips to find your comfortable fit, along with a storage case that doubles as a charger with a 300 mAh battery. The device itself features a 65 mAh battery and is capable of 4 hours of talk time and 80 hours of standby. From Sony’s release:
Utilizing a proximity sensor and Sony Agent Technology, Xperia Ear users can send and receive messages, hear personalized information, get the latest news updates, check their schedule, search and navigate without ever having to look at their smartphone. Xperia Ear also uses voice command technology, allowing users to dictate text that can be sent immediately or saved for later. Additionally, users can also accept or ignore phone calls with simple head gestures.
The Xperia Ear is NFC and Bluetooth 4.1 enabled, and will be compatible with any phone running Android 4.4 via the Xperia Ear app.
Don’t miss out on this amazing $140 Gear S2 savings right now!
If you’re in the market for a Samsung Gear S2 smartwatch and want an incredible deal, you’ll want to check out this offer from BuyDig. Right now you can pick one up for as little as $159, which is a huge savings from the regular price of $299. The deal is on the dark gray version of the smartwatch with built-in heartrate monitoring and more.
Whether you are looking at picking one up for yourself or for someone else as a gift, you’ll want to act quick. We don’t know how long this deal will last, but at this price odds are not for very long.
See at BuyDig
Galaxy Beta Program users can’t play with their Gear VR right now
Be careful what you flash for.
Samsung’s Galaxy Beta Program is letting waves of users try out the latest version of Android on their hardware before it is officially rolled out to the world. This is a great way for Samsung to make sure there are no serious problems with their implementation of Android Nougat. Enrolling in the program is easy, but Samsung is only accepting handfuls of interested people at a time which means there are those who have decided to go and manually install this preview through less-than-legitimate methods in order to experience all of the new software.
Regardless of how you install the Nougat preview on your phone, doing so will cause you to no longer be able to play any of your Gear VR games.
Read more at VR Heads!
Microsoft’s Paint 3D app arrives on Windows 10 preview
Microsoft has incorporated its revamped Paint 3D app into the latest Windows 10 Insider Preview build. First announced as part of the Windows 10 Creators update, it has nothing to do with the crude raster tool that has been the butt of jokes since Windows 1.0. Rather, it’s more of a 3D app for the masses that lets you create complex scenes with relative ease. You can scan real-world objects using a smartphone camera, use 3D “clipart” created by by the Remix 3D community and even output your final models to a 3D printer.
Paint 3D and Remix 3D will only be available in English for now, Microsoft says, but it’ll expand regions and languages soon. Going forward, the app will be a permanent (and free) part of Windows 10. Other new features include ePub reading in Microsoft Edge (with three themes), PowerShell as the defacto File Explorer command shell, improved language support and, of course, a bunch of bug fixes. The Windows 10 Preview build (14971) is now rolling out to Insiders on the Fast Ring, Microsoft’s update system for braver users who want new stuff as quickly as possible.
Source: Microsoft
24 hours with Sony’s A6500 mirrorless camera
When Sony announced the A6500 in October, it touted speed as one of the camera’s main selling points. The company’s new flagship mirrorless, which hits stores later this month for $1,400 (body-only), features a 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor with 11-fps continuous shooting. You can shoot at that rate for up to 307 frames in RAW mode, giving you about 30 seconds of total shooting time in a single shutter press. That’s an impressive feat for any camera, let alone one this size. The A6500 also comes with in-body 5-axis image stabilization — a first for one of Sony’s APS-C shooters.
While I’ve only had the chance to test the camera for a little over 24 hours, that’s enough time to get an idea of what this thing can do. Thankfully, Sony wasn’t kidding when it said its A6500 was all about speed. I used the camera mostly with the Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm f/4 and FE 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses, which made it easy to take shots in the dark and at sports games. It’s one of the few times I’ve been able to capture decent shots at a sporting event. Indeed, Sony says its goal is to appeal to appeal to sports photographers, and even some people who aren’t professionals.
I’ll have more thoughts on the A6500 in the coming weeks. For now, take a look at the sample images below to get an idea of what to expect from it.
To view our sample images in full resolution, click here.
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