Articles by Michael Allison

But plans changed, and the company moved away from that angle.

What you need to know

Google was testing a tipping feature for sites as part of an extension to its Google Funding Choices and Contributor services.
The feature would have let users donate from 20 cents to up to $5 to sites ranging from large organizations to small independent artists.
The company eventually decided not to continue developing this feature.

Google was working on a new tipping feature for websites as part of an extension of the now-defunct Google Contributor service. The company would have allowed users to make one-time donations ranging from 20 cents to $5 to support creators. This would have ranged from big corporations like the New York Times to sites owned by independent musicians and artists.

The goal of the new service was to encourage users to donate money and reward sites and their creators for making content they enjoyed.

TechCrunch reported:

Google confirmed that the designs were of an …

Without Google, Huawei has to try its hand at the next best thing.

What you need to know

HERE WeGo is now in the Huawei AppGallery.
The mapping app will serve as an alternative for Google Maps on Huawei’s growing platform.
Huawei remains unable to use any of Google’s apps and services on its devices.

Huawei’s AppGallery now has its first big navigation app with the addition of the HERE WeGo mapping app. The app recently made its way to Huawei’s AppGallery and will fill in a functionality gap left by the absence of more conventionally popular mapping apps. For buyers who want to use Huawei’s newer products like the P40 P40 Pro or Mate 30 Pro, the presence of something like HERE WeGo makes the hardware-excellent but software-deficient handsets more useful.

Once praised as a credible Google Maps competitor while exclusive to Windows-powered phones in the past, the formerly Nokia-owned HERE didn’t quite pick up as much steam on Android thanks to the 800-pound Google Maps gorilla in…

The Snapdragon 865 will remain top dog for a while.

What you need to know

Qualcomm is probably not releasing a Snapdragon 865+ this year despite early rumors to the contrary.
Meizu’s CMO, Wan Zhigiang, shared the information in a post on Weibo.
Qualcomm had previously released an 855+ last year mid-cycle, fueling expectations that it would do so this year.

Qualcomm was expected to follow up its flagship Snapdragon 865 with a secondary 865+ SoC later this year to power fall flagships, but Meizu’s CMO says that there might not be one this year. Commenting on Weibo (via GizChina), Wan Zhiqiang told disappointed fans that an 865+ would not be coming from Qualcomm.

The 865+ had previously been expected to launch mid-year and ship in phones like the OnePlus 8T Pro, Galaxy Note 20, and so on following a similar pattern to the 855+ last year. It was even rumored earlier this year via a Chinese tipster, Digital Chat Station on Weibo (via Android Authority) with a launch frame for Q3. B…

The new YouTube app experience takes advantage of the foldable screen.

What you need to know

YouTube for Android now takes advantage of the Z Flip’s foldable form factor with a new Flex mode.
Google and Samsung collaborated on the optimization effort over the past few months.
The update is rolling out from April 22nd via the Play Store.

YouTube has debuted a new Flex mode for foldables like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. Taking advantage of the foldable form-factor, the new design splits the app’s interface into two even sections.

You’ll be able to use the top half to keep consuming content, while the other half can be used for searching for more videos, commenting, and so on. It’s essentially a boosted version of the picture-in-picture mode for regular old slab phones, but one that takes advantage of the more unique form factor the Z Flip has.

Samsung made the announcement on Wednesday, saying:

Working together, Samsung and Google’s engineers redesigned the app from the opera…

Samsung’s Galaxy Fold sequel fixes niggling issues with the first model — if these rumors are accurate.

What you need to know

More leaks of the Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 have emerged months before an expected release.
The outer screen of the Fold 2 is said to be much bigger and capacious compared to the initial release, and the inner screen will jump in size as well as shift up to 120Hz.
The Fold 2 is also expected to debut with an S-Pen, improving its productivity focus.

Samsung’s Galaxy Fold 2 has been rumored to be making its way down sometime this year, and now we have a bit of an idea of what kind of specs will drive this experience.

In a series of tweets, industry analyst Ross Young shared the display specs of the upcoming foldable, tweeting:

Galaxy Fold 2 leak – Front Display •Size: 6.23”•Resolution: 2267 x 819•Refresh Rate: 60Hz•Backplane Technology – LTPS•Notch/Hole/UPC – Hole#Samsung #GalaxyFold #foldable— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) April 20, 2020

Galax…

Coronavirus is everywhere, so Facebook’s symptom tracker is too.

What you need to know

Facebook is bringing its COVID-19 symptoms tracker worldwide after a successful U.S. trial earlier this month.
The goal of the survey is to help predict hotspots before they bloom.
It’s also intended to guide health systems as countries move towards re-opening parts of society.

The COVID-19 response has a problem that social media is uniquely positioned to help solve — a lack of data. With the public health systems of many countries being overwhelmed, knowing where a hotspot is likely to form and forming containment strategies around that is likely to be very useful to states and world governments.

Facebook is putting its wealth of data and reach to help researchers build models that can predict these hotspots. It partnered with the Carnegie Mellon University Delphi Research Center to disseminate a U.S. based survey in early April:

The survey — run by Carnegie Mellon University Delphi…

A sleeker LG than what we’ve seen in the past.

What you need to know

LG’s upcoming new Velvet debuts in its first video teaser.
The teaser highlights its arc glass, raindrop camera, and natural design.
The Velvet is expected to be LG’s followup to the G8, debuting under a new brand.

LG today showed off more of what its upcoming Velvet flagship is supposed to look like. While it’s doesn’t show off a lot more than the images we saw previously, it’s just that the added motion and lighting help to give it a physical presence and contextualize it.

Here’s what it’ll look like:

The Velvet takes on many modern smartphone design cues. There’s a colorful “3D arc design” curved glass rear panel, smooth metal sides, and even a multi-lens “raindrop” rear camera that stands out in how much it doesn’t stand out compared to say the iPhone 11 Pro Max or the Galaxy S20 Ultra and its Space Zoom camera bump.

LG hasn’t made what you’d call fashionable phones in a while. They’ve been trending …

Google has smartened up texting, music, and video. Now it wants to do the same for your bank.

What you need to know

Google is working on its own branded payment card.
This card will be a debit card, powered by Google Pay and backed by more conventional financial institutions.
Google says that it’ll have more to share in the coming months.

Google has made a name for itself in building smarter experiences for consumers in products ranging from maps to music to video. Now it wants to do so with banking. In the wake of the Apple Card, a new report indicates that Google is working on its own branded payment card.

TechCrunch broke the report today, saying:

The Google card and associated checking account will allow users to buy things with a card, mobile phone or online. It connects to a Google app with new features that let users easily monitor purchases, check their balance or lock their account. The card will be co-branded with different bank partners, including CITI and Stanfo…

Google will force developers to be more transparent with potential subscribers.

What you need to know

Google is rolling out a change to how subscriptions operate in the Play Store.
Its new policies now encourage developers to give users as much information and control as possible before they commit to subscriptions.
The new policies go into effect from today for new developers, while veterans have 60 days to implement the necessary changes.

Google is making changes to the Play Store’s policies from today onward. These changes are aimed at cutting down on potential subscription scams. Developers will now have to notify users about when free trials end and subscriptions are renewed, as well as being more

As per Google, common violations of this new policy included things like:

Monthly subscriptions that do not inform users they will be automatically renewed and charged every month.
Annual subscriptions that most prominently display their pricing in terms of monthly cost…

Amazon’s working conditions have been criticized as a “health bomb” by workers.

What you need to know

Amazon has been ordered to limit its shipping to essential times in France within the next 24 hours.
The company is to institute measures aimed at preserving employee safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This restriction will last for 30 days, with a ₤1 million fine issued for violations.

Amazon France has been ordered to ship only essential products for the next month while the company sets up a risk evaluation system for employees in its warehouse and puts in measures designed to protect its workers. Amazon will also be required to negotiate said safety measures with worker representatives during this period.

The company was heavily criticized in a press release issued by Solidaires, a French group of trade unions as it filed a suit earlier this month:

While the Prime Minister last March ordered the closure of non-essential businesses due to the coronavirus epidemic an…