Threads app briefly appears on Google Play as Meta’s Twitter rival

Threads app - Smartphone with Google Play displayed

Screenshots showed that users would be able to log in to the Twitter competitor using an Instagram account. Recent screenshots showed that the Threads app, Meta’s competition for Twitter, briefly appeared on Google Play at the start of July. Alessandro Paluzzi, a developer who commonly spots unreleased features buried in code, shared the images. According to the screenshots, people will be able to sign into the Threads app by logging in with their Instagram account. Moreover, from there, they can sync the accounts they follow from one application to the…

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Google Pay in India tests NFC based payment technology

Google Pay in India - person using Google Pay

The mobile payments platform is using credit and debit cards to trial the tech in the country. Google Pay in India has launched a new pilot for a near field communication (NFC) based feature to be used to complete contactless payments. The idea is to use enabled debit and credit cards to test NFC before rolling out wider mobile tap. NFC would make it possible for Google Pay in India to provide contactless or tap payments across the country. Considering that there are over a billion people in that market,…

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Coronavirus apps are being rejected by Apple, say developers

Coronavirus apps - virus - disease

Searching for the virus at the App Store and even on Google Play does not return results. It appears that Apple and Google are cracking down on COVID-19 coronavirus apps that aren’t produced and published by recognized medical organizations such as hospitals and governments. iPhone developers have been reporting that they receive rejection notices when related to the virus. A recent CNBC report cited four independent developers who had received rejection notices for their coronavirus apps. These applications are typically designed to allow users to view statistics regarding locations where…

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Google Change the Game contest challenges teenage girls to design mobile games

Google Change the Game Challenge - Mazu mobile game - Google Play - LearnDistrict Inc.

Google wants to see more mobile games developed by female gamers. Google Change the Game Design Challenge was launched by the internet giant last spring and challenged thousands of teenage girls to design games they would like to play. After receiving thousands of submissions, five finalists were selected by a group of Google employees and guest judges. The grand prize winner received a $10,000 college scholarship and a $15,000 technology contribution to her school. In addition to these awards, the grand prize winner, Christine – an 11th grader from Vancouver,…

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Huawei mobile payments expand into new Bitcoin Wallet

Huawei mobile payments - Bitcoin Payments

BTC.com has become the first bitcoin wallet to launch on the recently-debuted handset maker’s app store. Huawei mobile payments have been brought to a whole new level with an important first. BTC.com, based in Amsterdam and Beijing, has become the first bitcoin wallet on Huawei’s new app store. This brings an important mobile payments opportunity to Chinese consumers behind the “Great Firewall.” The Huawei mobile payments will make it easier for Chinese residents to access cryptocurrency wallets, according to a CNN report. Both the Chinese government and telecom companies have…

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