Google simplifies online payment processes, which may pose challenges for impulse buyers.

Google simplifies online payment processes, which may pose challenges for impulse buyers.

      Google has significantly improved online checkout speed by eliminating one-time passcodes.

      If you've ever refrained from making a purchase due to waiting for a one-time passcode, Google has just removed that last obstacle. The company announced new enhancements to Google Wallet and Google Pay that streamline the online shopping experience.

      Online checkout is about to become remarkably quick

      The main update for everyday consumers is the direct checkout feature in Google Pay. This brings all payment methods saved in your Google Wallet straight to a retailer's checkout page, operating similarly to Apple Pay. This feature is currently available for merchants using Airwallex and will soon be available for those using Adyen, with plans to partner with more globally.

      Moreover, Google has revamped its Secure Payment Authentication feature, which previously added extra security procedures that often delayed online transactions. Completing a purchase used to involve entering an OTP or being redirected to a different verification page, creating a moment of hesitation before finalizing the transaction. That brief pause is now eliminated.

      The updated system replaces these steps with a simple biometric check. Google reports that testing indicated a 50% reduction in authentication time and a 3% increase in purchase completion rates. The rollout will start in the UK and Poland in the coming months, involving Visa, Checkout.com, Autopay, and Adyen.

      Google Wallet is expanding its digital ID capabilities

      Google is also broadening its digital ID support in Google Wallet to selected EU member countries this summer, following earlier launches in the UK and other regions.

      Additionally, Google is implementing age verification through a new collaboration with Sparkasse Bank in Europe. Customers of Sparkasse will have the option to verify their age using Google Wallet without having to disclose personal information such as name, address, or date of birth. Google intends to extend this feature to more issuers in the future.

      Google Wallet is also evolving by allowing users to share their digital car keys with customized permission levels, enabling different individuals to access specific vehicle functions.

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      Samsung’s forthcoming Galaxy Z Flip 8 could potentially sidestep the chip issue, but not for every buyer

      A new leak suggests that the Galaxy Z Flip 8 will feature Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in certain markets, marking the end of the Exynos-only strategy that Samsung implemented with the Flip 7 last year.

      Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 8 is expected to be available with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, alongside an Exynos 2600 variant, discontinuing the Exynos-only chip approach from last year's Galaxy Z Flip 7.

      A one-year Exynos experiment

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      Filtr aims to eliminate ads across nearly all apps on your iPhone and Mac

      Your iPhone will soon become highly resistant to ads.

      Traditionally, ad blockers have been confined to web browsers, quietly improving website experiences while leaving apps untouched. A new utility called Filtr seeks to change this by providing system-wide ad and tracker blocking for Apple devices, which could transform how app users interact with their iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

      Filtr is being marketed as a privacy-centric tool capable of blocking advertisements and tracking requests in almost all apps installed on Apple devices. Created by the developer of the Wipr ad blocker, the tool reportedly utilizes Apple's newer URL Filtering framework from recent operating system updates. Unlike traditional VPNs that analyze traffic, Filtr operates directly through Apple’s native filtering systems, preventing unwanted network requests before they load.

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      The next OnePlus flagship may launch earlier, possibly coinciding with Apple’s iPhone release

      OnePlus might be planning one of its earliest flagship launches yet. A leak from Digital Chat Station indicates the OnePlus 16 could debut in September. If this is accurate, the phone will launch around the same time traditionally reserved for Apple's annual iPhone announcements, with the iPhone 18 series also anticipated during that period.

      The rumored September launch likely concerns the Chinese market rather than an immediate global rollout. Following OnePlus’ recent release patterns, international markets like India and Europe may see the device shortly afterward, potentially within the following month.

Google simplifies online payment processes, which may pose challenges for impulse buyers. Google simplifies online payment processes, which may pose challenges for impulse buyers. Google simplifies online payment processes, which may pose challenges for impulse buyers. Google simplifies online payment processes, which may pose challenges for impulse buyers. Google simplifies online payment processes, which may pose challenges for impulse buyers. Google simplifies online payment processes, which may pose challenges for impulse buyers. Google simplifies online payment processes, which may pose challenges for impulse buyers. Google simplifies online payment processes, which may pose challenges for impulse buyers.

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Google simplifies online payment processes, which may pose challenges for impulse buyers.

Google is introducing direct checkout for Google Pay along with an improved biometric authentication system, and is also expanding Google Wallet's digital ID support to certain EU member countries.