31–37 of 37 posts
Paywall bypass https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&c...
Just as a side note if you have already clicked the link the google trick does not work. Or at least that was the case for me.
All Google/Apple articles (which used to be MSFT/Apple 20 years ago) Things are easier for Apple because they control everything in their domain. This however creates powerful enemies who are locked out and threatened. This creates a real opportunity for Google. However everything is much harder for Google to do because it doesn't control the entire ecosystem like Apple. Rinse and repeat
In fairness, a number of partners have stated that Google is the biggest threat to their business in their 10Q's :-). But what is interesting from a game theory point of view is always do Google and Apple think the other is a threat to their business? And what does interdependencies means for things like the consumer? There is an interesting rock/paper/scissors sort of relationship with search, phone OS, app stores,…
But you raise a good point. I think the insecurity starts with Google and Apple responds. (and I'm an Android user so no fanboi assumptions!) Google relies on a very open web to leverage all the data to optimize search to drive ad monetization. I think Apple was very happy with optimized Google services running on iPhones making the whole experience richer (they want to sell hardware not profit from search/ads) Once Google realized just what mobile would become and how big a chunk of that Apple would control they panicked at the thought of being locked out. Again, due to their basic premise they're always going to be more insecure.
Google is in dire need for a marketing unit, that educates regular consumers about the possibilities of the applications and products Google has. Otherwise Google always ends up with low traction for a lot of its products. And sometimes these products are killed. It seems Google wants to do consumer tech only to get money to be able to do high tech. But otherwise it has no real interest in consumer tech.
All Google/Apple articles (which used to be MSFT/Apple 20 years ago) Things are easier for Apple because they control everything in their domain. This however creates powerful enemies who are locked out and threatened. This creates a real opportunity for Google. However everything is much harder for Google to do because it doesn't control the entire ecosystem like Apple. Rinse and repeat
I'm wondering if Google can replicate what they did with Android and apply it in payments.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Actually, Google Wallet works almost exactly the same as ApplePay (my spouse has an iPhone 6, I have a Moto X 2014); I've seen and used both. Just tap the phone on the NFC device and that's it (the PIN pad at the retail may then prompt you to hit credit or debit, if you choose debit, you just enter your wallet pin again). If Google Wallet needs to be unlocked first, it will prompt you for the wallet pin. In fairness,…
But unfortunately most devices don't (and can't) run Android 5.0, so they're stuck with the old, cumbersome Wallet (or, worse, tried it, gave up on it because it was a terrible experience, will never try it again).
To revive Wallet, Google needs to make it usable. I'm not exactly unsaavy to the ways of a phone, but on the last phone I had with NFC there was no explanation of how to get it to work at POS (and how to set it up it all isn't very clear). Does the phone need to be awake? Do I need to run an app? I tried it once, didn't work, never touched it again. Mobile payment is something I'm just not going to put a lot of effor…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
But unfortunately most devices don't (and can't) run Android 5.0, so they're stuck with the old, cumbersome Wallet (or, worse, tried it, gave up on it because it was a terrible experience, will never try it again).
I could've sworn it worked the same when I was running 4.whatever on my old Nexus 5 prior to the 5.0 update. From an end user perspective I haven't noticed much of a change in at least a couple of years (aside from some vendors disabling support in favor of their own tap to pay).
Maybe this was fixed in Android 4.4, but I would swear the experience changed for me sometime right at or after 4.4.
Notably, I didn't have to make sure the app was open and wallet unlocked first, whereas with Android 5.0 it "just works".