Google Wallet gets even more new features before the month's end
Google Wallet's Nearby Passes makes it easier to open a pass |
Image credit: Google
Receive the latest Google news
Subscribe
By subscribing you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy
– Google, May 2025
The Wallet app received a lot of love from Google in the last month or so. If you're a regular user, this is Wallet's 'one more thing' moment. With May coming to an end, Google announced a bunch of new features coming to Wallet in the next few weeks.At its yearly I/O event, Google revealed several new features for Wallet and Pay and promised to deliver them very soon. Some of these new features are already starting to show on many devices, as pointed out by 9to5google One of the numerous upgrades Google announced this week is related to Nearby Passes. Once Google Wallet gets the update, it will be able to notify users when they're closing in to a specific location via an alert that will show up on the screen. But there's more to this feature than simply notifying the user that they're near one of their favorite locations.If you happen to have a loyalty card stored in your Google Wallet and you're near your favorite locale, you'll not only be alerted by the app, but you'll also be able to tap the notification to immediately open the loyalty card that you have stored in Wallet.More importantly, Google is giving Wallet users full control over these Nearby Passes notifications, so you can choose to disable them if you want. Simply head to Pass Details Screen and opt to 'get notifications for this loyalty card' for one or more loyalty cards.In addition to simply notifying the user about their proximity to a specific location, Google Wallet will also display 'relevant deals, promotions, and additional services' if the location you're near offers any of these. They will be shown as cards below the pass.Besides Nearby Passes notifications, Google is also making it easier for Wallet users to add boarding passes to the app. The feature introduced last year called Auto Linked Passes has just received an upgrade, which allows developers from airlines that integrate loyalty cards to automatically push boarding passes to their users' wallets after they check in for a flight.One of the few Google apps that benefits from a coherent development cycle, Wallet has gone a very long way since its inception a few years ago. Arguably the best digital wallet available on Android and iOS, Google Wallet seems to be here to stay for the long haul, something that's pretty rare for a company like Google, which usually discontinues a large percentage of its projects after just a few years.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GSM Arena
37 minutes ago
- GSM Arena
Apple introduces redesigned watchOS 26 with AI-infused Workout Buddy
Apple has unveiled new versions for all of its operating systems today, and of course watchOS is one of them. So, the new watchOS 26 is coming this fall, and it brings a bunch of improvements. Key is the new AI-powered Workout Buddy, which we've already covered in our article about all the new Apple Intelligence features. In short, it will use your workout data and fitness history to generate personalized, motivational insights, using a trainer-like voice. watchOS 26 also incorporates the new Liquid Glass design that Apple has unveiled across all of its operating systems, and this is going to enable "a vibrant and expressive experience that reflects and refracts content using real-time rendering". Smart Stack widgets, Smart Stack hints, notifications, the Control Center, and in-app controls and navigation will adopt the new design, while the Photos watch face is "enhanced with numerals made of Liquid Glass", letting you see even more of your photo. Next up, the Workout app gets four new buttons in the corners, which make it easier to access your favorite features, and you can set up music and podcasts right in the Workout app to automatically play when you start a workout. Apple Music can even select the best playlist for you based on your workout type and personal tastes. You'll also get suggestions for playlists and podcasts based on what you've recently listened to during that workout type. The Smart Stack has improved prediction algorithms, with more contextual data, sensor data, and data from your routine, in order to provide Smart Stack hints, which are proactive prompts for actionable suggestions. These will appear as a gentle visual prompt. Live Translation in Messages is also supported on the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 paired with an Apple Intelligence-supported iPhone. If your language is set to English, your watch will also suggest relevant actions in Messages using the context of a conversation - the examples Apple lists are starting a Check In when a friend asks you to share when you arrive home, or using Apple Cash when you're asked to contribute to a group gift. The customizable backgrounds you set on your iPhone running iOS 26 will also make it to your Apple Watch, and you can even respond to polls on your wrist, while Smart Replies get more precise for English-speaking users, with an improved on-device AI model. To quickly dismiss a notification, you can just quickly turn your wrist over and back after you've raised your wrist to check it. This can also be used for incoming calls, and to silence timers and alarms. In watchOS 26, your Apple Watch will be able to automatically adjust the speaker volume based on the ambient noise, and this will work for notifications, timers, alarms, incoming calls, and Siri. The Notes app is coming to watchOS, letting you pin and unlock notes, complete checklist items, and create new notes with Siri, dictation, and the keyboard. Hold Assist and Call Screening will work in conjunction with your iOS 26-running iPhone, and for those who are deaf or hard of hearing Live Listen controls include real-time Live Captions of what their iPhone hears on a paired Apple Watch while listening to the audio. The Apple Watch can act as a remote to start or stop Live Listen sessions. The watch face gallery has been redesigned, and the Photos face will shuffle images based on Featured content from Photos. All of these features will be available through the Apple Beta Software Program next month. Source
Phone Arena
an hour ago
- Phone Arena
Apple puts the A in Accessibility: Check out these great features
Applealready revealed a new wave of accessibility features arriving across its devices, highlighting some of them during its WWDC 2025 event. The App Store gets Accessibility Nutrition Labels, making it easier for users to see which accessibility features an app or game supports before downloading it. | Image credit — Apple Apple introduced Accessibility Nutrition Labels on App Store product pages. These labels will give users clear information about what assistive features an app supports. These labels will also help developers better showcase the inclusive elements of their apps, creating a more transparent and user-friendly App Store experience. Apple is also launching Braille Access, which is a unified and powerful tool set for braille users on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro. Braille Access functions as a note-taker, supports typing using Braille Screen Input or hardware displays, and enables users to read and annotate BRF the most standout feature is the integration of Live Captions directly into Braille displays, allowing real-time conversation transcription in braille. Accessibility Reader is a new systemwide reading mode across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro that lets users customize text appearance. | Image credit — Apple Designed for users who have dyslexia, low vision, or cognitive disabilities, Accessibility Reader transforms the way text is displayed on Apple devices. It is available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro , and it lets you customize font style, color, spacing, and also supports Spoken Content, and can be launched from anywhere — including from the Magnifier app, enabling interaction with physical text like books or introduced Share Accessibility Settings, a new feature that lets users temporarily apply their personalized accessibility settings — like VoiceOver, Zoom, or larger text — on another Apple device. This feature can be utilized when borrowing someone's iPhone or using a shared iPad in a classroom. It enables a consistent experience without the hassle of reconfiguring every option manually. Once you're done, the settings go away, keeping the host's device unchanged. Live Listen on Apple Watch now includes real-time Live Captions. | Image credit — Apple Apple is making it easier to follow conversations in real time with Live Listen controls, which are now available on Apple Watch. When your iPhone is acting as a remote microphone, your watch will display Live Captions, allowing you to both hear and read what's being said from across the Live listen, you can pause, resume, or scroll through recent transcripts with an Apple Watch. Zoom on Apple Vision Pro now lets users magnify real-world content through the main camera. | Image credit — Apple visionOS is getting major upgrades to help users navigate the world more independently. With Zoom enhancements, users can magnify their entire view through the Vision Pro 's main camera. Meanwhile, Live Recognition can describe surroundings, read text, and identify people or objects. Apple is also opening up the camera to approved apps like Be My Eyes, allowing real-time assistance directly within the headset. Magnifier is a key accessibility tool on iPhones and iPads, and it is now coming to macOS too. The new Magnifier app for Mac uses a connected camera — including the iPhone's via Continuity Camera — to zoom in on documents, whiteboards, and objects in the real customizable too, allowing users to adjust brightness, contrast, color filters, and to capture views for later reference. When paired with the new Accessibility Reader, Magnifier can help users with low vision interact with both physical and digital text. Here are some of the other standout additions: Background Sounds now include EQ settings and new automation options in Shortcuts. now include EQ settings and new automation options in Shortcuts. Personal Voice can now be created in under a minute using just 10 phrases — and it supports Spanish (Mexico). can now be created in under a minute using just 10 phrases — and it supports Spanish (Mexico). Vehicle Motion Cues are coming to Mac, helping reduce motion sickness while in transit. are coming to Mac, helping reduce motion sickness while in transit. Eye Tracking and Head Tracking get more powerful, letting users control iPhones and iPads with simple movements or dwell gestures. get more powerful, letting users control iPhones and iPads with simple movements or dwell gestures. A new protocol is coming for Brain-Computer Interfaces , expanding support for users with severe mobility impairments. , expanding support for users with severe mobility impairments. Assistive Access now supports simplified media playback on Apple TV. now supports simplified media playback on Apple TV. Music Haptics become more customizable, allowing users to feel vocals or full songs through iPhone vibrations. become more customizable, allowing users to feel vocals or full songs through iPhone vibrations. Name Recognition debuts in Sound Recognition , letting users who are hard of hearing know when someone is calling their name. debuts in , letting users who are hard of hearing know when someone is calling their name. Voice Control adds a new programming mode in Xcode and expands to more languages, including Korean , Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Turkish , and more. adds a new programming mode in Xcode and expands to more languages, including , (Saudi Arabia), , and more. CarPlay gains support for Large Text and additional sound notifications like crying babies and sirens.
Phone Arena
an hour ago
- Phone Arena
Do you feel lucky? You can roll the dice and load iOS 26 Developer Beta on iPhone now
The Keynote is over, Apple has polished up the Liquid Glass (with virtual Windex), and you will soon have the option of installing the first iOS 26 Developer Beta on your iPhone. As exciting as it might be to be the first on your block or in your office to run iOS 26, when dealing with beta software there are always a few things that you have to worry about. Some features and apps that you rely on day-to-day might not work while the beta is running. Battery life could be reduced, and there is always the possibility that the update bricks your iPhone. Usually the first beta release of a major new OS build has the most issues. Having said all that, if you still feel compelled to install the beta, it is here and ready to be downloaded on compatible iPhones starting with the iPhone 11 line and running through the iPhone 16 series. Since Apple has waived the $99 fee to register as a developer, you can install the Developer Beta for iOS 26 with the public beta expected sometime next month. The iOS 26 Developer Beta has arrived. | Image credit-PhoneArena Since the Developer Beta is released first so that developers can quickly see what work they need to do with their apps, the release is likely to be more buggy and less stable than the Public Beta release. Before you do anything else, make sure to backup your phone. Information on installing the iOS 26 Developer Beta. | Image credit-Apple To install the iOS 26 Developer Beta, go to Settings > General > Software Update . At the top of the Software Update page, tap on Beta Updates and on the next page, tap on iOS 26 Developer Beta. A check mark will appear indicating that you've selected this beta version to receive. Go back to Settings > General > Software Update and you should receive the prompt to install. iOS 26 Developer Beta. Follow the directions to install it. If this is the first time you're installing a beta version of iOS on your iPhone, you'll need to register with the Apple Beta Software Program. G o to and make sure that you registered with the iOS Beta Program. If you've already registered in the past, ignore this step and start with the beginning of the previous paragraph.
