Google rolled out a redesign of its Wallet app in early October, replacing the horizontal card carousel with a vertical list layout. A columnist at Android Authority reports that switching between payment cards now requires multiple taps or swipes instead of a single swipe, and that viewing card details has also become more cumbersome.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-11-06
Google's payment app has gone through several rebrands since launching as Google Wallet in 2011, becoming Android Pay in 2015, then Google Pay in 2018, before reverting to the Google Wallet name in 2022. The two names now refer to distinct but related products, which has caused confusion among users about which app does what.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-03
A Sony patent published September 17, filed in March 2025, describes a system letting a PlayStation controller accept payments when a user taps it with a credit card, smartphone, or gift card. Diagrams show scenarios like confirming a game purchase or redeeming a gift card directly through the DualSense, using NFC or Bluetooth. The patent illustrations depict existing PS5 hardware rather than any new console or controller.
tomshardware.com
· 2026-09-24
Circular unveiled its Series 3 smart ring at IFA, adding NFC payments compatible with Visa and MasterCard alongside a returning vibration motor for silent alerts. The lineup splits into the fully-featured Ring 3 Pro, with ECG and haptics, and the slimmer, lighter Ring 3 Slim that drops those features. Battery life nearly doubles to 12 days, and both models ship with a 700mAh charging case.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-03
Circular debuted two new smart rings at IFA, the Ring 3 Pro and Ring 3 Slim, both featuring built-in NFC for contactless payments via supported Visa or Mastercard cards—a capability absent from Oura and Samsung's Galaxy Ring. The Pro adds FDA-cleared ECG, blood-pressure monitoring, and a bigger battery lasting up to 12 days, while the Slim is lighter and thinner but caps battery life at 10 days. Pricing and availability have not been disclosed.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-03