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Easier Ways to Make Payments With Smartphones

AT this point, smartphones are practically permanent attachments to our hands. But that quickly changes the moment you need to pay for something at a store and you take out a credit card.

The idea of using your phone as your wallet — for storing payment methods and even swiping, scanning or tapping it to pay at the checkout register — is a long-promised future that has been surprisingly slow in coming. Multiple technologies exist for mobile payments, but there is no clear winner and a lot of chaos.

“Mobile payments, it’s been the next big thing for three or four rounds of next big thing,” said James Wester, the director of global payments research at IDC Financial Insights. “I would say we’re probably still three to maybe five years away from seeing mobile payments really common, with most of us using it.”

But recently, several new products and services have been released that could make mobile payments more convenient and worth trying. Before you dive in, though, it’s best to have a map of this complicated landscape.

Amazon introduced an experimental app this month that lets people store gift cards and loyalty cards from a variety of retailers and check some balances on Android phones and Amazon devices. You can display the gift cards as a bar code or QR code (that odd checkered square on many products now) so that it can be scanned at a register.

So far, you can’t store credit or debit card information on the app. But Amazon already has a payment platform that lets you pay individuals or check out at some online stores, so the app could be a short hop away from being a full-fledged mobile payment service.

PayPal, the online payment giant, has also released new payment options, with an updated app for iOS, Android and Windows Phone that lets you store loyalty cards (like those used at grocery stores or pharmacies) in addition to your regular PayPal sources.

Some new partnerships PayPal has reached with some stores, restaurants and services, including Uber and Jamba Juice, also provide interesting payment twists.

People using the new app can order ahead from a participating restaurant and pay with their phones. Or if you are dining out, you can pay your bill on your phone instead of waiting for the check (and waiting for a server to retrieve your credit card, swipe it and bring it back). Many of those stores and restaurants also offer coupons or discounts as an added enticement.

At Home Depot, a partnership with PayPal lets you check out by choosing PayPal instead of credit or debit at the store’s payment terminals. Then, instead of entering a debit PIN, you enter your phone number and a PIN you previously set up on the PayPal app. No wallet or phone required.

And then there are the persistent rumors that Apple will introduce a mobile payments service tied to iTunes accounts, perhaps based on the existing Passbook app. Apple recently added a feature called iTunes Pass that lets users load money into their accounts (although this must be done in person at an Apple store) to make purchases. The company also allows users to load and organize gift cards through Passbook; like Amazon, it could potentially tie Passbook to credit cards stored in iTunes to allow purchases elsewhere, too.

But so far, the company that has had the most success at creating popular, usable mobile payments is Starbucks. The Starbucks mobile app lets you pay for items with your smartphone at the company’s coffeehouses and also accumulate rewards like free food or drinks.

Howard D. Schultz, Starbucks’ chief executive, told investors in July that mobile payments made up about 15 percent of its sales transactions in the United States and even hinted that the company would try to share its payment system with other retailers.

If all these efforts by so many companies still sound like a messy playing field, you are right, and those examples are just scratching the surface. Part of the reason so many different apps and mobile wallets exist is that the previous attempts at mobile payments — based on tap-to-pay or contactless payments — took so long to get moving.

But now, there’s interesting movement in those technologies, too. The trouble is, many standards have not yet been worked out.

Contactless payments work using a technology called N.F.C., which stands for near-field communication. It’s kind of like short-range radio. When you pay for something at one of these contactless terminals, you tap or wave your phone in front of it, enter a PIN, and you’re done.

Your phone must have an N.F.C. chip in it for this to work. Most new Android phones and some Nokia Lumia Windows Phones have N.F.C., but iPhones do not.

Contactless payments have had a checkered history. At the moment, the two major mobile payment systems that use N.F.C. are Google Wallet and the Isis mobile wallet app, which was a joint creation of AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. (Isis mobile wallet is in the process of changing its name to avoid confusion with the violent militant group wreaking havoc in Iraq and Syria.)

In the past, N.F.C. payments required actual hardware: a so-called secure element within a SIM card, the card that identifies you as a carrier subscriber when you insert it into your phone. When you install the Isis mobile app, you can order the enhanced card free or pick it up from your carrier. Newer phones will have this type of card by default, Isis said. But most existing phones do not.

Worrying about a new card is a hassle. Worse, the card also puts the carriers in charge of the mobile payments world, and the companies have tried to keep out competitors. The carriers often blocked Google Wallet from being downloaded onto devices on their networks, though that practice has mostly stopped. (I was able to download the app on a Samsung Galaxy S5 and LG G3.) An Isis spokesman wouldn’t say whether blocking of the app might continue.

But other companies aren’t going to sit on their hands and accept Isis. Already, new technology built into the latest version of Android, technology that already existed in BlackBerry phones, makes the extra security unnecessary. The technology, called host card emulation, or H.C.E., lets apps like Google Wallet retrieve stored credit card information from the cloud.

Visa and MasterCard have approved use of their cards with H.C.E. — basically, the Google Wallet app has permission to act just like a credit card. And potentially, many apps will soon be able to let you make contactless payments, not just Isis or Google Wallet.

One other note, of course, is that contactless payments cannot happen without payment terminals in stores that can read the signals. Not every merchant has those terminals or wants to upgrade.

But those upgrades look like they will be coming. Most American credit card companies are migrating from cards that use a magnetic stripe to those that use a microchip to store information. Those microchips work with contactless payment terminals, so the credit card migration could also help out N.F.C.-based mobile payment methods.

It is unclear exactly how the iPhone will fit into this, because it can’t make contactless payments using N.F.C. Now, if you want to use Isis mobile wallet with your iPhone, you’ll have to buy a special case that includes the N.F.C. antenna. There are few options, and they cost about $70. And it’s unclear whether they will work with an N.F.C. payment app like Google Wallet.

See? There is still a lot yet to be solved before mobile payments are as popular as credit cards.

But the new options popping up are exciting, and once you get the hang of them, they can actually make paying a little easier. I, for one, am hooked on my Starbucks app. But it’s easy to forget that many people still are not comfortable shopping online and are far from storing credit card numbers on a phone app and paying that way.

LG not working on Nexus 6, Android Silver device

It's very likely that the next Nexus smartphone won't be made by LG. 

A report by Motoring Crunch claims that the South Korean giant is not working on any Google projects at the moment. It quotes LG's global communications director, Ken Hong, as saying that LG was not aware of the status of the Nexus program and the Android Silver program. Hong told the publication that Google has not partnered with LG for new Nexus devices. 

Hong's statement is contrary to a report by TheInformation.com which suggested that Google had already roped in LG and Motorola to produce the first Android Silver devices. 

Earlier this year, Google's Dave Burke, head of Android engineering and Nexus program, had dismissed reports that it was dumping the Nexus program in favour of Android Silver, a new project under which manufacturers and wireless carriers will reportedly be paid to produce and sell high-end devices that closely adhere to Google specifications. He had refused to comment on the existence of the Android Silver program. 

"Android Silver is not something that we are commenting on right now. But the prospect of Silver doesn't mean that Nexus is going away," he had said. 

Google sells Nexus devices in a number of countries through its Play Store and physical retailers. These devices, made in collaboration with Google's partner OEMs come with stock Android software without any added applications or software features. Android updates are pushed faster on Nexus devices compared to other Android devices. 

It's worth pointing out that Google had partnered with LG for making the last two Nexus smartphones, namely Nexus 4 and Nexus 5.

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Apple margin concerns fade, focus shifts to iPhone launch

A rise in margins has raised hopes that Apple Inc may be able to hold the line on pricing ahead of the launch of new iPhones later this year.

Apple's shares rose 3.3 percent to a 22-month high of $97.88 on the Nasdaq on Wednesday.

At least six brokerages raised their price targets on the stock by as much as $12 to a high of $123.

Apple's gross margin rose to 39.4 percent in the third quarter from 36.9 percent a year earlier, and the company forecast current-quarter margins of 37-38 percent.

iPhone sales slow before a new launch, usually in September, as potential buyers hold off purchases.

"With (gross margins) stabilizing (year-on-year) and core demand trends solid, we think investors will want to own Apple stock (going) into bigger-screen iPhone 6 and ecosystem-expanding iWatch/iBand launches," Evercore Group analysts wrote in a note.

Apple forecast current-quarter revenue of $37 billion-$40 billion, lower than the average analyst estimate of $40.44 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Apple did well in a seasonally soft June quarter and gave a "good enough" outlook, but investors are focusing more on new product launches, the China Mobile Ltd deal and a push into the enterprise market with IBM Corp, Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Brian White wrote in a note.

Apple launched iPhone on China Mobile's network in January, which boosted its June quarter revenue by 28 percent in greater China.

Apple also partnered with IBM this month to sell iPhones and iPads loaded with applications geared at enterprise clients this fall. Investors hope the deal will rejuvenate flagging iPad sales as Apple enters a largely untapped corporate market.

"The bottom line is that the iPhone 6 reception is what matters right now (the iWatch is also expected to come this year, but we expect very limited supply)," Macquarie Capital analysts wrote in a note.

Macquarie maintained its "outperform" rating on Apple's stock, but raised its price target to $102 from $95.

Of the 53 analysts covering the stock, 43 have a "buy" or higher rating, 9 have a "hold" and just one has a "sell" rating, according to StarMine data.

Analysts expect a staggered launch of new iPhones, with a 4.7-inch flagship launching late September, followed by a 5.5-inch phablet around November.

Evercore analysts said they expected Apple to sell about 37 million iPhones across models in the September quarter and 62 million in the December quarter, driven by pent-up demand for a larger-screen iPhone.

"We believe that a larger screen iPhone, combined with Apple's strength in software and ecosystem, will be well received in the market and will drive unit growth," BMO Capital Markets analysts wrote in a note.

Apple's shares have risen about 55 percent in the past 12 months.

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Video shows supposed 4.7-inch 'iPhone 6' display scratched by sandpaper, suggests not sapphire

In a video posted to YouTube late Friday, a part purported to be Apple's "iPhone 6" cover glass was again exposed to a torture test, this time failing to resist scratches from garnet sandpaper, a material softer than sapphire.

As seen in the above screenshot, the part supposedly bound for Apple's iPhone 6 shows surface scratches after being rubbed by garnet sandpaper, suggesting the glass is not made of sapphire. In the video, YouTuber Marques Brownlee also shows the cover glass failing to resist scratches from emery sandpaper, which is much harder than garnet.

Brownlee goes on to explain the Mohs scale of relative hardness, noting a material with a higher rating cannot be scratched by one assigned a lower number. For example, sapphire — rated 9 out of 10 on the Mohs scale — cannot be scratched by garnet, which is a 7. Emery is a mixture of corundum and magnetite and is assigned an 8 on the Mohs scale.

The only mineral harder than sapphire, itself a form of corundum, is diamond with a relative hardness of 10 on the Mohs scale.

Further proving his point, Brownlee takes the same sandpaper to the iPhone 5s, known to sport a screen made from Corning's Gorilla Glass. While the display area is easily scratched, the sapphire-covered Touch ID home button comes out unscathed. 

With this latest test, it appears the alleged 4.7-inch iPhone 6 part is not made of sapphire as many have speculated, and Brownlee himself stated as fact in a previous video. 

At this time, the material used to make the cover glass is unknown, though Brownlee proposes Apple has employed a sapphire laminate patent to create a "composite involving sapphire." That specific IP, however, describes a method of fabrication specifically designed to overcome the type of surface scratches seen in the video, while at the same time offering superior flexibility and impact resistance. 

Another important question to ask is whether the component is even a legitimate Apple part. The answer should come this fall when the company is expected to debut its next-generation iPhone lineup.

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iPhone 5s Sales Best Newer Galaxy S5

Eight months after its launch, Apple's iPhone 5s is still the most popular smartphone in the world, beating out the newer Samsung Galaxy S5, according to new data from Counterpoint Research.

The market research firm's survey of 35 countries, released this week, reveals that the iPhone 5s was the best-selling smartphone in May, while the Samsung Galaxy S5 $99.99 at Amazon, which came out less than three month ago, took second place. In fact, Samsung's latest flagship is "still a quite distant number two in terms of (sell through) unit sales," Counterpoint said.

Meanwhile, Samsung's Galaxy S4 came in third place and its Note 3 came in fourth, beating out the iPhone 5c, which came in at No. 5 for the month.

"iPhone 5c shipments continue to decline but Apple continued clearing excess inventory for the iPhone 5c during the month," Counterpoint said. "Apple iPhone 5c sales put it behind Samsung's last year's flagship Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3."

Rounding out the top 10 smartphones for the month were: Apple's older iPhone 4s in sixth place, followed by Xiaomi's MI3,Samsung's Galaxy S4 Mini $0.01 at Amazon, Xiaomi's Hongmi Redrice, and Samsung's Galaxy Grand 2.

"There are now 3 phablets in the top 10 list, which reflects the ongoing trend of larger displays," Counterpoint said. "Almost 40 percent of the smartphones sold in May were phablets according to Counterpoint's channel research across 35 countries."

If Apple releases a phablet later this year, which is widely expected, the handset will "instantly become a hit and top the list of phablets within two months of availability," Counterpoint predicted.

Meanwhile, Sony's Xperia Z1 narrowly missed the top 10, the company added. Motorola's Moto G $176.72 at Amazon, Huawei's Honor 3C, and LG's G2 all made the top 20.

"Next month we expect to see the Nokia X in the ranks of bestsellers as it is moving up fast after just two months of sales," Counterpoint said.

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iPhone 5S, 5C disabled fix with bypass

Apple devices have a reputation for being pretty reliable but as with other smartphones, sometimes things can go wrong. The one thing we all dread with our devices is seeing the disabled screen appear. This can be daunting, leaving many of us wondering what to do next. With this in mind we have a video to share today that shows an iPhone 5S and 5C disabled fix with a bypass, and also a method for older iOS devices.

Below this story we have embedded a YouTube video from OneMinuteTutorial (although the video is 6-minutes long). This will help you to bypass iPhone 5S and 5C disabled screen with clear and easy step-by-step instructions as you go.

If you have the misfortune to see the “iPhone is disabled” message on your phone, simply follow this iPhone 5S and 5C disabled fix, which can also be applied to other iPhones and iOS devices running iOS 7 or later. The video shows how to fix this problem for older devices with the regular charging cord, as well as iPhones with the newer type of cord.

Both methods involve factory restoring the iPhone, and you should know that this means that any data on the phone is lost. However, at least you will then be able to use the device again. The video first shows the fix on the older iPhone 4S and you’ll see screenshots showing exactly what you should expect along the way. It goes on to demonstrate the fix for the iPhone 5 and up, and this time it’s easier to put the phone into DFU mode.

If you follow the procedures shown you will be able to restore your iPhone and use it again. Now you can breathe that big sigh of relief! If you have the misfortune of seeing your handset disabled, let us know if you manage to restore it by following the iPhone disabled fix video below.

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iPhone 6 Rumor Roundup: Specs, Pricing, Rumors, Release Date, News and Updates

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 20: The gold version of the iPhone 5S is displayed at an Apple store on September 20, 2013 in New York City. Apple launched two new models of iPhone: the iPhone 5S, which is preceded by the iPhone 5, and a cheaper, paired down version, the iPhone 5C. The Gold version of the phone has reportedly become one of the hardest to find and orders are backed-up into October. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images) (Photo : Getty)

As summer nears its midpoint, the annual frenzy over what new features Apple's next iPhone will sport is already kicking into high gear. It is a foregone conclusion that Apple will indeed launch a new iPhone this fall (maybe even two) per their usual tradition.

However, what remains unknown is just exactly how much this device will differ from all of the previous iPhones before it. According to some, the hardware just might be the most radical departure from previous iPhone versions we have ever seen.

In case you haven't heard the latest rumors surrounding the iPhone 6, we've compiled a list of everything you need to know to be up to date. What to Expect

According to Mac Rumors, the iPhone 6's screen size is one of the most hotly anticipated changes to be made on the device--actually, devices. That's right. Apple is purportedly going to release not one, but two new iPhones this fall. First to be released this September will be a 4.7 inch model of the iPhone 6, shortly followed by a 5.5 inch version to be released in time for the 2014 holiday season. 

The reason for the change is obvious: the success of larger phones sold by makers like Samsung have demonstrated the demand for larger phones,something Apple acknowledged, albeit begrudgingly, in the past. Apple already aquiesced somewhat by increasing the iPhone 5's screen size to 4 inches, but it looks like that wasn't enough.  

The two new models are expected to also have an increased screen resolution, "possibly at 1704 x 906," reports Mac Rumors. Apple is also reportedly going to use sapphire crystal instead of glass to cover the new displays, which would make the devices stronger and less susceptible to cracking upon impact. 

New Design

Aside from the device being larger than before, it is also expected (through recent progress in LED technology) to be thinner and lighter than in previous versions, perhaps by as much as 0.2 mm.

It is also postulated, by Mac Rumors and others, that by increasing the screen area Apple can actually make the phone even thinner by providing designers with more real estate to work with. If that is true, the iPhone 6 "could be nearly as thin as the iPod touch," reports Mac Rumors. 

The new models should also feature the obligatory performance upgrades to the processor and camera. The iPhone 6 is rumored to feature an upgraded 20-nanometer A8 chip manufactured by TSMC, and is expected to be smaller as well as peform better on power consumption.  

As for the camera, some believe it might still sport just an 8-megapixel sensor, though, as with the iPhone 5, significant improvements to image quality are anticipated simply via incremental technological improvements.

Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) is one such improvement that may find its way onto the two new models. OIS mitigates the hand motion of the user during photographs and videos, and thus produces better images. 

Other Features

Additional rumored features include upgraded Wi-Fi support for the new 802.11ac standard and perhaps NFC support (Near Field Communication) for mobile payments. 

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Weak smartphone sales to hurt Samsung's profit

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd has issued unexpectedly weak quarterly earnings guidance which put it on track for its worst results in two years and cast doubt on the smartphone leader's strategy against cheaper Chinese rivals.

Though the South Korean company said it saw better business conditions in the third quarter, it faces slowing market growth, intensifying price competition at the lower end and the looming threat of Apple Inc's next iPhone.

"The earnings deliver a harsh reality check to Samsung that it is not Apple, but Samsung. Its strategy of selling phones at expensive prices will not work anymore, as Chinese rivals also offer good enough phones at much cheaper prices," Lee Seung-woo, a technology analyst at IBK Securities, said.

"Samsung needs to review its smartphone strategy," he said.

While smartphones drove Samsung to record profits last year, the market is maturing. Research firm IDC predicts global shipments growth will slow to 19.3% this year from 39.2% in 2013, while average sales prices will also drop.

Some analysts said Samsung may have no choice but to slash prices for mid-to-low tier devices, where growth is stronger, to go after Chinese rivals such as Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and Lenovo Group Ltd. While that would help defend market share it would also hurt margins, curbing its earnings recovery in the short term.

The company said it "cautiously expects" a better third-quarter outlook with the release of a new smartphone lineup, lower marketing costs and a seasonal lift in demand for its memory business. Its flagship Galaxy Note 4 is expected to hit the market in September.

Samsung's second-quarter guidance was well below the mean forecast of 8.3 trillion won from a Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S survey of 38 analysts.

CIMB analyst Lee Do-hoon, one of the few to accurately predict Samsung's second-quarter guidance, said the company appeared to be taking longer to address challenges it is facing in the mid-to-low end of the market. He did not expect a meaningful third-quarter earnings recovery and predicted that analysts would cut their forecasts.

"Samsung has been talking about strengthening its mid-to-low tier lineup but we found that this has not happened yet and will take more time," he said.

Shares in Samsung, down more than 10% since the start of June through Monday, rose as much as 2.1% after the earnings guidance, as some analysts said the second-quarter results may mark a low point in earnings. The stock later gave back much of that gain.

Sagging profits
Samsung estimated on Tuesday that its April-June operating profit likely fell 24.5% from a year earlier to 7.2 trillion won ($7.12 billion), the sharpest percentage drop since the first quarter of 2011 and the weakest level since a 6.5 trillion won profit in the second quarter of 2012.

The figure, which marks the third straight quarter of annual profit decline, was far below market expectations as sales fell for the first time since the company adopted new accounting standards in 2009.

In a separate statement, Samsung said second-quarter earnings would be hit by slower global smartphone market growth, competition in China, inventory buildup in Europe and the strength of the South Korea's Won which appreciated by around 9% on average against the dollar during the second quarter.

But analysts on average expect the streak of on-year profit declines to extend into the third quarter, with Apple widely tipped to launch a successor to the iPhone 5 to compete with Samsung's high-end smartphones. The prior year's record 10.2 trillion won profit could also be difficult to beat.

"Samsung is most competitive in the mid-to-high end products, but market demand is being driven in the lower-tier end where the biggest issue is price," said HMC Investment analyst Greg Roh.

"I think problems for the company's mobile division will continue in the third quarter."

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Uncharged iPhones & iPads banned from US flights

UK travellers flying to the United States are being ordered to ensure their smartphones and tablets are fully charged before passing through airport security.

The directive has been introduced as part of a move to step up aviation security. The measures are being introduced by the US Department of Homeland Security and enforced in the UK by the Department for Transport.

The US Department of Homeland Security has not specified why the measures are being introduced, only that the move is part of its ongoing work to promote aviation security.

At the time of writing, the UK terrorist threat level is unchanged, and remains “substantial.”

In a statement, it said: “We are sharing recent and relevant information with our foreign allies and are consulting the aviation industry.

“These communications are an important part of our commitment to providing our security partners with situational awareness about the current environment and protecting the travelling public.”

As a result, travellers are being warned that – as part of the existing screening process for electronic devices – they may be asked to switch on their devices.

If the devices can’t be switched on because they have flat batteries or are defective, travellers will have to leave them behind and possibly face additional screening measures.

At present, the new rules are being introduced at a selection of airports that operate direct flights to the USA, and have prompted calls for people to give themselves even more time to pass through airport security.

At present, UK travellers preparing for long-haul flights to the United States are requested to arrive and check-in at the airport at least three hours before they are due to take-off.

The US Department of Homeland Security added that it will be working to ensure passenger disruption is kept to a minimum as a result of the new rules.

In a separate statement, the Department for Transport said it would not be commenting “in detail” on the changes, and assured passengers that the vast majority of them will not suffer “significant disruption” as a result of the move.

“The safety and security of the public is our paramount concern. The UK has some of the most robust aviation security measures and we will continue to take all the steps necessary to ensure that public safety is maintained,” it added.

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A closer look at how Windows Phone is still hampered by the app gap

As the third most popular smartphone platform, it is difficult for Windows Phone to attract as many top developers as Android and iOS do through its tiny market share. As a result, it is not uncommon for popular titles to be unavailable in the store long after their launch on Google Play and Apple's store. Sometimes, popular titles do not arrive at all. It is a sad state of affairs, as it directly affects the reach Microsoft's platform can enjoy. But, wait – it gets worse.

A new comparison reveals that of the 25 top free offerings in Apple App Store, Windows Phone Store only offers six of them: Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Facebook, Pandora, Spotify, and WhatsApp. Of the remaining 19 titles, 13 are games. I honestly expected to see Windows Phone missing a couple of apps, but definitely not this many. Put differently, 76 per cent of the 25 top free iOS apps are not available officially on Windows Phone. It is surreal.

Of course, Windows Phone developers can narrow the gap through third-party offerings, but even so we are still looking at only a couple more titles that the platform can tout. I have to agree with Windows Phone Central's Sam Sabri, who says that quite a few games are fads, but, as he points out, "they're fads that Windows Phone owners are going to miss out on. While you may never want to play Kim Kardashian: Hollywood on Windows Phone, a potential customer might and will choose the platform that has it now. Windows Phone then loses out on the sale because a game that's popular today isn't on the platform". You are right there, Sam.

Things do not necessarily get better when we look at the top 100 free iOS apps. Sabri identifies 22 apps, not including games (of which there are many), which Windows Phone Store currently does not offer. Being a Windows Phone user myself, I have to say that this list is actually more relevant as it features titles like Google Maps, SoundCloud, Gmail, Tinder, Uber, Yahoo Mail, Dropbox, Google Translate, Fitbit and Google Chrome, among others. Those are hardly fads, and will continue to appear on the list even during World Cup 2014, or the next Flappy Bird-inspired game craze.

As I have pointed out in past articles, there is also the problem of the so-called feature gap between Android, iOS titles and Windows Phone counterparts. While developers may release their apps on the third most popular platform, those titles are, quite often, missing the feel and features users on the two other platforms get to enjoy. It is a sad practice, and one that does not appear about to go away with time.

(And, while we are at it, let us drop the sad – and unfounded – excuse that Windows Phone users do not care about popular apps. That is something that has been perpetuated by fanboys and apologists in forums and comments sections, and it is time to put an end to it).

As a Windows Phone user, it is only natural I am rooting for the platform. With the launch of Windows Phone 8.1, Microsoft gets a lot of things right and, hopefully, more popular apps will make their way into the store, and more users will, at least, give serious consideration to the idea of embracing Windows Phone.