Apple launches new AR experience for Apple Pay/Samsung Galaxy MWC event held on June 28

Apple has launched a new augmented reality experience designed to promote its Apple Pay Express Transportation feature. Apple has added a new AR feature to its Apple Pay website that highlights Apple Pay for Express Transportation in New York City, while there's also a new Apple-designed filter in Snapchat. On the Apple Pay website, Apple says you can now take a virtual tour with Apple Pay to experience the platform in augmented reality. Tapping the option launches the AR experience directly in Safari. Whether you actually live in New York or not, this experience is available all over the world. You can "tap" your iPhone on a New York City subway turnstile to enter an augmented reality experience that simulates a subway trip from Brooklyn to Manhattan, including viewing the New York City skyline.

Quite a few manufacturers have pulled out of physical events at this year's MWC, and Samsung is one of them. While it won't be holding an in-person event and won't be showing off any products, Samsung will have a virtual event, the date of which has now been revealed. The Samsung Galaxy MWC virtual event is scheduled for June 28. According to a press release on its Korean website, Samsung will unveil its "expanding ecosystem of Galaxy devices." The company will also unveil its vision for the future of smartwatches.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Hyundai Motor Group said on the 21st that it had acquired an 80% stake in Boston Dynamics from Japan's SoftBank Group. The deal was first disclosed at the end of 2020 and valued the latter at US$1.1 billion. The two companies have not yet disclosed any future financial details. Hyundai currently owns 80% of Boston Dynamics, which previously belonged to SoftBank.

Google is reportedly closing its self-operated startup space in London, known as Campus. The Silicon Valley tech giant announced on Monday that it has decided "not to reopen" Campus in East London after it was forced to close due to the coronavirus pandemic. "We are closing Campus to support startups across the UK," the company said, claiming that it can support startups across the country without a physical space.