A new version of PayPal for Android smartphones is bringing its spin on mobile money transfers to Android.

PayPal 2.0 for Android adds Bump technology, which debits money from one user's account and credits another when two phones are tapped together. Of course, both smartphones need a Bump-enabled PayPal app to work. PayPal with Bump is currently available on the iPhone, so buddies wishing to settle accounts can digitally do so despite using different mobile platforms. Digital payment of this sort is a much more elegant solution than Square, as cool as that credit card-reading peripheral may be.

In addition to adding a Bump component, the update allows you to withdraw money from your account and request a payment; two key features that had previously been absent. It also inserts a tip calculator to split the bill (and request your companions to fork over their share.) PayPal 2.0 also adds a scheduling component so you can set payment reminders for rent and bills.

You'll find the free PayPal 2.0 for Android app in the App Market.

Originally posted at Android Atlas

Let me preface this review by saying I'm a lifelong Trekkie. While I've stopped short of attending conventions, I have purchased posters, novels, and even the CD soundtracks from several of the movies. Sometimes I'll listen to James Horner's "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" score just driving around town. That's right: I'm a big enough Trek nerd that I know who the composer is.

Consequently, I was excited--OK, geeked--to check out Star Trek Captain's Log, a new "official" app from Paramount Pictures. After all, is the iPhone not the ultimate communicator/tricorder hybrid? Surely some kind of kick-ass companion app is long overdue.

This ain't it. Captain's Log is, at heart, a voice recorder, one that lets you create voice, text, and photo notes tagged with GPS-mapped locations--then share those "logs" on Facebook, Twitter, etc. It also provides a rotating, 360-degree external view of the Enterprise for some reason.

I'm not saying the app isn't functional, just that it's lame. The interface draws its design not from the "Star Trek" of old, but rather from last year's movie reboot. To me it looks plain and uninviting. Takes a little while to figure out, too.

What's more, you can't even use the app without first supplying your name and e-mail address. That's not a Prime Directive violation, per se, but it sure is annoying.

To record a log, you enter a title ("Bored in Toledo," for example), then record audio, an image, and/or some text. The app provides a handful of movie sound effects (such as phasers firing) you can use in place of your own audio, though I'm not sure why you'd want to. Likewise, you can insert a photo of, say, Uhura or the Enterprise crew if you don't want to snap or attach a photo of your own.

Curiously, the number of stock Trek photos suddenly decreased after I created my first log. For example, there was a cool one of the Enterprise firing its phasers--but it later vanished from the list. Who knew the future was so buggy?

As for the rotating Enterprise thing, it just seems like a pointless add-on. It does nothing except let you view the ship from every angle (using your finger or the iPhone 4's gyroscope to circle around it).

Captain's Log is currently on sale for 99 cents, down from $1.99. Neither price will break anybody's bank, but I do think the app will disappoint all but the most die-hard Trekkies. You know, the ones who do go to conventions.

Think I'm being too harsh? Think J.J. Abrams' reboot was overrated? Think I'm on the money on both counts? Hit the comments and let's talk Trek!

Originally posted at iPhone Atlas

Multiprotocol instant messaging client Digsby has sparked some controversy in the past, but that's not going to stop it from continuing to push out new features in an effort to improve user experience on the front end. The latest build of Digsby, set to push out later today, will include a much anticipated group chat functionality as well as some updates to its social networking features.

Group chat might be one of the most anticipated extras currently unavailable on Digsby. With the new build, you'll be able to create or join chat rooms on AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, MSN, Google Talk, and Jabber. The top right corner of the window will feature a room list button that takes you into the chat rooms, or you can create rooms under the Digsby > New Group Chat menu.

In addition, the service has revamped its LinkedIn connection with a redesign that's powered by the business networking site's new API, which allows you to comment on posts among other things. Also, Digsby has added Like/Dislike support to MySpace newsfeed items, but since the site doesn't have actual word buttons integrated on the front end, the functionality will simply add the text "like" or "dislike" to the comment section.

More information is available at the Digsby Blog.