Is $1 per year too much? Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

WhatsApp will ditch the service’s annual subscription fees, after founder Jan Koum admitted that the $1 per year payment concept “doesn’t work that well.”

As a result of ditching the payment model, Koum explained that WhatsApp will be looking at new ways that businesses can use the service to connect with individual users, although it’s important that this is done without spamming people with ads. He noted that, “We haven’t written a single line of code yet” for the new service.

Apple beat Samsung to be named one of U.A.E.’s top brands. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Apple has beaten Samsung to claim one of the top three places in the United Arab Emirates’ Annual BrandIndex Buzz Rankings — knocking Samsung from its previous No. 1 position down to No. 4.

That wasn’t Apple’s sole placement on the list either, since the iPhone (placed at No. 7) was the only handset brand named. Other notable tech entries included Google, Facebook, WhatsApp and YouTube.

Android Pay rewards are here! Photo: Darrin Rich

Google’s answer to Apple Pay may have been late to the game, but it’s already leading the way with a new rewards program — and it’s awesome.

Dubbed “Tap 10,” the program offers up free Google Play content simply for using Android Pay on a regular basis, and there’s even a mention of Chromecast giveaways.

Will it be these two? Photo: Nintendo

Nintendo’s first smartphone game was nowhere near as exciting as we all expected it to be, but the Japanese company promises it has greater things up its sleeve for 2016.

Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima has confirmed plans to bring the characters we know and love to mobile titles this year, but we’ll have to wait to find out which faces we will see.

Bad news, those who use proxies! Photo: Netflix

In news that is sure to disappoint some, Netflix is cracking down on customers who use proxies or “unblockers” to trick the streaming video service into thinking they’re in a different country as a way of accessing extra content.