“The nearer we get to the launch of each new iPhone the velocity and accuracy of rumors about it also increase — this doesn’t mean all the claims are true, but here are some relatively credible details we heard in the last week or so,” Jonny Evans reports for Computerworld.
“Macworld UK cites its own source who claims the new iPhone 6 ‘looks more like a small iPad mini than an iPhone 5s,'” Evans reports. “There’s always a flurry of images claiming to depict iPhone components. One of this week’s most popular sets tells us to expect recessed volume buttons and a scratch-resistant Apple logo.”
“I love the Optrix PhotoProX lens system for iPhones as it lets you use a range of additional lenses for better images,” Evans writes. “Apple has a patent for a similar system. This week we were told the lens on the iPhone 6 protrudes slightly from the body — might Apple or others offer lens kits designed to fit securely around this?”
Much more in the full article here.
NFC is possible, but not necessary. iBeacon shows Bluetooth 4/LE is just as good but better, because you don’t have to “kiss” anything with your device. And the idea that near-field limitation is “safer” is also pointless. I am doing banking transactions via my iPhone hundreds of meters away from cell tower and it does not lower safety of transactions even a slightest.
There’s more to NFC than just buying stuff. It’s widely used for public transit systems allowing passengers to quickly pass through ticket barriers, and in the case of London’s TfL Oyster Card, it can be used on the Tube, surface rail and buses.
Similar systems are being introduced in other British cities, and I believe there are other NFC ticket systems in North America and other parts of the world.
Being able to link your Oyster or other system account to an app that utilises the phone’s NFC system would be of huge benefit to travellers, especially people who travel globally, who could then have a whole series of passes available on a single device.
What would makes such a system even more advantageous is the fact that carrying a number of cards, like bank cards, keyless security cards and Oyster-type cards can cause transit systems to fail to recognise the passenger due to interference from other NFC cards; there are notices to this effect on the London Tube system.
It could also be linked to home security systems, and possibly even business security passes; I use an NFC/RFID card countless times a day to access various rooms at work, it should be possible to use a phone for the same purpose, perhaps with Touch ID, and for home, and even car keyless access.
This is such an obvious use of NFC technology, I fail to understand why others write it off.
Perhaps I’m not as blinkered to the variety of uses this tech opens up as so many others clearly are.
I’m sure Apple can see this, too.