“Apple adding support for Near Field Communication (NFC) tags in iOS 11 means that all iPhone 7 and newer will be able to read NFC tags just like Android,” Dennis Sellers writes for Apple World Today.
Sellers writes, “This is the moment many have been waiting for and signals a fundamental change in the industry and for consumers, according to Paula Hunter, executive director of the NFC Forum.”
Think explosion in Internet-of-things, retail, public transport, automotive smartphone use cases for consumers. — Paula Hunter
Read more in the full article here.
“NFC could open up more ways for iOS apps to communicate with connected devices and iPhones could also replace NFC-based keycards or transit passes like London’s Oyster card and the Bay Area’s Clipper card,” Andrew Dalton writes for Engadget. “In theory, Core NFC could also enable functions like tap-to-pair Bluetooth speakers — something Android users have been enjoying for awhile now — but it’s possible Apple could block such features to keep the ‘magic’ pairing experience limited to AirPods and other devices with its proprietary W1 chip.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: We expect that Apple thought long and hard about how to maintain users’ privacy with the addition of NFC tag support in iOS.
What are tags used for primarily?
among other things
Info tags to scan and take you to a site or give info. Access Control tags like logging into a door, you can scan the tag and see what the number is and assigned to a user correctly, etc.
NFC security has been a horrific problem for many years. (No, I won’t provide my usual lecture on the subject). I suspect that Apple will be applying it to less security-crucial purposes, as noted above. Using it for financial and login purposes without user approval or interaction is not going to happen, not from Apple anyway. That’s a good thing.
There is no such thing as a non-security-critical purpose in computing.
True. Note that Derek said “less” security-critical. I think you both agree.
And your point regarding NFC is what? Presumably you’re agreeing that NFC security is NOT to be expected?
Derek you saved us the lecture! That’s hella good! Please keep that up sir! 🙂
http://cdn.rsvlts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/crying-baby.jpeg
iPhones can already be used instead of Oyster cards on the London Underground.
Exactly I was wondering if I missed something there.
Perhaps those Oyster cards are designed to appear (to ApplePay) as ordinary debit cards? After all, in practical terms, that is what they are (you put money on them, and then use it by taking train trips). In essence, it is a financial transaction, hence ApplePay.
Opening up the NFC would allow non-financial transactions, such as unlocking cars, doors or other devices, authenticating people (coupled with TouchID), etc.
Derek! That crying baby looks like Bezos! Or is that you when you were an infant? Anyway, your usage here gave me a hearty chuckle. Thank you.