“We’ve received a tip about an unexpected application for the NFC chip Apple is expected to build into the iPhone 5,” Leander Kahney reports for The Cult of Mac.
“Near Field Communication (NFC) is a short-range wireless connection technology that would turn the iPhone into an electronic wallet or security passkey,” Kahney reports. “NFC is already in use in Asia and is expected to explode here in the next three to five years, especially if Apple adopts the technology. NFC has been rumored for the iPhone 5, and Apple appears to be gearing up for a NFC revolution. It has made a lot of NFC hires, including a a leading NFC expert and has patented a lot of NFC technology.”
Kahney reports, “If the iPhone 5 does have NFC, applications like an eWallet are a no-brainer. But we’ve been told that Apple is also researching NFC for remote computing. For example, a NFC iPhone will allow users to carry a lot of their desktop data and settings with them — and load that data onto a compatible Mac. If users wave a NFC-equipped iPhone at a NFC Mac (they need to be in close proximity to interact), the Mac will load all their applications, settings and data. It will be as though they are sitting at their own machine at home or work. When the user leaves, and the NFC-equipped iPhone is out of range, the host machine returns to its previous state.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Hence the, or a major, need for billion-dollar data centers?
I already predicted the portable Home directory when Apple first announced the SD card slots – carry your Home stuff around on that card. This is similar, but now you don’t have to mess with a card.
Presumably, the connection is encrypted, and the NFC, emphasizes “NEAR”.
Presumably, the connection is encrypted, and the NFC, emphasizes “NEAR”.
This would be a cool trick. I suppose there are other, as yet unthought of uses as well.
This would be a cool trick. I suppose there are other, as yet unthought of uses as well.
I suppose I could load my work door pass card and my transit card on my phone.
I suppose I could load my work door pass card and my transit card on my phone.
KenC…ever been to Hong Kong?
Near is like 10 centimeters at most… Guess 5 cm is closer to the mark.
Likely you have to put your phone on top of a small reader to make contact.
KenC…ever been to Hong Kong?
Near is like 10 centimeters at most… Guess 5 cm is closer to the mark.
Likely you have to put your phone on top of a small reader to make contact.
@ Luc Scholte van Mast
what are centimeters?
(lol)
@ Luc Scholte van Mast
what are centimeters?
(lol)
I remember once about hearing about this from Apple. Several years ago. I believe it was then thought to be: you have a USB driver, plug this into “any” MAC and you get your settings/apps, etc. Would be great for shared workspaces (schools, etc). Then, I though they talked about/tinkered about this with the iPod: similar thing, you could plug your iPod into “any” machine and have data/apps, etc readily available.
Only problem I see (true even today). Loose your iPhone, loose all your data. Cloud yet to be reliable either. Maybe someday. . . .
I remember once about hearing about this from Apple. Several years ago. I believe it was then thought to be: you have a USB driver, plug this into “any” MAC and you get your settings/apps, etc. Would be great for shared workspaces (schools, etc). Then, I though they talked about/tinkered about this with the iPod: similar thing, you could plug your iPod into “any” machine and have data/apps, etc readily available.
Only problem I see (true even today). Loose your iPhone, loose all your data. Cloud yet to be reliable either. Maybe someday. . . .
The phone will not likely carry around all your data but just the credentials to that data (and perhaps some smaller items). The data will all be in the cloud and downloadable to the Mac in front of the waving iPhone.
I wonder how long it will take to get everything transferred from the cloud to the local Mac? Certainly the UI will include the ability to be selective about what gets transferred on an event by event basis… and based on the software loaded on the mac? … WAIT… The software apps can also be installed from the cloud based on what I’ve already purchased!
THAT would be so sweet! This would make upgrading local machines for more computing power a breeze as well… and backups… a thing of the past!
WOOHOO!!
The phone will not likely carry around all your data but just the credentials to that data (and perhaps some smaller items). The data will all be in the cloud and downloadable to the Mac in front of the waving iPhone.
I wonder how long it will take to get everything transferred from the cloud to the local Mac? Certainly the UI will include the ability to be selective about what gets transferred on an event by event basis… and based on the software loaded on the mac? … WAIT… The software apps can also be installed from the cloud based on what I’ve already purchased!
THAT would be so sweet! This would make upgrading local machines for more computing power a breeze as well… and backups… a thing of the past!
WOOHOO!!
“It will be as though they are sitting at their own machine at home or work.”
So, no one is talking about an NFC equipped iPad 2?
Talk about a match made in heaven!
“It will be as though they are sitting at their own machine at home or work.”
So, no one is talking about an NFC equipped iPad 2?
Talk about a match made in heaven!
MDN, what does NFC have to do with a data center? All of the communication would take place between the iPhone and the Mac, an Internet connection wouldn’t even be necessary.
MDN, what does NFC have to do with a data center? All of the communication would take place between the iPhone and the Mac, an Internet connection wouldn’t even be necessary.
You said: “Apple will no longer need Akamai or Limelight once their data center is fully operational.”
Sorry friend, but that’s not a good idea. You never want to concentrate all data processing in one location – potentially, that’s a single point of failure. If North Carolina suffers a major power outage, the data center is out too. Akamai serves a critical need by having data centers scattered all over the country, both for load sharing and bandwidth efficiency as well as to survive potential disasters and outages.
You said: “Apple will no longer need Akamai or Limelight once their data center is fully operational.”
Sorry friend, but that’s not a good idea. You never want to concentrate all data processing in one location – potentially, that’s a single point of failure. If North Carolina suffers a major power outage, the data center is out too. Akamai serves a critical need by having data centers scattered all over the country, both for load sharing and bandwidth efficiency as well as to survive potential disasters and outages.
Sickk.
Sickk.
When I worked at Sun, they had a similar set-up with their workstations. It wasn’t near field, but you inserted a card into a reader then typed in your username and password for additional authentication. The card only stored your credentials. I would bounce around from Menlo Park, Santa Clara, to SF and could use any available station right where I left off. The boost in productivity was amazing since I didn’t need to shut down, start-up and reload everything each and everytime.
I could definitely see Apple employing a very similar solution with an iPhone NFC+iTunes account combination. Take it a step-up for MobileMe users with an iPhone NFC+iSight/FaceTime camera on a local public Mac with remote connection to your personal iPhoto library facial recognition for instant authentication and access. Add in a master password if you need to protect more sensitive data. Now that would be pretty cool.
When I worked at Sun, they had a similar set-up with their workstations. It wasn’t near field, but you inserted a card into a reader then typed in your username and password for additional authentication. The card only stored your credentials. I would bounce around from Menlo Park, Santa Clara, to SF and could use any available station right where I left off. The boost in productivity was amazing since I didn’t need to shut down, start-up and reload everything each and everytime.
I could definitely see Apple employing a very similar solution with an iPhone NFC+iTunes account combination. Take it a step-up for MobileMe users with an iPhone NFC+iSight/FaceTime camera on a local public Mac with remote connection to your personal iPhoto library facial recognition for instant authentication and access. Add in a master password if you need to protect more sensitive data. Now that would be pretty cool.