The iPhone 5 has arrived, and it's pretty great. But I can't shake this nagging feeling that Apple could have done more.
A week ago, CNET's David Carnoy penned a great roundup of the most-wanted features that didn't make it into the iPhone 5. It seemed like easy pickings for a Top 5 video, so I imposed a ranking, stood in front of a camera, and created the video you see before you (click here if you don't see a video at the top of this … Read more
The newest version of Spotify's mobile app now features a NFC (near-field communication) sharing ability. This new feature allows users to share albums, artists, playlists, profiles, or search results by tapping NFC-enabled Android devices together. However, it's worth noting that to get the best use of this feature, you'll want to be on a Premium Spotify membership so any shared music content can be played.
To get started, you'll first want to make sure that NFC is supported and turned on for both devices. To do this, press the menu button and then Settings. When the … Read more
And why not? "Passbook does the kinds of things customers need today," Apple vp Phil Schiller told AllThingsD this afternoon.
He also offered a few digs at wireless charging systems, questioning the amount of convenience they offer users.
"Having to create another device you have to plug into the wall is actually, for most situations, more complicated," Schiller said.
This is more than a case of "not invented here.&… Read more
Your smartphone is going to get more adept at handling money, but maybe not in quite the way you've been imagining it would.
There's been a lot of talk lately about mobile payments and how new apps or NFC technology will let you pay for things with your smartphone. But the truth is that this market is less about finding a new way for you to pay for things and more about offering you an easier way to carry and redeem coupons and special offers.
What's the most successful mobile payment system to date? It's an … Read more
Though it's increasingly less certain that near field communication (NFC) will appear in the iPhone 5, it's a technology that's built into a lot of high-profile products already. So, what is it exactly? And how relevant is it today?
What is NFC? NFC is a short-range wireless connectivity technology that uses magnetic-field induction to enable communication between electronic devices in close proximity. (Faraday's law: any change in the magnetic environment of a coil of wire will cause a voltage to be induced in the coil.)
NFC can operate in three modes, according to an NFC whitepaper: … Read more
Will the iPhone 5 support mobile payments via NFC? A report out yesterday from the folks at AnandTech says no.
Alleged photos of the iPhone 5's assembly posted by Taiwan-based blog Apple.pro pointed to a part that not seen in previous photos. The dimensions of the part reportedly matched those of certain NFC chips, leading to speculation that the mystery component could be an NFC chip.
The addition of electronic ticket organizer Passbook to iOS 6 also fueled rumors that the new iPhone would let users make mobile payments using near-field communications.
But AnandTech has discounted both of … Read more
Apple has won a patent that adds another piece to the puzzle of mobile payments via near-field communications.
Dubbed "Motion based payment confirmation," the new patent details several ways to help the user confirm that a mobile transaction has actually been completed while using a mobile device like an iPhone or iPod.
One method points to a graphical element on the screen that the user can move to confirm or decline a transaction. Another method cites the use of an accelerometer to sense movement of the device and move the graphical element in response.
Artwork in the patent … Read more
The iPhone 5 will sport the usual home button, front camera, and a currently unidentified component that could be an NFC chip, according to AppleInsider.
Scouring photos posted by Taiwan-based blog Apple.pro (English translation), AppleInsider discovered a part that had not appeared in previous photos. The size of the part has lead to speculation that it could be a chip for near-field communication, or NFC.
Positioned next to the front camera, the square part matches the size of other NFC chips, such as the one made by NXP, AppleInsider noted. Of course, the photos by themselves don't prove … Read more
Hate thumbing e-mails on your phone? Japan's Elecom is launching One2Touch's portable keyboard that connects with your handset via near field communication (NFC). When you don't need it, just fold it up and slip it into your pocket.
Announced earlier this year, the silicone rubber accessory is billed as the word's first full-size keyboard for smartphones that does without cables, pairing, and battery charging; the internal battery lasts about 18 months. … Read more
One of the many drawbacks to using Google Wallet as a true wallet replacement was the inability to add a Visa, American Express, or Discover card as a payment option. You were either limited to using a prepaid card Google provided you with, adding money to it each time you wanted to use it. Or, you had to own a MasterCard.
But, with the update Google just released, users can now add any debit or credit card to their Google Wallet account, and use it to make purchases with their NFC equipped Android device.
The update takes all of the … Read more
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