NFC

With the introduction of iOS 15, it seems we're getting some major updates to Apple Wallet as well. There's no doubt that most of us have heard of ultra-wideband an increasing amount over the last couple of years, and now Apple is indicating once again that soon Apple Wallet will support ultra-wideband keys. On top of that, Apple Wallet will soon be able to hold a copy of your ID too, and you'll never guess what one of the first organizations to support digital Apple Wallet IDs will be.

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Most vehicles made within the last handful of years have built-in tire pressure monitoring systems that alert drivers if their tires are low. Low pressure impacts the performance of the tires and reduces fuel economy. Mountain bikers who have wished their bike tires could monitor their own tire pressure can now do so using the Tubolito MTB PSENS inner tubes.

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Animal Crossing Sanrio cards were put up for sale at Target today, and promptly sold out. The item is a "Welcome to Animal Crossing Sanrio Collaboration Pack" with "the entire Sanrio Collaboration Series" inside. The pack includes 6 amiibo cards, all of which can be used with Animal Crossing: New Horizons, New Leaf Welcome amiibo, or New Leaf, but NOT Happy Home Designer.

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Disney today revealed that it will soon offer smartphone NFC access points at its parks through new functionality it's calling MagicMobile. Those who frequent Disney parks are likely already familiar with the MagicBand, which is a physical band visitors wear on their wrist that allows them to carry out a number of functions by simply waving the band in front of an access point. MagicMobile seems to work a lot like the MagicBand, only it drops the physical wristband in favor of a smartphone.

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A report today from China suggests that Apple is preparing to reveal their Apple AirTag device. This is a device that works with wireless sensor technology to act as a "loss prevention tag" of sorts. Much like the many, many similar sorts of tags we've used and reviewed over the past decade, Apple's AirTag will likely work with NFC, Bluetooth, and/or Wi-fi connectivity.

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Apple's Digital Key system will keep working even after the iPhone's battery runs out, though users will only have a few hours to get back to their vehicle. While only one car was confirmed during the streaming WWDC 2020 keynote today with Digital Key support today, in fact there are a lot more to look forward to - and some provisos to the system.

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Apple revealed App Clips, a system where a bit of an app can be launched without downloading the entirety of an app. This feature was revealed with a bunch of iOS 14 elements and didn't seem to be all that extraordinarily important in the moment in which it was first shown. But given the oncoming launch of iPhone devices with 5G connectivity - there's a whole lot this system will do for developers and end-users in the short-term.

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Wireless charging has finally become more known and accepted in the mobile market but it's still far from the universally-available convenience we imagine it to be. There's definitely a lot of room for improvement and competition but most of those focus on high-wattage technologies on high-end phones. That, unfortunately, leaves a lot of phones, accessories, and consumers out of the party, something that the curators of NFC technology are trying to change with its new Wireless Charging Specification or NFC WLC.

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There has been a small but prominent rise in interest in e-paper technologies like E-Ink due to their simplicity, energy-efficiency, and extensibility. Tablets and even phones using this kind of display are no longer unheard of, though rare, and that represents just one innovation in that field. Another, courtesy of a company named "Waveshare" is looking into how digital paper screens can operate without any batteries. All they will need is an NFC receiver.

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The latest beta version of iOS 13.4 was released this week with reference to code for a system called CarKey. Apple Watch and iPhone users that are capable of working with this software will be able to use NFC to unlock certain cars - just so long as they're authorized. This system also suggests that users will eventually be able to use Apple Watch and/or iPhone devices to start cars without need for a separate key.

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We're fast approaching the time when students across the country will be heading back to school. When that happens, students at 12 universities here in the US will find that they have access to Apple Wallet support for their student IDs. That, of course, means that they'll be able to load their student IDs onto their phones and then use it at contactless readers around campus.

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I can't say for sure - because nobody knows for sure - but I'm calling it right now: Hot Wheels ID just stole Christmas. Using a bit of the magic summoned by the Apple x Anki Overdrive remote control car toy collaboration and some established-brand PR power - plus some features over which kids will likely flip their lid - Hot Wheels ID just struck gold. Again, I'm just making some informed guesses here - but take a look and see what you think.

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