NFC

Contactless technology like NFC conjure up images of simply and lightly tapping on surfaces to initiate an action, be it authentication or even payment. What those scenarios don't often include is the initial setup that has to be done beforehand, like downloading an app and signing into a service. Apple, however, seems to be leading the way towards that the true realization of that fantasy with NFC tags that trigger Apple Pay, all without setting up anything other than Apple Pay first.

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There are technologies that, at first blush, seem to be the best thing since sliced bread. After years of use, or non-use rather, they turn out to be not so useful after all. One such thing is the NFC-based sharing system known as Android Beam, an almost forgotten feature that will no longer be part of Android Q's release. While not a total loss, its removal sadly leaves Android handicapped in the short-range content sharing department.

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Back before today's Apple reveal event, an interesting rumor made the rounds, claiming that Apple was going to launch a credit card of its own. As it turns out, that rumor was correct, as Tim Cook just announced a new service called Apple Card. There's a lot to this announcement, so let's dive into all that Apple reveal today.

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This week the folks at Target announced they'd be bringing multiple new payment types to their stores. That'll include Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and contactless cards from Discover, American Express, Visa, and Mastercard. This comes ALL AT ONCE this year after Target's early attempts at creating their own payment solution in the Target App, started in 2017.

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Over the last few years, support for Apple Pay has slowly spread across the retail landscape. Though it seems to be supported at most large retailers these days, there are still a few hold-outs who have yet to bite. CVS was famously one of these early holdouts, but all of that is changing today, as the nationwide pharmacy chain has finally flipped the switch on Apple Pay support.

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Apple Wallet already supports a number of different cards, whether those are credit cards, loyalty cards, coupons, or transit passes. Today, however, Apple is beginning a pretty major expansion for Wallet by rolling out support for student IDs. At first, this launch will be small-scale, but of course, the hope is that more universities begin supporting Apple Wallet on a wider scale in the near future.

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I've got the bigger version of the Samsung Galaxy Watch right here, in black, and I'm going to tell you about it. I got the device in the mail today from Samsung. Over the next few days (and beyond) I'll be giving this device the once-over, looking at all the intricate bits and pieces, detailing everything I find out and everything I find interesting. To begin, there's the device's nature, very shiny and chrome.

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Apple is preparing to loosen its tight grip on the iPhone's NFC, with reports that the firm plans to give developers access to the secure wireless chip. First added to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus back in 2014, NFC - or Near Field Communications - was used for Apple Pay, the company's mobile payments system.

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Yubico made a couple of exciting announcements concerning its YubiKey NEO authentication hardware today. The first is that the key is now compatible with iPhones, allowing users to employ two-factor authentication methods that don't need to rely on SMS verification codes. Yubico has also announced a new software development kit for the YubiKey NEO, which will hopefully translate to more developers supporting the device in their iOS apps.

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The iPhone X Plus or the iPhone SE 2, both seem to be part of Apple's plans for 2018. But today's tips suggest that the smaller of these two units will be coming sooner than the larger. The iPhone SE 2, a device we've been waiting since basically right after the iPhone SE was released - it is probably well on its way, and it's more than likely going to continue to look utterly classic.

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Microsoft has detailed Project Zanzibar, a research effort involving the development of a smart mat that takes physical toys and presents them on a display, combining real-world and digital play into a single experience. To put it simply, Microsoft says Project Zanzibar is a smart mat that can sense touch and physical items using NFC, in part. The technology could open the door to new types of gaming experiences.

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Nintendo seems to have slowed its release of Amiibo figures — the small, NFC-powered toys that can unlock digital content in games when placed near the Nintendo Switch or 3DS — in recent years, but a newly discovered patent hints that the gaming could be applying the tech to new play mechanics. Specifically, Nintendo has filed a patent for a trading card game that uses Amiibo's NFC features.

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