Apple Retail Stores to Integrate iBeacon Systems to Assist with Sales and Services

[PBG4 Dude]

I get what you're saying, but you're paranoid in the wrong direction. The things we buy are from private corporations who will stop at nothing to enable you to buy anything and everything. My concern is the opposite of yours - that iBeacon will make it easier than ever to make impulse purchases. And it's precisely because few people take personal responsibility. The solution to all the problems we create by over-consumption is...more consumption. eg The food industry creates the health problems that the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry happily address (by maintaining people's lives without actually curing them).

It's way more profitable to treat the symptoms than to administer a cure. Cures are 1-shot deals, but treating the symptoms can last a lifetime.

 

[Carmenia83]

Nope. NFC requires your device be within 4 inches or so to communicate. iBeacons are all based on the Bluetooth LE 4.0 standard, and can have a varying range of around 160 ft.

Ok, so like NFC, but way better lol. Sold.

 

[gnasher729]

Your first paragraph shows you're completely oblivious to the true potential of this technology which is not advertising but rather indoor mapping. Apps that can guide you through large buildings such as Malls, hospitals, etc. where no amount of signage is enough due to the sheer number of possible destinations.

And GPS basically doesn't work in a shopping mall. You'd want a few beacons in the parking garage so your phone can remember where you left your car and get you back, and in the shopping mall it can find both shops and goods for you.

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Was in the context of personalised advertising, It not only does gender but age, plus the cynics would say it won't be long before they match your face to your loyalty card...

I would say the cynics don't know what is doable and what is not.

 

[appleii.c]

...and checking your medical records then denying your purchase of bacon.


NO F'N THANK YOU!

Steve never would have allowed it to deny Bacon!

 

[Candlelight]

Mmmm... iBacon...

 

[edenwaith]

iBeacons are already there

Since Apple already has iPads in place to describe the products on display, they already have the necessary equipment to act as the beacon since newer iOS devices already have Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).

Perhaps an update to the Apple Store app could be used to provide alerts (etc, etc) while browsing through an Apple Store.

 

[Tech198]

Beacon me

This may be convenient

However, it's just one more way "Apple can bet you".

Here in Australia, there is about to be partners with "Big data", a company where they can collect info of what you have shopped for, give recommendations, email updates, what you mostly bought, etc, from food to vitamins.

It was mentioned on ABC, and people went nuts...

And i have to agree.... While all this is cool with out phones, and data collections, we fail to realise just how little control we have any more. Yea, i know we have settings, but for how much longer, and it will be a gradual thing, in the hop users won't notice just how little control they have anymore.


So, while the "connivence" is there, privacy is not.

I'm just glad cash will always be there. and if they don't except cash anymore to force people into using their iPhone to pay??

Well... Apple would have just lost customers in-store.


Besides, i buy all my Apple gear online, i can't remember the last time i bought something in-store.