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Developer Access to iPhone's NFC Chip Coming in iOS 11

One step closer to using my Apple Watch to lock my front door, unlock and start my car, pay for items at Walgreens, then return home.

If you could just get a cellular-enabled watch and a state-sponsored Driver's License app (with watch support), the only things you would need to carry with you would be your watch and an Air Pod!
 
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I haven't posted on MacRumors forums in a while but I just had to log in and post on this one.

What a ridiculous idea to not expand NFC support for older iPhone models (6 and up). There is absolutely no technical reason not to. All models could easily support NDEF. Additionally, the user base for NFC will now be very low and will be less attractive to developers.

This is just one of those arbitrary decisions Apple makes to make newer devices more attractive for no reason, just like Night Shift being 64-bit only. No technical reason behind it.

EDIT: 6 and up, not 5s and up
 
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vertsix said:
I haven't posted on MacRumors forums in a while but I just had to log in and post on this one.

What a ridiculous idea to not expand NFC support for older iPhone models (5s and up). There is absolutely no technical reason not to. All models could easily support NDEF. Additionally, the user base for NFC will now be very low and will be less attractive to developers.

This is just one of those arbitrary decisions Apple makes to make newer devices more attractive for no reason, just like Night Shift being 64-bit only. No technical reason behind it.
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Well, 5S don't have a NFC-chip. 6/6S use a crippled NFC-chip.

So what do you suggest?
 
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Stella said:
Yes, Quite possibly
[doublepost=1496832519][/doublepost]That's an Apple AppStore restriction rather than API restriction I assume?

Lame!


[doublepost=1496832549][/doublepost]
[doublepost=1496833302][/doublepost]

NFC for the masses has been here for a long time - available on android phones!
Click to expand...

It is only a reader api. So you can only read tags.

There doesnt seem to be an api for writing for card emulation etc. The things required for the iPhone to replace NFC cards are not there.
 
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Ah ok! Thanks.

Not being able to transmit data is weird. Certainly reducing the usefulness.

Crzyrio said:
It is only a reader api. So you can only read tags.

There doesnt seem to be an api for writing for card emulation etc. The things required for the iPhone to replace NFC cards are not there.
Click to expand...
 
Another reason I'm glad I updated from 6s, to 7 Plus earlier this year :))) I would have never have guessed 6 and 6s would be excluded from this...

Look forward to being to read my Opal Card (Sydney), the same way Android users have been able to for some time now
 
vertsix said:
I haven't posted on MacRumors forums in a while but I just had to log in and post on this one.

What a ridiculous idea to not expand NFC support for older iPhone models (6 and up). There is absolutely no technical reason not to. All models could easily support NDEF. Additionally, the user base for NFC will now be very low and will be less attractive to developers.

This is just one of those arbitrary decisions Apple makes to make newer devices more attractive for no reason, just like Night Shift being 64-bit only. No technical reason behind it.

EDIT: 6 and up, not 5s and up
Click to expand...

You know how everything in the iPhone works? :eek:
 
Good stuff, as long as it's secure. Could someone standing near you and running a nefarious app NFC their way into your iPhone?
 
iFanaddic said:
Does this mean employers will be able to replace those darn NFC access card?

Oh and my public transit pass too!? That would be amazing I always forget them!

View attachment 702771

If so, the only thing left in my wallet will be my drivers license, I wonder how Apple will solve this one out!
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Move to a country where you don't need one at all times and you can buy a beer if you are clearly 43 years old :)
 
JohnApples said:
Would love this for hotel rooms! Recently stayed at a Hilton and they had Digital Key, but it required unlocking my phone and loading up the app. Unlock process was long too. However, putting my phone up to the lock activated ApplePay so as they already support NFC, hopefully a "touch phone to door to unlock" can become a reality here!
Click to expand...

You can add your Hilton digital key to Wallet and allow access from the lock screen if you want. That saves some steps. Still not a nice as NFC would be like you mentioned.
 
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Stella said:
Finally!!! Better late than never!

Now we can put that NFC to other uses.
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The service isn't ""late"", it just takes into account Apples need to develop sound software that is well designed.
 
RDowson said:
No. I think it's not allowed for banking apps of any kind.
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I won't speak to the banking app access, but unless I'm mistaken there is a difference between general access to NFC functionality versus access to the secure digital wallet. Can't imagine that Apple would let anyone else have access to THAT. It would likely destroy any semblance of security.
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Stella said:
Ah ok! Thanks.

Not being able to transmit data is weird. Certainly reducing the usefulness.
Click to expand...

Perhaps in time. For now that give us another layer of security. NFC readers can't pull information FROM us.
 
People should remember that the developers release of IOS is a BETA! So don't assume that the API is finished nor assume that it will actually be in the shipping version of iOS.
 
iFanaddic said:
Does this mean employers will be able to replace those darn NFC access card?

Oh and my public transit pass too!? That would be amazing I always forget them!

View attachment 702771

If so, the only thing left in my wallet will be my drivers license, I wonder how Apple will solve this one out!
Click to expand...
Nothing like going on a bike ride to the store on a chilly day and having my iPhone battery die from the cold just as I'm about to pay for something. Luckily, the stuff in my wallet doesn't require batteries.
 
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SBlue1 said:
Would love this for my subway pass which can be bought online but has to be loaded to my nfc chip card.
Click to expand...

I'd love that as well, but at the moment the iPhone can read NFC tags, but as far as I understand it doesn't send information via NFC.
So when you approach an NFC object it can read data, but it cannot open the gates to enter the subway.
Let's hope they'll add that support in a future version of iOS
[doublepost=1496851597][/doublepost]
Stella said:
It only needs to be read, for things like Public Transit. After the data is read from NFC, the transit reader communicates back to the application server and sends the transaction and updates your account accordingly. This is how many implementations work at the moment.
Click to expand...

Can you elaborate please?
If iPhone doesn't send data via NFC but only reads it how can the transit reader know who you are and open the gate for you?
 
Kabeyun said:
Good stuff, as long as it's secure. Could someone standing near you and running a nefarious app NFC their way into your iPhone?
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recoil80 said:
I'd love that as well, but at the moment the iPhone can read NFC tags, but as far as I understand it doesn't send information via NFC.
So when you approach an NFC object it can read data, but it cannot open the gates to enter the subway.
Let's hope they'll add that support in a future version of iOS
[doublepost=1496851597][/doublepost]

Can you elaborate please?
If iPhone doesn't send data via NFC but only reads it how can the transit reader know who you are and open the gate for you?
Click to expand...

I didn't realize the API was as crippled - NFC can only read, not transmit data.
[doublepost=1496851913][/doublepost]
JRobinsonJr said:
I won't speak to the banking app access, but unless I'm mistaken there is a difference between general access to NFC functionality versus access to the secure digital wallet. Can't imagine that Apple would let anyone else have access to THAT. It would likely destroy any semblance of security.
[doublepost=1496850106][/doublepost]

Perhaps in time. For now that give us another layer of security. NFC readers can't pull information FROM us.
Click to expand...

Well, the NFC isn't listening or transmitting until an app is open, so its a case of paranoia security I suppose. Maybe in a few years time, Apple will get around to the transmitting of data.


[doublepost=1496851983][/doublepost]
wizard said:
The service isn't ""late"", it just takes into account Apples need to develop sound software that is well designed.
Click to expand...

Our opinions differ then.. I call it "Late Late Late"!!!
 
Stella said:
I didn't realize the API was as crippled - NFC can only read, not transmit data.
[doublepost=1496851913][/doublepost]

Well, the NFC isn't listening or transmitting until an app is open, so its a case of paranoia security I suppose.
Click to expand...
And the 6/6S can neither read or write (so what's the purpose of its NFC chip ?)
 
Bacillus said:
And the 6/6S can neither read or write (so what's the purpose of its NFC chip ?)
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Apple Pay. One use only.

The NFC chip inside these phones obviously has ability to send data, otherwise Apple Pay would be possible.
 
vertsix said:
No, but I have yet to find a technical reason. Care providing one?
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Wouldn't the onus be on you to prove your initial complaint? Just because you're not aware of a technical limitation doesn't mean it doesn't exist. However, you still made a declarative accusation against Apple and even speculated as to their motivation with no backing information. I'm sure I can help settle this debate by researching both sides and providing the answers you both seem to be demanding, but until I have a check in hand, that's your job to do.
 
Stella said:
Apple Pay. One use only.

The NFC chip inside these phones obviously has ability to send data, otherwise Apple Pay would be possible.
Click to expand...
So then can anybody explain what's the problem, I presume that chip has some form of I/O (or does it just sit there to be complained about...)
 
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