NFC could be coming to the iPhone 6
NFC could be coming to the iPhone 6
6:00

NFC could be coming to the iPhone 6

Mobile
[MUSIC]. What's crack-a-lackin'. Brian Tong here. And welcome to theapplebyte for everything, good and bad inside the world of Apple. This week WWDC get's closer. Apple's next display tech. And Apple shuts down the Weed Firm. Now let's get to it. And Apple has released the official schedule for their developer conference in their WWDC app, with Apple's keynote taking place on Monday, June the 2nd at 10 a.m., Pacific Time. But there's a lot speculation for what we'll see out of WWDC, but I don't expect it to be too hardware heavy. We know there will be a huge focus on OS X 10.10, that should get a look and feel that aligns even more with iOS 7 with design elements and performance upgrades except they should keep away from the Hello Kitty colors. Now iOS 8 will have all the changes we've talked like Health Book, Maps, Car Play and more. But Apple has kept its iPhone and other major hardware events separate from WWDC the past few years and I expect it to be the same. Now, I do think that we'll see speed bumps for the MacBook Pro line. And the dark horse hardware that we might see is the new Apple TV. It would make perfect sense since, rumors have hinted at it gaining more apps and games, and WWDC is the perfect place to announce that they're opening it up for dev. My gut says we'll see no iPhones, no iWatches, just no major hardware until later this year. And don't start crying now Chris. That's right, I'm talking to you all. The Chris's since its a common name. But, we will see the foundation that will drop hints for the hardware we'll be seeing later this year. Alright a new report from Morgan Stanley predicts the next iPhone will finally bring an NFC chip to Apple's flagship phone. Apple's already pursued Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for shorter communications like AirDrop, and iBeacons that we showed you in action at an NBA game. But, a recent Apple patent application, showed off an NFC based iWallet, that allows people to make purchases wirelessly, through their phones, using wi-fi or Bluetooth, but also uses NFC to create a secure link. Now, Apple recently began rolling out an upgrade to its retail store mobile payment systems with this new VeriFone point of sale device and check it out, you've seen retail associates with them and it now has an NFC contact point right above the LCD screen. So, at the very least will have the infrastructure in place to support it, if the next iPhone brings an NFC chip inside. We also talked about the possibility of seeing a new Apple TV at WWDC, and according to Ars Technica, Apple is moving forward to building their own content delivery network, and is making deals with some of the largest ISPs in the U.S. to deliver Apple content to consumers. Netflix did a similar thing by paying Verizon and Comcast. And companies like Google, Facebook, Pandora and ebay are doing the same. Now, by building their own CDN, Apple can deliver iOS updates more reliably, but also iTunes in the App Store content as well. And that's a big thing to me. You build your own content delivery network that behaves similarly like Netflix and is definitely a stepping stone towards their Apple TV product, which we might finally see at WWDC and, now you see how this stuff all ties together. Now we reported about a patent application discovered by Appleinsider in February, that features the Cupertino kids' invention for integrating solar panels into touch sensing components, like buttons or surfaces. Both the U.S. patent and trademark office recently granted Apple a modified version of it which now widens its scope to include transparent multi-touch screens and flexible displays. You say iWatch? Now, light collected from around the touchscreens would be bounced onto the rear facing solar panels. Now, we don't expect to see an iPhone 6S, solar, and it's not clear where we'll see this tech integrated, if anywhere at all, but this is just another look into how they're thinking. All right, let's checkout the quick bytes and in a fun story, all these rumors of an iWatch aren't the first time Apple actually made an attempt at a connected wrist watch. An image from legendary industrial designer Hartmut Esslinger book called Keep it Simple, The Early Design Years of Apple. Shows off a wristband with 12 keys, numbers zero through nine. And a star and pound key head with a headset with a single earpiece designed with an integrated microphone. It's something that I would use and totally wear today, the headset that is. All right, and for those of you who scour the App Store's top ten, the number one free app that shot up the charts by smoking the competition was Weed Firm and has been removed by Apple. Now, the game centered around the marijuana business, with the player being responsible for all aspects of growing and selling the green stuff. Now, this hits home because, a lot of you, especially on YouTube, comment that I look high when I do the show sometimes. But, it's only because I stayed up all night putting the show together for you. I'm not high. [MUSIC] [LAUGH]. Did you see that butterfly? Hi butterfly. [MUSIC]. Now, the developer, Manitoba Games, says it was removed to address a few maintenance issues, or what we call, suffering from the munchies, but later said, the removal was entirely Apple's decision. Now there's been no word whether people in Colorado and Washington have even noticed the game has been taken down. So, good Apple, bad Apple, you know what I'm gonna let you guys decide. Let me know why, and if I like what you say, then you could win one of these four MacBook Pro Retina SmartShell cases from my friends at Speck. And it's just a coincidence that the 13-inch ones are green. So send me your emails to theapplebyte@cnet.com or tweet me @briantong, and I'll announce the winners next week. That's gonna do for this weeks show, thanks so much for watching, and we will catch you all next time for another byte of the apple.

Up Next

Humane AI Pin Hands-On: Tiny Wearable Phonelet Beams Light Like R2-D2
humane-ai-pin-thumb2

Up Next

Humane AI Pin Hands-On: Tiny Wearable Phonelet Beams Light Like R2-D2

Here's Why Your Phone Battery Still Sucks
badbatpic

Here's Why Your Phone Battery Still Sucks

First Look at Rabbit R1 Mobile AI Device
rabbitr1cms

First Look at Rabbit R1 Mobile AI Device

The Best Mobile Tech We Saw at CES 2024
screenshot-2024-01-11-at-3-11-36pm.png

The Best Mobile Tech We Saw at CES 2024

I Upgraded to the iPhone 15 Pro Max: Was It Worth It?
thmbcnet

I Upgraded to the iPhone 15 Pro Max: Was It Worth It?

iOS 17 Still Holds Surprises: Overheating Fix, Podcast Changes and More
one-more-thing-cnet-00-07-22-23-still005

iOS 17 Still Holds Surprises: Overheating Fix, Podcast Changes and More

How Apple's Switch to USB-C Will Change the iPhone
img-6321

How Apple's Switch to USB-C Will Change the iPhone

Everything Apple Announced at Its iPhone 15 Event
appleiphone15-supercut-v2-clean

Everything Apple Announced at Its iPhone 15 Event

Galaxy Z Fold 5 Unboxing and First Impressions
first-24hrs-with-fold-5-cnet-00-00-10-01-still001.png

Galaxy Z Fold 5 Unboxing and First Impressions

OnePlus Nord N30 5G Review: $300 Phone Recharges Faster Any iPhone
mikes-oneplus-edit-v2-00-09-40-13-still006

OnePlus Nord N30 5G Review: $300 Phone Recharges Faster Any iPhone

Tech Shows

The Apple Core
apple-core-w

The Apple Core

Alphabet City
alphabet-city-w

Alphabet City

CNET Top 5
cnet-top-5-w

CNET Top 5

The Daily Charge
dc-site-1color-logo.png

The Daily Charge

What the Future
what-the-future-w

What the Future

Tech Today
tech-today-w

Tech Today

Latest News All latest news

Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter
pic3

Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter

Apple and Meta Are Competing for Your Memories
screenshot-2024-03-22-at-17-41-16.png

Apple and Meta Are Competing for Your Memories

Nvidia's Project GR00T vs. Tesla Optimus: Competing Robot Strategies
240321-site-nvidia-project-groot-vs-tesla-optimus-v1

Nvidia's Project GR00T vs. Tesla Optimus: Competing Robot Strategies

What Google Gemini AI on the iPhone Could Look Like
240321-site-apple-and-gemini-ai

What Google Gemini AI on the iPhone Could Look Like

DOJ Sues Apple: Everything to Know About the Antitrust Suit
240321-site-doj-sues-apple-for-antitrust-on-iphone-v2

DOJ Sues Apple: Everything to Know About the Antitrust Suit

Microsoft Surface Pro 10, Surface Laptop 6 Are Here
240320-site-microsoft-surface-pros-first-look-v2

Microsoft Surface Pro 10, Surface Laptop 6 Are Here

Most Popular All most popular

First Look at TSA's Self-Screening Tech (in VR!)
innovation

First Look at TSA's Self-Screening Tech (in VR!)

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: More AI at a Higher Cost
240123-site-samsung-galaxy-s24-ultra-review-4

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: More AI at a Higher Cost

'Circle to Search' Lets Users Google From Any Screen
circlesearchpic

'Circle to Search' Lets Users Google From Any Screen

Asus Put Two 14-inch OLEDs in a Laptop, Unleashes First OLED ROG Gaming Laptop
asus-preces-00-00-25-11-still003

Asus Put Two 14-inch OLEDs in a Laptop, Unleashes First OLED ROG Gaming Laptop

Samsung Galaxy Ring: First Impressions
samsung-galaxy-ring-clean

Samsung Galaxy Ring: First Impressions

Best of Show: The Coolest Gadgets of CES 2024
240111-site-best-of-ces-2024-1

Best of Show: The Coolest Gadgets of CES 2024

Latest Products All latest products

Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter
pic3

Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter

Nuro R3 is an Adorable Self-Driving Snack Bar
240320-site-nuro-r3-first-look-v1

Nuro R3 is an Adorable Self-Driving Snack Bar

First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day
240304-site-nothing-phone-2-first-look-v3

First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day

Best of MWC 2024: Bendable Screens, AI Wearables and More
240229-site-best-of-show-at-mwc

Best of MWC 2024: Bendable Screens, AI Wearables and More

This Concept Laptop from Lenovo Has a Transparent Display
240225-site-lenovo-translucent-laptop-concept-v3

This Concept Laptop from Lenovo Has a Transparent Display

Motorola's Rollable Concept Phone Wraps on Your Wrist
240225-site-motorola-rollable-concept

Motorola's Rollable Concept Phone Wraps on Your Wrist

Latest How To All how to videos

Windows 11 Tips and Hidden Features
240311-site-windows-11-hidden-tips-and-tricks-v2

Windows 11 Tips and Hidden Features

Vision Pro App Walkthrough -- VisionOS 1.0.3
VisionOS 1.0.3

Vision Pro App Walkthrough -- VisionOS 1.0.3

Tips and Tricks for the Galaxy S24 Ultra
240216-site-galaxy-s24-ultra-tips-and-hidden-features-2

Tips and Tricks for the Galaxy S24 Ultra

TikTok Is Now on the Apple Vision Pro
tiktok-on-vision-pro-clean

TikTok Is Now on the Apple Vision Pro

Get Your TV Ready for the Big Game: Super Bowl Setup Tips
superbowl-tv-settings-thumb1

Get Your TV Ready for the Big Game: Super Bowl Setup Tips

How to Use a Quest 3 Like the Vision Pro
240202-site-spatial-computing-on-meta-quest-3

How to Use a Quest 3 Like the Vision Pro