Welcome back!🍎
Here’s the latest with Apple.

• Apple first ”robot” is coming

• The NFC chip is now open

• Apple’s digital ID adds a new state

• & more

📊 Poll

Last week, I asked: Do you use Safari as your primary browser on your iPhone and/or Mac?

Here are some of my favorite replies:

This week: Do you use Apple Wallet for things like Apple Pay, boarding passes, etc? If not, why? More on this later.

🗞️ The Latest

🦾 Apple’s First “Robot”

We heard rumors about an “iPad with a robotic arm” last month but we didn’t have any context. Now, we do. Here’s the latest.

• Apple is now prioritizing the development of a tabletop home device that combines an iPad-like display with a robotic arm.

• This “robotic arm” can swivel a full 360º, bend, tilt up & down, and move around on a table.

• The device is envisioned as a smart home command center, videoconferencing machine, and remote-controlled home security tool.

• It will be controlled with Siri/Apple Intelligence and can respond to commands such as “look at me,” by repositioning the screen to focus on the person saying the phrase.

• Kevin Lynch, who oversaw Apple’s self-driving car project, is taking the lead with this new project.

• It’s set to launch as early as 2026 or 2027 for around $1,000.

My take: It’s too soon to predict whether or not this product will succeed, but one thing is clear: Apple Intelligence will determine the fate of this product category. And it still has a lot to prove.

Plus, $1000 for a tabletop iPad will be a tough sell for your average consumer. Although, I can see this appealing to those who take daily FaceTime calls and have several HomeKit devices.

📲 The NFC Chip is Opening Up

Apple has just announced that they’re opening up the iPhone’s NFC chip to third-party developers. Here’s the scoop.

• Starting with iOS 18.1, developers will be able to use the new NFC and SE APIs to offer in-app contactless transactions, separate from Apple Pay‌ and Apple Wallet.

• This unlocks new possibilities for in-store payments, car keys, transit passes, corporate badges, student IDs, home and hotel keys, merchant loyalty cards, event tickets, and even future government IDs.

• Currently, Apple Wallet and Apple Pay are the only payment apps/wallets that can utilize the NFC chip.

• This change means that developers for other wallet apps, such as Crypto/Web3 apps, will be able to invoke NFC or “tap to pay” for transactions.

• Also with this update, you’ll be able to set a default contactless payment app when you double-click the iPhone’s side button.

• However, there will be fees. Developers will need to request the new entitlement and enter into a commercial agreement with Apple.

• This will be available to developers in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the UK, and the US in an upcoming iOS 18.1 Beta, with additional locations to follow.

• By the way, this is different than the EU’s implementation, which uses HCE (Host Card Emulation) and doesn’t have any fees associated with it. That could explain why the EU isn’t supported or mentioned.

My take: This is great news for developers, especially those in the crypto space! Now, in theory, you’ll be able to use “tap to pay” to transfer Bitcoin, USDC, or other cryptocurrency.

It’s not just for transactions, though. This can also be used for creating an in-app NFC system for car keys, hotel keys, transit passes, and more.

🪪 Fresh New Digital IDs

Apple announced that California is the next state to support digital driver’s licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet on the iPhone and Apple Watch!

• Wallet app integration is the latest addition to California’s mobile driver's license effort, which began last year with the California DMV app.

• But unlike the 3rd party app, your license can now be stored directly in your iPhone’s wallet, offering a more seamless and simplistic experience.

• These digital IDs can be used at TSA checkpoints in select airports and for age verification at select stores.

• As mentioned by a user in Colorado with this feature: “I live in Colorado where this has been available for a while and let me just tell you about how convenient this is! Whenever I fly out of Denver, I just tap my phone at TSA and I’m on my way!”

• California joins Arizona, Maryland, Colorado, Georgia, and Ohio as states that have implemented this feature.

My take: Apple’s rollout of the digital driver’s license has to be the slowest of all time.

Anyways, this is great news for Californians. It’ll potentially make going through TSA more convenient and eventually make age verification at stores easier.

But don’t plan on leaving the house without your physical ID anytime soon. Law enforcement and most businesses will not accept a digital ID.

📰 Quick Bites

• iPhone SE 4 Likely to Feature 8GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence

• Display Panels for M4 MacBook Pro Shipping Ahead of Q4 Launch

• Apple Still Developing Bigger iMac With Over 30-Inch Display

• macOS Sequoia Will Require Users to Update Screen Recording App Permissions Monthly

• Apple Maps on Web Now Supports Firefox Browser

• Adaptive Lighting is coming to Matter smart lights in Apple Home

• Apple Allows Spotify to Show Pricing Info to EU Users in iPhone App

• Apple Planning to Expand Maps App's 'Look Around' Feature

• ChatGPT unexpectedly began speaking in a user’s cloned voice during testing

• TikTok comes for messaging apps with the addition of group chats

• Patreon allows creators to raise fees amid Apple’s 30% tax

• AI overshadowed Pixel at the Pixel event

• National Parks Apple Watch Activity Challenge Coming on August 25

• AltStore Pal Now Free Thanks to 'MegaGrant' From Epic Games

• Sonos considers relaunching its old app

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