Researchers at Dartmouth College’s Trustworthy Health and Wellness (THaW) group have developed a service that uses a bracelet containing an accelerometer, gyroscope and radio to continuously authenticate the user of a computer system... More
Games
23 Apple patents related to NFC and mobile payments
Apple has been steadily building a portfolio of patents related to NFC and mobile payments over recent years, from as far back as 2009. NFC World+ has reported on these as they have been published and links are provided here to details of 23 patents covering technical innovations and use cases in payments, mobile marketing, coupon delivery, gifting, event ticketing, content sharing, travel and beyond. More
Nintendo 3DS to get NFC
Nintendo will include a built-in NFC chip in the next versions of its 3DS and 3DS XL handheld games consoles, at least in Japan, the company has revealed in its latest 3DS Direct video briefing... More
GameStop deploys BLE in stores
Video game retailer GameStop is deploying Shelfbucks beacons in test markets including Austin and College Station, Texas this month to deliver offers and relevant data to a shopper’s smartphone running a mobile app developed by BestFit Mobile... More
Xbox to get mobile purchasing
Starting with the next Xbox One update, expected to arrive in August 2014, “you will be able to buy games and add-on content from your mobile device,” The Next Web reports... More
Nintendo adds NFC payments
Nintendo Wii U users in Japan can now use the NFC interface built into their GamePad controller to purchase games with a Suica contactless payment card... More
Tamagotchi 4U to come with NFC
Japanese toy maker Bandai is to include NFC in the next version of its Tamagotchi electronic pets, enabling owners to tap their device on ‘Touch Spots’ and against other Tamagotchis and smartphones to exchange items and play games... More
Android L to offer wide range of new features for mobile payments and commerce
The next generation of Android, unveiled at the Google I/O developer conference, will offer mobile payments, banking and commerce providers a wide range of new functions... More
Amazon unveils smartphone that lets users shop the world around them
Amazon has launched Fire, a smartphone that includes 3D “dynamic perspective” technology and a dedicated Firefly button that lets users recognize — and buy from Amazon — physical products, movies and music that they come across as they shop, browse and socialize... More
Rewards for HP beacon scavengers
Attendees at this week’s HP Discover 2014 Conference in Las Vegas have been able to earn rewards for visiting all areas of the show by taking part in a mobile scavenger hunt... More
Nintendo unveils Amiibo NFC figures that work with multiple Wii U and 3DS games
Nintendo has unveiled a new product category called Amiibo at this year’s E3 digital event in Los Angeles... More
Watch Dogs gets NFC promo
Games publisher Ubisoft is promoting its latest title with a ‘tap to play’ competition in UK video game stores... More
DNP to add invisible smart ink to printed media
Japan-based Dai Nippon Printing has signed a partnership deal with US startup T+ink, developer of an invisible conductive ink technology that can be used to let consumers interact with books, magazines, advertising, tickets, product packaging and other printed media using a smartphone or other mobile device... More
Nintendo to launch NFC toys and payments
A new Nintendo Figurine Platform and a range of NFC toys that makes use of the NFC functionality in the Wii U GamePad is to be unveiled at the E3 games show next month, company president Satoru Iwata has announced. A standalone device that will enable NFC toys to be used with the Nintendo 3DS handheld console will also be introduced and NFC payments for games are to added, initially in Japan, from this summer. More
Total Produce pushes fruit and veg with NFC in supermarkets
International fresh produce distributor Total Produce is to provide consumers with access to videos, recipes, interactive games and content about the benefits of a healthy, balanced diet via NFC tag and QR code-equipped SmartStands located in supermarkets and convenience stores... More
Hanakai Studio seeks funding for Prodigy NFC game
French games developer Hanakai Studio has launched a fundraising campaign on Kickstarter for a role playing video game (RPG) that uses NFC-enabled rings, figurines, cards and an interactive board to allow players to interact with an on-screen world “without using any keyboard, mouse or joypad”... More
Clear Channel to take NFC advertising global
Clear Channel Outdoor is to equip 75,000 out-of-home advertising sites in 23 countries around the world with its Connect mobile advertising platform, allowing consumers to interact with brands via NFC tags, QR codes and, in Latin America, via SMS... More
NYC gets NFC ads at bus stops
Bus stops in a number of New York City metro areas have been equipped with Thinaire’s Tapp Store solution, enabling consumers to download Android mobile games via NFC, QR or SMS... More
iPhone users to get NFC badges at MWC
iPhone users will be able to participate in the NFC Experience at Mobile World Congress for the first time this year, courtesy of free NFC iPhone cases being made available by event sponsor Incipio that will provide support for NFC entry badges as well as a range of promotional offers and information services... More
Nintendo looks to NFC to boost Wii U sales
Making full use of the NFC functionality built into the Wii U GamePad is one of four strategies designed to boost the console’s flagging sales in the year ahead, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has revealed — and plans call for NFC to be used to enhance game playing and for payments... More