The iOS 6 is released today and many changes and features will be included, such as the removal of the YouTube and Google Maps apps, but one feature grabbing the attention of many is Passbook.
Passbook is being referred as Apple's answer to the Google Wallet.
Slash Gear summarizes Passbook as "Apple's attempt to corral loyalty cards, gift cards, membership documents, coupons, passes, and tickets into a single place, all stacked into a neat wallet UI."
Slash Gear noted that the new app will suggest relevant items pending on your current location such as a Starbucks offer if you're in a Starbucks café.
According to Phones Review, "Passbook looks as though it could become a really useful resource for travelers as the app will store boarding passes, tickets, hotel reservations and much more by scanning barcodes."
And that is what Apple is looking for, as presented at the 2012 Keynote last Wednesday.
A few airlines have already gone aboard the Passbook boat, such as Delta and American Airlines, and according to one customer, Virgin Australia is another addition.
The advantage of Passbook is the ability to have reservations and passes stored, which saves time and paper when printing such information out.
PC Mag reports that Passbook can be used to pay bills, but there is the chance of additional charges when used similar when using an ATM.
But many reviewers are noticing that the new app would work better with the Near Field Communication (NFC) that Android devices share.
"Obviously it would be nice to be able to use NFC to actually pay for items with a gift card, but right now it's a case of scanning QR codes," said Slash Gear's Vincent Nguyen.
Prior to the launch of the iPhone 5, it was widely speculated the new smartphone will carry NFC to make purchases easier, such as what Google Wallet does, but according to eWEEK, Technology Business Research's senior analyst Ezra Gottheil believes there would be problems if NFC was included.
Gottheil said, "There potentially are also security problems with NFC-which will surely be fixed-but Apple doesn't want to bet on something that's not a winner,"
HIS iSuppli senior analyst Jack Kent also told eWEEK also suggested why Apple passed on NFC.
"It makes sense for Apple to forgo NFC for the moment and save on the related costs," he said. "When or if the market for NFC services matures and it becomes a necessity for Apple to implement it, it in all likelihood will do so, but that time has not yet arrived."
For information on the iOS 6 YouTube situation and how to download the new free YouTube app, click here.
To learn how to upgrade to iOS 6, click here.
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