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Apple's "iKey" Wants To Unlock All Doors

Posted by kdawson on from the get-yours-at-ikea dept.

Pickens writes "The Telegraph reports that Apple is developing technology, already being nicknamed the 'iKey,' which will allow users to gain access to their office and unlock their car or front door with a single electronic device like an iPhone. Users would simply have to enter a PIN and wave the device over an electronic pad fitted beside a door to open it. 'The device can communicate with an external device to open a lock. By way of example, the electronic device may be a model of an iPhone,' says the newly released patent application. 'The external device may be any suitable electronic device such as a portable media player, personal data assistant or electronic lock that may be used to access a door, car, house, or other physical area.' The technology behind the invention is known as Near Field Communication; it allows electronic devices to transmit information when in proximity. 'If true, it's a very big deal. As well as opening doors and unlocking your car, it could also turn your iPhone into an electronic wallet and ID card,' says Leander Kahney, a consumer technology expert. 'The trouble is that the technology hasn't gone completely mainstream. If Apple were to adopt the technology, they would likely set the standard, and that would drive widespread adoption as everyone scrambles to make their systems iPhone-friendly.'"

15 of 383 comments (clear)

  1. i-disallow by ipquickly · · Score: 2, Funny

    And of course, (just like the app-store) if you are wearing just a bikini, or have a 'hot babe' on your arm, the doors just won't open.

  2. ICKY by Antiocheian · · Score: 2, Funny

    1. repulsive or distasteful.
    2. excessively sweet or sentimental.
    3. unsophisticated or old-fashioned.
    4. sticky; viscid.

    Origin:
    1930–35, Americanism

    (According to dictionary.com)

    1. Re:ICKY by biryokumaru · · Score: 4, Funny

      No, no, no, this is "Ikey," not "Icky." It means: "of, or relating to, Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower." And he was awesome.

      --
      When you're afraid to download music illegally in your own home, then the terrorists have won!
  3. Depends... by denzacar · · Score: 4, Funny

    I for one don't consider it "bad" if stupid people get punished for using "0000" as their PIN.

    Hey... we are long overdue for some regular punishment of stupidity.
    There are no longer wild bears roaming the streets at night, eating stupid people. Haven't been any for centuries.
    Wee need something to eliminate those genes from the pool.

    --
    Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
    1. Re:Depends... by JasterBobaMereel · · Score: 2, Funny

      1) RFID is insecure
      2) Universal keys are insecure
      3) broadcast keys are insecure
      4) You have not been to Alaska, Russia, Finland, etc .. hungry wild bears do roam the streets....

      --
      Puteulanus fenestra mortis
  4. Re:Security? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I have an idea! Whenever you get locked outside because you forgot to charge your iKey's batteries, you can harvest energy from the spinning motion of Occam inside his grave.

  5. I don't like it. by dreemernj · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'd be afraid someone would try to jailbreak my front door and end up bricking my house.

    --
    1 (short ton / firkin) = 89.1432354 slugs / keg
    1. Re:I don't like it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      They can already jailbreak your house by bricking your windows.

  6. But, but, but... by denzacar · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm an opponent of the excessive and unnecessary desire to expand technology into areas where an existing technology already does a better job.

    EVERYTHING is better with the "latest thing" tacked on! How do you not understand!?

    Have you ever tasted ice-cream witn an iPhone or some other smart-phone? Way better than eating it with a spoon.
    Even plain vanilla tastes like... so much better.

    --
    Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
  7. Re:Not an invitation to trouble at all by elrous0 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Steve Jobs is welcome to a key to my apartment. He already has the key to my heart.

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  8. Priceless by wing03 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Basic house door lock and key from Home Depot - ~$20
    Extra key cutting - ~$2

    Watching your neighbour spending hundreds or more than a thousand to outfit their home with an iLock and having their iPhone run out of juice or fumbling and dropping/breaking it before they could unlock the front door.... Priceless.

  9. Re:MIM attack? by Dare+nMc · · Score: 2, Funny

    A time-variant RFID key would be significantly more secure.

    I can see the next gone in 60 seconds. How they stick a second android phone in her purse (or something close to the Iphone) perp walks up to the persons car, house, etc. It sends the query over the celluar network from the first phone, to the second phone, to their Iphone, then sends the response back for yours to retransmit. Although to be movie worthy I guess it will need to be a stripper getting close...

  10. Re:Duplicate Functionality by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Can you make it fart?

  11. Re:Two words by Seth+Kriticos · · Score: 4, Funny

    4. ?????

    Don't you know what to do with a girl in her bedroom?

  12. wow, similar functionality to my PDA in 1998 by jsepeta · · Score: 3, Funny

    my brother was able to use an app from my Palm Pilot using IR to unlock his Ford Taurus' doors back in 1998. Way to keep up with the times, Apple.

    --
    Remember kids, if you're not paying for the service, YOU ARE THE PRODUCT THAT IS BEING SOLD.