Julia Hardy
Arts, Entertainment & Technology Editor
With or without the iPhone 5, all Apple users who downloaded iOS 6 found themselves with a new application on their home screens. Passbook is now a standard app with the sole purpose of making life a little less chaotic. How? By centralizing your gift cards, tickets and coupons into one paperless location for easy access.
Many companies such as Starbucks already have features in their apps that let you use your rewards or gift cards to pay by scanning a digital barcode on your phone. Passbook takes the hassle out of using these features. Instead of searching for your phone or Starbucks app, your gift card will automatically pop up on your lock screen when you enter a Starbucks shop. Hello no hastle shopping. In order for Passbook to work, you just need to have apps such as Starbucks, Fandango, Target or Walgreens downloaded to your phone and connected to your personal accounts. Passbook will do the rest.
Passbook is still in its early stages, so the number of companies participating is limited. Nonetheless, Apple has said for all users “to check back often as new partners will be added regularly.” So welcome to the age of the virtual wallet. For all those people who can’t seem to keep track of all their stuff, you’re welcome.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKqE__x4yp8
