Express Transit Added to Apple Pay in London!
Earlier in the year Apple added 'Express Transit' as an option for Apple Pay users.
What this means is that you can allocate one of your payment cards to be used when you tap in at tube stations without having to use Touch ID or Face ID - making the whole process of moving through the city so much quicker. No more pileups at the turnstiles!
The other advantage is because the card gets loaded into a chip on your phone - it doesn't even matter if your phone is switched off or out of power - it will still allow you to go through the barrier and pay! - very cool. This works with Apple Watch too!
What devices will Apple Pay work on?
You can pay using Apple Pay on an iPhone 6, 6s, 6 Plus, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, SE, X, XS, XS Max, XR, 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max or Apple Watch.
How do I set my iPhone up for Apple Transit?
Before you can use the Apple's Express Transit mode you'll need to enable it.
On your iPhone head to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay - then tap on Express Travel Card and to set up the debit card you want to use.
Once set, that will always be the account that is charged when using London transport.
Free Phone Charging Trial at TFL Overground Stations
On our way to a client visit today we spotted at Shoreditch High Street Overground station a new area dedicated to charging devices.
It appears that this is a trial that may be rolled out across London. Now that more and more people use their phones for contactless access to the TFL network it makes sense for there to be charging points for those times when you run out of juice just when you need it the most.
The devices, installed by chargebox (and looking suspiciously like an old Powermac G4 Cube) are capable of fast charging which means you can get 20% charge in ten minutes or so.
We also spotted that they have used our old friend Sugru (click here to find out more about Sugru) to re-enforce the cables from the rabid hordes of commuters who will no doubt manhandle them at their liesure.
So next time your dropping low in charge at Columbia Road Flower Market or munching on a Brick Lane Bagel you have a new friend in town.
Smart Home
Smart Stuff = Smart Home
It seems that everything these days is given the moniker "Smart" but what does it really mean?
Well, in a nutshell, its an easy way of saying that the device/object/thing is interactive, usually via WiFi or bluetooth and more than likely via a mobile app. The idea of the connected home has been a fantasy since the 60's, but now it is slowly becoming a reality.
Here I will run through a few of the most popular and some unusual smart devices available today.
1: Okidokeys Smart Locks
So some might hesitate at the idea of an electronic lock, but they have been around for a while and seem to pass muster. The new part here, however, is the ability to unlock with your mobile device. The advantage here is that you can grant temporary access to trusted parties, i.e friends, neighbours feeding the cat etc and revoke at any time - all remotely.
Price: between £110 - £163
More Info: https://www.okidokeys.com
2: Philips Hue Connected Lighting
Philips introduced the Hue system over a year ago and it has had an exclusive deal with the Apple Stores. This lighting system is very popular because it consists mainly of colour changing bulbs, meaning that you can use your existing light fittings and lamps to create beautiful atmospheric lighting. The boon of Hue is that you can control the overall design of a room - the bulbs are aware of each other and you can create schemes and gradients using the mobile app - even grabbing colours from your photos. There are also modes that assist with relaxation, concentration and sleep.
Recently, Philips also introduced two new members of the hue family, lightstrips - perfect for behind televisions, desks, kitchens etc and Bloom, a connected lamp that flood lights whole walls. All of the hue devices are connected via a little box that you plugin to your home router known as the bridge. Its very simply to set up and can create beautiful light-scapes.
Price: £49.95 - £179.95
More info: http://www.meethue.com/en-GB
3: Withings Body Analyzer
Withings create several health based devices that all have corresponding apps. The first one is the Withings Body Analyzer. This clever little scale is able to record your weight, body fat percentage and also your heart rate. Interestingly, the latest version, also checks your air quality, measuring CO2 readings and the temperature every 30 minutes.
Great for families, you can setup multiple profiles to track goals and measurements separately. Withings has its own tracking app but there are lots of apps that their devices are compatible with.
Price: £129.95
More info: http://www.withings.com/en/bodyanalyzer
4: Belkin Wemo Switch
The Wemo Switch by belkin is simply an adapter that you plug any electrical device into allowing you to remotely control the power from your mobile, wherever in the world you are. You can schedule switches to come on and off at set times. There is a version which comes with a motion sensor to trigger power based on movement and there is also a new version called "insight" that will allow you to track individual expenditure for each device you have connected to a wemo insight adapter. They work in tandem and you can use many throughout your home.
Price: Starts at £39.95
More info: http://www.belkin.com/uk/Products/home-automation/c/wemo-home-automation
5: Parrot AR Drone
Whilst not quite a domestic essential, the AR Drone from parrot is a boat load of fun. The quadrocopter is controlled via an app on your iOS or Android phone and has an on board camera to record video or take stills. Perfect for checking out which neighbours have swimming pools!
Price: £279.95
More info: http://ardrone2.parrot.com/