NFC - Should we care?

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lanks

74 posts

Master Geek

#479330 9-Jun-2011 13:47

Excuse my lack of knowledge on NFC.

Would it be possible to read the data stored on a card such as Snapper or Hop using a device like the Nexus S?

stevenz

2802 posts

Uber Geek

#479372 9-Jun-2011 15:36

lanks: Excuse my lack of knowledge on NFC.

Would it be possible to read the data stored on a card such as Snapper or Hop using a device like the Nexus S?

They do use NFC but I would hope that they were encrypted somehow, otherwise people could just get their Nexus S, hack up some custom software and load money onto them.

@KnightNZ

nigelj

856 posts

Ultimate Geek

#479424 9-Jun-2011 17:07

Asrafrate:
jlittle:
With Auckland buses moving to Hop cards, every bus becomes an NFC terminal in principle. However, Auckland transport's publicity is completely silent about the underlying technology, and I wonder why. I suspect they are desperate to keep control of the hop balances to fund their operations.

Keeping silent probably because Ritchies aren't signing up to the Hop service. They opted to go with another system which doesn't surprise me. They're known for cutting corners and trying to find the cheapest way possible.

The council can't claim to have Auckland fully on Hop because of this, and it's a PR nightmare once people start realising just how USELESS that makes the whole system.

Unless Ritchies has rolled out another system in the last few months, the last thing they did, was roll out of a heap of new terminals to replace the wayfarer-type units, they have used the 'Fastpass'/contactless system for years.

I seem to recall @_HOP saying Ritchies should be on board for the third stage of the rollout (i.e. 2012), and I'm sure Auckland Transport would've written into any contracts that all companies participating in subsidised routes would have to move to the new system, to force that point. (I'm pretty sure Northern Express is run by Ritchies on behalf of Auckland transport for instant which is why there is no Ritchies branding on (a lot of) the buses).

As for NFC for payments, I'll give it a go, but I do prefer Chip & PIN, even the McD's system where they can do pinless chip transactions, make me really uneasy. I guess we'll see a bit more of Paypass later this year with the World Cup (and likely ANZ only until after the World Cup because of the whole sponsorship thing!). But certainly not going to give it a go quite yet.

richms

28176 posts

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#479532 9-Jun-2011 22:45

I dont like that it is the same access device used for both contactless and contact payment methods.

IMO, the contactless function should be totally seperate from the contact and that should be totally seperate from the online purchase aspect. Its totally nuts that someone becomes without access to funds entirely just because a single instance of cloning happens. NFC does nothing to make the pathetic payment processing offerings from visa and mastercard any safer.

Richard rich.ms

Linuxluver

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#479646 10-Jun-2011 11:05

I don't care about NFC. It looks like just one more way for corporates / govts to track every penny I spend and where I spend it.

(If you aren't paranoid, you haven't been paying attention).

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Linuxluver

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#479650 10-Jun-2011 11:09

I seem to recall @_HOP saying Ritchies should be on board for the third stage of the rollout (i.e. 2012), and I'm sure Auckland Transport would've written into any contracts that all companies participating in subsidised routes would have to move to the new system, to force that point. (I'm pretty sure Northern Express is run by Ritchies on behalf of Auckland transport for instant which is why there is no Ritchies branding on (a lot of) the buses).

I can't see any value in HOP. It can't handle passes and it's insane buying bus tickets by individual fares. Better to go lease a BMW or Mercedes as it would likely be cheaper.

Auckland won't have good public transit until we get rid of these private operators and run it as a non-profit municipal monopoly with a simple, affordable fare structure across the entire system.....like virtually every other good public transport system anywhere.

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richms

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#479657 10-Jun-2011 11:15

Linuxluver:

I can't see any value in HOP. It can't handle passes and it's insane buying bus tickets by individual fares. Better to go lease a BMW or Mercedes as it would likely be cheaper.

Auckland won't have good public transit until we get rid of these private operators and run it as a non-profit municipal monopoly with a simple, affordable fare structure across the entire system.....like virtually every other good public transport system anywhere.

What does this have to do with your desire for socialist transportation? Its already run as a non profit, the ratepayers are massivly subsidizing many routes.

HOP cant support passes etc on its initial rollout to replace the old cards and get the readers on the busses. Its something I have been told is coming once they get onto phase 3 of it with things like the northern pass being converted over to work on hop.

Richard rich.ms

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Linuxluver

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#479703 10-Jun-2011 13:05

richms:
Linuxluver:

I can't see any value in HOP. It can't handle passes and it's insane buying bus tickets by individual fares. Better to go lease a BMW or Mercedes as it would likely be cheaper.

Auckland won't have good public transit until we get rid of these private operators and run it as a non-profit municipal monopoly with a simple, affordable fare structure across the entire system.....like virtually every other good public transport system anywhere.

What does this have to do with your desire for socialist transportation? Its already run as a non profit, the ratepayers are massivly subsidizing many routes.

HOP cant support passes etc on its initial rollout to replace the old cards and get the readers on the busses. Its something I have been told is coming once they get onto phase 3 of it with things like the northern pass being converted over to work on hop.

I don't let ideology get in the way of what works. I'll leave that to you, I guess.

I have been on a lot of public transport systems in many countries and all the very best ones were publicly owned monopolies where the commission or governing body could dictate inputs and outputs and pricing.....but was politically accountable to the owner - usually the local council. It appears to be the only way to put together a coherent integrated transport system. Even if private operators are involved, they must do it the way it needs to be done or get lost.

Today, we have bus routes paralleling rain routes (insane) and bus routes that maximise the sections travelled (to maximise revenue) rather than the best, shortest route. For example, Birkenhead Transport take me all the way to Highbury and make me switch buses to get to Glenfield Mall. It takes over an hour to get there. I can walk it in 20 minutes. The main road goes right past my house....but they don't run buses there unless they go to Highbury. Such examples are legion across Auckland. It has resisted repair under the market model. #FAIL.

It just doesn't work. I don't care what label you stick on stuff that works. I just want stuff to work.

NFC, HOP - all a waste until we fix the broken failed mess underneath that the market model has imposed on Auckland.

It doesn't work.

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