In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps.
Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly. It has been three and a half years since Apple first announced the feature in September 2021, and only nine U.S. states and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico offer it.
A new report from The Information today reveals much of the internal turmoil behind Apple Intelligence's revamped version of Siri.
Apple apparently weighed up multiple options for the backend of Apple Intelligence. One initial idea was to build both small and large language models, dubbed "Mini Mouse" and "Mighty Mouse," to run locally on iPhones and in the cloud, respectively. Siri's...
Thursday April 10, 2025 4:19 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple in October 2024 overhauled its 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, adding M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips, Thunderbolt 5 ports on higher-end models, display changes, and more. That's quite a lot of updates in one go, but if you think this means a further major refresh for the MacBook Pro is now several years away, think again.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said he expects only a small...
Apple may have updated several iPads and Macs late last year and early this year, but there are still multiple new devices that we're looking forward to seeing in 2025. Most will come in September or October, but there could be a few surprises before then.
We've rounded up a list of everything that we're still waiting to see from Apple in 2025.
iPhone 17, 17 Air, and 17 Pro - We get...
YouTube channel Front Page Tech is back today with another video that provides a closer look at iOS 19's alleged design changes.
The video contains re-created renders of iOS 19, which are allegedly based on real footage of the software update, provided by sources within Apple. Overall, iOS 19 is expected to have a more glass-like, visionOS-inspired design, with added translucency for user...
Wednesday April 9, 2025 9:56 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple will be permanently closing its store at the Northbrook Court shopping mall in the Chicago suburb of Northbrook on April 26, the company has announced.
Apple has added the following notice to the store's web page:Thank you Northbook. Apple Northbrook is closing on April 26 at 7pm. We're still here for you. Please visit apple.com/retail to find your nearest store.Apple Northbrook opened ...
Wednesday April 9, 2025 8:56 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple employees are testing iOS 18.4.1 for iPhones, according to the MacRumors visitor logs, which have been a reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions. The software update will likely be released in a week or two, if not sooner.
As the version number implies, iOS 18.4.1 will obviously be a minor update that addresses software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities.
There are no...
Wednesday April 9, 2025 9:09 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple released the first beta of iOS 18.5 last week, and so far the software update includes only two minor changes.
The changes are in the Mail and Settings apps.
In the Mail app, you can now easily turn off contact photos directly within the app, by tapping on the circle with three dots in the top-right corner.
In the Settings app, there is some new AppleCare+ information.
For ...
Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 Pro models will feature a redesigned rear camera panel that spans the width of the device, but it will be the same color as the iPhone itself, rather than being part of a two-tone design.
That's according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, the reporter says the iPhone 17 Pro won't have a two-toned back, as some renders have...
Later this year, Apple will introduce the iPhone 17 series, which includes the iPhone 17 Pro and the iPhone 17 Pro Max, two new high-end flagship devices that will be sold alongside the regular iPhone 17 and an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air.
If you have been holding out for the iPhone 17 Pro or its bigger sibling, here are five of the biggest changes, informed by the latest reports and...
Yes, my license has a scan code on the back that I suppose gives full information. Nevertheless, I'm confident Massachusetts will be the last state to enable digital ID. After all, we were last to allow right turn on red, and only when the Feds threatened to withhold highway funding.
That is a PDF417 barcode. It tells you what is on the front, but provides no validation mechanism (you could create a bogus license and create what ever you want in the barcode). The entire point of a digital license is that it be verifiable to anyone scanning it. Without that capability, they may as well just allow use of pictures of your license.
I know why but why is it taking so long to offer a digital ID in all states. The info is already digital when the license is printed and handed over, just make the data available for secure platforms.
Years and years and years of “don’t unlock your phone around cops”, and now everyone wants to have to unlock their phone to show ID. I dunno, just seems weird to me.
Apple says this about drivers licenses: "You’ll always see which data you’re sharing, and your information will only be shared after you authorize with Face ID or Touch ID. Neither Apple nor your state issuing authority can see when or where you share your information."
That you do not have to unlock your phone, just verify with face or touch ID.
This is from Apple: "When you present your ID, you can review the information being requested and who is requesting it. When you present your license or ID in person, after you authenticate using Face ID or Touch ID, your ID information is presented digitally through encrypted communication between your iPhone or Apple Watch and the identity reader, so you don’t need to unlock, show, or hand over your device. If your device is locked when you present your ID, it stays locked after you present your ID." https://support.apple.com/en-us/118260
If police don't have a reader (I'm not sure which police departments in which states have the readers, if any do), the digital ID isn't implemented fully so you should have a physical ID with you when driving.
Because that’s how government works. Apple is not scratching the right backs to make it happen. The a guy that’s selling the blank cards for the drivers license donated $100k to representative Billy Bob. Why would Billy Bob hurt his friend’s business? Now, if Tim Apple were to donate $250k to Billy Bob well then he would just push his friend out of the way.
Either way, thinking about it why would anyone want to hand their unlocked smart phone to a police officer. At that point, you are consenting for him to do whatever he wants with your phone. Just keep the little piece of government issued plastic on you and everything is good. It’s not like they’re not going to charge you the same price for your NFT identification card.
You dont need to unlock the phone to show items in wallet unless you turn the double-click ability off. Even when you do authorize the wallet, the phone itself is locked just like it is when you authorize a card for ApplePay. I need to hand my phone to someone at a drive through window at times which I dont like to do but I'm not too worried because the phone wont allow them to see anything else.
I do get where you're coming from though. It potentially opens you up for abuse but not having to carry a physical wallet or to at least have a backup would be a nice option that allows me to make the personal choice for use.
Interesting that Virginia is not on the list The VA DMV has been telling residents that it’s coming this spring (2025). We currently have an app based digital DL, but not Apple or Android Wallet integration.
