14 DAY TRIAL // Starting this fall, iDevice owners upgrading to the new iOS 6 will get a new app that aims to become “the simplest way to get all your passes in one place,” including baseball tickets and boarding passes.
Passbook is a new service in iOS 6 that lets you scan your iPhone or iPod touch to use a coupon, check into your hotel, heck, even get into a rock concert without having to hold on to a fragile piece of paper against your ice-cold beverage.
“Your boarding passes, movie tickets, retail coupons, loyalty cards, and more are now all in one place,” says Apple. “With Passbook, you can scan your iPhone or iPod touch to check in for a flight, get into a movie, and redeem a coupon.”
“No more hunting through your wallet searching for gift cards, coupons, passes, or tickets. Passbook keeps everything organized — and handy,” the Mac maker adds.
The app’s interface has been designed so that it automatically displays your passes on your Lock Screen based on a specific time or location.
When you arrive at your favorite coffee shop, for example, you can scan your loyalty card to buy a coffee or check your balance.
If you’re rushing to the airport, last minute gate changes or flight delays at the airport are shown as alerts (notifications).
“Wake your iPhone or iPod touch, and passes appear on your Lock screen at the appropriate time and place — like when you reach the airport or walk into the store to redeem your gift card or coupon,” says the Cupertino giant.
“And if your gate changes after you’ve checked in for your flight, Passbook will even alert you to make sure you’re not relaxing in the wrong terminal.”
The application further notifies the user when his / her coupons expire, or even where the concert seats are.
iOS 6 is currently restricted to registered Apple developers who can download the beta software from Apple’s iOS Dev Center.
Apple has confirmed that iOS 6 will be available as a free software update for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, the new iPad, iPad 2 and iPod touch (fourth generation) this fall. The first-generation iPad is not supported, and some features will not be available on all devices.