A site focused on Near Field Communications has reported that Apple has built new iPhone prototypes with hardware support for sensing RFID chips.

RFID (Radio-Frequency IDentification) is a technology that allows a device to sense embedded chips in nearby objects without making direct contact or without using visible light like a barcode reader. Apple has already filed patents related to a mobile “ID App” capable of using an RFID sensor, a way to use RFID to sense and connect to available WiFi networks, and a touchscreen RFID tag reader.

New RFID support in future iPhones could enable a variety of “touchless” technologies, ranging from swipe payments (where users could pay for items at a checkout, vending machine, or toll booth by swiping their phone near a payment pad), to swipe sensing of information kiosks, objects, or even animals.

Very little data needs to be transmitted between the RFID chip and the device to do useful things; a payment would only need to present the user’s account number. A kiosk could simply transmit a URL to allow users to swipe their phone to open up a web page about the local area, with transit information and maps or details on items in a museum display.

The cost of RFID chips is now down to just a few cents each in quantity, making it possible to apply them to a wide variety of uses. Shipping companies and retailers already use RFIDs to track packages much like barcodes; libraries use them to track books, farmers use them to identify animals in herds, and the army, theme parks and schools attach RFIDs to people.

RDIF in mobile applications

In Japan, QR Code barcodes have long been a popular way to obtain information about an object using a cellphone with a barcode reader or camera that can read them. Mobile phones and credit cards with RFID swipe features (like Sony’s FeliCA) have also been in use for years in Asia and Europe, and are just recently entering the US.

Apple could leverage its micropayment system in iTunes, which already has a hundred million users’ accounts with credit cards in 23 countries, to set up a payment system tied into the iPhone and iPod touch. However, simply offering a way to read RFID tags would open up the device to a variety of industrial applications where swipe sensing could be used to track inventory and discover items in the area.

Adding support for an RFID reader is apparently easy and cost effective, and can be built right into the screen according to a recent Apple patent, which stated:

“The efficient incorporation of RFID circuitry within touch sensor panel circuitry is disclosed. The RFID antenna can be placed in the touch sensor panel, such that the touch sensor panel can now additionally function as an RFID transponder. No separate space-consuming RFID antenna is necessary. Loops (single or multiple) forming the loop antenna of the RFID circuit (for either reader or tag applications) can be formed from metal on the same layer as metal traces formed in the borders of a substrate. Forming loops from metal on the same layer as the metal traces are advantageous in that the loops can be formed during the same processing step as the metal traces, without requiring a separate metal layer.”

iPhone 3.0 already supports local discovery and networking setup via Bluetooth on all iPhone models, but Bluetooth devices are too expensive to embed in lots of devices that could use cheap RFID chips.

This has to be the most ironic and unexpected reaction from these inmates. Wonder if this will have any barring on there sentences?

Chris Brown released an exclusive photo collage with scenes from his “I Can Transform Ya” music video featuring rapper Lil Wayne and producer Swizz Beatz for his new album ‘Graffiti’. Chris was rocking a pair of white Dior Homme Blow sunglasses ($595) and a Louis Vuitton Inventeur Reversible Damier Graphite belt ($570).

R&B crooner Trey Songz was spotted performing in the Radii Straight Jacket Sneaker ($120). These sneakers feature black & white patent leather, 3 buckle straps, and a zipper down the side. The Radii brand is making some noise in the music industry as many artist have been seen in a pair.

Hideki Matsui drove in a record-tying six runs to power the New York Yankees past Philadelphia 7-3 on Wednesday, giving them a record 27th World Series crown and their first since 2000.

The Yankees won Major League Baseball’s best-of-seven final 4-2 over the defending champion Phillies, extending the greatest legacy of championship success in North American pro sports.

Designated hitter Matsui smashed his third home run of the Series, a two-run blast to right field in the second inning, adding a two-run single in the third and a two-run double in the fifth.

The 35-year-old Japanese star matched the World Series one-game record for knocking in runs set by Yankees star Bobby Richardson in 1960.

Matsui, who batted .615 for the Series, was named the Most Valuable Player of the World Series, an unprecedented honour for an Asian player.

Matsui’s heroics came in what could be his final game in a Yankees uniform since he was not signed beyond this season, but he achieved the dream he had when he joined the Yankees in 2003.

Andy Pettitte won his record-extending 18th playoff game, the 37-year-old US southpaw having also taken the game three victory.

The Yankees became the first World Series champion since Minnesota in 2001 to use only a three-man starting rotation of pitchers, including 2008 free agent signees Pettitte, CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett.

After Alex Rodriguez walked to open the second inning, Matsui smashed a full-count pitch off Phillies starter Pedro Martinez high into the right-field stands to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead.

Philadelphia answered in the third when Carlos Ruiz tripled and scored on a Jimmy Rollins sacrifice fly.

But Matsui struck again in the third, coming to the plate with the bases loaded and two out to face Martinez – loathed by Yankees fans after his years with the arch-rival Boston Red Sox.

Matsui smacked a single up the middle to score Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon, giving the Yankees a 4-1 lead.

Damon strained his right calf while running the bases and was removed but the Yankees had plenty of slugging power without him.

Martinez, the game two loser, struggled with control problems and was removed after only four innings but his replacements had problems of their own.

Mark Teixeira singled in a run in the fifth and Rodriguez walked to bring Matsui to the plate against Phillies southpaw reliever JA Happ.

The former Yomiuri Giants star bashed a double to centerfield to give the Yankees a 7-1 lead, giving him eight runs batted in for the Series.

Philadelphia refused to surrender as Ryan Howard bashed a two-run homer in the sixth to pull his club within 7-3 and help chase Pettitte from the mound.

The Phillies put two runners on base in the seventh for Chase Utley, who had tied a one-Series record with five homers.

But the Yankees brought in reliever Damaso Marte and the Dominican southpaw struck out Utley to end the inning.

New York brought in closing relief ace Mariano Rivera and the 39-year-old Panamanian right-hander secured the final outs to touch off a wild celebration.