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.
Apple acquired Canadian startup Mayday Labs in April 2024, according to a European Commission listing, spotted by French blog MacGeneration. The acquisition had not received widespread attention from tech publications until now.
Apple is legally required to report certain acquisitions to the European Commission, under the terms of the EU's Digital Markets Act.
Mayday Labs founder Jeremy...
Apple today released iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5, the fifth updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that came out last September. iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5 come a little over a month after Apple released iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4.
The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. The iOS 18.5 update has a...
The first iOS 19 beta is just one month away, and there are already many new features and changes that are expected with it.
Apple should seed the first iOS 19 beta to developers immediately following the WWDC 2025 keynote, which is scheduled for Monday, June 9. Following beta testing, the update should be released to the general public in September.
Below, we recap the key iOS 19 rumors...
As promised, Epic Games today submitted Fortnite to the U.S. App Store, and if approved by Apple, it will mark the first time that the Fortnite app has been available in the United States since 2020.
Fortnite will include options to purchase in-app currency from the web rather than through in-app purchase, which is what got the game banned to begin with. This time, though, Apple has been...
Apple today seeded the release candidate version of iOS 18.5 to developers and public beta testers, giving us a look at the final version of the update that will be provided to the public next week.
With the release candidate, Apple provided release notes, so we have a more complete look at the new features that are included in the update, including those that weren't found during the beta...
Apple is considering raising prices for its upcoming iPhone 17 models set to release this fall, according to people familiar with the matter cited by The Wall Street Journal.
The company reportedly aims to pair the potential price hikes with new features and design changes to justify the increased cost to consumers, rather than attributing them to U.S. tariffs on goods from China.
The...
Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:30 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
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.
