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Use an iPhone to Slim Down Your Wallet

lifehacker.com — Rather than reducing his membership cards to just one club card, he scanned his membership cards to his computer, then synced them to his iPhone as an album called WalletCards.

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  • VeniceCA, on 05/13/2008, -33/+5Good for your spine as you are much less likely to keep you iPhone in your back pocket (a bad idea if you have a wallet).
    • FlyingSpaghetti, on 05/13/2008, -4/+7Forget the iPhone and club cards. I tattoo my club card numbers and barcodes directly on my body. Top that!
  • ShoGunX900, on 05/13/2008, -7/+53great idea. and the widescreen will display it nicely
    • MxM111, on 05/13/2008, -5/+77A) no scanner will be able to read the bar code on iPhone
      B) my swimming card requires to be punched for each visit of the pool. I am not doing it to my iPhone.
      • weeeezzll, on 05/13/2008, -2/+9I've tried this in the past with CRT and LCD monitors...unless there is something special about the iPhone screen, i can't see this working. maybe a CCD based reader..
        • t0x2c, on 05/13/2008, -0/+6"To her the physical card was transformed into a picture on a shiny device. On top of that the barcode was scanned successfully. The result; a slightly confused girl and a happy me."

          From the linked-through article.
        • drewpost, on 05/13/2008, -0/+4There have to be some scanners that work with this. Here (London) at some of the train stations (Marylebone i know for sure) you can get an eticket and have it scanned directly off of your mobile.
        • VenTatsu, on 05/13/2008, -0/+7I some times do programing for a Symbol barcode reader. I've scanned 1D and 2D barcodes in a number of formats off my office CRT. The same barcode will scan at about 1/2 to 1/4 the size if it's printed but that's not surprising given dpi difference between a printer and a screen.
          Barcode scanners come in two major types, LASER and imaging. A LASER scanner uses the reflection of a scanning LASER beam to read the barcode and might not work with an image on a screen. An imaging scanner uses a digital camera to take a picture and then use software to find and read any barcodes in the image. Since the barcode will be visible in the picture of the screen it will be readable by any imaging scanner.
          • chromerium, on 05/13/2008, -5/+4"LASER" should be frigging quoted.
          • alienunknown, on 05/14/2008, -0/+2Aren't you the pedantic one chromerium...
      • KibibyteBrain, on 05/13/2008, -0/+3An e-ink device like the Sony reader or the Kindle however can have its display scanned, which is pretty cool. Still, I doubt most "kids at the desk" would really accept a device display even if its clear authentic in meaning. It just defies protocol if anything.
        • quomen, on 05/13/2008, -0/+1A kindle would fit well in my pocket.
      • cawpin, on 05/13/2008, -5/+6A) Yes, they will scan fine.
        B) That is one lame pool.
        C) Do we really need a Lifehacker article to figure this out?
      • HaMMeReD, on 05/13/2008, -1/+2A) The data encoded on that traditional barcode is also displayed for you, as a number right below it. They can punch in the number if it doesn't read.
        B) It should read just fine, if it's a optical system.
        This brings up the question of rfid or magnetic strip cards though, can't transfer the data on either of those around easily.
    • turbod33, on 05/13/2008, -1/+8I tried this at a conference, I had my registration barcode on my iPhone, and it didn't scan. I wonder which scanners work and which do not.
      • jpop, on 05/13/2008, -0/+1Some scanners use infrared. It's absorbed differently depending on the ink used (or not used in the case of scans). So you could have a barcode printed on a laser jet work and a barcode printed on fax paper not work.
      • KibibyteBrain, on 05/13/2008, -0/+5Active scanners that use lasers or LEDs will not work. Passive ones that use video sensors or just passive photodiodes/transistors will work. Basically, if it has a light, it probably won't work.
    • diggdat, on 05/13/2008, -0/+13I already have enough tech questions in my life to explain. I think I will keep the millimeter or two thickness of my wallet, in favor of the 10 minute conversations I am likely to have, everywhere I try to use this.

    • dragonrice, on 05/14/2008, -0/+1Rokr E6 can already do this with it's built in CARD READER function.
  • dmadzak, on 05/13/2008, -5/+255Can I scan my cash as well and use that to pay?
    • Firehed, on 05/13/2008, -1/+58I'd bet that most cashiers would happily take your iPhone as payment.
      • subterfuge, on 05/13/2008, -0/+9i'll be right back after i scan this . . .
      • dasdef, on 05/14/2008, -0/+1what if i scanned my iphone?
    • bmson, on 05/13/2008, -5/+17cash?
      That's so 80's.
      Today we use Debit and Credit cards.
      • t0x2c, on 05/13/2008, -14/+6I'm 17 you ignorant clod!
        • banessi, on 05/14/2008, -1/+2Then you can have a f-ing debit card from your checking account. I think we can figure out who is ignorant. Thanks.
      • m00nmaster, on 05/13/2008, -25/+8Black people still use cash...hide the paper trail.
        • mattsx, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1heh, that's ironic



          ...you know, cause cash IS paper (more or less)
      • diggerdong, on 05/13/2008, -0/+4Yeah, and remember! You can't pay cash for iPhones.
    • EricAnderton, on 05/13/2008, -1/+7Some stores will actually allow you pay-by-cellphone, so you can leave the cash in the bank. And no, I'm not making this up.

      http://www.creditcards.com/Leave-Your-Credit-Card- ...
  • dougvfr750, on 05/13/2008, -6/+484My wallet got slimmer because I bought the iPhone

    Cool idea though
    • ophello, on 05/13/2008, -25/+10D-D-D-Double Entendre
      • Raian, on 05/13/2008, -0/+18Sorry not a double entendre-- It was simply a joke
        • ibid49, on 05/13/2008, -9/+0Actually, it was a double entendre. A double entendre doesn't have to be sexual, it just usually is.
        • Christ0s, on 05/13/2008, -0/+7a double entendre has to have two different meanings the previous comment only has one
      • t0x2c, on 05/13/2008, -5/+1I don't want to know what you've been doing with your iPhone...
      • jstearns, on 05/13/2008, -5/+1Triple Entente
      • foofighter828, on 05/14/2008, -3/+1c-c-c-combo breaker?
        i'm doing it wrong.
        i'd digg myself down if i could.
    • 45441, on 05/13/2008, -7/+1Win.
    • phoomp, on 05/13/2008, -12/+4A more accurate title would be "Use a personal media player to slim down your wallet".
      • maninalift, on 05/13/2008, -0/+8what? why? it looks like an iphone to me
        • Pyroteq, on 05/14/2008, -0/+2Umm, because it would work on any portable media device with a big enough screen and high enough resolution. Of course, then it wouldn't get even half as many digg's because all the Apple fan boys wouldn't be mindlessly digging because it has "iPhone" in the title...
          • phoomp, on 05/14/2008, -0/+1And I wouldn't be getting dugg down as much for suggesting that any PMP could do this just as well as an iPhone.
    • wonderchemist, on 05/14/2008, -2/+10Impossible since Apple doesn't let you pay in cash.
      • brettmurf, on 05/14/2008, -1/+3They used to then changed the policy to track buyers. I bought one with cash. Of course I just unlocked it and sold it on Ebay, but the women was quite shocked that I paid with cash.

        I was counting out $400 in bills 12 inches from her face, and shes like "Credit or Debit?"
    • phphreak, on 05/14/2008, -5/+1Yeah, $400 is a lot of money for people who make minimum wage.
  • TwisterMc, on 05/13/2008, -28/+1Great idea. But where will I find a scanner?
  • pafboy, on 05/13/2008, -41/+3Nice hack
    • santaliqueur, on 05/13/2008, -4/+17Hack? Thanks for demonstrating the difference between slashdot and Digg. You think this is a "hack".
      • VenTatsu, on 05/13/2008, -6/+3Hack has many definitions.
        One is using a device in an inventive way to do something other than it's intended purpose. iPhone as MultiPass qualifies in my book.
  • tracydanger, on 05/13/2008, -7/+9I've been planning to do this for a long time (so I agree it's a great idea). I wanted to do it with my PDA, but I don't always have it with me. Once I get PDA/phone (i.e. iPhone), I'll do the same thing. For now, I'll have to stick with the card I made that has all my "bonus card" bar codes on it.
    • ChzPlz, on 05/13/2008, -0/+9Did you use this to do it? http://www.justoneclubcard.com
      You punch in all your loyalty card numbers, and it whips up a single card with all the necessary bar codes. Shweet.
    • VitriolAndAngst, on 05/13/2008, -0/+4I was thinking the same idea. But I wanted to marry a business-card scanner with an LCD. This is a lot easier process -- you essentially already have the scanner on the iPhone -- still, how do you get it to be EXACT size?
      • ParanoydAndroid, on 05/13/2008, -0/+1You just find the dpi of your output device, and make sure to scan at that dpi. Most monitors are 72 dpi, so anything scanned at 72 dpi and then displayed will be the correct size. (Roughly speaking)
  • stukdog, on 05/13/2008, -6/+44I did this with my tickets. Rather than carrying around my printed tickets from Ticketmaster, I put the bar code on my iPhone. The ticket taker at Fenway didn't believe me at first, but once it scanned and went cleared, it was all good.

    Though I could see this backfiring if you had a ticket taker that was scared of technology and though you were trying to make counterfeit tickets.
    • airj1012, on 05/13/2008, -0/+5I think I would be afraid to give it a shot, but sounds like a good idea. I wonder if you could just pull up your confirmation reciept email instead.
    • IphtashuFitz, on 05/13/2008, -0/+14Interesting idea. If I were to do it I'd probably bring my tickets along just in case but not tell the guy unless he made a big stink, called security, etc. or if the scan of the image simply didn't work.
      • aladrin, on 05/13/2008, -1/+8But that doesn't help the original issue: Not having to carry stuff around with you. Now you've just double the work without any benefit.
        • IphtashuFitz, on 05/13/2008, -0/+9Yeah, I know. I meant to say I'd do that the first few times to make sure it worked well. Once I'm comfortable and realize that people like the ticket takers at Fenway are comfortable then I'd stop carrying the tickets.
      • sgtpppr, on 05/13/2008, -1/+6Which totally eliminates the point.
    • aussieNickuss, on 05/13/2008, -0/+5Last event I went to using a Ticketmaster ticket, I had to feed it through a machine that opened a small set of gates. (like you get at train stations)
      • Scaryclouds, on 05/14/2008, -0/+6That where the iPhone Nano comes in.
    • Lewiji, on 05/14/2008, -0/+1I'm gonna try this at the local Academy next week. They give you the option to have your tickets emailed, with the barcodes and other stuff in a PDF file.
    • fixyourthinking, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1This has to be a lie! There is NO WAY whatsoever (unless they were a friend) that a tickettaker would accept something like that. How does he know that you didn't take a picture of the guy's tickets behind you? NICE TRY though!
  • elpepe, on 05/13/2008, -17/+42Yes, just buying one will definitely slim down your wallet.
    • bigandy, on 05/13/2008, -15/+7Well after buying one I've found the only other thing in life is your mum - and she's really cheap!
      • Disinterested, on 05/13/2008, -0/+3your mamma jokes that's so retro
      • foofighter828, on 05/14/2008, -0/+2Yo mama jokes are not only radical, but also dope. Sometimes phat.
  • Takuro, on 05/13/2008, -2/+148Now we're 1 step closer to having the sort of technology that Japan's had with their cellphones for years now.
    • IphtashuFitz, on 05/13/2008, -0/+12Meanwhile they've taken two steps forward so we're still hopelessly behind.
      • Sawta, on 05/13/2008, -0/+6# !/bin/ksh

        america=1
        if [ $america -ge 0 ]
        then
        ((america=america+1))
        ((japan=america+1))
        echo "We're only $japan steps behind!"
        else
        echo wtf?
        fi
      • donjuan571, on 05/14/2008, -0/+1end your life
    • matriculated, on 05/13/2008, -0/+3Japan and most of Asia....
    • deejqu1k, on 05/14/2008, -1/+1Do you mean tamagochis?
  • geodescent, on 05/13/2008, -10/+61I'm seeing a downside to this. What if someone steals your phone?
    • friendlyman, on 05/13/2008, -0/+109I guess they get to swim for free?
    • Eddiecoaster, on 05/13/2008, -1/+106If someone steals your phone, there goes your supermarket club card. They'll not only get a phone, but also 10 cents off of a bag of chips.
    • INDOAZZ, on 05/13/2008, -1/+5you would still have the originals.
    • suranwrap, on 05/13/2008, -0/+48Same thing you do when you lose your wallet.
      • PunkRampant, on 05/13/2008, -1/+16Crawl up in a corner and start crying?
        • Scaryclouds, on 05/14/2008, -0/+4I usually pee myself while crying in a corner, ensures total solitude.
    • maverick808, on 05/13/2008, -1/+26The same as what happens if someone steals your wallet.
    • KyjL, on 05/13/2008, -4/+1You're boned.

      Brought it upon yourself though.
    • HumbleDialog, on 05/13/2008, -1/+17What if someone steals your wallet?

      If someone steals your phone, at least you still have the original cards.
    • gbarger, on 05/13/2008, -1/+13I've got the phone lock turned on for mine. After 10 minutes you need to enter the password or the only feature you can use is the emergency calling.
      • betterth, on 05/13/2008, -2/+5Or pop it into itunes, nail a restore, and in about five minutes it's no longer your iphone, but an unactivated one.

        There is probably also homebrew file browsing utilities for the iphone that would allow them to copy all the files off of your iphone, including those pictures, without every knowing your password.

        Like they want your info anyway =
        • Kaihan0, on 05/13/2008, -3/+2i will only unlock on your own Itunes account
        • Qumahlin, on 05/14/2008, -2/+1lol, you don't need itunes to do it. You don't even need to have the phone connected to wifi. Hand me a iPhone password locked, etc, 3 button clicks will take it back to factory fresh in 5 minutes. Give me 10 minutes and I can download all of your data off before I make it like its brand new.
    • lowryba, on 05/13/2008, -1/+7Remote wipe is coming in the next iPhone update (version 2.0) in June-ish.

      So come June, you lose your phone, you call up Apple, or ATT, tell them your phone was stolen and boom, all personal data is wiped.
      • joshhan, on 05/13/2008, -0/+10Sounds like a great prank to play on your friends with iPhones! :D
        • Wargasmic, on 05/13/2008, -0/+1Lmao, that's a great idea Apple...
      • msbeckman, on 05/14/2008, -0/+3I believe that the wipe feature is only available for the people using their iPhone through work with the enterprise plan. Of course we don't have any details right now, but after watching the keynote where they introduced it, they definitely made it sound like it was a feature put there for the companies distributing iPhones to their employees.
      • Scaryclouds, on 05/14/2008, -0/+2So if you lose your phone how do you call them to tell them your phone was wiped?

        (Yes I know there other phones, I'm just remarking on the funny paradox of having to call to report your phone is stolen)
    • andymci, on 05/13/2008, -0/+9I'd rather someone steal my wallet than my iPhone. :(
      (That is, of course, assuming I had an iPhone.)
  • geneticlone, on 05/13/2008, -6/+7Anyone know of a wallet that can hold an ipod touch, credit card and a license all in one?
    • HumbleDialog, on 05/13/2008, -0/+24It's called a "pocket".
    • ngmcs8203, on 05/13/2008, -1/+7It's called a purse.
    • ahawks, on 05/13/2008, -1/+4I think you're missing the point. Cards go in iphone, iphone doesn't go in wallet :P
    • jjustice, on 05/14/2008, -0/+1I, for one, am interested in a serious answer to this question too =]
  • deaftly, on 05/13/2008, -3/+8The iphone already did this when it launched.
  • Bridea, on 05/13/2008, -7/+8Now if only they'd hurry up with the ActiveSync capabilities... only thing keeping me from buying an iPhone at this point.
    • Skootles, on 05/14/2008, -0/+1Yes.. because Apple is going to rush to integrate a microsoft service into their device.. They already have iSync.
  • themarq, on 05/13/2008, -2/+45The only problem I can see with this is that it takes time to find a photo the iPhone. Perhaps no longer than it takes to fish them out of my wallet full of 'loyalty' cards. But it got me thinking, how could this leverage the technology further and make the process more efficient?

    Geolocation of course. My phone knows where I am within a few meters most of the time. So why not have the phone compare my location to Google Maps and then present the most likely card I will need should I whip out my phone to show it to a cashier. Sure if there's a Safeway right next door to a Home Depot you might wind up with two cards to chose from, but that's better than sorting thru dozens.
    Someone call the app a day guys.
    • knight666, on 05/13/2008, -1/+14*flexes his haxxin fingers*
      I'll get right on that.
    • colomboj, on 05/13/2008, -1/+3Damn good idea, I had the same thought when I first read this!
    • tonyr1988, on 05/13/2008, -0/+5I've got a program that does a similar thing on my phone - it changes the Profile depending on where I'm at, so when I'm close to work, it goes Silent, and when I leave, it goes back to Normal automatically.

      It's actually really simple - you just "train" it where you're at. Slight drain on the battery, though.
    • HaMMeReD, on 05/13/2008, -1/+1GPS doesn't work well indoors, this would be flawed in malls and such. It may be based on last known location and not actual current location

      My phone geotags my photo's and that's even a pain in the ass outdoors sometimes.
    • msbeckman, on 05/14/2008, -0/+5With phones getting as advanced as they are, I think it is only a matter of time before stores have some sort of network where as soon as you walk in, their homepage pops up with current deals, hot items, and other things of importance. It could immediately pull up all your information such as rewards card. You could point your camera at SKU of a product, and get the up to date price with any deals clearly marked. A button in the lower right allows you to request assistance. You walk up to the counter and scan a barcode unique to your phone, this syncs your phone with the attendants computer. As the attendant rings you up, all of the items pop up onto your phone displaying price and a description of the item. After everything is scanned, you click pay now, choose a card, and sign for it. The phone then compares signatures to assure you are the rightful owner.As soon as you are done checking out, a receipt is sent over to your phone and stored in in a folder with all previous purchases.
      • VegaObscura3, on 05/14/2008, -2/+1Sounds stupid, expensive, useless, and annoying. Sounds just like the sort of things corporations love.
  • slightlygifted, on 05/13/2008, -16/+13what if your iphone runs out of battery?
    • Unclekoolaid, on 05/13/2008, -1/+60then you must recharge it, it comes with an adapter that you just plug in the wall
      • JanYpe, on 05/13/2008, -0/+11Technology is so wonderful these days.
    • Terrin, on 05/13/2008, -2/+26You mean I don't have to buy a new one everytime mine dies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF.....I was wondering what all those cords and things were
    • colomboj, on 05/13/2008, -6/+6The IPhone has a small nuclear reactor built into it, you never have to charge it.
      • MiDri, on 05/13/2008, -8/+4not true... I get about 3 days of use out of mine before it dies (I forget to charge it a lot these days...)
    • debuggercll, on 05/13/2008, -0/+7Then your heart stops.
  • ponzie76, on 05/13/2008, -12/+2Genius...if only they had the iPhone in Canada...(I know, I know...coming soon or get a hacked one...)
    • xtremesniper, on 05/13/2008, -1/+6You don't need an iPhone to put pictures on it. iPod Touch does the same thing.
      • Pyroteq, on 05/14/2008, -1/+2Or any other portable media device capable with a decent sized screen and decent resolution. I know, amazing, it doesn't HAVE to be an Apple product for it to work!
        • xtremesniper, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Oh grow up, I'm anything but an Apple fanboy. I was simply mentioning the next closest thing to an iPhone readily available for Canadians. And frankly, who's to say another player without the large glass screen would be able to have a high enough resolution to scan in bar codes?
  • DRC1, on 05/13/2008, -3/+4Another practical use of the iPhone. I can't wait for the AppStore to go online to see what ridiculous applications people come up with...lol
    • FredFredrickson, on 05/13/2008, -1/+3How is this anywhere near practical?
      • Qumahlin, on 05/14/2008, -1/+3Cause it takes minutes to do and works like a charm?
        • Pyroteq, on 05/14/2008, -0/+2Leaving your tickets and membership cards in your wallet isn't hard to do and you won't have to have a 10 minute conversation with the store manager every time you pull out your iPhone convincing them to scan the picture of the bar code and convincing them it's not forged. Taking the card out your wallet is probably faster than browsing through your picture folder looking for the right picture to scan. Oh, and don't forget not all scanners will work on an LCD screen.
    • vkzawa, on 05/13/2008, -1/+2There are already tons of applications available in the hacked iPhone community.
  • ElRoloMasLoco, on 05/13/2008, -7/+8Wait until he looses his phone and someone finds it, what a way to open yourself to identity theft!!!
    • nblsavage, on 05/13/2008, -0/+8You think someone losing a $600 phone is more likely than someone losing their wallet?
      • bolthead88, on 05/13/2008, -0/+3the new 2.0 updated will have a remote lock if your iphone gets stolen
      • Pyroteq, on 05/14/2008, -0/+1Umm, yes, very. Wallets are usually a lot bigger than a wallet and they don't slip out your pocket as easy, especially if filled with shrapnel. Ask around how many people have lost their wallets compared to how many people have lost their phone and I'm sure you'll find half the people have lost their wallet compared to losing their phone. Also, a wallet can be worth a lot more than $600 to some people, it has their credit cards, ID, license, etc, which will have to be cancelled/replaced which costs time and money.
    • tomato1324, on 05/14/2008, -0/+2no, they don't have your identity, they're just getting into the gym for free and saving money on groceries.
  • mrinsanity, on 05/13/2008, -6/+8thats the dubmest thing i ever heard... someone wanna send me their membership scans so I can photoshop my name on them?
  • mlvassallo, on 05/13/2008, -1/+99If I worked at a place and needed to see your membership card, I wouldn't accept a scan on an iPhone. Sorry, I just wouldn't.
    • SSCrow, on 05/13/2008, -2/+6People downloading images of membership Cards to their iphone would be a pretty obvious signal of a bad idea.
    • Xcel, on 05/13/2008, -6/+13So where do you work if not at a place?
      • ErikHK, on 05/13/2008, -0/+6just outside of space-time, duh?
      • mlvassallo, on 05/14/2008, -0/+1I thought that was obvious. This is Meta.
  • badjoke, on 05/13/2008, -10/+22Awesome idea but pretty much anyone who does this is a pretentious douche.
    • StarlessKnight, on 05/13/2008, -1/+2Why? If they're accepted like the originals, why shouldn't we create an electronic form of the various store cards we have filling our wallets and creating a mess on keychains? Is progress bad? I wouldn't say we're to the point of making electronic versions of our actual ID cards (driver license, SSN, Bank card, etc), given a lack of verifiable security in the scans (which would need to be overcome in favor of widespread adoption anyway), but Wal-Mart? Sam's Club? Fitness Centers? Their card security is a joke as-is, why not slim down your wallet with an equally secure (if not more so if you have a lockout password) method?
      • badjoke, on 05/13/2008, -1/+2I agree that it's awesome and handy but I'm just saying that most people who do it will probably do it for the novelty and to show off their phone.
  • trixterIreland, on 05/13/2008, -2/+3this even means that I can get the image of my friends membership card and use that avoiding paying for my own membership!! aww yeah businesses will love that (someone over here was doing something similar with grocery loyalty cards, he was asked to shut down for trademark infringement when all he did was have a webpage explaining how he did it, I would imagine that putting it on a phone would not only confuse clerks but be resisted by management since its more easily shared and their tracking info isnt as accurate)

    • Lewiji, on 05/14/2008, -0/+2How is it any different from just borrowing your mates card?
      • Pyroteq, on 05/14/2008, -0/+1Because than your mate can't use the card at the same time. IE, if you're going to the gym with a friend you can't scan your card, give it to a friend and then have him scan himself in unless you managed to give him your card without the receptionist seeing.
  • DeFex, on 05/13/2008, -4/+66All apple products excel at wallet slimming.
    • santaliqueur, on 05/13/2008, -4/+11And non-Apple products are free! Yay!
    • joshhan, on 05/13/2008, -3/+3I see what you did there and I like it!
    • quomen, on 05/13/2008, -0/+1They also give you access to all of your membership cards! Well, that's the word on the street. There seems to be a positive outlook on this type of technology.
    • tas08, on 05/14/2008, -0/+1My macbook ripped my wallet... :(
  • FredFredrickson, on 05/13/2008, -9/+6What club would accept a digital scan of a membership card? What happens if he loses his phone? If the data gets lost?

    Will the douchebaggery ever end?
    • Metman, on 05/13/2008, -1/+2Never....
      • bolthead88, on 05/13/2008, -1/+1same thing if you lose the card.... but with the iphone it backs the data up on itunes and in the 2.0 updated it will have a remote lock...
  • awtripp, on 05/13/2008, -2/+9any place that accept this as a kind of membership validation doesn't deserve to be in business. you could easily scan someones in, photoshop, and boom. ID card.
    • gbarger, on 05/13/2008, -0/+5A lot of membership cards don't have photos on them, and the ones that do often times actually show your picture on a security monitor near the area where you scan in.
    • arcticsoft, on 05/13/2008, -0/+5Oh no! someone might steal my safeway membership card and use it to buy the apples on sale! Identity theft at its worst. Hes not putting credit card info on it, just to store memberships and such.
    • StarlessKnight, on 05/13/2008, -0/+2Sam's Club uses a black and white, dithered excuse of a photo on their card where you can partially make out distinguishing features of the person... that's not exactly what I'd call forgery-proof. Not unless there's a secret message in the haze like the face on a dollar bill. (What's sadder is that the Sam's Club card, in certain circumstances, can actually pass as photo ID)
  • LupeFiasco, on 05/13/2008, -2/+3The guy who wrote the article that is linked to the one being dugg said he only had 3 cards in his wallet, but he doesn't mention a drivers license, social insurance card, or if he is a Canadian, a health card. Did he scan those as well? or does he not have or want to carry those cards?
    • CraigNobbs, on 05/13/2008, -1/+1The idea behind it was that it was for bardcode scanning... like UPCs on a product in a store. A Driver's License, SIN (SSN), or Canadian Health CareCard all work with a magnetic swipe strip. You can't scan the magnetic strip off of a screen.
  • CraigNobbs, on 05/13/2008, -3/+36I work with various barcode scanners, and have tried to scan images on screens, (Matte and Glossy) LCDs and CRTs. Out of dozens of attempts on numerous screens, I never got a single scan to work.

    For a scan to work correctly, the light that is emitted from the scanner must be bounced back into its sensor array. That array expects a very specific light wavelength and will not register unless it gets it. A LCD screen has a back light and a matrix of dots (3 [RGB] dots to one pixel) which colour the emitted backlight. When the Light from the scanner hits the screen, it will either reflect the majority of the light (on a glossy screen) or not enough light (on a matte screen), however it will be uniform because the coloured pixels don't actually absorb enough of the light like paper or a label would, thus making it unreadable.

    It doesn't work; wasn't tested before posting it; --digg.
    • aDigger, on 05/13/2008, -4/+3If you would have read the post the guy tested it at a local hardware store. So what do you mean it does not work.
      • CraigNobbs, on 05/13/2008, -0/+4I thought that when someone said "It doesn't work", that it was a pretty straight forward statement. Sarcasm aside, the way that LCDs are built do not allow the ability for them to be scanned correctly. They simply do not affect the light of the scanner enough to function correctly.

        If, in fact, he actually got a successful scan, I would be suprised. After I started to look into it and research the idea, it was quickly evedent that it would not work correctly because of the LCD itself.

        As I stated in my original post, I had tested this idea with various different scanners. Not all scanners are created the same. There are two different types of scanners (in terms of lights), Laser and LED. Both have their benefits and drawbacks. The Laser scanners light is so powerful, that the light returned to the scanner was simply not altered enough for it to scan the barcode. As for the LED scanners, the returned light was unreadable by its sensors. I didn't narrow down the reasons for the LED scanners, but my preliminary results were that the light, while still unaffected, may also have been negativly affected by the glossy screen covers that sat above the LCD screen itself. But as I said, I didn't narrow the LED issue down enough to say that with any degree of certainty.
    • KMitchell, on 05/13/2008, -3/+2That was my immediate thought as well. Perhaps not as trendy as the iphone folks, but I tried to do this on my treo years ago. No luck getting it to scan at the checkout and I went back to my 2-up laminated card (no one card is worth the wallet real-estate). And for those who think that somehow this defeats barcode "security", all it does is illustrate that trusting that no one can "crack the barcode" is pretty weak security.
    • haleym, on 05/13/2008, -0/+1Did you test CCD scanners? This guy claims they will read off screens just fine, since they use video cameras to read the barcode instead of laser light:

      http://www.adams1.com/pub/russadam/faq.html

      (scroll down to 'Can I Read A Barcode Image Off An LCD Or CRT Screen?')
    • jarklejam, on 05/13/2008, -0/+3I know that I pulled up a PDF receipt from APPLE and they couldn't scan it off my iPhone at the Apple Store. If it's only one kind of scanner that can do this, what is the point?
    • kpkpkp, on 05/14/2008, -0/+1There are LASER SCANNERS and the are IMAGERS (aka CCD). You need an IMAGER - but they cost more. Laser scanners make the scribbling red lines - you see them a lot at American supermarket checkout counters. The imagers are more likely to be seen at a Pharmacist, as they need to capture an image of the Dr. Rx note for their records, in addition to regular POS function.

      The up and coming electrophoretic display technology (digital paper / E-Ink / E-Paper / EPD) has no backlight, and so merely reflects ambient and laser scanner light.
  • CertifyedGoon, on 05/13/2008, -1/+2I wonder if it works with coupons as well.
    • kpkpkp, on 05/14/2008, -0/+1Most supermarket scanners are LASER SCANNERS, and so they are not going to scan from an LCD.
  • SanTe, on 05/13/2008, -9/+4"Use an iPhone to Slim Down Your Wallet"

    Yup, my wallet's a whole lot lighter now without that 500 bucks!
  • Heidenreich12, on 05/13/2008, -3/+1I went ahead and tried this with my YMCA membership card, as its annoying to have that in your pocket while your working out. It worked like a charm, though the lady scanning me in was a little surprised that you could do that.
  • hotpuck6, on 05/13/2008, -2/+1now all you have to do is be willing to let your local sketchy high school grocery boy handle you're iPhone.
  • SnapETom, on 05/13/2008, -2/+1I sort of do this with those coupons the Borders sends you. When I get there, if there's something I like, I just go into my mailbox, retrieve the email, click on the link, and show the screen to the cashier which they'll scan.
  • rdubya44, on 05/13/2008, -1/+5I worked at the Apple Store. I tried numerous times to scan barcodes on iPhones, and it never worked once. I wanted it to work so badly! I tried every scanner in the store. I tried different angles of approach. None worked. Unless these swim places had nicer scanners then the ones we had at the Apple Store POS, I don't believe this works. (Although I'd like it to!)
    • mudgod, on 05/13/2008, -0/+2It does work - I've used it for a pickup once with the barcode in my email - The issue though was resizing the image to a size the barcode reader would get, not sure how the guy in the article did that
      • pauldy, on 05/13/2008, -0/+1Bar code readers are ratio based not necessarily size based. So your concern becomes are you representing enough of the bar code in pixels to maintain the ratios within the margins of error of the reader.
  • pauldy, on 05/13/2008, -0/+2I'm going to have to try this. I myself took the 12 membership cards I had and scanned them in reduced them all to fit on the front and back of a single business card. It works very well aside from the rare odd look at the self checkout line in the super market when they see me trying to hold my thumbs over the other codes so it only scans the one for the store I'm in.
    • pauldy, on 05/14/2008, -0/+2I tried it last night at the local rec center. The scan was done at 600DPI and they guy scanning was even patient enough to let me blow it up and try. I then went to the local grocery store to try it out and didn't work their either. Apparently the tolerances are lower or the screen is to reflective for this to work properly. Interesting post but I wouldn't consider it given the fact it doesn't work reliably across the board even though it may work fine with ccd based scanners.
      • centran, on 05/14/2008, -0/+1Figure out what DPI is similar to the resolution of the iPhone screen and scan in at that DPI... should be 72 or maybe 160
  • mogebier, on 05/13/2008, -4/+3Most of the places need to scan your card for things, and I bet the rest wouldn't accept a scanned card. It is a waste of time to even try this.
    Well, the Apple-loving crowd wastes time with their Apple products anyway, so if you have one, go for it. Then you can make sweet love to your phone and your mac and your ipod just like normal.
    • msbeckman, on 05/14/2008, -2/+2Why? A lot of companies will look up your card information for you anyway... American Eagle will look up my store credit card. Best Buy will look up my rewards card. Apple will look up my receipts. My local library can easily pull up my library card. Why would these places be so hesitant to scan something off of my phone when in reality, all they are going to do is take the time to go through the computer to pull up the exact same information that I already have on my phone. It's not like it is going to pull up something on the computer that isn't already on the virtual card.
      • mogebier, on 05/14/2008, -1/+1So, instead of carrying around a card, you will take the time and trouble to scan them into your iphone, then STILL wait for them to look things up while the people behind you in line wish for your death because you are holding up the line because you were too arrogant and selfish to just carry around the card in the first place??
        Typical mac *****. Arrogant little *****.
        • msbeckman, on 05/18/2008, -0/+1Someone is a ***** dick... I wasn't talking about just scanning cards. I am thinking beyond reward cards, I was talking about basically anything with a bar code. Having receipts organized in your phone would save a lot of time. It would probably take just as much time to pull out your phone and to find what your looking as to pull out your wallet and sort through it. In my experience, someone messing around on their phone is the last of your worries when you are standing in line. You have to deal with the people who decide they wanna add something to their purchase and go through the store to find it, the women who have to dump everything out of their purse to find something, and the people who are TALKING on their phones.

          I see from your comment history that you have more than once lashed out on a "Apple fanboy". Where the ***** in my comment did I mention Apple besides when talking about the fact they could pull up a receipt for me. Notice how I said all of this can be done on your phone... not an iPhone. I wasn't specific about it, because I don't own a iPhone, and I could just as easily do this on mine. So don't call me a ***** typical mac ***** or an arrogant little *****.

          Typical cum guzzling douche bag.
  • m4lomb, on 05/13/2008, -1/+1Just dont get it to get approved for the developer program: Select developrs only so far.
  • amanoj, on 05/13/2008, -2/+2This is a neat idea. Wonder if you could do this with a BlackBerry. (Sorry, Corporate Policy does not support iPhone... YET!)
    • osko2052, on 05/14/2008, -1/+2Business will never support the iphone. It will never be secure enough. Apple can stick to the consumer market.
  • edwartica, on 05/13/2008, -5/+3It'll work until his iphone crashes or he drops it and breaks the screen, or his battery dies or....
    • MiDri, on 05/13/2008, -0/+7GOD! Then he'd have to *gulp* get his real cards?
      • edwartica, on 05/14/2008, -0/+1EXACTLY, which would defeat the purpose!
  • Chassit, on 05/13/2008, -2/+6Foolish.
  • dmsean, on 05/13/2008, -7/+2I don't read articles about iphones, but I wonder if slimming down your wallet has to do with the *cost* of this pointless machine.
  • djmollusk, on 05/13/2008, -2/+1Great idea to drop even more of your docs if you loose your phone or get it stolen.
  • Radardog, on 05/13/2008, -1/+2The double meaning in the headline made me laugh.
  • pickleprince, on 05/13/2008, -3/+2So, it's like a walkman?
    • DaveImber, on 05/14/2008, -1/+1not at all
      • pickleprince, on 05/14/2008, -0/+1http://danowen.blogspot.com/2007/11/flight-of-conc ...

        "The slight weirdness to Bowie is continued with another main plot, as the Murray gets the band their first real job: providing the music to an electronic novelty greeting card. The Daily Show's John Hodgman has a small role as the card company's boss, quietly frustrated by Bret, Jemaine and Murray's stupidity when it comes to understanding how one of his cards actually works ("like a walkman?")"
  • digjam, on 05/13/2008, -4/+2Can I scan my Credit cards as well ???
    • HaMMeReD, on 05/14/2008, -0/+0I think most pos systems can handle manually punching in a credit card number and information. So I don't see why not. Although technically I don't think stores are legally supposed to take them, but I doubt you wouldd really have any problems.
  • kujo740, on 05/13/2008, -1/+2If you're looking for good iPhone jokes, they're near the top. :]
    • DaveImber, on 05/14/2008, -2/+2if youre looking for ***** kujo740 is your guy
      • kujo740, on 05/14/2008, -0/+1Woah wait, were almost clever? Come on now. When you try to make fun of someone's screen name you usually end up sounding stupid and blunt. Your case is no exception. Now go off and post comments in youtube, tool.
  • that1jewishguy, on 05/13/2008, -2/+3oh thank god! i don't have to carry around those heavy membership cards around anymore. these apple fan boys are getting lazier by the day.
  • wondertwins, on 05/13/2008, -4/+4and if you lose your iPhone/iPod Touch?
    • lateralus, on 05/14/2008, -0/+4Then you lose all assets, all rights and sense of worth. Your family has you picked up by people in a white van. Well, until Lifehacker has a followup article on how to handle the loss of your iPhone/iPod.
    • tripledjr, on 05/14/2008, -0/+0Or you take your cards out of your drawer or filing cabinet where you were clever enough to place them after taking them out of your wallet. Still an I Phone is thicker then a few membership cards.
  • artemisn, on 05/14/2008, -1/+0Hey, can I use your phone?
  • tripledjr, on 05/14/2008, -4/+4All Apple products slim down your wallet.
    • dotbacher, on 05/14/2008, -0/+3Have you read ANY of the other comments? You are about the 10th guy to make that joke.
      • tripledjr, on 05/14/2008, -2/+0Sorry no, inbetween working 8 hours a day, busing, taking night courses and going to the gym I dont have time to rifle through every single comment ever posted on digg.
        One question? Why 10? why didnt you tell all 8 other people that werent the original mr post police? I smell slacking off on your part.
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