Apple Seeking to Use RFID for Easy Network Configuration

A patent application filed by Apple was revealed late last week, it reveals that Apple may make use of RFID tags to help with the configuration of wireless networks.

Apple offers the following abstract for the patent;

A system for automatic configuration and authentication of network devices is disclosed. A network base station, e.g., a wireless router, includes an RFID transceiver. A network device includes an RFID tag. Then the network device is brought into proximity with the base station, an exchange of information takes place between the RFID transceiver in the base station and the RFID tag in the device. When the network device is powered on, it reads the information in its RFID tag and uses this information to establish a limited connection to the base station. Once connected, the base station and network device exchange authentication and encryption parameters over the limited connection and thus establish a fully functional and secure network connection between the network base station and the network device.

H.264 Hardware Decoder Chips in Macs?

Cringely has written an article on his website which contains a rumour about Apple planning to incorporate H.264 decoding processors in future Macs.

Now comes the rumor I have heard, that I believe to be a fact, that has simply yet to be confirmed. I have heard that Apple plans to add hardware video decoding to ALL of its new computers beginning fairly soon, certainly this year.

The chip which is said to cost $50 will not only allow efficient decoding of H.264 video but also allows users to encode H.264 video.