A report over the weekend stated that iOS 19 could have a small however helpful new function when utilizing public Wi-Fi hotspots. Based on Bloomberg, if we register with any of our Apple units, then all our different ones will mechanically log us in subsequent time.
In different phrases, register on your espresso store Wi-Fi together with your iPhone and also you’ll profit from automated login in your iPad or Mac on a subsequent go to. That’s nice, however I’d like to see Apple go a step additional …
Again within the very early days of public Wi-Fi hotspots, issues have been easy. You noticed the SSID, related to it, and have been instantly on-line. Then alongside got here one of many worst innovations in know-how: the captive portal.
This can be a splash display which mechanically pops up if you first hook up with a brand new hotspot. It usually calls for your e mail tackle and tries to trick you into signing up for spam by together with a consent checkbox above or under the necessary ‘comply with phrases and situations’ one – and generally additionally calls for that you just select a password to register your account.
All of this takes time, and the time it takes is fastidiously calculated to occupy the precise interval your passing practice or metro is in a station inside protection so you may’t truly do something helpful together with your temporary second of connectivity.
Even if you’re having a leisurely go to to a espresso store, it’s certainly one of life’s small however common irritants.
It’s nice to see Apple cut back the variety of occasions we have now to undergo this nonsense, however I’d like to see the corporate go additional, and take the lead in growing a brand new commonplace for the cursed issues. Let’s have one database the place we agree to 1 commonplace set of phrases and situations, and the place all our Apple units are registered. Then captive portals verify that one database and instantly allow us to in.
This initiative would ideally be an industry-wide one working with all units, however Apple has sufficient clout by itself to steer hotspot suppliers to join it, and it could make one other small contribution to the ecosystem advantages if it have been restricted to Apple units.
Is that this one thing you’d prefer to see, if we are able to’t even have captive portals die a gradual and painful loss of life? Please take our ballot, and share your ideas within the feedback.
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