Tagstand (YC S11) Greases The Wheels Of NFC Development
techcrunch.com
techcrunch.com
Based on demand/interest I'll set up a discount code for HN, let me know what products seem the most interesting.
It would also be great if the customization (putting a logo or QR code on them) could be done online.
I realise it's not clear enough that these are outdoor-proof (i.e. PVC), will change that on the store.
We do customise tags right now for folks and putting logos and QR codes on them is our number 1 feature request - so we'll automate this process on the store in the next 2 weeks or so. Thanks for feedback!
I've been playing with RFID for a while. Is NFC different than RFID? On a different frequency than 132 KHz/13.56 MHz that I already have readers for?
Also, are there simple readers or breakout boards I can use to play with this (a la Parallax's RFID reader, or anything that could plug into my Arduino?) as opposed to buying a phone? Any suggestions for good readers or what the protocol looks like?
Also, out of curiosity (see, I'm a software guy, so often this stuff is a black box to me) did you all design and fab the tags yourselves? Or do you get them in bulk and then do your own customizations?
This is extremely cool stuff! I'm really excited about playing around with this!
NFC is a subset of RFID which works over closer ranges (hence the term "near-field"). The other difference is it can be passive (i.e. the reader induces a current in the tag/sticker to read it, that's why the tag doesn't need any power).
13.56 MHZ readers should work. We're ordering cheaper reader-writers (~$50) and will put them on the store soon. In terms of sourcing, we get them in bulk. We basically tested all the suppliers for quality, speed, and are working with the best ones. Who knows though, buying a factory may be in our future.
Have a read of our About NFC page: http://www.tagstand.com/pages/about-nfc and our FAQ http://www.tagstand.com/pages/faq
and if you have any other questions, let us know!
edit: Corrected standards versions / this link might help, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near_field_communication#Standa...
After wednesday it might be fun to get some tags and experiment with them -- the main thing I'd like to do is track access to servers, and maybe organize tools and components.