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Getting my library cards onto my phone the hard way

iliana.fyi

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Re: Getting my library cards onto my phone the hard way

#91

Post by philistine »

monksy wrote: post #51
organsnyder wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My local transit system just added tap-to-pay that works with any credit card (or Apple/Google Pay etc.). As long as you use the same card it handles transfers, multi-day passes, etc. seamlessly as well—it will automatically ensure you're getting the correct rate (e.g. no charge for passes or rides after a certain number within a certain period).

This system really sucks because you can't just slide your wallet over the reader. It'll pick up your cc before your transit pass. The move to do tap based transit with cc s is pretty stupid as that cc s get replace far more frequently than transit cards. The only person this really benefits is new users to the system that haven't figured out how to get a transit card yet.

Transit authorities are really being hammered with lower ridership right now. Now's the time to get rid of all the friction that prevents usage, like requiring bespoke payment solutions that need prior preparation.

Re: Getting my library cards onto my phone the hard way

#92

Post by smcin »

com2kid wrote: post #86

The overdrive app has supported digital library cards for years now. I agree having all the cards in one place is nice, but the fact is libraries put their cards in overdrive, so in effect all my library cards are in one place. Since overdrive is also how you access ebooks from the library, there is a good chance that any "technologically with it" people have it installed already. Now overdrive not being part of Amaz…

Apparently Overdrive app was phased out in favor of Libby app, mid-2022 [0][1].

IME Overdrive used to be very clunky and resource-heavy, borderline unuseable. On Mac.

[0]: https://www.overdrive.com/apps

[1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/audiobooks/comments/u5oym0/overdriv...

Re: Getting my library cards onto my phone the hard way

#93

Post by modeless »

monksy wrote: post #51
organsnyder wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My local transit system just added tap-to-pay that works with any credit card (or Apple/Google Pay etc.). As long as you use the same card it handles transfers, multi-day passes, etc. seamlessly as well—it will automatically ensure you're getting the correct rate (e.g. no charge for passes or rides after a certain number within a certain period).

This system really sucks because you can't just slide your wallet over the reader. It'll pick up your cc before your transit pass. The move to do tap based transit with cc s is pretty stupid as that cc s get replace far more frequently than transit cards. The only person this really benefits is new users to the system that haven't figured out how to get a transit card yet.

Why does it matter if your credit card gets picked up before your transit card? If there's a discount or pass on the transit card, seems like the agency should let you attach it to your credit cards instead of requiring you to get a separate card.

Re: Getting my library cards onto my phone the hard way

#95

Post by chedabob »

lxgr wrote: post #76
cglong wrote: post #28

This was a great blogpost, but then ends with: > I will note that I have not yet tested this pass in a real library yet I get this project was mostly for fun, but why not spend the 10 minutes it takes to test the final solution before sharing your work?

I mean, it's ultimately a bunch of pixels representing a barcode to be scanned. As long as it displays correctly, what could go wrong?

A lot of 1D barcode scanners cannot read phone screens reliably.

Re: Getting my library cards onto my phone the hard way

#96

Post by ghaff »

lxgr wrote: post #73
monksy wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This system really sucks because you can't just slide your wallet over the reader. It'll pick up your cc before your transit pass. The move to do tap based transit with cc s is pretty stupid as that cc s get replace far more frequently than transit cards. The only person this really benefits is new users to the system that haven't figured out how to get a transit card yet.

> The only person this really benefits is new users to the system that haven't figured out how to get a transit card yet. In many transit systems, that's millions of people per year: Tourists, occasional riders that would just forget the pass at home if they're not using it regularly etc. > This system really sucks because you can't just slide your wallet over the reader. It'll pick up your cc before your transit pas…

The digitization we've seen over the past couple of decades has mostly greatly improved the experience for regular users over tokens etc. It's also mostly between a pain and terrible for the occasional user like tourists. The systems are all different with often confusing menus of options, they may not even read the default language well, etc. Tapping a CC and javing the right thing happen is so much better.

Re: Getting my library cards onto my phone the hard way

#98

Post by easyKL »

ajot wrote: post #70

For anyone wanting to do something like this on an Android phone, there is Catima (on Google Play and FDroid), which supports many types of barcodes. https://catima.app/

Thank you. I was exepcting a comment on the great Catima. The beauty of F-Droid available Android apps.

Re: Getting my library cards onto my phone the hard way

#99

Post by kodapoda »

Ah I was planning to look into this, glad to hear it's possible to self-generate a pass.

My gym requires subscribers to use their app-generated QR code for entry. I have been using the same QR screenshot for the past 2 years to avoid pulling up the app every time. But even the screenshot takes more time to find in Photos than I would like to.

Re: Getting my library cards onto my phone the hard way

#100

Post by crooked-v »

monksy wrote: post #51
organsnyder wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My local transit system just added tap-to-pay that works with any credit card (or Apple/Google Pay etc.). As long as you use the same card it handles transfers, multi-day passes, etc. seamlessly as well—it will automatically ensure you're getting the correct rate (e.g. no charge for passes or rides after a certain number within a certain period).

This system really sucks because you can't just slide your wallet over the reader. It'll pick up your cc before your transit pass. The move to do tap based transit with cc s is pretty stupid as that cc s get replace far more frequently than transit cards. The only person this really benefits is new users to the system that haven't figured out how to get a transit card yet.

The point of the system is that you don't need the transit card anymore, because you're automatically getting the best daily rate by just using the same credit card each time. If you use a monthly or yearly pass presumably you would have to buy that separately in the first place.
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