Tag: iOS 13.4

iOS 13.4: Apple Pay Suica making way for Mobile PASMO?

  • iOS 13.3
  • iOS 13.4

The iOS 13.4 update adds a few interesting UI tweaks to Wallet and Suica. On the performance front iOS 13.4 Apple Pay Suica is the same level of stability we’ve seen on every release since iOS 12.3. The UI for Suica commuter pass has changed slightly with more detail in a separate window-let just below Suica balance/recharge. The commute pass renew button is gone too, but I’m pretty sure it re-appears during the 2 week renew period. I’ll update when confirmed.

I missed a change in the beta: the JP Wallet blurb has been updated slightly too. The Suica mention has been replaced with a generic ‘Transit IC card’. This change is very interesting in light of the recent Mobile PASMO Android release. It could be a sign that Mobile PASMO will be coming to Apple Pay before iOS 14….whenever that is.

Update: some readers have questioned whether this is just a change to bring different region Wallet blurbs in line with each other. Apple Pay Wallet for Hong Kong, for example, added ‘Travel Cards” in iOS 13.0 even though Apple Pay Octopus has yet to appear. But region differences are still there: transit IC cards, travel cards, transit cards. Suica has massive brand recognition in Japan. Apple has leveraged the Suica brand at every opportunity and would not swap it for generic wording lightly, not without a very good reason: more transit IC cards. There is also timing. Mobile PASMO started service March 18, just as iOS 13.4 GM was going out to developers. If it was just a text change, Apple would have done this earlier with the iOS 13.0 debut.

iOS 13.4 Suica commute plan renewal is a little different from previous versions (official release is the same as pictured in #1 and #3, #2 is a mockup )

iOS 13.4 beta 3: no commute plan renew button?

The latest iOS 13.4 beta has a few more UI tweaks. The main Suica screen is unchanged from b2 and now seems set with no commute plan renew button. I’m pretty sure a button is supposed to appear during the 2 week renewal period and have created a screen mockup. There may be some other renewal notification or renew method but cannot confirm. Is this the iOS 13 Wallet dynamic card UI thing or something else? If this turns out to be the final Suica commute plan UI for iOS 13.4, I think many users will be confused. With a few more beta releases to go, I hope Apple improves the UI before the official release.

Express Transit settings have a small tweak. On/Off toggles replace checkmarks for native transit cards like Suica and HOP, checkmarks remain for payment card Express Transit cards (EMV). This is a nice refinement that helps users distinguish between regular transit cards (HOP, Suica, Beijing/Shanghai, etc.) and open loop payment cards (credit/debit). This could be in response to complaints from MTA OMNY users regarding EMV Express Transit.

Update: My assumptions were correct and confirmed that iOS the Suica Commute Plan ‘Renew’ button is dynamic and appears only when the 2 week renewal period is active. It makes sense but what a weird UI to be coming from Apple, it doesn’t look or feel Apple-ly at all.

iOS 13.4 beta 2 Apple Pay Suica tweaks and questionable UI choices

  • iOS 13.4 b1
  • iOS 13.4 b2

Apple Pay Suica has more commute plan UI tweaks in iOS 13.4 beta 2. Commute plan information displays correctly now, and with more detail than before, but the renew button is gone and evidently dynamic: it only appears during the 2 week commute plan renewal period before expiration date. The design goal is clear but cannot absolutely confirm it until my plan enters the renewal period on April 15, hopefully beta testers will confirm it on Twitter before then.

A dynamic Suica commute plan renew button makes sense because the button does not function outside of the 2 week renewal period, but I’m not sure it’s the best UI choice. Most users will be confused when there isn’t a renew option showing. No button, no user feedback. My own choice is for a button that is always there but greyed out until it’s active for the renewal period.

What UI Apple delivers for the official iOS 13.4 release is anybody’s guess but the constant Suica tweaking before iOS 13 Dark Mode and after is telling. Apple is making questionable UI choices because Dark Mode severely limits UI color schemes. That is why Apple Pay Wallet buttons are black for daytime and white for Dark Mode. Grey is not an option. That’s why Apple is playing with dynamic buttons that only appear when needed. Dark Mode in fine in limited doses but things like Apple Maps Dark Mode are a disaster, Apple Pay Wallet Day/Dark Mode is a mixed bag. I hope iOS 14 Dark Mode delivers a better design than what we have now.

Outside of the UI, I’m happy to report that Apple Pay Suica performance on iOS 13.4 b2 is the best ever.

Update: My assumptions were correct and confirmed that iOS the Suica Commute Plan ‘Renew’ button is dynamic and appears only when the 2 week renewal period is active. It makes sense but what a weird UI to be coming from Apple, it doesn’t look or feel Apple-ly at all.