Logging into desktop
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Hi everyone,
Just letting you know that the ASUS NFC express, which was previously crap, is now much better since the most recent updates of both the driver NFC_Driver_Win8_1_VER1461 and the application NFC_EXPRESS_Win8-8-1_VER10019
Strangely this also worked from my Lenovo Thinkpad Twist, as well as my asus motherboard.
It should be noted that the ASUS software, like the NFC ring unlock app, writes to the tag instead of just reading it. So the private side of your ring cannot unlock both your desktop and your phone (annoying)
Just letting you all know
Cheers JasonDisclaimer - I don't have my ring yet so I'm testing with other tags.
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Am I understanding you right the unlock app works also with different devices or did you just plug your asus express reader in other devices?
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@Lafunamor sorry I meant the ASUS NFC express, NFC reader worked on both my ASUS motherboard and on my lenovo Think Pad Twist, Using the ASUS software so theoretically I can use my ring (once it arrives) to unlock either my desktop or laptop.
but just to re affirm, it does write a record on the ring to achieve the unlock into windows. This is identical behaviour to the NFC Ring unlock app for android.
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@jasok2 OK thanks for the clarification. I'm looking for a generic way to unlock my Windown PC with a NFC tag but there is nothing in the internet and I have no time to do it myself :-(
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I'll be curious to see if Asus releases the software for public use, not just for their own hardware receiver. My tablet PC has NFC built in (uses NXP5442, vs Asus's NXP5440), and I would love to be able to use my ring to unlock/log into my machine.
I tried searching for a link to the Asus software, but couldn't find one... care to share the location, if it's publicly available? Cheers
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@asbath said:
I tried searching for a link to the Asus software, but couldn't find one... care to share the location, if it's publicly available? Cheers
It's a plugin for their AI suite 3 and it doesn't work with my NFC reader :-(
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The software is available here
https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/NFC_EXPRESS/HelpDesk_Download/
you have to select your OS and then its under utilities.
I was able to use the software and my NFC on my Lenovo laptop successfully so the software might work on your tablet. -
@jasok2 said:
The software is available here
https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/NFC_EXPRESS/HelpDesk_Download/
you have to select your OS and then its under utilities.
I was able to use the software and my NFC on my Lenovo laptop successfully so the software might work on your tablet.Thanks! I didn't think to look for it in the motherboard section (what an odd place to put it).
Anyways, I'll give this a try with my phone and tablet. I too am waiting for my ring to arrive.
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@jasok2 said:
I was able to use the software and my NFC on my Lenovo laptop successfully so the software might work on your tablet.
what exactly did you do? sounds like it could work with different devices without buying a NFC Express reader
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@Lafunamor In my case, I installed the NFC Express application that @jasok2 linked (thanks btw!), then I installed the Android version on my phone. From the Android version I configured the Windows 8 Unlock to my Microsoft credentials, held the phone up to my tablet and tapped the screen when I heard the "device found and ready" sounds from my phone. Once I tapped the screen, my tablet was automatically logging me in and I didn't have to do anything else.
That said, I can't get the NFC Express application to do anything without the Asus hardware itself (as I expected). It seems to require that you have the Asus USB receiver plugged in. It says "NFC function is not available. Ensure that the NFC Express Box is connected to your computer and the driver is installed".
But it's a start
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@Lafunamor said:
@jasok2 said:
I was able to use the software and my NFC on my Lenovo laptop successfully so the software might work on your tablet.
what exactly did you do? sounds like it could work with different devices without buying a NFC Express reader
I plugged the ASUS NFC express physical unit into both my desktop with a supported ASUS motherboard and my lenovo laptop (which is unsupported but still worked)
and installed the ASUS driver and the Asus software on both. I only have one ASUS NFC express so had to do it one at a time.IT worked in both cases, however it writes a record to the NFC tag (Same deal as with the NFC ring official unlock app), so you cannot use the same tag to unlock both devices.
The unexpected goodness is that it worked on the lenovo Thinkpad, so possibly it will work on other non ASUS systems too.
I'm hoping over time that instead of writing to the NFC chip all NFC unlock apps will in future just read the tag without writing to it, so the one tag (ring) can unlock many devices.
Cheers
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just to throw it out: it's way less save if you only use the tags UID to log in. there are tags available where you can easily set the UID yourself. this means one can copy your tags UID and create a second key.
@jasok2 Thanks I thought so but wasn't sure
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@Lafunamor said:
just to throw it out: it's way less save if you only use the tags UID to log in. there are tags available where you can easily set the UID yourself. this means one can copy your tags UID and create a second key.
@jasok2 Thanks I thought so but wasn't sure
Really ?? Damn your giving me second thoughts about installing my new SHS-1321 door lock as I'm pretty sure it just reads the card.
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@Lafunamor said:
just to throw it out: it's way less save if you only use the tags UID to log in. there are tags available where you can easily set the UID yourself. this means one can copy your tags UID and create a second key.
This is true, and the SHS series locks read UID - it gives you the advantage of being able to alter the card storage without losing your entry privileges.
It is possible to clone UID, but the cards are expensive to do this and the person first has to get a good read of your inlays ID in order to be able to do it.
At that point they're more likely to break into your house through a window or your computer through a similar back-door method.Weigh it up yourselves, whether you'd prefer to be paranoid as all hell (because your data is important enough to warrant it) or whether ease of use is the best option for you in this instance.
For the house door, ease of use wins. There are so many many other methods of entry into even the most secure house that a door lock is only ever going to be a mild deterrent. -
@jasok2
UPDATE - I have now got my stealth bomber pre-order ring and can confirm that the NFC ring is NOT compatible with ASUS NFC express. I cannot get it to detect the ring at all. Every other tag I have works but I'm guessing that the ring is just too small. -
Cool, thanks for the update. Is it a hardware issue do you think or is it that the software is seeing the ntag and dismissing it as not usable?
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@Lokki said:
Cool, thanks for the update. Is it a hardware issue do you think or is it that the software is seeing the ntag and dismissing it as not usable?
I think its hardware, But could be wrong. The NFC express wont make a noise or register the existence of the ring in any way shape or form.
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@jasok2 said:
@jasok2
UPDATE - I have now got my stealth bomber pre-order ring and can confirm that the NFC ring is NOT compatible with ASUS NFC express. I cannot get it to detect the ring at all. Every other tag I have works but I'm guessing that the ring is just too small.OK further update. I finally got my Kickstarter Rings and the extra NFC chip that came in the pack actually does work with the ASUS NFC express, but I still cant get the ring to work. This means the NFC chip is actually compatible, if only we can find a way to get it to be more sensitive, this would be a really easy computer unlock solution. And remember I have got it to work on both my Lenovo and ASUS machines.
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At a guess I'd say the unit isn't putting out enough RF for the metal enclosed rings to work, which is a real shame. Boosting the power is a hardware hack, and not an easy one.
You might be better off going sideways and getting an arduino beetle and a PN532 reader.
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@Lafunamor said:
Am I understanding you right the unlock app works also with different devices or did you just plug your asus express reader in other devices?
I plugged the ASUS NFC express unit into my Lenovo Laptop and it worked.
