-Whether you want it or not, Passbook comes pre-installed on iOS 6. The app which can't be deleted lets you store digital versions of things like tickets, coupons and club cards on your iPhone or iPod Touch.
It keeps all these items organized in one place so that once you arrive to your concert venue or store.
You can just pull up the app
and let the vendors scan your barcode from the screen.
Here's how it works.
There are basically three ways to add ticket, club card or coupon to Passbook through a vendor's Passbook ready app, from an e-mail attachment or through url.
What's in the pass through an app, the first time you launch Passbook, you'll be sent to the App store to download a compatible app.
In this case, I'll get Sephora since I have a club card with them.
Okay, open the Sephora app and at the top, there is a banner prompting me to
add my account to Passbook so I'll sign into my account, add to Passbook, then this card will pop up with all my info.
Everytime you open a Pass it'll look something like this, just tap add up here and now my Sephora account is in my Passbook.
In this case, I can see my points and whenever I shop in the store, the cashier can scan this barcode.
Another way to get a pass in the Passbook is from an e-mail.
In this case, a company might send you a
coupon as an attachment.
Just tap the attachment, the coupon will appear and then you can add it to passbook.
And if you see a url like this in an e-mail or on a webpage, it'll work basically the same way.
Now, on the back of some of these passes, there are options.
Tap the info button at the bottom corner.
The automatic updates option means that anytime my flight has a gate change or I earn more rewards on my Sephora account, the pass will be updated.
Show unlock screen that lets
time or location where passes show up on my lock screen.
So if I have a flight coming up and I'm near the airport, I'll see the pass right here when my phone is locked.
And I can access it by sliding the badge.
Once you're done with the pass, you can delete it by tapping the info button in the trash can at the top.
You'll see the sponge shredding animation and then, it's gone.
So, those are the basics of Passbook.
If you're a tinkerer and want to create fake passes like coupons and tickets for testing the app,
check out passsource.com.
Send me any questions you have on Twitter and check out the Written Guide to Passbook on howto.cnet.com.
For CNET, I'm Sharon Vaknin.
