I had an AuthenTec fingerprint scanner in an old HP laptop before I got my MBP. It worked I guess, but it seemed gimmicky and I never used it. I'm hoping Apple has something more interesting planned than just a fingerprint unlock.
If history s any indicator... The future is not so bright. Remember the hype surrounding Apple acquiring Liquid Metal IP right? So far this has only produced SIM ejector. Then there were Placebase, Poly9, and C3 Technologies. Result? Apple Maps
And obviously HP and Samsung have nothing to worry about. Here is a list of companies producing fingerprint sensors:
Alps Electric
Atmel
Atrua
AU Optronics
Authentec
BMF
Casio
Casio + Alps
Cecrop, KSI, Sannaedle
Dakty (formerly Delsy)
Digital Persona
EgisTec (formerly LighTuning)
ElecVision
Ethentica
Fidelica
Fingerprint Cards
FlashScan3D
Fujitsu
Hitachi
Idex
IMEN
Infineon (Siemens)
LighTuning (now Egistec)
LiteOn
Melfas
Mitsumi
NEC
NTT
NanoIdent
Silicon Display Technology
Seiko Epson
Sharp
Sonavation
Sony
Symwave
TesTech / Integrated Biometrics
TST touchless
Ultrascan
Upek
Validity
Veridicom
And fingerprints are not secure. They are everywhere without control. And AuthenTec has obvious security problems:Nice. NFC is not ready.
Wow, the nerd that you all bullied in grade school is now kicking ass and taking names. Apple has never had a real lead in the enterprise, except with the new BYOD concept, but if all their products go uber-secure, they could really have a big stake in the future of office computing, even if it's because everyone has to pay up to license their technology.
UPEK = AuthenTecHere is a list of companies producing fingerprint sensors:
Upek
Remember how long it took for PA semiconductor to make a completely new ARM core? Like, from 2007ish until last week? None of the companies you listed produce this type of sensor, which is why Apple is buying them.
I'm sure we'll see something from the liquid metal acquisition one day since it seems Apple likes to buy up firms that are on to something but not yet ready to produce.
And fingerprints are not secure. They are everywhere without control. And AuthenTec has obvious security problems:
http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2012/09/06/fingerprint-scanner-security-warning/
Remember how long it took for PA semiconductor to make a completely new ARM core? Like, from 2007ish until last week? None of the companies you listed produce this type of sensor, which is why Apple is buying them.
I'm sure we'll see something from the liquid metal acquisition one day since it seems Apple likes to buy up firms that are on to something but not yet ready to produce.
Exactly. We are not talking about your standard finger print scanner rather one BUILT INTO the touchscreen/pad.
Annnnnd the Goliath that is Apple gobbles up another company again to "incorporate" their innovation with total disregard of the consequences of what it will do to the world.
They are winning again but Monopoly isn't just a game
Fingerprints are not secure.
I had an AuthenTec fingerprint scanner in an old HP laptop before I got my MBP. It worked I guess, but it seemed gimmicky and I never used it. I'm hoping Apple has something more interesting planned than just a fingerprint unlock.
They showed, that they are not able to manage a process, and this process is: Security.Not to mention, this article refers to a software problem.
No.Subsurface fingerprints are...
If this company holds most of the technology I have to wonder how long before an anti trust suit is filed.
The only reason it makes sense to dump all your customers on acquisition is if someone is planning some anti-competitive nonsense.
This is not normal business behavior.
They showed, that they are not able to manage a process, and this process is: Security.
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No.
Annnnnd the Goliath that is Apple gobbles up another company again to "incorporate" their innovation with total disregard of the consequences of what it will do to the world.
They are winning again but Monopoly isn't just a game
Since its early days, Google has looked outside itself for inspiration on new directions its business could take. The search giants mergers and acquisitions team set new records in 2010 and 2011 for the sheer number of companies it acquired. Last year alone it bought up 25 companies, one every two weeks. If you count the firms acquired for patents and intellectual property, the total number is a whopping 79. Taking a look at Googles peers, it becomes clear just how astonishing these numbers are. Facebook bought just ten companies in 2011; Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft only three apiece.
My knowledge of this tech is very limited. But I suspect that for what these sensors are typically used in laptops/phones, any sensor will do
What if I have a cut on my thumb/finger(s)? Will I be locked out?
Voice passwords are not secure. Example:Does anyone else remember using voice passwords in Mac OS 9? I wonder how secure those actually were . . .