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iOS 7 Beta 4 Code Points to Home Button Fingerprint Sensor for iPhone 5S

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macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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Following its 2012 acquisition of mobile security firm AuthenTec, which specialized in fingerprint sensors, Apple has been rumored to be looking to incorporate its technology into its future products. Rumors have indicated that such a sensor could be a differentiating feature for Apple's upcoming iPhone 5S, although there has so far been little in the way of solid evidence that such a feature is in the works.

But as noted by Hamza Sood, Apple's developer release of iOS 7 beta 4 today has brought a significant clue that Apple is indeed planning to bring the technology to the iPhone later this year.

ios_7_fingerprint_bundle.jpg
The evidence arrives in the form of a new code bundle in the Accessibility portion of iOS 7. The bundle, named BiometricKitUI, contains text strings related to a tutorial on how to use a fingerprint sensor on an iPhone. The relevant strings include:
- Photo of a person holding an iPhone with their left hand while touching the Home button with their thumb
- Photo of a person holding an iPhone with their right hand while touching the Home button with their thumb
- A fingerprint that changes colour during the setup process.
- Recognition is %@ complete
Click to expand...
Several reports have indicated that incorporating a fingerprint sensor into the iPhone 5S has proven difficult for Apple, potentially limiting launch supplies of the device as production bottlenecks are worked out.

Article Link: iOS 7 Beta 4 Code Points to Home Button Fingerprint Sensor for iPhone 5S
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/07/29/ios-7-beta-4-code-points-to-home-button-fingerprint-sensor-for-iphone-5s/
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NickRichyRich

macrumors member
Jun 27, 2013
53
0
The button makes more sense to me and seems like it would be a hell of a lot easier than trying to do something like that through the screen. Either way that is really cool to see!
 
AngerDanger

AngerDanger

Graphics
Staff member
Dec 9, 2008
5,452
29,002
I can't wait to see future rumors titled "Thumb Bandits Strike Again, iTunes Accounts Drained".
I've taken the liberty of Photoshopping the image that will most likely accompany these rumors:

nlOcb5f.png
 
Last edited:
A

Ay_Zimmy

macrumors 6502
Jan 9, 2010
272
1
Long Island, NY
Kevsta26 said:
Interesting... But I thought it would be in the screen, not the button :(
Click to expand...

No preference here, not disappointed, however through the screen would mean it was much more software based, and the sensor would then have to be built in the screen, and who knows if you dont cover enough of the sensor on the screen etc. Plus your already holding the phone so its probably easier just to place it on the home button
 
H

hydr

macrumors regular
Feb 25, 2009
226
95
If this is true, it´s big. If they can solve this problem, it will be the beginning of the end of all username/passwords.
 
Eduardo1971

Eduardo1971

macrumors 65816
Jun 16, 2006
1,383
940
Lost Angeles, Ca. usa
Seems this will be a iPhone 5 s hardware exclusive, so as to make people upgrade to the newest phone (as opposed to being a software feature).

Anyway I'm on an iPhone 4 so I'll be upgrading.
 
A

acidblue

macrumors member
Jun 17, 2009
70
19
Roswell, GA (unfortunately)
Last edited:
Big-TDI-Guy

Big-TDI-Guy

macrumors 68030
Jan 11, 2007
2,606
13
Neat - can't wait to see this feature - especially considering how robust and dependable their home button already is. /sarcasm
 
P

PhamQu

macrumors newbie
Jul 16, 2013
29
0
FL, USA
...And goodbye Otterbox Defenders. It was a good run.
(I prefer Ballistic's SG. Leaves screen and home button bare.)
 
S

shootingrubber

macrumors 6502
Mar 7, 2009
256
0
acidblue said:
Yeah, because this has never been done before Samsung? Where have you been? A crappy Dell I had from almost 10 years ago had this. It's not new tech. Apple doesn't claim to have invented it either. You are aware they bought the company that makes these, aren't you? (http://www.phonearena.com/news/Appl...6-million-James-Bond-iPhone-to-follow_id32725)
Click to expand...

I said Samsung copied Apple's iPhone. Not that Apple didn't copy the fingerprint sensor. Please read posts before commenting. Thanks.
 
sviato

sviato

macrumors 68020
Oct 27, 2010
2,426
378
HR 9038 A
hydr said:
If this is true, it´s big. If they can solve this problem, it will be the beginning of the end of all username/passwords.
Click to expand...

Really? Your fingerprints will be all over the phone, shouldn't be too difficult to lift them
 
Sensamic

Sensamic

macrumors 68040
Mar 26, 2010
3,006
641
So this means the home button in the 5S must be capacitive right?

They cant add a fingerprint sensor on the physical home button, so I guess there will be no more hardware button, instead replaced by a capacitive one.
 
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