Apple Has 'Just Weeks' to Solve iPhone 8 Touch ID Dilemma

[bigjnyc]

I’m sure Apple already figured this out. Probably pushing these “rumors” out for hype.

initially I thought the same thing... But why would Apple push out fake rumors of uncertainty and potential delays with the Samsung S8 lurking around? That wouldnt be smart because folks who are on the fence, or could go with any OS would see this and decide to grab the S8, rather than deal with the uncertainty.

 

[5105973]

I understand the source, but the language in the report is kind of sickening.. "investors this investors return that". Hey, what about the PHONE USERS? If touchID is gone and FacialID doesn't work great, that's bad news for the users and owners first and foremost. Given Apple's previous track record of making things work great, I would be shocked and saddened if they put out a less than stellar new technology.

I agree with your sentiment but to be fair, the analysts are speaking in the context of the impact on investors, not customers. That is their job.

The one thing visionary Steve Jobs believed heartily in was that pleasing the customers with the best products ultimately would be profitable. And he proved that to be true, but since his death, we've returned to the old ways of talking about business.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

I find this very very very hard to believe. A company of Apple's caliber probably had this figured out earlier in the year. I really don't believe they're "scrambling" to get Touch ID implemented.

Perhaps and all everyone else is worried about is money.
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I believe, Apple is reacting to Qualcomm-Vivo's recent showcase of under-screen tech which happened at first place due to rumours. Therefore, just fake news.

More like just Qualcomm made it.

 

[springsup]

This is all such hilarious BS. These "analysts" have no reliable sources.

I called this out as soon as it started. They're talking about TouchID at the superficial, idiot level, without understanding all of the consequences should Apple have decided to truly replace the fingerprint scanner. It would be a HUGE amount of effort, likely requiring renegotiating agreements with partners and totally redesigning the system's hardware architecture. This is not something which Apple is going to decide within "weeks". Bull-****.

If Apple was going to replace TouchID or put it on the back of the phone, they would need to square that with ApplePay (which is an extremely important service). There are regulations governing how much liability card issuers have for fraudulent transactions based on your authentication method. For example, card issuers are potentially liable for fraudulent charges if they issue you with a magnetic stripe card with signature authentication, which are both easily copied. If you use a modern chip-and-PIN card, however, they are not liable. If you use a contactless card with zero authentication, once again they become liable (which is why such payments are limited to small amounts and will still occasionally ask for your PIN to authenticate). Similar considerations apply to the iPhone's Secure Enclave and TouchID. How liable would a card issuer be if they permitted & encouraged you to authenticate payments using an easily-duped facial recognition system?

That's the kind of thing a second-rate "analyst" doesn't think of; but you can bet Apple didn't forget about it.

Not only that, but the TouchID sensor has extremely tight, hardware-level integration with the Secure Enclave inside the iPhone's CPU (for security). Any switch to a camera-based system would require the same level of security. That's an extremely significant redesign of the system architecture, not that any of these "analysts" would appreciate that.

Remember how crazy Apple are about security? The TouchID sensor is locked to your device at the factory, in an effort to protect against government agents installing fake sensors which allow their own prints. They fought the courts and the FBI to avoid creating a backdoor to access a terrorist's iPhone. They can't stop harping on about privacy and security.

These people (who apparently have zero understanding of Apple or the iOS platform) are claiming that Apple has no idea what they want the next iPhone to be like, and are going to make a snap decision about replacing one of the most critical components of the device. Apparently, Apple wants to remove the home-button so badly, they are willing to compromise all other parts of the device, risk their hard-won reputation for security and privacy, your bank accounts and private information (including health information).

Bull. ****.

Maybe Apple are replacing TouchID (anything is possible) - but if they are, they are replacing it with something that has been extensively tested and proven reliable, and it would be in a system hardware architecture that was designed for that sensor. They're not deciding anything "within weeks".

 

[HaywireTX]

These stories are so dumb. (Not being critical of MacRumors-- keep printing rumors!!-- but of the underlying story). The hardware has been locked for months by now. This is a long-decided issue, whatever the decision was.

Thank you. I always wonder why these supposedly pro Apple sites even publish these non-stories which are probably from the Samsung spin machine. Every year it's the same old thing. Apple's next iPhone is experiencing problems. It's not going to be ready on time. They won't be able to make enough of them, etc, etc. If you are a pro-Apple site do not give these propaganda stories space on your page. You never hear these stories about other phone makers.

 

[recoil80]

Thank you. Apple works on a 12-month release cadence. They push the limits on product development; they're not going to finish something 10 months early and wait until September so they can finally release it.

Nobody, at least not me, is saying Apple finalised the design 10 months early.
But is July, the announcement will be made in less than 2 months. There is no way they haven't yet decided on a major issue like touch ID. Two more weeks means they'd make the decision about a month before starting production of millions of devices. That is not possible, not when you have to deliver millions of devices.
If they haven't decided what to do with touch ID the device won't ship in September.
But they ought to announce it during the keynote alongside the other models, they can't launch iPhone 7s and 7s+ and after a few weeks announce a brand new iPhone, customers would go nuts.
I'd be fine with that, it wouldn't be the first time they announce a product weeks or months before it is actually ready.

 

[deuxani]

My questions is, why is Apple in such an infernal rush this year?

Normally they release a new phone one year, then the "S", with incremental improvements the next.

Last year we got the iPhone 7. This year we should get the iPhone 7S, with some minor tweaks and some new features.

NEXT year should be the iPhone 8 with the big changes, with apple having two years to work on the tech. It seems odd that they'd be rushing to release an iPhone 8 this year, which is something they've NEVER DONE BEFORE, putting such an unreasonable deadline on developing the new design and hardware. WTF?

Well, according to that logic their pattern was already broken last year. The iPhone 7 is just a glorified 6SS, so they did the same design/phone 3 years in a row with the 6, 6S and 7. They never done that before either
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the iPhone and maybe they wanted to do something special this year. Next to that, design wise Samsung and LG (and even companies like Xiaomi) have taken the next step and significantly reduced the bezel size. If Apple wouldn't present a new design this year, they would be stuck with their mega bezels for another full year. It would make their phones look even more outdated design wise then they already are.
And the original iPhone was replaced with the 3G the next year, so "NEVER DONE BEFORE" also isn't true. Patterns are there to be broken and especially since the smartphone market is pretty saturated. It's very difficult to innovate in this sector. Once all phones become all-screen on the front, we are done here.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

I understand the source, but the language in the report is kind of sickening.. "investors this investors return that". Hey, what about the PHONE USERS? If touchID is gone and FacialID doesn't work great, that's bad news for the users and owners first and foremost. Given Apple's previous track record of making things work great, I would be shocked and saddened if they put out a less than stellar new technology.

Investors are the reason for so much of the mess the nation is in, Profit is all they care about.
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I agree with your sentiment but to be fair, the analysts are speaking in the context of the impact on investors, not customers. That is their job.

The one thing visionary Steve Jobs believed heartily in was that pleasing the customers with the best products ultimately would be profitable. And he proved that to be true, but since his death, we've returned to the old ways of talking about business.

You are right and that is why this first iPhone rocked.

 

[Eadfrith]

Just weeks to solve this? Oh My God !!

 

[BMcCoy]

I was going to write a comment..

And then I remembered that I would be speculating, or a speculated delay to a speculated feature on a speculated phone.

So I'll just watch.

 

[ateslik]

These guys are set to make a mint!

https://www.firebox.com/Freak-Masks/p6077

 

[Brian Clifford]

I have no insight to comment on product finalisation for mass volume production, but as well as the limited time frame involved to include facial recognition before the expected release, it just doesn't sound like Apple to be making such an important decision on their most popular device at this late stage.

 

[bitfactory]

Do people actually believe all these wild speculations?

 

[mike9]

No Touch ID would be a deal breaker for me. Without Touch ID I would not be able discrete and quickly to check messages or emails while attending in a meeting

 

[chaicka]

Damn it, Apple. If a product is NOT READY, it is not ready and do not trade-off just to fulfil (short of saying bow to) those medias' and analysts' pressure. Have faith in the DNA that Steve Job built the firm to be. Push it as much as possible but delay if necessary until it is of the quality and high standards we have come to expect and respect Apple for. Period.

 

[Raymonddtduong]

Jokes to these rumors. This iphone 8 is coming out next year 2018.
For now it is the usual 6,6s,7,7s in 2017.

 

[Rogifan]

My questions is, why is Apple in such an infernal rush this year?

Normally they release a new phone one year, then the "S", with incremental improvements the next.

Last year we got the iPhone 7. This year we should get the iPhone 7S, with some minor tweaks and some new features.

NEXT year should be the iPhone 8 with the big changes, with apple having two years to work on the tech. It seems odd that they'd be rushing to release an iPhone 8 this year, which is something they've NEVER DONE BEFORE, putting such an unreasonable deadline on developing the new design and hardware. WTF?

Except going by this logic the iPhone 7 should have been the phone with a new design. The 7 was very similar to the 6 and 6S. If Apple released a phone with the same design as the 7 but just a new chip and some camera changes they would get murdered in the press, especially when most Android OEMs already have phones on the market with smaller bezels better designs.

 

[Ballis]

Just stall the release untill it works. Im unlocking my phone so often face-id simply wont cut it. Id rather just get the 7S or no new phone at all if touch id is either omitted or placed in the rear.

 

[anshuvorty]

My questions is, why is Apple in such an infernal rush this year?

Normally they release a new phone one year, then the "S", with incremental improvements the next.

Last year we got the iPhone 7. This year we should get the iPhone 7S, with some minor tweaks and some new features.

NEXT year should be the iPhone 8 with the big changes, with apple having two years to work on the tech. It seems odd that they'd be rushing to release an iPhone 8 this year, which is something they've NEVER DONE BEFORE, putting such an unreasonable deadline on developing the new design and hardware. WTF?

This has been discussed ad nauseam already: it is because it is the iPhone 10th anniversary this year. Apple wants to celebrate it in a special way, hence the rumored "rush" to release a special iPhone that is very different from the iterative "s" designs that we have come to expect in the odd numbered years...

 

[Rogifan]

Damn it, Apple. If a product is NOT READY, it is not ready and do not trade-off just to fulfil (short of saying bow to) those medias' and analysts' pressure. Have faith in the DNA that Steve Job built the firm to be. Push it as much as possible but delay if necessary until it is of the quality and high standards we have come to expect and respect Apple for. Period.

You say that now but if the only phone we get this fall is one that looks like iPhone 7 but is slightly faster and has a slightly better camera people will be calling for Tim Cook’s head.

 

[dannyyankou]

Just delay the phone and get it right. I won’t mind.

 

[Macalway]

Good stuff. Really gets people worked up.

Keep it up.

 

[doelcm82]

We don't know how many are made, boxed and ready to go...

I'd say zero are made, boxed, and ready to go...

The "iPhone 8" will almost certainly run iOS 11, and iOS 11 is not close to being ready for delivery.

 

[Orlandoech]

I really Hope Apple have succeeded in placing touch id under the display. i am not ready to get disappointed of no Touch ID.

It takes TRUE courage to remove TouchID!

 

[doelcm82]

I'm pretty sure Apple already knows what the next iPhone is going to have months in advance. I'm pretty sure they don't wait until the summer before launch to get things working.

I'll wait until Apple has their event and the truth comes out.

I'm pretty sure of that, also. But we are still months (two of them) away from the reveal, so it can also be true that they're still working on features.