Apple Retail Stores to Feature 'Touch ID' Demo App as Part of iPhone 5s Sales Push

[MacRumors]

According to an internal first look guide for use by Apple Retail Store employees (via 9to5Mac), the company is planning to implement a Touch ID demo app within iPhone 5s demo units that will show customers the process of registering a fingerprint for on the device.

Specifically, the app will allow in-store customers to register a single fingerprint on the demo unit, compared to the five fingerprints that the actual device allows, and show that it has been recognized through the Home button. The demo will then ask the user to place a different finger on the sensor, showing how Touch ID can reject unrecognized fingerprints for security purposes.

Last week, an Apple spokesman shared additional details about Touch ID amid security concerns, noting that no images of fingerprints are stored on the device. The demoing of Touch ID on the iPhone 5s in Apple retail stores is part of the overall sales push of the iPhone 5s to customers, with the internal first look guide also suggesting quick demos of the 8 megapixel camera to customers along with the new features of iOS 7. The guide also suggests “key messages” that Apple Retail Store employees should relay to customers, which involve speaking about the 64-bit A7 processor, M7 coprocessor, longer battery life, and numerous other features along with promoting the Touch ID fingerprint sensor.

Apple is set to begin selling the new iPhone 5s and low-cost iPhone 5c in-store this Friday, September 20. The company began taking pre-orders for the iPhone 5c in ten countries on September 13 with launch-day supplies generally holding up well. Online orders for the iPhone 5s are set to begin in the U.S. at 12:01 AM Pacific Time on the same day as in-store availability, with other countries seeing similar early-morning debuts local time.

Article Link: Apple Retail Stores to Feature 'Touch ID' Demo App as Part of iPhone 5s Sales Push

 

[musika]

It'll be interesting to see how they demo this to people. Even if they have special demo software written, will employees really walk customers through the demo? I wonder how they'll nudge potential customers into playing with the new feature.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

They will have long lines.

 

[troop231]

Waiting for Adam Savage to fool the sensor

 

[sammich]

In before: 'the NSA is behind this'.

 

[unplugme71]

At the end of the year, the NASA will say they have collected 900+ million fingerprints and photos globally thanks to the support of Apple and the touch ID and front facetime camera.

 

[Ventilatedbrain]

At the end of the year, the NASA will say they have collected 900+ million fingerprints and photos globally thanks to the support of Apple and the touch ID and front facetime camera.

Then join Darren Hayes and sing "I will travel to the moon and back , if you'd be , if you'd be my babyyyy"

 

[Lord Hamsa]

They will have long lines.

Long, swirly lines.

 

[unplugme71]

Then join Darren Hayes and sing "I will travel to the moon and back , if you'd be , if you'd be my babyyyy"

you wouldn't want to hear me sing

 

[Klae17]

It'll be interesting to see how they demo this to people. Maybe they have special demo software written to run through the setup for people in the store.

Wait, isn't the article about a special program (the app) showing people about the fingerprint scanner?

 

[Baytriple]

At the end of the year, the NASA will say they have collected 900+ million fingerprints and photos globally thanks to the support of Apple and the touch ID and front facetime camera.

Really?? NASA now? I thought they were more into super novas!

 

[Ballis]

They should add this tech to mice and trackpads aswell as a way to log in/store passwords on osx

 

[polterbyte]

Waiting for Adam Savage to fool the sensor

I work with biometrics, and I can safely say it doesn't take the Mythbusters to do it.

In fact, I would bet lots of money that it won't even take a week for someone to publish a YouTube video showing how TouchID can be beaten by fake fingers.

And before someone asks, yes, I have beaten capacitive (as well as optical) fingerprint readers before.

 

[musika]

Wait, isn't the article about a special program (the app) showing people about the fingerprint scanner?

Yep. I'm just wondering how they'll convince people to stick around to see how it works.

The article shows how a retail employee should walk the customer through the use of the sensor, but in the many times that I've been in an Apple Store, I've rarely ever had an employee walk up to me to see if I needed anything.

 

[rdlink]

I work with biometrics, and I can safely say it doesn't take the Mythbusters to do it.

In fact, I would bet lots of money that it won't even take a week for someone to publish a YouTube video showing how TouchID can be beaten by fake fingers.

And before someone asks, yes, I have beaten capacitive (as well as optical) fingerprint readers before.

How much money you got? This could be my retirement plan...

 

[NightFox]

All of your fingerprints are belong to us

 

[Shade12]

Useless feature for real #

 

[mdelvecchio]

in the many times that I've been in an Apple Store, I've rarely ever had an employee walk up to me to see if I needed anything.

odd, in the store in my area they always ask me if i need anything.

----------

Useless feature for real #

only if you dont have fingers.

me, i inputting an easily spied on PIN, or a time-consuming passcode, and a lengthy mixed-case Apple ID is an annoying process. anything that simplifies things for me adds value.

 

[jayducharme]

I work with biometrics, and I can safely say it doesn't take the Mythbusters to do it.

So how does it compare to cracking a regular passcode on an iPhone? I think the idea behind the fingerprint sensor is not to make it uncrackable, but to simply make it easier for more people to lock/unlock their iPhones (seeing as how about 1/2 of iPhone users currently don't use a passcode).

 

[guzhogi]

me, i inputting an easily spied on PIN, or a time-consuming passcode, and a lengthy mixed-case Apple ID is an annoying process. anything that simplifies things for me adds value.

I have a somewhat long, mixed case password on my iPad. Would save quite a bit of time for me. Just wish it and my laptop had a fingerprint sensor.

After the initial launch and long lines, I might go try it out. I'm an IT guy and I want to know how to do it before someone asks me about it.

 

[bchery21]

Cool - I was wondering how this feature would be practiced in the Apple stores...

 

[charlituna]

Wait, isn't the article about a special program (the app) showing people about the fingerprint scanner?

Yep. They have to do it this way or they would be restoring the phone several times a day cause someone would lock them out either by accident or for a laugh.

Same reason you can turn on restrictions etc on the demo phones.

 

[polterbyte]

So how does it compare to cracking a regular passcode on an iPhone? I think the idea behind the fingerprint sensor is not to make it uncrackable, but to simply make it easier for more people to lock/unlock their iPhones (seeing as how about 1/2 of iPhone users currently don't use a passcode).

It's definitely better than having no password, but I would venture it's not much more difficult (if more difficult at all) than cracking a 4 digit password. Of course I say this without having actually seen the device, so yes, it could be much more difficult, provided Apple has developed additional security measures not available to current capacitive readers.

Soon enough we'll find out, of course.

Oh, and I totally agree with you about making it easier for people to lock/unlock their phones.

 

[ffmed124]

So how does it compare to cracking a regular passcode on an iPhone? I think the idea behind the fingerprint sensor is not to make it uncrackable, but to simply make it easier for more people to lock/unlock their iPhones (seeing as how about 1/2 of iPhone users currently don't use a passcode).

I believe you are right with your analogy, seems some people are way over thinking the purpose for this sensor. For those that don't use a passcode (for what ever reason), it brings a fast and easy way to secure their phones (without having to enter a 4 digit number) from the average everyday person if they should leave or forget their device, not make the phone impossible to get into.

 

[kdarling]

I think we'll eventually see a rash of news stories about spouses / mistresses / siblings / roommates / spies unlocking someone's iPhone by using the owner's finger while they are sleeping.

Not to mention it'll almost certainly get used in TV detective shows... as well as on SNL.