True. I think Apple would be seriously thrown under the bus if this gets messed up though.
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Apple Says Claims Face ID Was Downgraded to Speed Up Production Are 'Completely False'
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I'm a 63yo guy, with pockets and an iPhone7Plus. After coming from a 6Plus. No problem
Not at all - all devices are manufactured within given tolerances. No two devices are exactly the same.
Depending on how good your equipment and skilled your manpower is, you might be able to reduce those tolerances (become more precise) while maintaining an acceptable yield. Alternatively, if you're having difficulty producing devices that precise, you might increase the allowed tolerances so you accept more components as being "within spec".
For example, the dot projector's original specs may have been for 30,000 ± 1% dots (i.e. between 29,700 and 30,300 dots). That may be difficult to achieve, so Apple may have lowered their demands to 30,000 ± 5% (i.e. between 28,500 and 31,500). That's fine - engineers know about yields and tolerances, so they design the system to work within as wide a range as is practical; for this reason, it's likely that the dot projector projects more dots than is absolutely required for FaceID to work. That means Apple could increase production tolerances, certifying more devices as meeting the iPhone X spec, while retaining functionality.
It's important to note that this would not necessarily make FaceID less accurate - FaceID is a complex system consisting of multiple components.
Wow - just wow! I neither know nor care much if this rumour is true or not. But, in general, the assumption that any organisation would not lie is astonishingly naive. Business is business, and behind all the fluffy stuff and photoshoots of chief execs saving the rainforest or whatever, you would be surprised what can go on.
I love it when Gruber takes down BS rumors. And he has sources inside Apple (engineers) that told him the decision to go all in on Face ID was over a year ago.
https://daringfireball.net/2017/10/face_id_fud
https://daringfireball.net/2017/10/face_id_fud
They’ve already said hats, scarves, beards, glasses, makeup, etc doesn’t affect it. Dots reflecting differently is no different than a dot not being there to reflect in the first place. It isn’t a sampling rate either, it’s a sample, of dots being compared to the master. There is obviously not a requirement for 100% perfect uniform dot to dot match or it would never work without you perfectly matching the angle of your face to the original.
What I got from this
Apple: flatly denies false rumors
User on forums: “ok. They denied it. But how can we make it seem like they didn’t reaaallly deny it?”
People are never happy. Makes for good entertainment though
Apple simply compensated for the output reduction in the Dot Projector module via a Software Update, in their Face ID algorithm.
From reading the comments on a number of different websites today, on this subject, there does appear to be a new issue that one should consider if they are considering an iPhone X ... RE-calibration of the TrueDepth Camera "may" be needed if one drops their iPhone X ... and if so, what's Apple's plan for doing so ???
Said it before, will say it again ... Sept 12th marked the Beginning of the End of the Tim Cook era as CEO of Apple ... Poor Judgement will be given as the reason for his departure, and his successor won't be someone currently working at Apple ! ... I don't see the Board making the same mistake twice ... they need either an Electrical Engineer or iOS Software Developer leading the company.
Apple should have simply stated that they won't be offering an iPhone X unless / until they have Touch ID under Glass working to their satisfaction ! ... even if it takes six months or more.
And, the TrueDepth Camera should really be on the BACK-side of the iPhone, NOT the FRONT-side !!! ... all the really cool applications for it are on the BACK-side !
Based-upon the manufacturing yield numbers being reported out of Asia, my best guess is Apple reduced the Dot Projector output "threshold" from 30K minus some number (e.g., 27K) to ~21K ... so, instead of accepting units with only 10% NON-working / NON-aligned Depth Dots, they've dropped it down to a 30% NON-working / NON-aligned Depth Dot threshold.
Remember, the Dot Projector produces a "pattern" ... the accuracy & precision of the pattern is key to Apple's algorithm ... if they are too close together, or spaced too far apart, then Apple's Face ID algorithm needs to compensate for this.
FACTORY CALIBRATION, as well as RE-calibration (after dropping), is a VERY BIG ISSUE with this feature !
BTW, different subject, but the reason Apple will have some supply at each Apple Store is so that they can offer an iPhone 8 or 8+ to those who want a X, but can't get one because the low supply has already run out ... for some strange reason, no one has yet commented on this ... the story the other day about "Apple won't Upsell to the iPhone X" was the kicker ... didn't hit me immediately, but it did today ... Apple wants to Downsell those who can't get a X, to an 8 or 8+ (for which they have many, many just sitting around).
From reading the comments on a number of different websites today, on this subject, there does appear to be a new issue that one should consider if they are considering an iPhone X ... RE-calibration of the TrueDepth Camera "may" be needed if one drops their iPhone X ... and if so, what's Apple's plan for doing so ???
Said it before, will say it again ... Sept 12th marked the Beginning of the End of the Tim Cook era as CEO of Apple ... Poor Judgement will be given as the reason for his departure, and his successor won't be someone currently working at Apple ! ... I don't see the Board making the same mistake twice ... they need either an Electrical Engineer or iOS Software Developer leading the company.
Apple should have simply stated that they won't be offering an iPhone X unless / until they have Touch ID under Glass working to their satisfaction ! ... even if it takes six months or more.
And, the TrueDepth Camera should really be on the BACK-side of the iPhone, NOT the FRONT-side !!! ... all the really cool applications for it are on the BACK-side !
Based-upon the manufacturing yield numbers being reported out of Asia, my best guess is Apple reduced the Dot Projector output "threshold" from 30K minus some number (e.g., 27K) to ~21K ... so, instead of accepting units with only 10% NON-working / NON-aligned Depth Dots, they've dropped it down to a 30% NON-working / NON-aligned Depth Dot threshold.
Remember, the Dot Projector produces a "pattern" ... the accuracy & precision of the pattern is key to Apple's algorithm ... if they are too close together, or spaced too far apart, then Apple's Face ID algorithm needs to compensate for this.
FACTORY CALIBRATION, as well as RE-calibration (after dropping), is a VERY BIG ISSUE with this feature !
BTW, different subject, but the reason Apple will have some supply at each Apple Store is so that they can offer an iPhone 8 or 8+ to those who want a X, but can't get one because the low supply has already run out ... for some strange reason, no one has yet commented on this ... the story the other day about "Apple won't Upsell to the iPhone X" was the kicker ... didn't hit me immediately, but it did today ... Apple wants to Downsell those who can't get a X, to an 8 or 8+ (for which they have many, many just sitting around).
It is just easy to change the software spec to satisfy the accuracy levels based on, let's say 25000 dots as against 30000 dots, if it improves the yield by 80%.
The neural engine needs to verify the mathematical model based on the 25000 dots instead of 30000 dots. Easy configuration step IMHO.
That’s pretty messed up logic, man. Responding to a rumor doesn’t mean it’s true. Why would it? In fact, wouldn’t there be just as much incentive to correct the record if a rumor wasn’t true?
Psh. I mess with neural nets all the time when I’m not busy hacking the pentagon
Exactly. You know the old saying about a man’s first night in jail? The guilty man goes fast asleep, while the innocent man stays up all night pacing, bothered by the injustice.
I would put the same faith in Apple's response to Cooks response that he cares about the mac mini.
Fake news or not, I suspect that they have reduced quality control in order to get more products out the door. I really think Apple has done the math on this, probability of faulty units, customer backlash, media backlash, probability of customer level of acceptance and cost/benefit, profit loss, etc, They number crunched all these and decided.
Fake news or not, I suspect that they have reduced quality control in order to get more products out the door. I really think Apple has done the math on this, probability of faulty units, customer backlash, media backlash, probability of customer level of acceptance and cost/benefit, profit loss, etc, They number crunched all these and decided.
Makes no sense what so ever. Their entire reputation would be ruined if this went sideways.