Apple Working on OS X 10.12 Feature Allowing Macs to Be Unlocked via iPhone's Touch ID

[AppleMad98004]

Is marketing running this company?????.... Just another ploy to get you to buy the latest iPhone. Yes I am sure this will be an iPhone 7 ONLY feature.... Build it into the keyboard! I don't want to have my phone on me just to unlock my computer.

 

[seatton]

We need a native Apple Watch app that can unlock your iPhone, Mac, and iPad, as well. That would make my dream come true.

 

[apolloa]

We don't have it? try MacID. I see some other apps in the section below too. So yes we have it, those leading edge guys beat us to thinking about it again.

Nope, that doesn't seem to enable you to do what I posted.

 

[American Hero]

I gave you points. Cloud is better now than ever. AM was something Jobs seemed to be against. Apple is diversifying in a way they weren't before.

Apple Music has been a failure. In fact, every service Apple has come out with or tweaked since Jobs passed away has been a failure, between iTunes, Apple Music, iCloud, and more.

 

[npmacuser5]

Why not just use the Mac Camera?

 

[jedifaka]

I think facial recognition via the FaceTime camera would be a better way to go. It could also take snapshots of people that are snooping when you're not around.

They haven't offered a FaceTime camera that can handle actual facial recognition yet.
You need more than 720p and you need infrared.
Windows Hello is very secure, fast, and you don't need to unlock your phone. Just pass into frame for a second. I'm sure there's an infringement-free way for OSX to implement something equally painless.

 

[TMRJIJ]

Apple Music has been a failure. In fact, every service Apple has come out with or tweaked since Jobs passed away has been a failure, between iTunes, Apple Music, iCloud, and more.

I'm using Apple Music right now. Not really sensing the failure.

 

[SusanK]

Another solution in search of a problem to solve. Who really needs this? And what are the security implications of the handshake/data transfers needed between iOS and OS X?

The problem is evident. iPhone sales are down. Now to make something cumbersome to boost the phone sales.
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I can't believe an average guy like me knows more than Tim Cook and his "innovators" at Apple.

I can.

 

[American Hero]

I'm using Apple Music right now. Not really sensing the failure.

So you're a big fan of that mess of a UI?

 

[TMRJIJ]

So you're a big fan of that mess of a UI?

Not really a mess. I know where everything is and it's more functional than previous versions. Only thing I hate is when certain songs become greyed out randomly for a few days.

 

[SusanK]

Hilarious. Most Apple loyalists would rather have Jobs back.

Apple only looked good for a while because Cook milked out Jobs' ideas while cutting back everywhere else.

Heck, I used to LOVE Apple and their products, and then Cook took over. From day one I've been disappointed--since the iPhone 4S event.

Yes, the 4S event fell flat. Steve died the next day the pressure off of Cook for his lackluster performance.

I really hate typing Steve's name and Cook's in the same lifetime.

 

[Robert.Walter]

I don't even understand how your post has 5 likes.

The way apps like Mac ID work, the app senses when you are within range of your linked Mac. If I walk out of range, it automatically locks your Mac. When you walk back within range, a push notification is sent to your phone. You can access the option to unlock your Mac via a quick reply function from the lock screen, and the act of unlocking your phone via Touch ID is enough to unlock the Mac.

Not to mention that Apple should be able to further refine this method given their ability to integrate both hardware and software.

I am also seeing the possibilities to unlock your Mac via your Apple Watch in the same manner.

I like the app for when I am at work. Say I want to leave my seat for any reason. My Mac automagically locks when I walk beyond a certain distance without me needing to do anything.

The main drawbacks I see is that Bluetooth is sill quite unreliable. Sometimes, I can be seated at my desk and the app just goes haywire and keeps sending me repeated unlock notifications despite me not moving at all.

I ended up deleting the app because it was proving too frustrating and annoying, but I loved the concept behind it.

Agreed. Great app but built upon the shakey and unreliable foundation of Bluetooth.

 

[ShadovvMoon]

Siri, Touch ID unlock, and hopefully a redesigned iTunes? 10.12 is getting more interesting by the day. Only one more month to go

Yawn. This is just more of the "bring iOS to Mac" junk that we have been getting for years.
• Siri - In her current form would only be useful to set a timer on a Mac.
• Touch ID unlock - I guess, but typing my password is much faster than taking the phone out of my pocket.
• Redesigned iTunes - Because that worked out great on iOS with the introduction of Apple Music...

I am super excited for the new Macs, but none of the rumours so far about 10.12 interest me.

 

[SusanK]

That's a great idea. I'm betting they won't allow it to work on my late 2010 MBP with USB BT4 dongle.

"Hey Siri, lock all my devices"
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You want to by a new Mac to do that? Be grateful they are contemplating giving new functionality to existing users. Of course new macs will have it eventually. But you'd upgrade for that alone?

Grow some!

The Mac in the OP is running Mountain Lion. Backward compatibility?

 

[ApfelKuchen]

Yet Tim Cook has yet to implement such a simple idea.

There's a bit of a difference between having an idea and implementing the idea.

In this case, we're talking about a security-related function. I'm sure you know all about how to accomplish this without leaving gaping holes in the Mac's login security. You think it might take a while to engineer and test a system that is robust and workable for a fair number of existing Macs?

While that was happening, would you announce to the world that, "I just had this great brainstorm, TouchID for Macs!" or would you keep your mouth shut until it was ready for Prime Time?

 

[SusanK]

You don't have any points.

"Cook is the CEO Apple needs right now." Based on....?

"Apple is doing better under Cook than they did under Jobs." Again, based on what..?

Insanity
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If this is as Rock Solid as recent Apple updates you'll be lucky if you don't brick your phone at the same time as locking yourself out of your iMac.

Lol, that could easily happen.

 

[uid15]

Golly gawsh, typing a password is SO hard.

 

[Michael Goff]

Apple Music has been a failure. In fact, every service Apple has come out with or tweaked since Jobs passed away has been a failure, between iTunes, Apple Music, iCloud, and more.

In what metric is it a failure?

 

[Tinmania]

This is dumb as hell... Put a Touch ID sensor on one of the keys and be done with it

Okay how do I do that with my 2012 mac minis or new mb air? Yet I do unlock them via TouchID using the app MacID. I'd rather it be in the OS, however.



Mike

 

[TMRJIJ]

Is marketing running this company?????.... Just another ploy to get you to buy the latest iPhone. Yes I am sure this will be an iPhone 7 ONLY feature.... Build it into the keyboard! I don't want to have my phone on me just to unlock my computer.

So you want to force people to buy new Macs? There are apps that do this exact same thing so there is obviously a demand for this feature. One of my college professors uses knock for iOS. As soon as he enters the building to go to his office he is well in range to unlock his Mac Pro within just 2 seconds.

 

[MacAddict1978]

I love the article presumes because they are making this feature, the idea of a fingerprint sensor on new hardware is just off the table.

They still could do that.... and this would be a boon for people with older hardware.

 

[oldmacs]

I'll bet this will work super reliably given how reliable airdrop, Instant Hotspot and handoff are /s.

 

[Osty]

Honestly, I hope this is temporary and there will be a fingerprint sensor built into Macs. Not everyone has iPhones, and most importantly, I'm not about to pull out my phone to unlock it, open an app, then fingerprint it again. Might as well enter my 6-digit password because that's about as secure my computer needs to be since nobody even has access to it.

Thinkpads et al have had this feature for ten years. By nice if Apple brings Touch ID to mac hardware too.

 

[6836838]

So the new functionality is not so functional. To unlock my mac, I need to get my phone, ensure its in the vacinity of the mac then unlock it. I could have typed my password 10 times.
Grow what exactly? Vegetables? Fruits?

It goes like this:

Walk into a room with said Mac. Unlock phone. Mac unlocks also (prompting owner to hit a key on said device after a couple of seconds, else it re-locks). Resume.

But feel free to continue previous behaviour of entering a password. Some of us use more challenging passwords than '1234'.

What are you getting confused about?

As an aside, I'd mention what you should grow, but alas I'd be in breach of forum conduct. But is it so intellectually challenging to fathom?
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The Mac in the OP is running Mountain Lion. Backward compatibility?

Roar on high!

 

[ajfahey]

Picking up my phone to unlock my mac doesn't make anything easier. Adding a sensor to the keyboard will.

Of course it makes it easier. But that doesn't mean putting a sensor on the keyboard wouldn't be better. But then why not use the iSight camera in conjunction with voice recognition to get access. Both sensors are already available on all macs and all iPads and iPhones.