Apple's Face ID Feature Works With Most Sunglasses, Can Be Quickly Disabled to Thwart Thieves

[MacRumors]

Apple's new Face ID facial recognition feature will work with most sunglasses, according to Apple software engineering chief Craig Federighi.

"Most sunglasses let through enough IR light that Face ID can see your eyes even when the glasses appear to be opaque. It's really amazing!" Federighi said in an email to MacRumors reader and developer Keith Krimbel (@yokeremote and @keithkrimbel on Twitter) who emailed the Apple exec with a list of questions this morning.

While Apple's Face ID coverage has specifically said the feature works with hats, scarves, beards, glasses, makeup, and other items that might obscure the face, sunglasses were not specifically mentioned. Federighi's answer clears up one of the last major unknowns about Face ID.

Krimbel also asked for details on what would prevent a thief from taking the iPhone X, pointing it at his face, and running off. In response, Federighi says there are two mitigations in place. "If you don't stare at the phone, it won't unlock," he wrote. "Also, if you grip the buttons on both sides of the phone when [you] hand it over, it will temporarily disable Face ID."

In addition to answering these questions, Federighi also commented on the now highly-publicized on-stage Face ID gaffe that saw the feature fail to recognize his face. According to Apple, the software failed because someone else had picked up the phone ahead of Federighi's demo. Federighi says it's not really an issue he had encountered before.

The bio-lockout that I experienced on stage would require several interacts by other people with your phone (where they woke up the phone). For those of us who have been living on the iPhone X over the last months this has never been a real problem (hence my shock when it happened to me on stage!

The Face ID facial recognition feature is designed to replace Touch ID as the new de facto biometric authentication system. While it's limited to the iPhone X at this time, Apple has said it is the future of how we will unlock our smartphones.

For more on how Face ID scans your face, whether it can be fooled, how it works with Apple Pay, and the built-in privacy features, make sure to check out our Face ID post that covers all of the ins and outs of the new feature.

Article Link: Apple's Face ID Feature Works With Most Sunglasses, Can Be Quickly Disabled to Thwart Thieves

 

[PlainviewX]

So then it can easily be used while sleeping. It can easily be used by cops.

 

[bobdobalina]

Personal humidifier? Talk about innovation. Where does it store the water? So many questions.

 

[JPack]

Apple expects the consumer to remain calm and not look at the phone while it's being stolen. I hope I won't do it wrong.

 

[Macalway]

Thanks MR.

At first I din't get the IR/ sunglass connection. I still would have bought one, but this is good to know.

 

[SoApple]

Honestly , the thief in question can take your finger and force you to put it on the touch id. Face ID , Touch ID ... if you're being robbed - chances are- they'll get you to open your phone.

 

[jclardy]

Hmm, but what about my eclipse glasses?

 

[theBigD23]

So then it can easily be used while sleeping. It can easily be used by cops.

No it cannot. You need to have your eyes opened.

 

[dannyyankou]

So then it can easily be used while sleeping. It can easily be used by cops.

No, it requires eye contact. Unless you sleep with your eyes open, it’s not a problem.

 

[coolbreeze]

So then it can easily be used while sleeping. It can easily be used by cops.

It's a convenience. If you hold National Security secrets on your telephone, don't use faceid or touchid. Use a complex password only. Also, don't put servers in mom 'n pop stores either. That's not a good idea.

Seriously, I laugh when people throw out dramatic scenarios about the legitimacy of this. IF A COP POINTS IT AT ME AN RUNS AWAYY, WHAT DO YOU DO THEN HUH? GOTCHYA!!1

I mean, use a complex password if you are planning an attack or something. Otherwise if you want your cat/dick pics to stay safe, you are good with touch/face id.

 

[Wowereit]

I still don't see any real benefit over Touch ID.

They've replaced it with something that's more convenient in some and less convenient in other ways, works slower and has more potential of someone else unlocking it against your will.

Not saying Face ID sucks, but shouldn't the new thing be significantly better and not just different and for many people even worse?

 

[Hustler1337]

So then it can easily be used while sleeping. It can easily be used by cops.

It won't work while sleeping as FaceID is attention-aware, i.e. you've got to be looking at the device to unlock it with FaceID

On a side note, it's bothering me that Craig signed his email off as "- craig" without capitalizing his name.

 

[A MacBook lover]

Pretty awesome to see Craig reply to these emails!

 

[KazKam]

The Face ID facial recognition feature is designed to replace Touch ID as the new de facto biometric authentication system. While it's limited to the iPhone X at this time, Apple has said it is the future of how we will unlock our smartphones.

Ha! What else are they supposed to say when they just went all-in on it as the ONLY option on the iPhone X?

If Face ID turns out to be a giant fail it will be interesting to see how they spin the giant crow they will have to eat.

 

[fokmik]

No it cannot. You need to have your eyes opened.

or look elsewhere or press the two side buttons to disable faceID, i think this is the quickest and safest

 

[macTW]

1) stage issue makes sense, and it's a strong feature if I may add.

2) IR should go through most sunglasses. Idk why nobody theorized this before.

3) didn't mention this Tuesday, but a real quality feature.

 

[A MacBook lover]

I still don't see any real benefit over Touch ID.

They've replaced it with something that's more convenient in some and less convenient in other ways, works slower and has more potential of someone else unlocking it against your will.

You must’ve never got out of the pool or had messy hands and had to use your wet hands on touch ID

 

[macTW]

I still don't see any real benefit over Touch ID.

They've replaced it with something that's more convenient in some and less convenient in other ways, works slower and has more potential of someone else unlocking it against your will.

Doesn't work slower, and has less potential of someone else unlocking it against your will than Touch ID.......

 

[The Game 161]

most people who steal phones just want to steal it they never have any plans to get you to unlock the device.

 

[Chatter]

If someone points a gun at me and wants to steal my phone - they can have it. As for disabling it for cops, again if that is a concern, use the password. Jeez some of you people are craycray arguing about this.

I am glad that I can disable it if I want by pressing two buttons. That is new info and thanks MR for asking.

 

[Phil in ocala]

Apple expects the consumer to remain calm and not look at the phone while it's being stolen. I hope I won't do it wrong.

___________________________________
A solution to a non-existent problem.....another Apple innovation.
how about not asking the owner of the phone for their apple password and user name on the phone just to play music????

 

[macduke]

"Most sunglasses let through enough IR light that Face ID can see your eyes even when the glasses appear to be opaque. It's really amazing!" Federighi said in an email to MacRumors reader Keith Krimbel

This is basically what I've been repeatedly harping on in the forums for the past day. It's kinda sad that so many people don't know the basic science behind things they use every day like TV remote controls.

 

[Nik]

Why dont they mention that stuff at the keynote to avoid crique in the first place? Such details are what we want to hear!

 

[pixelshaders]

spend $1000 to buying more hassle

 

[macduke]

If someone points a gun at me and wants to steal my phone - they can have it. As for disabling it for cops, again if that is a concern, use the password. Jeez some of you people are craycray arguing about this.

I am glad that I can disable it if I want by pressing two buttons. That is new info and thanks MR for asking.

Not even that, but you can:

• Remotely disable it by using Find my iPhone on the web or another device
• Quickly tap the lock button five times, which also disables biometrics for police who, in the US, can't compel you to give them your passcode because it's against the law.

Apple goes to these ridiculous lengths to ensure privacy and security, and people still complain. What's pathetic is that many of these users happily give over all of their personal information to Google every day.