Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

AuthenTec Said to Cut Off Non-Apple Fingerprint Sensor Customers in 2013

DanielMyst777 said:
Annnnnd the Goliath that is Apple gobbles up another company again to "incorporate" their innovation with total disregard of the consequences of what it will do to the world.

They are winning again but Monopoly isn't just a game :apple:
Click to expand...

Haaaa, I was waiting this kind of crap comment. So here are the facts:

http://www.theverge.com/2012/9/17/3322854/google-startup-mergers-acquisitions-failure-is-a-feature

Last year alone it bought up 25 companies, one every two weeks. If you count the firms acquired for patents and intellectual property, the total number is a whopping 79. Taking a look at Google’s peers, it becomes clear just how astonishing these numbers are. Facebook bought just ten companies in 2011; Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft only three apiece.
Click to expand...
So Google bought 79 company while Apple only 3 last year.

Yeah I saw where the innovation is and the consequences (you wanna talk about sparrow and snapseed ?). :rolleyes:
 
MacDav said:
It's hard for me to imagine that I would ever spend my valuable time trolling the rumor site of a company that I hated. I'm not sure what goes through your mind, but I'm glad I don't know that kind deep seated hatred in my own life.
Click to expand...

Just compare the two message: mine and yours. It's clear who is trolling.
 
mdelvecchio said:
you dudes dont understand how this works. tech is not a commodity -- me owning some doesnt prevent you from developing your own.
Click to expand...
Unless all the tech is patented and they won't license it out to other developers. AuthenTec owns a majority of the tech, how will another company be allowed to compete. Can they legally shut out these companies and then say sorry you can't have access to any of it just Apple.
 
Looks like everyone can no longer sit back and wait for Apple to keep innovating (or acquiring innovation) - they might have to do some themselves.
 
MacNut said:
If this company holds most of the technology I have to wonder how long before an anti trust suit is filed.
Click to expand...

I can see that being a possibility. Supposedly, companies can be forced into patent negotiations.
 
MacNut said:
Unless all the tech is patented and they won't license it out to other developers. AuthenTec owns a majority of the tech, how will another company be allowed to compete. Can they legally shut out these companies and then say sorry you can't have access to any of it just Apple.
Click to expand...

AuthenTec does NOT control fingerprint scanning technology. Don't be ridiculous. They own a patented process that's very good, but they are one of hundreds of patent holders in the technology.
 
thewitt said:
AuthenTec does NOT control fingerprint scanning technology. Don't be ridiculous. They own a patented process that's very good, but they are one of hundreds of patent holders in the technology.
Click to expand...
So why do the big groups all use AuthenTec? If the others were just as good why do they seem to hold the market.
 
Ain't the free market grand?

----------
ade2bee said:
You apple fanboys can keep all the big brother stuff you want
Click to expand...

Not sure what you mean - big brother is everywhere, but those scrambling are certainly crying uncle right now...

It's ironic. Trying to build something secure, but in a 'marketplace' that is so insecure and unstable at its core...
 
lilo777 said:
If history s any indicator... The future is not so bright. Remember the hype surrounding Apple acquiring Liquid Metal IP right? So far this has only produced SIM ejector. Then there were Placebase, Poly9, and C3 Technologies. Result? Apple Maps :p

And obviously HP and Samsung have nothing to worry about. Here is a list of companies producing fingerprint sensors:

Alps Electric
Atmel
Atrua
AU Optronics
Authentec
BMF
Casio
Casio + Alps
Cecrop, KSI, Sannaedle
Dakty (formerly Delsy)
Digital Persona
EgisTec (formerly LighTuning)
ElecVision
Ethentica
Fidelica
Fingerprint Cards
FlashScan3D
Fujitsu
Hitachi
Idex
IMEN
Infineon (Siemens)
LighTuning (now Egistec)
LiteOn
Melfas
Mitsumi
NEC
NTT
NanoIdent
Silicon Display Technology
Seiko Epson
Sharp
Sonavation
Sony
Symwave
TesTech / Integrated Biometrics
TST touchless
Ultrascan
Upek
Validity
Veridicom
Click to expand...

I'm quite certain that Samsung, and the rest are fully aware that there are other companies that develop fingerprint technology. But since "sources" say they are scrambling a bit, means there's a lot more too it that flipping through the yellow pages to find another company.

Besides, who wants a Casio fingerprint scanner?
 
It would be great to see biometrics replace the labyrinth of passwords required to get anything done on the internet during the course of the day. My bank is now requiring two different user names, each with a different password (containing numeric characters, caps and special characters combined), just to login and check balances. There's also a random, "verify email" step, which requires checking email for a temporary access code. It's somewhat more secure to other login systems, but incredibly clumsy / faulty compared to a finger swipe.
 
So Apple is going to copy Motorola and put a fingerprint scanner in a mobile device. :rolleyes:
It was neat for about two seconds in the Atrix and then it got old.

As for AuthenTec's decision to not sell to anyone else, that's very short sighted.
When it flops in an Apple product (and it will), their former customers will have moved on.
 
Fingerprint scanners works with no trouble this days, my brothers HP he bought last year unlocks and lock with no issue and he didnt seem to have any problem with the setup.

Anyway if the 5s comes with it not sure whats the trouble, same with nfc lol just because you have option doesnt mean it have to be used :) siri is always disable on my phone since day 1.
 
rjohnstone said:
So Apple is going to copy Motorola and put a fingerprint scanner in a mobile device. :rolleyes:
It was neat for about two seconds in the Atrix and then it got old.
Click to expand...

The atrix is just slapping a reader onto the bottom of a phone (impressive miniaturization, crappy implementation). If apple puts it behind the screen and makes it work just like "slide to unlock" thats huge in terms of instant adoption rates.
 
NT1440 said:
The atrix is just slapping a reader onto the bottom of a phone (impressive miniaturization, crappy implementation). If apple puts it behind the screen and makes it work just like "slide to unlock" thats huge in terms of instant adoption rates.
Click to expand...
Ok.. so you've proven you never used or seen an Atrix in person.
It's on the top and it is integrated into the power switch. Nicely done I might ad.
The physical implementation was not bad. It was just not very practical in daily use.
 
rjohnstone said:
Ok.. so you've proven you never used or seen an Atrix in person.
It's on the top and it is integrated into the power switch. Nicely done I might ad.
The physical implementation was not bad. It was just not very practical in daily use.
Click to expand...

I googled it and it looked like it was on the bottom to me. Your last sentence is what says it all. If you flawlessly integrate the reader into the screen and literally make finger print scanning the swipe gesture, thats a game changer for any developer that gets access to the API for it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back