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Bloomberg: Face ID for iMac Likely Pushed Back to Second Iteration of Upcoming Redesign
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This isn't innovation here...FaceID is perfected in the iPhone and iPad. If it fits in an iPhone, it'll easily fit in an iMac.
I can't think of any reason they need to "get it right" since it's already "right".
Which is fine because if you want Windows Hello go buy a Surface. This is Apple and they will release an iMac with Face ID when they choose to.
Apple now thinks they are the government. They decide which developers and companies pay 30% of what they sell on the App Store and who doesn’t. Such an abuse...
Apple is believed to be working on redesigned versions of the iMac that feature the biggest design overhaul to the iMac line since 2012. However, Apple's Face ID facial recognition authentication system, which debuted in 2018's iPhone X, is likely to feature in the second iteration of the redesign rather than the first, which is due this year, according to a new report today by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
The tidbit came at the end of a report today about a forthcoming redesign of the MacBook Air. In addition, the report highlights Apple's intention to launch a slew of updates to its Mac lineup that reflect the desires of the Mac's staunchest supporters, with the introduction of new ports, slots, and cellular connectivity.
Speculation that Apple will bring Face ID to Macs isn't new, however rumors have been few and far between, which makes Gurman's information worth highlighting.
Apple's Face ID feature that allows a device to be unlocked with a facial scan is limited to the iPhone and the iPad at the current time, but code found in the macOS Big Sur betas has suggested that Face ID may come to Macs in the future.
According to previous Bloomberg reports, the redesigned iMac models will feature slimmed down bezels around the display and the metal chin will be removed. It is expected to look quite similar to the Pro Display XDR monitor that Apple released in 2019.
Instead of a curved rear design, the iMacs will feature a flat back, and prior rumors have described the new iMacs as using an "iPad Pro design language." At least one of the new models that will replace the 21.5 and 27-inch models will measure in at 23 to 24 inches, but it's not clear what size the second iMac will be.
A 23 or 24 inch iMac would probably be the same size as the current 21.5-inch iMac physically, with the larger display enabled through smaller bezels. A new iMac with a fresh design and an Apple Silicon chip could come in the first half of this year.
The redesigned iMacs will adopt Apple silicon chips, and the revamped look will coincide with Apple's move to shift away from Intel's chips, giving the iMacs updated processors and a fresh design all at once.
Apple plans to equip the new iMacs with next-generation versions of the Apple silicon chips that will be faster and with more GPU power. Apple is testing Apple silicon chips with as many as 16 power cores and four efficiency cores, but higher-end desktop models could have as many as 32 high-performance cores. Apple is also working on improved GPU technology and is testing 16 and 32-core graphics components.
The new iMacs are expected be released in spring to fall 2021, and it's not yet clear if both models will come out at the same time.
Article Link: Bloomberg: Face ID for iMac Likely Pushed Back to Second Iteration of Upcoming Redesign
Probably, that is the issue here. You cant just shut the lit of the iMac as you do with the MB. If you integrate a Facetime camera with some form of cover, people would start thinking that OSX is vulnerable. So they need to find a way that the Facetime camera is not pointing forward when the iMac is not in use but still plugged in. At the same time, they want FaceId to activate when you sit on your desk. So probably it is a tricking issue. Integrating a LED indicator when the camera is recording could be a possible solution but this LED indicator can also be hacked.
ok but the most important issue is ".....and it's not yet clear if both models will come out at the same time"
why!?!?!? i expect 27inch , not interested on 24" ... should i wait ANOTHER ENTIRE YEAR!?!?!???
why!?!?!? i expect 27inch , not interested on 24" ... should i wait ANOTHER ENTIRE YEAR!?!?!???
Yeah no acceptable, will wait.
They had more than enough time, at this point they are being lazy.
They had more than enough time, at this point they are being lazy.
As somebody who has used iMacs since 2008, my personal opinion is that I'd rather FaceID than a redesign. Ultimately the redesign will look great, but it won't actually change anything about using the computer. FaceID on the other hand will make using the iMac significantly easier and more convenient.
There have been comments so far that this is about greed and Apple keeping something for the 2nd Gen and while I do think that's a credible opinion it could also be that because you sit further away from the computer it may not work as well. Or they don't have enough inventory or they are going to release a new magic keyboard with touchID!
But Apple's track record tells us it's probably the most cynical reason!
There have been comments so far that this is about greed and Apple keeping something for the 2nd Gen and while I do think that's a credible opinion it could also be that because you sit further away from the computer it may not work as well. Or they don't have enough inventory or they are going to release a new magic keyboard with touchID!
But Apple's track record tells us it's probably the most cynical reason!
Actually I wouldn't mind if they implemented touch ID instead on the first version. Touching the side of the iMac to unlock doesnt seem that much of an inconvenience over Face ID.
I don’t think German has a good source for news anymore. A lot of what he’s stating nowadays doesn’t seem “Apple”. I believe he’s pulling everyone’s leg to get views for revenue.
I think the delay in Face ID is likely for a couple of reasons:
1. The hardware is there, but needs to be worked into the new design, so it needs some tweaking. What if your screen is pointing up/down too much, how does it cope? It's not a great UX to have to move the screen to login.
2. The software isn't quite there yet. I doubt Apple would release the hardware required for Face ID with its only use being to unlock your Mac or to use Apple Pay. It's likely they want to introduce extra features, like creating Memojis, or some other software to give its addition another selling point. Think much better filters for a video call, more accurate placement of outrageous sunglasses on your head etc.
1. The hardware is there, but needs to be worked into the new design, so it needs some tweaking. What if your screen is pointing up/down too much, how does it cope? It's not a great UX to have to move the screen to login.
2. The software isn't quite there yet. I doubt Apple would release the hardware required for Face ID with its only use being to unlock your Mac or to use Apple Pay. It's likely they want to introduce extra features, like creating Memojis, or some other software to give its addition another selling point. Think much better filters for a video call, more accurate placement of outrageous sunglasses on your head etc.
Oh well. I'll probably get the second iteration anyway. Let Apple work out all the bugs and add the FaceID. I'll survive with the M1 MBA in the meantime. It's fast as hell anyway.
Same reason they made you wait for ProMotion on an iPhone. Apple doesn’t care about you nearly as much as they care about getting you to pay them more money soon. Corporations gonna corporate
iPhone can already unlock with FaceID at quite an off-angle. I can have my phone mounted to a dashboard in my car. It doesn't face me directly. But it can instantly unlock the phone the moment I glance at it. And they do have all the SWs along with the FaceID in iPhone. Now they don't even need to port, since iMac will use ARM arch. And they do have a history of introducing HW first and get SW updates for additional functionalities. I think they are purely delaying it for the second iteration.
Bit of over reaction to lack of Face ID in my opinion. If you can't put a password in and tap in a few characters, then to my mind that's sad. It only convinces me that there are many computers owned as toys.
I'm looking forward to the iMac, for what it can do in terms of performance and productivity. I doubt I will lose sleep if it doesn't recognise my face in order to open up, and we've seen in the past that fingerprint and even Face ID are not that hard to bypass, whereas a decent password is.
I'm looking forward to the iMac, for what it can do in terms of performance and productivity. I doubt I will lose sleep if it doesn't recognise my face in order to open up, and we've seen in the past that fingerprint and even Face ID are not that hard to bypass, whereas a decent password is.
Realistically, that's probably how it goes for all their products. Part of developing generation N will include planning what will make generation N+1 more desirable than N.
Can't just be happy-go-lucky at this scale and with so much money flying around.
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Initial thoughts: Disappointed, not surprised, yet slightly hopeful. However, this news has really made me think about the potential login process on an iMac. Wishfully thinking: I'd like TouchID in the power button to authenticate the power to the machine, and then FaceID to log in the user. This would increase the security of the machine, especially between multiple users. After the initial user/s log in, then FaceID or Apple Watch could then authenticate from sleep. It would be really nice if they used the UWB in the Apple Watch to know when you leave a perimeter of the iMac and put it to sleep/log out the user. One can dream...