Early Prototype of Apple's Touch ID Demoed by AuthenTec Co-Founder

[kappaknight]

If you knew what they were doing with the pictures uploaded to instagram, you would think that the $1bn price tag was a bargain.

Do some research into why they paid so much for it. It's not simply to share photos of peoples lunches. There are real (and scary) reasons why FB bought it.

It would be nice if you could site some examples of "real and scary reasons", instead of leaving it up to us to do our own research.

Agreed. I know Instagram was grabbing huge shares of the online photo storage/sharing market from Facebook and everyone else, but that in itself doesn't mean they have a sustaining business model.

While photo sharing is cool and fun, it is one of the most pointless activities we have to date. Imagine if all the narcissistic people have something to work towards... they'd be busy building useful things instead of taking pics selfies and their lunches.

 

[topmounter]

It would be nice if you could site some examples of "real and scary reasons", instead of leaving it up to us to do our own research.

Real? Yes. Scary? Depends upon your perspective.

So they could sell advertisers ads using your photos (with no disclosure or remuneration to you).

 

[bbeagle]

Having to scan my finger every min sometimes got old fast.

Waiting the extra second 'got old fast'? Mind you, I've never set a passcode on previous iPhones, so I don't understand those options.

 

[M-O]

So it uses a technology never before used by other fingerprint scanner and apparently significantly more accurate. Apple effectively has a lock on the best fingerprint scanner in world.

It's funny, android handset manufacturers have spent the last few years removing all hardware buttons from the front to make more room for the display. Now Apple used the button as a fingerprint sensor and android manufactures have resorted to putting the sensor on the back. i think we'll start to see hardware buttons make a comeback in the android world.

Of course, Samsung still has their button... and Apple has the patents.

 

[boshii]

Having never used a password for my iPhones I thought TouchID would be the thing that converted me over. Unfortunately, I decided to switch it off after a few days for the simple fact that TouchID requires "immediate" passcode instead of allowing me to choose 5 or 10 min intervals. Having to scan my finger every min sometimes got old fast.

Anyone else feel the same? This is such a silly software choice on Apple's part.

You're probably not using it right.

It doesn't take much longer than clicking the home button to actually unlock the device. It's definitely faster than typing a passcode.

Do you click the home button then leave your finger there? The time it takes to unlock the device is very minimal.

 

[OC40]

Having never used a password for my iPhones I thought TouchID would be the thing that converted me over. Unfortunately, I decided to switch it off after a few days for the simple fact that TouchID requires "immediate" passcode instead of allowing me to choose 5 or 10 min intervals. Having to scan my finger every min sometimes got old fast.

Anyone else feel the same? This is such a silly software choice on Apple's part.

I think that I am lazy.

 

[MacMulti]

Okay with some teaser but the rest keep em secret and patent where necessary. Don't be free R&D dept for others to ride on.

 

[IGregory]

It's sad that something like this (useful) was bought for $356M whereas something like Instagram (pointless) was bought for a billion.

"Pointless", that's your opinion. The Instagram purchase is yielding promising results for Facebook.

 

[HiVolt]

Yet the fandroids in mass claim Apple can't innovate. The Touch ID is a perfect example of Apple innovating, even if fingerprint identification systems have existed before on electronic devices.

But they didn't innovate. They bought the company that developed this technology.

 

[larrylaffer]

As a person who works for Harris, this image is making me gush.

 

[dec.]

But they didn't innovate. They bought the company that developed this technology.

To stick with the "fandroid" theme the poster you replied to began:

...But google bought the company that developed Android.

 

[crackbookpro]

The aquiring of Authentec in July of 2012 & the patents had before 2 summer's ago... have now lead to Apple changing the world with this Sapphire home button thingy!!!!

This is, by far, this biggest update to the iPhone since the iPhone debut in 2007.

Brick n' mortar stores will adopt the Touch ID platform internationally within the year or 2...

"How's would you like to pay Sir/Mam... cash, card, or THUMB???"

 

[nostaws]

There is a difference between an investigator having to go to a location to physically lift a finger print, and a pimply faced kid at a computer at the NSA who after he learns how to hack one, can hack a million from an arm chair.

That being said, apple's implementation is good enough for me. However, I understand the reservations that others might have.

I have to laugh at those people who think someone might steal fingerprints from the memory in the iPhone. They forget that they already have left their finger prints on ever object they have ever touched in their entire life. I bet none of them think much about the glasses and silverware when they go out to eat or the door handle at the front of their house or a pen they leave on the dest or cash use to pay at the store. Finger prints are on everything.

In fact even the guy who figured out how to defeat the finger print sensor needed a copy of the iPhone owner's fingerprint. What does he do? Uses fingerprint powder on the glass touch screen and photographs the screen. Why bother to hack the phone when 100 copies of the owners prints are all over the glass?

 

[giantfan1224]

But they didn't innovate. They bought the company that developed this technology.

They packaged it in a way that makes it useful with untold possibilities for the future. They could've licensed the technology or they could've bought the company. Either way, the delivery of the technology is what's innovative.

 

[rti92391]

It's sad that something like this (useful) was bought for $356M whereas something like Instagram (pointless) was bought for a billion.

Totally agree...but the social network bubble is happening now just like the Tech bubble in the late 90's. Instagram isn't profitable (yet, but I think those video ads will cause so much frustration) and people are beginning to realize how social networks are terrible.

 

[giantfan1224]

There is a difference between an investigator having to go to a location to physically lift a finger print, and a pimply faced kid at a computer at the NSA who after he learns how to hack one, can hack a million from an arm chair.

That being said, apple's implementation is good enough for me. However, I understand the reservations that others might have.

Did I miss something? Has someone figured out how to remotely hack fingerprint data from an iPhone?

So the NSA figures this out and has untold Apple Users' fingerprints. Then what? If the NSA wanted your fingerprints so badly they would have them already. Uh oh, do they?

 

[cmichaelb]

Yet the fandroids in mass claim Apple can't innovate. The Touch ID is a perfect example of Apple innovating, even if fingerprint identification systems have existed before on electronic devices.

Exactly. Innovation isn't always creating something new, it can also be reinventing/refining existing tech.

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Or just fortunate, there was lots of talk previously about removing the home buttton to have more screen.

Who was doing the talking? I mean, yes rumors existed, but Apple, like any other company, test tons of prototypes that never see the light of day.

There has never been a solid, credible rumor, that the home button was going away.

The lack of a physical home button is still my biggest beef with Android hardware.

 

[Tronic]

But doesn't touch id essentially immediately unlock you?

Yes, but I don't want to have to scan my fingerprint everytime I unlock the phone, like when I'm having a text conversation and the screen turns off in between messages. I want to only need my passcode/fingerprint every 5 or 15 mins.

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Waiting the extra second 'got old fast'? Mind you, I've never set a passcode on previous iPhones, so I don't understand those options.

Having never used a passcode either, I find the extra second annoying after 5-10 unlocks within a 15 min timeframe.

In my experience, TouchID is only 90% accurate, making that 10% frustrating.

 

[Col Ronson]

But doesn't touch id essentially immediately unlock you?

some people are just too lazy to wait the one second to keep their finger on the home button

 

[giantfan1224]

Yes, but I don't want to have to scan my fingerprint everytime I unlock the phone, like when I'm having a text conversation and the screen turns off in between messages. I want to only need my passcode/fingerprint every 5 or 15 mins.

The scanner is integrated into the home button. You have to press the home button to wake it up. I'm failing to see the huge inconvenience here.

 

[Chatter]

But doesn't touch id essentially immediately unlock you?

It does. It is unclear what the OP is unhappy with. You touch the phone, its unlocked. Unless you dont want to touch the home button and just want to pick up the phone and swipe to unlock?

Edit: He did clarify above.

 

[itsmemuffins]

Quote:
[Moody] explained to the students that it's AuthenTec's technology behind an 8-millimeter by 8-millimeter sensor found beneath the iPhone 5s home button.

"We're looking at pores, structures of ridges and valleys, and instantaneously tell who you are," Moody said. "Every time you use it, it learns more about you. Because it knows, 'This is Alex,' every time you use it gets easier and easier."

Mine must be faulty. The more I use it the less reliable it becomes until I have to rescan my fingers again.

 

[Vanilla35]

So it uses a technology never before used by other fingerprint scanner and apparently significantly more accurate. Apple effectively has a lock on the best fingerprint scanner in world.

Samsung will be copying this big time.


PS, when will we see this on MacBooks?

No

 

[coolfactor]

Yet the fandroids in mass claim Apple can't innovate. The Touch ID is a perfect example of Apple innovating, even if fingerprint identification systems have existed before on electronic devices.

Exactly. Innovation != Invention. Innovation is boiling an invention down to its best implementation for reliability and user experience.

 

[zhenya]

Having never used a password for my iPhones I thought TouchID would be the thing that converted me over. Unfortunately, I decided to switch it off after a few days for the simple fact that TouchID requires "immediate" passcode instead of allowing me to choose 5 or 10 min intervals. Having to scan my finger every min sometimes got old fast.

Anyone else feel the same? This is such a silly software choice on Apple's part.

No, because the act of pressing the home button, and leaving my finger there to unlock is actually faster and more convenient than pressing the home button, then swiping to unlock. It usually happens in one seamless step as I pull the phone out of my pocket so it's unlocked before I even look at the screen. Better security and more convenient. Win/win.