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Face ID for Mac Remains Distant Despite Years of Rumors

I think a great solution would be is for Apple to sell a standalone bluetooth Touch ID button. That way for people on a desktop that don't want to use the Magic Keyboard can still take advantage of Touch ID.
 
klowy79 said:
Good point. Oh wait. Everyone else already has this. And has had it for over decade. My Surface Pro is over 13 years old. It has a touch screen (which is very useful) and the equivalent of Face ID. It's not a shark, it's progress.
Click to expand...
How is having a touch screen progress?
 
midori matcha said:
But reaching to the top corner of the keyboard is such a chore. I gotta lift my arm and reach over the desk to the furthest key. That's almost a whole calorie of work, Apple. I ain't trying to close exercise rings when I log into the computer.
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It's funny, the same people complaining the Mac doesn't have touch ID are also the ones that want to lift their arm and reach over their desk for the touch screen
 
coolfactor said:
The writing has been on the wall for a couple of years with how the interface has been changing. More spacing around controls, larger click targets, etc.
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Right and it's a stupid idea that has made the OS worse to use for everyone
 
frownface said:
Well not necessarily swipe, works by hitting a key too. Either way it asks me to dismiss the lock screen before letting me to my desktop.
A cursory google shows that this is a setting that can be toggled. But I went and checked, and interestingly mine has automatic dismiss enabled; yet it still requires me to dismiss the lock screen to enter.

View attachment 2568754

I'm guessing it's some group policy setting by our overzealous IT dept. But either way i cannot get to my desktop without physical interaction by either hitting a key, or swiping away the lockscreen.
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Yeah I would assume it's a group policy since I don't have to do anything. It just auto logs in. Works really well to. Can't think the last time I had to use my pin or password.
 
derekamoss said:
A surface is most definitely a laptop but can be used as a tablet.
Click to expand...

No, it is a tablet first and foremost. It does not come with the keyboard as it is sold as a tablet. You have to buy the keyboard separately, or add it on as an accessory at time of purchase. That is a fact, it is a tablet.

Anyway let's keep the iPad Pro the Surface has its own Face ID equivalent, I think I it is a bad move if Apple don't bring it to Mac's.
 
Pezimak said:
No, it is a tablet first and foremost. It does not come with the keyboard as it is sold as a tablet. You have to buy the keyboard separately, or add it on as an accessory at time of purchase. That is a fact, it is a tablet.

Anyway let's keep the iPad Pro the Surface has its own Face ID equivalent, I think I it is a bad move if Apple don't bring it to Mac's.
Click to expand...
Don't forget there is more then one type of Surface. Only the Pro is a tablet.
 
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Anaxarxes said:
Shows that there are sensible UX people still at Apple making decisions...

Edit: Love the reactions. :) But seriously, let’s think this through — Face ID on a Mac doesn’t actually make much sense from a user experience perspective.

When you’re using a keyboard, Touch ID is already the most convenient option. It’s quick, reliable, and doesn’t interrupt your workflow. For Face ID to be a worthwhile upgrade, it would need to offer a better experience — not just a different one.

Now, consider the practical issues:
  • Many people use their MacBooks closed with external monitors → no Face ID.
    • “But we could still have Touch ID on the keyboard!” → sure, so why bother with Face ID then?
  • Plenty of users cover their webcams for privacy (yes, even Mac users).
  • The Face ID sensor would sit right where you touch to open your laptop → smudges everywhere.
    • And unlike your phone, how often do you actually clean your laptop screen?
So what’s the real UX benefit of Face ID on a Mac? Honestly… none. If anything, it’d be a step backward compared to the simplicity and practicality of Touch ID.
Click to expand...

Heard of such a thing as clammy hands?
I buy apple products primarily because they have FaceID.
Touchid never works for me as my hands are pretty much always slightly moist.
And I know I'm not alone, lots of people have this handicap.
 
Shirasaki said:
But current MBP screens are already thick enough imo. Apple may not need to thin down the module too much to fit. The decision of not adding Face ID probably is a combo of engineering and business decision.
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Sadly the module is still too thick for Apple’s standard especially on MacBooks. For iMac, it will fit but most people would want FaceID on their notebooks.

Apple is already starting the process of miniaturizing FaceID module but it will take time before they get it thin enough to fit into the insane thin display.

Cost is the problem also. If FaceID module were to break down, then the ENTIRE TOP CASE has to be replaced. That’s expensive fix for just the FaceID module. So Apple has to reduce the top case costs first somehow before they can make this happen.
 
Anaxarxes said:
Shows that there are sensible UX people still at Apple making decisions...

Edit: Love the reactions. :) But seriously, let’s think this through — Face ID on a Mac doesn’t actually make much sense from a user experience perspective.

When you’re using a keyboard, Touch ID is already the most convenient option. It’s quick, reliable, and doesn’t interrupt your workflow. For Face ID to be a worthwhile upgrade, it would need to offer a better experience — not just a different one.

Now, consider the practical issues:
  • Many people use their MacBooks closed with external monitors → no Face ID.
    • “But we could still have Touch ID on the keyboard!” → sure, so why bother with Face ID then?
  • Plenty of users cover their webcams for privacy (yes, even Mac users).
  • The Face ID sensor would sit right where you touch to open your laptop → smudges everywhere.
    • And unlike your phone, how often do you actually clean your laptop screen?
So what’s the real UX benefit of Face ID on a Mac? Honestly… none. If anything, it’d be a step backward compared to the simplicity and practicality of Touch ID.
Click to expand...
As someone who uses laptop mostly as a laptop.. and the touchid failing to register my fingerprint 80% if not more of the time... I'd love for there to be faceID.... was so nice to finally switch to a phone with it and not have to deal with multiple attempts at unlocking.
 
momentlost said:
The Apple Watch to unlock works great.
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Except when the watch needs to be unlocked to unlock the Mac. Otherwise I agree. I use this method to unlock my Mac Pros. It even worked on my old 2010 models which were upgraded with newer Bluetooth and wifi.

Fingerprint unlock on my MacBook Air works flawlessly every time.
 
EsTriFee said:
As someone who uses laptop mostly as a laptop.. and the touchid failing to register my fingerprint 80% if not more of the time... I'd love for there to be faceID.... was so nice to finally switch to a phone with it and not have to deal with multiple attempts at unlocking.
Click to expand...
My TouchID devices get my fingerprint 95% of the time correctly. I'd check my hardware if it does not recognize 80% of the time.
 
taliz said:
Heard of such a thing as clammy hands?
I buy apple products primarily because they have FaceID.
Touchid never works for me as my hands are pretty much always slightly moist.
And I know I'm not alone, lots of people have this handicap.
Click to expand...
Yes I did hear about it. Sorry if you happen to be in the 1-3% of the population.

I'd most likely go for an Apple Watch to lock/unlock your mac, that could be the best solution in your situation.
 
Unregistered 4U said:
Which would make the laptop more expensive to produce and the extra material would not only make it heavier and thicker, but TOP heavy. I would agree that it would be easy to make an ungainly, top heavy, heavier than it needs to be laptop.
Click to expand...
Quick, email TC & tell him to drop all work & not to include cameras in the AirPod pros based on your expert analysis, or to drop the ones already in the screen as it makes the MBP too heavy & expensive!🙄
 
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