I've been using it for a few weeks now and it's cool but not must have. Plus when logging in to my iPad I sit there with my finger on the home button lol.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Fingerprint scanner: gimmick or god send?
- Thread starter jcorbin
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I am in the middle. It's not a gimmick, but I could also live without it quite easily, so it's also not a godsend.
When I try and unlock an older idevice now I sit there for a second wondering why it isn't unlocking while I leave my finger on the home button though.
When I try and unlock an older idevice now I sit there for a second wondering why it isn't unlocking while I leave my finger on the home button though.
Good point. Thanks, maybe.
It's not usually more than once, In fairness. But was curious if others had same experience.
I'm with this.
Often times, I'm pulling the phone out of my pocket and my thumb is in a strange position. It will work 85% of the time on the first try, and then about 95% of the time on the second try.
I feel like a lot of issues would be solved if the software were updated to allow for more of the fingerprint to be scanned. As it stands, I can't scan the whole of either thumbprint with the amount of scanning they allow. And, of course, the 15% of the time it doesn't work the first try are the times when the parts of my thumbs I wasn't able to scan are the parts on TouchId.
And before anyone says use two slots per thumb, I also need my index finger scanned, as well as both of my fiancee's thumbs, so I don't have enough slots for that.
a 4 digit passcode can be cracked relatively easy
my 16 character passcode on the other hand is far more complex and its unlikely anyone would ever crack it. I'd hate to have to enter that everytime i wanted to unlock my phone, so no the Touch ID is no gimmick.
Plus my iTunes password is like 14 characters and has a lot of complicated letters/symbols/numbers (it was hacked a few years ago and i lost $100 gift card balance), so touch ID helps in that regard too.
I dont mind having to touch ID everytime to unlock when im texting. Usually i just leave the screen on for 2 minutes and even if i have to touch ID, that 2-3 seconds extra is hardly an inconvenience.
It would take that long anyways to swipe the text from the screen imo; 1 second longer tops.
my 16 character passcode on the other hand is far more complex and its unlikely anyone would ever crack it. I'd hate to have to enter that everytime i wanted to unlock my phone, so no the Touch ID is no gimmick.
Plus my iTunes password is like 14 characters and has a lot of complicated letters/symbols/numbers (it was hacked a few years ago and i lost $100 gift card balance), so touch ID helps in that regard too.
I dont mind having to touch ID everytime to unlock when im texting. Usually i just leave the screen on for 2 minutes and even if i have to touch ID, that 2-3 seconds extra is hardly an inconvenience.
It would take that long anyways to swipe the text from the screen imo; 1 second longer tops.
Yeah they should definitely allow for more readings per finger. I pretty much have the tip of my thumb entered, but when pulling my phone out of my pocket it is usually on the side or middle, I guess I will have to try the multiple prints thing since I am the only user.
This seems to work for me. I set the main finger I use to unlock the phone in two different finger print slots. One is the tip of my thumb the other is the main part of my thumb.
For me it's a god send. I never used to password protect my phone as I couldn't be bothered to enter the PIN all the time.
Now that we have Touch ID I do use that and now my phone is protected with minimal effort required!
Now that we have Touch ID I do use that and now my phone is protected with minimal effort required!
If that's the case why do you still get given that option if someone tries to open with a non functioning fingerprint?
Doesn't it defeat the object.
You have to enter the 4 digit pass on starting up phone and also when it rejects the finger print scanner. So what's the benefit if you say it's easily crackable. Just curious
?
With touch ID now it's easier to maintain higher security by having a 16 digit pin instead of the 4 digit pin.
Before to have the security level that high was a pita because you'd have to enter a long password every time so most would just use 4 digit pins. Now it can just be your back up to touch ID.
I think that's what that poster meant.
I have virtually no rescans. The only time I have to retry is if I don't put my finger entirely on the scanner.
I thought about setting that but I'd be afraid someone I know would do it accidentally (niece, nephew or something).
That's always an issue if someone wants to be malicious or just playing around. I don't know if there is any right/good answer to this except to keep your phone as safe as possible, given the environment so prying hands can't commit a faux-pax on your phone.
Or if you know the phone is safe, but prying hands might want to play with it. Turn off the 10 try wipe "feature" temporarily.
I've gotten used to turning off b/t and cellular data when I'm home...and when I leave...turn them on. Takes all of 15 seconds. This can be just another setting that gets jiggered.
It's one of my favorite features on my phone.
I always input a five digit pass code and the sensor makes it easier. It boggles my mind that people don't use a pass code. It's no different than locking up your house or shredding sensitive documents.
Anyway, if there was a god, I'd be thanking her on a regular basis for making the scanner painless and functional.
I always input a five digit pass code and the sensor makes it easier. It boggles my mind that people don't use a pass code. It's no different than locking up your house or shredding sensitive documents.
Anyway, if there was a god, I'd be thanking her on a regular basis for making the scanner painless and functional.
So it's still being inputted when you start it up every day, and when scanner fails. I don't suppose it can be any other way, If scanner doesn't work, it still has to be inputted and that's what you mean... there's no getting away from it at least once or twice a day
If the scanner fails you need to put in a very secure 16 digit pin vs 4 digit. Assuming you have it set that way.
So you cannot access lock screen notifications if you have touch ID on? Or you can see them just not go directly to the app w/o the finger scanner. If it is the latter that makes sense, but if not that stinks
Just 4 at the mo. But you make a very good point. Just having the 4 pin is not the most secure.