Google's Upcoming Pixel 4 Smartphone Features Face Unlock and Gesture Recognition

[lazyrighteye]

Health care industry, accessibility would benefit immensely. Apple is focusing more in this area.

Indeed, the implications of a touch-reduced OS could certainly be far-reaching in many industries.
Will be interesting to see what, if anything, Apple does in this space.

 

[Blaze4G]

"Google suggests this is superior to other methods such as the Face ID unlocking sequence on iPhones. "Other phones require you to lift the device all the way up, pose in a certain way, wait for it to unlock, and then swipe to get to the homescreen," read's Google's blog post on the feature. "Pixel 4 does all of that in a much more streamlined way."" ummm, that's too much hyperbole for me. loose the "pose in a certain way", "wait for unlock". More like lift, glance, swipe all in one fluid motion, not inconvenient at all.

Maybe google did tweak it a bit and make it better, hope its 3d (it probably is) so it can't be easily fooled, good for them, competition is always good. and they have had years to copy and perfect it.

Kind of like their other nonsense, "get a pixel get unlimited photo storage, errrr, or get an iPhone or other phone and get unlimited photo storage, just sign up for onedrive"

Is onedrive free?

 

[falainber]

First off, taking pictures with a camera is not the same as facial recognition. So why are you bringing that up as if it’s relevant to facial recognition technology?

As to Google and “software superiority”.....

• Why was Google’s first version of Face Unlock so bad you could unlock it with a picture printed on regular paper?
• Why can’t Google get color management to work in Android?
• Why can’t Google do a proper implementation of audio/MIDI in Android for the huge market of mobile musicians or match the latency of 5+ year old iOS devices?
• Why can’t Google fix their ridiculous security/update problem, after years and years and numerous “initiatives”?
• Why couldn’t Google develop their own programming language for Android (instead of stealing Java)?
• Why can’t Google develop their own advanced file system to compete with APFS?

So much for your “common knowledge”.

Most of it has to do with the fact that Android is used by many smartphone manufacturers. Google can't solve this issue but neither can Apple (nor do they need to solve it).

Google actually does offer their own language (Dart) that can be used for designing the software for both Android and iOS. Google also created another language, called "Go", which is fairly popular. So, that's 2x more languages than Apple created.

 

[Moonlight]

I didn't even know I was lifting my phone "ALL THE WAY UP" to unlock it. Much hyperbole

 

[Tech198]

creepy..It's almost like your constantly swatting a flie with those motion gestures.

 

[realtuner]

Most of it has to do with the fact that Android is used by many smartphone manufacturers. Google can't solve this issue but neither can Apple (nor do they need to solve it).

Google actually does offer their own language (Dart) that can be used for designing the software for both Android and iOS. Google also created another language, called "Go", which is fairly popular. So, that's 2x more languages than Apple created.

Windows doesn’t have that issue. Google screwed up big time by allowing OEMs to modify Android. I mean, it’s not like the concept of an OS with a fixed code base that can be updated independently from the hardware was a new idea when Android came out. Google was more concerned with market share than doing things “ properly”.

Dart and Go are so popular that Google recommends them as official languages for Android App development. Oh wait, they don’t.

2x more languages? So that’s how you measure success? Makes sense, though, since Android fans are hung up on market share and quantity over quality.

I predict Face Unlock on the Pixel will be nothing special or innovative. Same with Soli.

 

[@Brett]

As much as Google states theirs is better. They have still copied the hell out of Apple's Face ID. Surely this is patented? Also does not sound so secure since they are stating as soon as it sees your face. By defaults Apple's requires your eyes to be open and looking at the phone. That seems more secure.

 

[narcolpetic-haze]

So I guess if you're unlucky enough to live in a country where they can't get regulation approval for the Soli thing you're essentially paying for hardware that's useless. I can't imagine it's cheap.

 

[@Brett]

"Other phones require you to lift the device all the way up, pose in a certain way, wait for it to unlock, and then swipe to get to the homescreen,"

Google, you didn't even try. On my Xs I have to:

- Reach for my phone
- Grab it
- Lift it
- Face my phone
- Wait
- Put a finger on the screen
- Swipe up
- Lift the finger

So many steps, Pixel is better

Lift swipe up done. It is easy on an iPhone you must be doing it wrong.
[doublepost=1564446013][/doublepost]

defenders of the  cause will try to denigrate anything not , but this Pixel 4 seems superior in many ways to the awkward, slow and unreliable FaceID.

Add to that no freaking horrid notch and a decision to forego the animoji cringefest, the Pixel 4 is in many many ways the iPhone I wish  made.

Nothing in the 2019 iPhone rumor mill suggest anything but basically the same old stuff getting sold again out of Cupertino with a new coat of lipstick - so the Pixel 4 at the moment IS the interesting phone to watch

No just a chin and a forehead. And copying Apples tech. Pretty much identical. Surely patented by Apple

 

[Tech198]

As much as Google states theirs is better. They have still copied the hell out of Apple's Face ID. Surely this is patented? Also does not sound so secure since they are stating as soon as it sees your face. By defaults Apple's requires your eyes to be open and looking at the phone. That seems more secure.

ok, but why would you want your phone to wake up when your eyes are shut ? Sounds like a marketing gimmick... "The sooner FaceID does this, i bet that will go viral in seconds as a "must have"

 

[@Brett]

Hmmm, iOS 13 has dark mode, street view in Apple Maps and Sign in With Apple, all things that Google has done, some for a while now....

Dark mode is only being introduced in Android Q. Do not go saying that dark mode can be put on a phone with an app as that is not Android. Also a good portion of Apple's apps have been dark mode for years.
[doublepost=1564446507][/doublepost]

ok, but why would you want your phone to wake up when your eyes are shut ? Sounds like a marketing gimmick... "The sooner FaceID does this, i bet that will go viral in seconds as a "must have"

That is exactly what I am saying it should require attention. Google mentions nothing about This that I can see. Also you can turn off requires attention for Face ID which makes it faster but less secure.

 

[Timemaster]

First off, taking pictures with a camera is not the same as facial recognition. So why are you bringing that up as if it’s relevant to facial recognition technology?

As to Google and “software superiority”.....

• Why was Google’s first version of Face Unlock so bad you could unlock it with a picture printed on regular paper?
• Why can’t Google get color management to work in Android?
• Why can’t Google do a proper implementation of audio/MIDI in Android for the huge market of mobile musicians or match the latency of 5+ year old iOS devices?
• Why can’t Google fix their ridiculous security/update problem, after years and years and numerous “initiatives”?
• Why couldn’t Google develop their own programming language for Android (instead of stealing Java)?
• Why can’t Google develop their own advanced file system to compete with APFS?

So much for your “common knowledge”.

Do you know that this entire post right here kind of makes you look fanboyish and more importantly completely proves that you have zero clue what you are talking about. It is just repeating sound bits but anyone who has some basic understanding of things can see right threw it.

For example saying that google stole java instead of inventing their own? That is wtf level. Apple did not invent their own. They used object c which is old. Very old but solid. Swift is another thing and came later and still built pretty heavy on objective c. Google took kotlin and started expanding with it.

 

[realtuner]

Do you know that this entire post right here kind of makes you look fanboyish and more importantly completely proves that you have zero clue what you are talking about. It is just repeating sound bits but anyone who has some basic understanding of things can see right threw it.

For example saying that google stole java instead of inventing their own? That is wtf level. Apple did not invent their own. They used object c which is old. Very old but solid. Swift is another thing and came later and still built pretty heavy on objective c. Google took kotlin and started expanding with it.

Stating facts is ”fanboyish”? A sure fire way to tell you have no point to argue is when you resort to name calling instead of countering someone’s comment.

 

[LovingTeddy]

You either have never used Face ID or you're doing it wrong. I just pick up my phone, and swipe it like I did with the old phones. It's so fast, it's seamless. And I use the passcode far less often than I did with Touch ID (sloppy food, exercise, showers, etc often defeated Touch ID).

As for hacking Touch ID...

https://www.tips-and-tricks.co/lifehacks/iphone-touch-id/

https://www.cnet.com/news/apples-touch-id-still-vulnerable-to-hack-security-researcher-finds/

Really? At night, I lay down in my bed and decided to watch some movies on my iPhone XR (I had it for 2 weeks and returned it, then brought other one with my companies employee offer last week), pick up my phone and looking at the screen, FaceID will fail EVERY SINGLE TIME. When I am in the middle of something, notification comes in, my phone is laying down on the table, guess what, FaceID will fail. When I am standing or sitting, if the angle is not exactly right, FaceID will fail EVERY SINGLE TIME.

I am afraid that I won’t stay with this iPhone XR for any longer, I have 2 week to decide if I want keep my XR. I miss TouchID so much, I keep going back to iPhone 7 and 8 Plus (and of course, Huawei P30 as my daily driver, cannot resist that sweet under display finger print censor).

 

[I7guy]

Really? At night, I lay down in my bed and decided to watch some movies on my iPhone XR (I had it for 2 weeks and returned it, then brought other one with my companies employee offer last week), pick up my phone and looking at the screen, FaceID will fail EVERY SINGLE TIME. When I am in the middle of something, notification comes in, my phone is laying down on the table, guess what, FaceID will fail. When I am standing or sitting, if the angle is not exactly right, FaceID will fail EVERY SINGLE TIME.

I am afraid that I won’t stay with this iPhone XR for any longer, I have 2 week to decide if I want keep my XR. I miss TouchID so much, I keep going back to iPhone 7 and 8 Plus (and of course, Huawei P30 as my daily driver, cannot resist that sweet under display finger print censor).

That is not my experience with FACE id. Although, to be honest, the worst use case is lying in bed, however, I've learned how to hold the phone to get a 98% success rate. I never have to enter my phone passcode. When the phone is next to me at work and a notification comes in all I have to do is look at the phone to see the notifications, 100% no issues. Convenient as all get-go.

Touch ID has it's share of issues, dirty, gloved or very wet hands....pick your situation where either tech won't work. Neither is 100% for everybody.

Hopefully google learned from Apple and incrementally improved their version of face id. And apple with the iphone xi, also improved face id. It's a good situation for consumers.

 

[LovingTeddy]

That is not my experience with FACE id. Although, to be honest, the worst use case is lying in bed, however, I've learned how to hold the phone to get a 98% success rate. I never have to enter my phone passcode. When the phone is next to me at work and a notification comes in all I have to do is look at the phone to see the notifications, 100% no issues. Convenient as all get-go.

Touch ID has it's share of issues, dirty, gloved or very wet hands....pick your situation where either tech won't work. Neither is 100% for everybody.

Hopefully google learned from Apple and incrementally improved their version of face id. And apple with the iphone xi, also improved face id. It's a good situation for consumers.

That is good for you. I never once liked the FaceID on iPhone. FaceID works better on iPad Pro, I will give that much credit to Apple. But I hate FaceID to the teeth. iPhone XR is fantastic phone, but to me, FaceID ruined all. I brought one last year, and i returned within 2 weeks, because of FaceID. I got other one through recent promotion through my company’s portal, I don’t think this will last longer than last time. I probably will end up exchange this to iPhone 8 Plus (although I have one already)

I have my Huawei P20 and P30, setup with both fingerprint and facial recognition. I don’t have to deal with shortcut with either of them.

I can unlock my phone with finger when I am laying down or I don’t have to hold my phone to certain angle for FaceID to unlock. When my hand is wet or I have my glove, I can use FaceID.

I hope Apple offers both under display finger print censor along with FaceID. I never understood why some Apple fans hate choice.

 

[I7guy]

....

I hope Apple offers both under display finger print censor along with FaceID. I never understood why some Apple fans hate choice.

It’s not a matter of hating choice but reality. Choice is good but reality is Apple does what it does. Great if Apple will offer an under display fingerprint sensor. I’d love it, but I like Face ID enough it wouldn’t make much if a difference.

 

[Skyblve]

I like the floating feature tho

 

[Suckfest 9001]

Man, the replies in this thread. Apple must be so happy to have so many brand loyalists bent at 90 degrees any time Apple's products appear inferior.

There's so much wrong with this thread.

People don't like it when other companies do something better and make it personal for some reason. Google does search, maps, low light photography, voice assistance and now face authentication better than Apple. Does that mean Apple will not improve, absolutely not, it will pressure them to improve and try harder.

Exactly. This x 5000.

The logic in this post is amazing.

• The iPhone and Pixel both use dot projectors.
• Dot projectors have a narrow range of operation in both angle and distance (which I already posted)

Please explain how the Pixel can scan faces at odd angles when it’s using the same system as the iPhone?

Because it's not like there's just "dot projectors" - there are different/more efficient way of laying out the dots in terms of spread and concentration. The Pixel could be projecting the dots at much wider angles. They don't necessarily need to have a narrow range of operation "in both angle and distance" - you just pulled that little factoid straight out of your ass.

Meanwhile FaceID gets all that information as soon as you pick up your iPhone. It doesn’t need to “scan things” or “start working” beforehand. And it’s still fast.

Now with iOS 13 FaceID is even faster (30% according to Apple). Think about that for a second. Apple is making changes to their software to improve FaceID performance. Apple has been working on FaceID for years while this is Google’s first (real) attempt. There’s no way Google will have their code as highly optimized (fast) as Apple on their first attempt.

Further, Apple processors are far ahead of anything Google can use. Google developed their own external processor for handling things like image processing or machine learning. This is because Exynos and Snapdragon processors lag in these areas. The problem with an external processor is it can’t move data nearly as fast as if it were integrated into your SoC. Google can’t even match the NPU in the A12, let alone the upcoming A13.

So Apple has a several year head start, better software and superior hardware to work with. And we don’t even know what other changes are in the next iPhone regarding FaceID (dot projector/camera or processor).

Lmao I love how it just doesn't compute for you that Google can be/mostly is better at software overall than Apple in so many ways. Head starts or not, Google is known for introducing competitor technologies that leapfrog Apple's implementations - much like they did with Photography (particularly low-light) and like they continue doing with innovations to Maps, and so on.

Meanwhile, Apple takes seven years to copy Microsoft Kinect.

Come on mi7chy, you can't tell me with a straight face you actually believe what you just replied with.

Where did I ever talk about “doing it first”? Oh right, nowhere.

Let’s see, where else has Apple had a head start that nobody else caught up on their first try (or ever)?

• TouchID? It took almost 2 years before anyone had a sensor as fast and accurate.
• 64bit processors? 1.5 years before the first Android device had 64bit, and Android has stayed years behind and is still playing catch-up.
• Inline hardware encryption? Uh, oh. Sorry to bring this one up. It took Google/Pixel a whopping 7 years after Apple to implement this.
• NVMe storage? I don’t know - is there even an Android device with this yet?

Like most of these things are geeky ******** that most consumers don't care about. 64bit processor? The iPhone 5S was not the fastest smartphone when it came out, and the faster guys didn't need 64bit to do it.
Inline hardware encryption? Again, you'd be surprised how little most people care about something like this.
NVMe? Really?

First off, taking pictures with a camera is not the same as facial recognition. So why are you bringing that up as if it’s relevant to facial recognition technology?

As to Google and “software superiority”.....

• Why was Google’s first version of Face Unlock so bad you could unlock it with a picture printed on regular paper?
• Why can’t Google get color management to work in Android?
• Why can’t Google do a proper implementation of audio/MIDI in Android for the huge market of mobile musicians or match the latency of 5+ year old iOS devices?
• Why can’t Google fix their ridiculous security/update problem, after years and years and numerous “initiatives”?
• Why couldn’t Google develop their own programming language for Android (instead of stealing Java)?
• Why can’t Google develop their own advanced file system to compete with APFS?

So much for your “common knowledge”.

Google's first version of Face Unlock came with a warning saying it's insecure and is just for ease of use. They didn't focus on it at the beginning as much as they focused on basic features like copy and paste.

The latest Samsung panels are just as good as, if not better than, the latest iPhone displays.

Really? MIDI?

They have fixed their "ridiculous security/update problem" - most core apps are updateable through the Play Store, and phone manufacturers are starting to take security releases seriously.

Lmao stealing Java, love it

Their file system is just fine - at least you can access it...

Windows doesn’t have that issue. Google screwed up big time by allowing OEMs to modify Android. I mean, it’s not like the concept of an OS with a fixed code base that can be updated independently from the hardware was a new idea when Android came out. Google was more concerned with market share than doing things “ properly”.

Dart and Go are so popular that Google recommends them as official languages for Android App development. Oh wait, they don’t.

2x more languages? So that’s how you measure success? Makes sense, though, since Android fans are hung up on market share and quantity over quality.

I predict Face Unlock on the Pixel will be nothing special or innovative. Same with Soli.

Lol, the reason Android is so successful is because Google allowed manufacturers/carriers to customize the OS. Are you kidding me. Thanks for the prediction bud

As much as Google states theirs is better. They have still copied the hell out of Apple's Face ID. Surely this is patented? Also does not sound so secure since they are stating as soon as it sees your face. By defaults Apple's requires your eyes to be open and looking at the phone. That seems more secure.

I like how personally it upsets you that a competing product is being offered.

Jesus MacRumors. I type this from an iPhone XS Max in utter shame

 

[KevinN206]

In summary of the comments:

Apple not first having fp reader, face unlock, iris scanner, or under the screen fp reader = It's not about who being first. Apple is perfecting it.

Google not first with 3D face unlock = Copy and paste.

 

[KevinN206]

The logic in this post is amazing.

• The iPhone and Pixel both use dot projectors.
• Dot projectors have a narrow range of operation in both angle and distance (which I already posted)

Please explain how the Pixel can scan faces at odd angles when it’s using the same system as the iPhone?

Maybe it has a wider angle dot projector and/or more dots? Plus it has two IR cameras instead of one IR camera like the iPhone. Add in the Soli radar and you might have a potent combo. Of course all of these could just be bandages just to be comparable to the simpler iPhone.

 

[phamilyphriend]

Still use my iPhone 8+ and my Pixel 2 xl and for those that say welcome to 2017 on the FaceID what about the superior camera on the Pixel? I took both phones to see the Northern lights and guess which phone sucked in low light conditions? That is right the iPhone 8+.

So much hate floating around and fanboys for Apple that can do no wrong. The fingerprint on the back of the Pixel is awesome just like touchID on the iPhone.

Call me old school but I don't like to be a beta tester for either company and love having almost 2 year old phones that seem to work fine and get the job done.

 

[ROGmaster]

I see salt dispensation is in full swing already.

Google seems to be doing exactly what fans always commend apple on - take a good idea, and improve the execution.

For all thatbFaceID does right, it has shortcomings. I am very keen to see if Google can make it better.

Congratulations, great post.
What you said is absolutely true.

 

[realtuner]

Man, the replies in this thread. Apple must be so happy to have so many brand loyalists bent at 90 degrees any time Apple's products appear inferior.

There's so much wrong with this thread.


Exactly. This x 5000.


Because it's not like there's just "dot projectors" - there are different/more efficient way of laying out the dots in terms of spread and concentration. The Pixel could be projecting the dots at much wider angles. They don't necessarily need to have a narrow range of operation "in both angle and distance" - you just pulled that little factoid straight out of your ass.


Lmao I love how it just doesn't compute for you that Google can be/mostly is better at software overall than Apple in so many ways. Head starts or not, Google is known for introducing competitor technologies that leapfrog Apple's implementations - much like they did with Photography (particularly low-light) and like they continue doing with innovations to Maps, and so on.


Come on mi7chy, you can't tell me with a straight face you actually believe what you just replied with.


Like most of these things are geeky ******** that most consumers don't care about. 64bit processor? The iPhone 5S was not the fastest smartphone when it came out, and the faster guys didn't need 64bit to do it.
Inline hardware encryption? Again, you'd be surprised how little most people care about something like this.
NVMe? Really?


Google's first version of Face Unlock came with a warning saying it's insecure and is just for ease of use. They didn't focus on it at the beginning as much as they focused on basic features like copy and paste.

The latest Samsung panels are just as good as, if not better than, the latest iPhone displays.

Really? MIDI?

They have fixed their "ridiculous security/update problem" - most core apps are updateable through the Play Store, and phone manufacturers are starting to take security releases seriously.

Lmao stealing Java, love it

Their file system is just fine - at least you can access it...


Lol, the reason Android is so successful is because Google allowed manufacturers/carriers to customize the OS. Are you kidding me. Thanks for the prediction bud


I like how personally it upsets you that a competing product is being offered.

Jesus MacRumors. I type this from an iPhone XS Max in utter shame

The irony of you claiming “brand loyalists bent at 90 degrees” then proceeding with a novel-length-rant that shows you’re the one bent out of shape over me posting facts.

 

[ROGmaster]

It cracks me up how many FaceID haters are still trolling the comments. Meanwhile Google takes two years and who knows how many millions of bucks copying it, minus the “swipe up”.

Google just took it's time in order to implement a better facial unlock system.
They didn't rush it like Apple.
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Because Apple has the best SOC.

No it doesn't.
Maybe the best single individual CPU core performance but as an SOC not really.
In case you don't know what an SOC is I will leave a link below.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_on_a_chip