HomePod Firmware Suggests iPhone 8 Split Status Bar, Tap to Wake and No Touch ID Under Display

[amattholl]

I read the HomePod firmware has showed the new iPhone contains a 5.15-inch display area with a "function area" at the bottom. Why couldn't touch ID be implemented in the "function area" of the new iPhone? The iPhone 7's home button is basically a virtual button sensor paired with a taptic engine actuator that provides haptic feedback.

 

[recoil80]

I would agree with you, but I truly believe fingerprint sensors under the display are the way of the future. Facial recognition is promising, but until you can casually open your phone without holding it to your face like you're taking a selfie, fingerprint sensors will be the most convenient verification method. They're just too practical and reliable right now to eliminate completely.

Also, I think Apple always intended to embed TouchID under the screen of the 8, which means they would have devoted a lot of time and money to R&D. I have a hard time believing they would just throw all that away.

That's why I hope touchID will stay on the iPhone this year, either on the back or on the power button.
It would be less convenient, but it would mean they are committed to keep fingerprint recognition on the phone.
I keep my finger crossed, let's see in 5 weeks what happens

 

[kyykesko]

But leave it to Apple to make the facial recognition scanner reliable.

..and leave it to the hackers to prove them wrong in less than a week. Even ignoring that using face recognition is AWKWARD compared to fingerprint reader. Especially on a phone. Even on Surface Pro I hate the fact that I have to stare the screen for a while to open the computer. I usually don't bother but rather use the fingerprint reader.

They'll probably put a huge Apple logo on the back of the phone and make it flash madly whenever it recognises your face so you'll advertise Apple more efficiently whenever you need to unlock the screen. Because you won't be doing that discreetly with the face recognition.

 

[where is it]

volume buttons on one side. lock button (on/off button as you call it) on the other side, but elongated, and this is where potentially touch ID will be integrated. no home button.

How will Siri and a forced iPhone reset work pressing and holding the elongated home/touch id/on/off button?

 

[nicho]

How will Siri and a forced iPhone reset work pressing and holding the elongated home/touch id/on/off button?

Why do you keep persistently assuming the home button would have to have its functions integrated with the lock button for touch id to move there? The home button is rumoured to be "on screen"

 

[GermanSuplex]

Just a prediction, but Touch ID has been very popular for the most part, is super-fast and reliable on the 6S/7 models, and as others have mentioned, just been added to MacBooks. Not to mention, the SE phones are pretty popular and we may still have some version of 7S models coming. If the other phones have Touch ID, surely this phone will as well. Perhaps the facial recognition will be for other features we don't know about, perhaps something to do with the camera and photo apps.

It's also possible this software was 'leaked' intentionally to get us to continue talking about Homepod while misleading us about the iPhone so we will all be pleasantly surprised when they have some breakthrough Touch ID announcement.

It's also possible this is all wishful thinking as well.

 

[carpleror]

Just a prediction, but Touch ID has been very popular for the most part, is super-fast and reliable on the 6S/7 models, and as others have mentioned, just been added to MacBooks. Not to mention, the SE phones are pretty popular and we may still have some version of 7S models coming. If the other phones have Touch ID, surely this phone will as well. Perhaps the facial recognition will be for other features we don't know about, perhaps something to do with the camera and photo apps.

It's also possible this software was 'leaked' intentionally to get us to continue talking about Homepod while misleading us about the iPhone so we will all be pleasantly surprised when they have some breakthrough Touch ID announcement.

It's also possible this is all wishful thinking as well.

I'm no coder, but it could also be possible that the string that they found indicating FaceID within the code could apply to both FaceID and TouchID.

 

[juannacho]

It’s all very odd when you consider Apple’s current top dog is Tim Cooke (a man who wears glasses) who lives in California (a place where sunglasses are needed 80% of the year)

Unless this FaceID does some true miracle work I really can’t see myself wanting to bother. The real problem is that there’s nothing in Android world that appeals much either. Maybe Samsung can squeeze out an interim ‘deluxe’ metal bodied, under screen fingerprint special version of the S8

That would do the trick...

 

[antonis]

I just can't imagine apple shooting themselves in the foot by removing Touch ID entirely. Every new feature replacing an older one is supposed to be superior, otherwise they should co-exist. Even a Touch ID on the back, although a very bad choice, now seems better than no Touch ID at all.

 

[kdarling]

Rumors about Touch ID on the screen first appeared last year during the same time. We all believed it at some point, because it would be so wonderful, but obviously, things changed haha

I think the under screen rumor was believable because it was actually planned, and was probably almost ready in time.

Qualcomm has recently demonstrated their behind-display finger print sensor, for instance. But they say it won't be ready for production until Spring. Perhaps that's what Apple had hoped to use, and why they dumped the headphone jack for space.

(And maybe Qcom started dragging their feet after Apple sued them.)