iPhone 5S Fingerprint Scanning Home Button to Look Nearly Identical, iOS 7 for iPad to Debut Later with New Hardware?

[aristotle]

Nice little anecdote, but you are not telling us to remove our passcodes, aren't you?

It's a trap. Treadstone. Blackbriar.

 

[xNYMetsx]

As long as the read times for the scanner are quick and these prints are seriously secure, then I'll be happy with one.

 

[macs4nw]

Sure hope the fingerprint detection works perfect. They must have an alternate way to unlock the phone if that fails?

I imagine, passcode would still be there also, so an either/or option.

 

[applefanDrew]

the only people i've seen use a passcode are teenage girls, and users with a corporate email policy that require it.

Hmmmm... Why would teenage girls lock their phones? #

 

[Markiie]

I guess what I really want to know at this point...........

What happens to the itouch? Why would anyone buy one of those IF the iphone 5C is the same price if not lower?

 

[applefanDrew]

I guess what I really want to know at this point...........

What happens to the itouch? Why would anyone buy one of those IF the iphone 5C is the same price if not lower?

iPod touch is a one time expense. Phone....monthly expense.

 

[AnonMac50]

Just noticed that iOS 7 support audio only facetime. I'm surprised this hasn't been publicized more. This will kill VoIP providers - you'll be able to call anyone for the cost of your network connection.

Unless it does what it did to me and make FaceTime vanish as soon as I insert another SIM card.

 

[maxosx]

Making it simple and easy to both secure and authenticate to your phone is a welcome, huge upgrade IMO.

Close but not quite.

The unspoken reality is its designed to verify the _user_and_the phone.

 

[jonnysods]

Man, no one will even watch the keynote with this much info leaked out ahead of time.

Tim Cook: "Hey guys, new gold iPho.... ah, forget it".

 

[macness]

When will Samsung ever do this with their customers in mind. OOOPS, they don't support their customers or the OS they put on the device.

hahahahahahahahaahahhaahahahahahhaha

----------

"convex home button my ass!"

-phil schiller

lmao

 

[peterdevries]

Actually, I'd be more worried about being able to get past the fingerprint sensor. This is a device you hold in your hand for multiple minutes/hours a day. You're fingerprints are all over this thing. I would think if a thief steals your phone, and has even a modicum of smarts about how to get a fingerprint off your phone using a basic fingerprint kit which can be purchased at any spy shop type place, they could use that to bypass the sensor and unlock the phone.

Of course not. (Smart) thiefs wipe the thing completely and use it themselves or sell it on. Only if they are interested in your data (which they never are unless you are Scarlett Johansson or Lindsey Lohan) will they need your fingerprint. And even then it's unlikely that the complete print will be somewhere on your phone in a usable way.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

but, even then, it would be extremely difficult...just like the capacitive touch screen is sensitive to heat as well as touch...so, too, the hardware/software tech for fingerprint sensing, (that Apple bought) would not allow this, it would fail.

Well, guess what is going the first thing I'm going to experiment with my new iPhone...
There's a workaround for everything, and the key is simplicity.

 

[tekno]

id take a location based lock over a fingerprint sensor tbh. like keep it unlocked once u enter ur house or connect to a known wifi or something.

couldnt the thief easily fake it? your phone is usually covered in fingerprints (i may watch too much CSI)

I don't want to get into an android vs iOS argument, but my Samsung does exactly this (one of the best things about it). Are you sure there isn't an app that lets you do this?

 

[goobot]

Actually, I'd be more worried about being able to get past the fingerprint sensor. This is a device you hold in your hand for multiple minutes/hours a day. You're fingerprints are all over this thing. I would think if a thief steals your phone, and has even a modicum of smarts about how to get a fingerprint off your phone using a basic fingerprint kit which can be purchased at any spy shop type place, they could use that to bypass the sensor and unlock the phone.

Maybe I'm wrong, and it's not that easy, but I hope they've thought this through.

That's not how it works. It scans deeper into your finger than a print can do.

 

[bushido]

I don't want to get into an android vs iOS argument, but my Samsung does exactly this (one of the best things about it). Are you sure there isn't an app that lets you do this?

whats the app called on your samsung? i have an nexus 4 as well and id like to know

 

[gaximus]

it's possible to retrieve someone's fingerprint and use it for biometrics, but it's not something easy to do.

Even if it was easy, you could remotely set a pin or wipe the phone using findmyiphone.

 

[Yendog]

From the 9to5Mac article:

"According to Apple sources privy to customer usage data, a very small percentage of iPhone owners use a passcode."

Really? Most people can't even be bothered to use a 4-digit code? I guess I had been assuming that a basic passcode was pretty much the norm for a great majority of iPhone users.

No. I use my phone all day every day. Why the hell would I want to out a code in every time. I'm shocked when people actually use a pass code.

 

[Mums]

I don't want a fingerprint sensor. I don't want biometrics.

 

[Wingsy]

Actually, I'd be more worried about being able to get past the fingerprint sensor. This is a device you hold in your hand for multiple minutes/hours a day. You're fingerprints are all over this thing. I would think if a thief steals your phone, and has even a modicum of smarts about how to get a fingerprint off your phone using a basic fingerprint kit which can be purchased at any spy shop type place, they could use that to bypass the sensor and unlock the phone.

Maybe I'm wrong, and it's not that easy, but I hope they've thought this through.

Yeah, you're wrong. They did think it through (like they always do). The fingerprint sensor reads your fingerprint from BELOW the skin and detects a biologically active finger. In other words, it has to be a live finger and does not respond to an overlay placed on the finger to fake someone else's print. I think you can relax and not worry too much.

 

[landsoyptl]

Cool

Can't wait for iOS 7!!! But wondering that if iPhone 4S can compatible well with it? After the upgrade from iOS 5 to 6, my iPhone becomes not really stable.

 

[scapegoat81]

The iPhone is coming to your car. Besides your wallet going bye byes, you may one day just use the biometric scanning in the upcoming iPhone 5S to pay a toll via an app.

Apple will be doing more utility with this aquisition of authentec than many think. This iPhone 5S will be the biggest news since the first gen went to debut in '07.

Give it 18months for the eWallet ecosystem/platform to adopt worldwide. The brick & mortar store(s) will be following suit within the year or two.

Yes.
Yes.
& yes.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Even if it was easy, you could remotely set a pin or wipe the phone using findmyiphone.

Unless it's placed in a metal cage during the unlocking process, so no wireless signal would reach it. There's always a workaround.

 

[ChrisCW11]

Patented radius

I am sure Apple patented the specific convexness of the new home screen button because they found the perfect synthesis of form and function that can only be achieved from a circle with a 41.243cm radius. I am sure there will be a 40 minute video with Jony Ives sitting in front of a white wall wearing a gray T-Shirt going on about how he invested a significant portion of his entire life to achieve the perfect roundness and curvature of the button.

I mean the way people go on talking about this new home screen button it only makes sense for Apple to treat this like the second coming of Christ.

 

[Gix1k]

After what Snowden revealed....this fingerprint scanner is just a way for the government to get peoples fingerprints. They are stored somewhere on a iCloud which would allow them access to it.
When I got printed for my CCW permit it was done digitally.

 

[kmichalec]

A fingerprint sensor isn't supposed to prevent your phone from being stolen. It's supposed to protect your data from being stolen and to be a deterrent that doesn't slowdown the owner in anyway. If most thieves have a hard time getting the phone to work, the number of people trying to steal iPhones would drop. The problem right now is that many many people (including myself) don't lock their iPhones with a 4 digit passcode. Most people I know don't use it because it's such a hassle to enter it when you look at your phone 50 times a day.

Your argument is akin to saying that U-locks for your bike are a bad idea because any good bike thief knows how to break one if they simply get a little liquid nitrogen and a hammer. Think about that for a second please.

That's a very good analogy. I'm not saying that the sensors are a bad idea, just wondering if it provides a false sense of confidence, that's all. Maybe it doesn't. Maybe it's moot anyways if most people don't lock their phones to begin with. Was just wondering out loud. Maybe my concern is unfounded and non realistic and can't be hacked like that. If so, then great! Glad to hear it. But that's why I raised the question, as I don't just accept everything at face value just because a company says something is so. I like to explore the possibilities and a discussion on this site is a good place to do that (despite the usual "I'm holier than thou" response comments that are sometimes posted here). Thanks for your feedback!