The image of the iPhone has an interface that says: "sign your name using your finger or pencil."; is that a real screenshot? a doctored image? If it's a screenshot, is it a mistake in iOS 13 or a sign that pencil support for (maybe the next) iPhone is finally coming with iOS 13?
I still don’t understand why Apple is so afraid of touchscreens on Macs when they are so good with them on mobile devices. It’s so much easier just to sign on the screen. Goofy workarounds like this should be unnecessary for the prices Apple charges.
That is all well and good.
But this analog signing method is just last century.
Opinion;:
macOS under the Preview app. should support signing using digital signatures, even if one does not own a certified public-key/private-key pair (thus, signing with self as the certificate authority).
While I like this feature, I am also surprised Apple hasn't given us a "surface" like device. iPad Pro with a detachable keyboard that houses the guts of a MacBook Pro. When connected it is the Mac interface, when separated we get the iPad OS interface. People would pony up serious money for that.
They (don't remember who said it) claimed they tried doing it once, and said it was an awful experience. For some reason, I think that attempt was eons ago and I really don't think they tried again because of that experience. I really wish they were to have another go. But at least offer that option, not make it mandatory. Have users disable the touch screen aspect of their Macs if they don't want to use it. That's what I dislike about them the most--they decide for us what we get to experience. Why not offer it and let us decide to turn it on or off. Not just about this, but about anything really.I still don’t understand why Apple is so afraid of touchscreens on Macs when they are so good with them on mobile devices. It’s so much easier just to sign on the screen. Goofy workarounds like this should be unnecessary for the prices Apple charges.
Not quite sure I understand your thinking here. you don't use your fingernail on an iPhone or iPad, so why would it be related to the Newton? Apple's software is much more advanced now (especially since they laid the groundwork with handoff), so I can imagine this feature will work pretty smoothly.
And what does this have to do with a lack of security??
And the illegible scrawls from touchscreens are better or more legitimate? We might as well just use the tried-and-true “X”.Because digital signatures are used everywhere, of course.
I still don’t understand why Apple is so afraid of touchscreens on Macs when they are so good with them on mobile devices. It’s so much easier just to sign on the screen. Goofy workarounds like this should be unnecessary for the prices Apple charges.
I haven't heard them before! Honestly asking, what are your reasons?I can list many reasons why Apple shouldn't put touchscreens on Macs but you probably already heard them before and disagreed.
That is not what it is designed for or ever will be used for. It's intent is to be able to conveniently sign a document like a permission slip or invoice or application or anything that does not require identity verification. I use the existing built-in functionality to avoid the print->sign->scan cycle.
Obviously DocuSign has its place, but this is not being offered up a as competitor to it.
+1That is all well and good.
But this analog signing method is just last century.
Opinion;:
macOS under the Preview app. should support signing using digital signatures, even if one does not own a certified public-key/private-key pair (thus, signing with self as the certificate authority).
No worries! The only reason this isn't happening will be gone in ~5 years. The main reason is x86 CPUs.A few reasons why that makes no sense:While I like this feature, I am also surprised Apple hasn't given us a "surface" like device. iPad Pro with a detachable keyboard that houses the guts of a MacBook Pro. When connected it is the Mac interface, when separated we get the iPad OS interface. People would pony up serious money for that.
- It would make the iPad thicker which is against Apple’s mantra
- It would increase the costs of the iPP which people will scream about
- It would cannibalize the MBP
- There is probably a reason software for iPads is still limited
A few reasons why that makes no sense:
- It would make the iPad thicker which is against Apple’s mantra
- It would increase the costs of the iPP which people will scream about
- It would cannibalize the MBP
- There is probably a reason software for iPads is still limited
+(10)^10+1
Couldn't agree more. I use digital signature for years now. The worst part though is, that you can't do digital signatures on the iPad or iPhone, despite their NFC reader which could read out e.g. the german ID card. Similar systems are present in many other countries.
Apple really needs to take a look beyond the US, e.g. at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qualified_electronic_signature
While the wiki article is only focusing on European eIDAS regulation the term qualified electronic signature and the requirements are similar in many countries that established that system. Although, for the beginning a QES isn't even required, just signing using certificates stored on the device would be great (storing the private key in the cloud is a big fat no-go unless Apple happens to be the CA, but cloud based private keys are imho an unnecessary risk).
Also, Apple could take that as an opportunity to establish a Public (!) CA for its users. If the private key always remains on the device (Secure Element, T2,... transfer might be possible encrypted over AirDrop using e.g. an export PIN) and secured by a signature/decryption PIN that system could establish a high level of trust as it requires posession of the device and knowledge of the PIN (which must not be related to MacOS/iOS credentials).
The irony here is that Apple does exactly that already (in principle). Any iMessage is signed using exactly that technology... So it's not like that would be new ground for Apple.
A trackpad or iSight camera is required to create a signature.Ah yes, just have to "Tools > Annotate > Signature > Manage Signatures > Create Signatures"
Why would it make the iPad thicker? The guts of the “MacBook Pro” would be housed in the detachable keyboard, not the iPad portion.
You could still buy an iPad Pro separate or a MacBook Pro separate. This would just be a combo at a significant premium.
Not everyone needs both devices, but for those that do, this could be a combination device.
That would be nice in theory, but I think the amount of resources (supply chain, r&d, qc, etc) needed to accomplish this will not end well for the consumer.
You are essentially asking for a MacBook Pro with a detachable iPad. With the shared screen coming in the new iPadOS, you can probably accomplish this in a janky way.