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Urgency in Apple's Talks with AuthenTec Hints at Rapid Adoption of Fingerprint Scanning Technology
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I actually think finger print scanning might be more important for the iPad. The iPad is much more likely to be a shared device, certainly thats the way it gets used with all my friends & family. The idea of bringing the outdated username/password workflow to a pos-PC device seems backwards, being able to handle that functionality with finger print scanning is awesome. Couple it with iCloud membership and the set-up could be ultra simple.
Now it gets really interesting when you consider a patent Apple won years ago, which included camera pixels embedded between the standard RGB pixels of a display. Imagine a scenarios where the fingerprint scanner is actually just the slide to unlock feature of the phone. Im not technically gifted enough to know whether the increasing density of screens renders the idea null or if the fidelity of the image the camera could grab are high enough, but its certain a very Apple-like solution.
Throw in iCloud accounts and you can imagine how simple this would be. Buy a new iPad, scan your fingerprint, it checks with iCloud registers you as the owner of the device and your iPad starts downloading your Apps & data, the first user would be recognized as the owner. Owners could identify additional iCloud users from a settings panel or do it ad-hoc when an unrecognized user tries to scan-in a message pops up asking the owner to authorize (via scan) the new user. Alternatively the owner could set up a guest account that allowed anyone to use the iPad.
Im 4th generation iPad and 2nd generation iPad mini though. Lots of beta testing for that feature.
It appears Apple wants the technology, should the acquisition deal fall through for whatever reason they still are able to launch the product theyve been working on. To me this indicates the product is imminent.
Now it gets really interesting when you consider a patent Apple won years ago, which included camera pixels embedded between the standard RGB pixels of a display. Imagine a scenarios where the fingerprint scanner is actually just the slide to unlock feature of the phone. Im not technically gifted enough to know whether the increasing density of screens renders the idea null or if the fidelity of the image the camera could grab are high enough, but its certain a very Apple-like solution.
Throw in iCloud accounts and you can imagine how simple this would be. Buy a new iPad, scan your fingerprint, it checks with iCloud registers you as the owner of the device and your iPad starts downloading your Apps & data, the first user would be recognized as the owner. Owners could identify additional iCloud users from a settings panel or do it ad-hoc when an unrecognized user tries to scan-in a message pops up asking the owner to authorize (via scan) the new user. Alternatively the owner could set up a guest account that allowed anyone to use the iPad.
Im 4th generation iPad and 2nd generation iPad mini though. Lots of beta testing for that feature.
It appears Apple wants the technology, should the acquisition deal fall through for whatever reason they still are able to launch the product theyve been working on. To me this indicates the product is imminent.
Actually the home button is more practical than the touchscreen. Despite what some screenwriters seem to think, capacitive sensors simply do not have anywhere near the necessary resolution to read a fingerprint.
Basically they would put a special optical sensor underneath the button.
Again - keep in mind the tech was introduced in Jan 2010 - a long time ago for technology. If you read the spec sheet on the newer version of the technology - you can tell that they have improved the tech exponentially. The concept was in its infancy back in Jan 2010 - with Apple's guidance and integration into iOS devices - I suspect it will be nearly unrecognizable in function and design.
Too bad Jobs isn't around to stand up and take credit for this late technology adaptation and "doing it right" like he did with multi tasking....something the 4S still doesn't do as well as Android.
Oh well - that said I will still be getting the next iPhone on release day. This new tech should only make it better!
Just thought of those spy movies/tv shows where the secret agent got his/her fingerprints removed. I wonder how this would deal with those people. 
Really there is no need for this at all.
Hey the dam thing has got a camera on the front, just make a few facial moments or head turns and job done without the need for anything else.
With a little AI build it you could wave your willy at it, and get the phone to unlock.
Hey the dam thing has got a camera on the front, just make a few facial moments or head turns and job done without the need for anything else.
With a little AI build it you could wave your willy at it, and get the phone to unlock.
No I totally understand, we were just discussing the Atrix specifically, so I figured I'd add my $0.02 regarding that device (as a previous owner ... returned mine FWIW).
My sort of extended point was the concept was pretty cool, even if the implementation in the Atrix was not the best - like you said: a current generation of scanner tech combined with Apple's execution could be outstanding.
Yes, that shows the tech is possible but it's not yet practical because of current off the shelf components.
No I totally understand, we were just discussing the Atrix specifically, so I figured I'd add my $0.02 regarding that device (as a previous owner ... returned mine FWIW).
My sort of extended point was the concept was pretty cool, even if the implementation in the Atrix was not the best - like you said: a current generation of scanner tech combined with Apple's execution could be outstanding.
Yes...I suspect it will be amazing. And if they allow you to use it for online purchases, NFC, iTunes, etc...then it will have many more uses that will further integrate our mobile devices into the future of ecommerce.
Can't wait to see what Apple has cooked up for this.
PIN input leaves fingerprints that aid thieves in figuring out your PIN, it's becoming so common that newer PIN pads have numbers that change position every time you use them. There is a real need for security on phones in the Enterprise and, with NFC, more need on the consumer side. To say there is no need for this at all is very shortsighted.
Facial recognition is not the way to go, not being able to unlock your phone because you're out skiing/snowboarding or have sunglasses on at the beach or because you are in a Halloween costume or have bandages on your face (lol) would suck. Also, you need to put your face in the picture, imagine that with your phone docked on your dashboard to use your GPS. And finally, it's one of the least secure methods because a simple printout of your face can defeat it.
forget all this fingerprint stuff, Apple just needs to build a retina scanner into the front facing camera
I trust this will have an "admin" override, as I do go into my son's phone on occasion, as any parent can and should do.
Dad had better not be locked out.
Dad had better not be locked out.
That's intentional. What you think is multi-tasking Apple call it background process. Apple doesn't want background process having the free ride in the OS like in Android so they restricted it.
Yeah, I definitely see Apple using this for more than just replacing a pass code for users to get into their phone. NFC, Passbook and a fingerprint scanner, it's all coming together (maybe slightly rushed).
On the Atrix - you could override the finger print with a PIN. I suspect that Apple would have a similar feature.