Wall Street Journal Confirms Fingerprint Sensor in New iPhone Coming Tomorrow

[ViperDesign]

So basically you get to define what is a major or minor update? Android phones have had bigger screens and NFC for a while now. What's the big deal about that?

So you are telling me that those are major updates? A major update would be a bigger screen, higher resolutions, NFC, etc..

Since when did better battery life become a major update, or adding color to a phone?

 

[Manzzle]

If it's the same bleeding 4 inch screen, I hope someone in the crowd yells out "BOOOO". I would if I were there. Guess I'll know if I'm coming out of pocket for a $700 Note 3 in a few hours.

Just found out today that the Note 3 can shoot 4k video, too. More and more I'm being pushed to getting my first Android phone.

 

[Taz Mangus]

The Atrix. And the fingerprint sensor wore down after several months and stopped working. This was the problem with traditional fingerprint technology. It needed to be swiped, and eventually you'd swipe off the coating.

What Apple is going to unveil tomorrow will be a breakthrough in the field. Something that just works seamlessly and reliably. One that doesn't need to be swiped and thus won't break down. One that can instantly differentiate between which finger you're pressing with, and could assign different functions depending on which finger you press the home button with.

People are really underestimating just how exciting Apples new biometrics technology really is.

Given all the leaks about the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S I am surprised that there were not more leaks about the fingerprint sensor. Apple managed to keep a tight lid on the specifics this time which is good.

 

[Carlanga]

If it has the same design as the iPhone 5 the battery can't be enlarged a lot. So this is not really going to happen.

The rumors say 25hrs more in standby partly due to that extra ~1mm space for the battery and higher capacity.

 

[basesloaded190]

Stupid WSJ pay wall.

Just paste the article title into google and click on the link within google and you can get into the paid part.

 

[haruhiko]

I actually use my index finger at times when I have the phone on a flat surface. Hopefully you can use multiple digits as a pass print. Something tells me apple will have thought of this.

Not that I care as I'm certainly not buying one. A better camera, flash, spec improvements and battery life are not enough to get me to fork out cash to replace my iphone 5. It's shocking how many people with the 5 that will upgrade though. SMH.

This may be the first iPhone that I'm skipping since the 3GS era. I bought multiple 3GS / 4 / 4S / 5 for my family and myself but I am very satisfied with my 5 this time:

The camera is great;
The single LED flash is bright enough and I don't use very often;
CPU/GPU wise it's already very very fast;
and battery life? Yes if they can improve it by 50%.

 

[swingerofbirch]

I saw Gruber (it makes me itch just writing that) say the 5C may start at $500. So can't imagine what this one with the fingerprint reader will be ($700 plus?). I can't see how you market something over $500 with the feature of a fingerprint reader. Not when the Nexus starts at $200. I'm thinking of getting my first smartphone but not at $500, unless my family goes back on contract with Verizon, which is fairly doubtful. I have been hoping that the "big" surprising feature of the iPhone 5C would be the price (as in $300 or less).

 

[Carlanga]

If it's the same bleeding 4 inch screen, I hope someone in the crowd yells out "BOOOO". I would if I were there. Guess I'll know if I'm coming out of pocket for a $700 Note 3 in a few hours.

Just found out today that the Note 3 can shoot 4k video, too. More and more I'm being pushed to getting my first Android phone.

congrats, you bought your man purse accessory?

 

[ChrisTX]

Cool new iPhone feature: upload your fingerprint to NSA direct from your iPhone. And it's so simple you don't even have to hit send. It just magically goes to its database.

Your comment is pure win!

 

[dwd3885]

The Atrix. And the fingerprint sensor wore down after several months and stopped working. This was the problem with traditional fingerprint technology. It needed to be swiped, and eventually you'd swipe off the coating.

What Apple is going to unveil tomorrow will be a breakthrough in the field. Something that just works seamlessly and reliably. One that doesn't need to be swiped and thus won't break down. One that can instantly differentiate between which finger you're pressing with, and could assign different functions depending on which finger you press the home button with.

People are really underestimating just how exciting Apples new biometrics technology really is.

Oh so this will be new and exciting? Dude you haven't seen it yet. Definition of fanboy here.

 

[WhackyNinja]

If it's the same bleeding 4 inch screen, I hope someone in the crowd yells out "BOOOO". I would if I were there. Guess I'll know if I'm coming out of pocket for a $700 Note 3 in a few hours.

Just found out today that the Note 3 can shoot 4k video, too. More and more I'm being pushed to getting my first Android phone.

1. Its an "S" phone...its not suppose to be different
2. You have an iPhone 5 why would you care for the 5S
3. Why would you want an oversized phone instead of a decently sized (Galaxy S4, Nexus 4 etc.)

 

[MacDarcy]

Do you use your other fingers to press the home button for the current iPhone? I use my thumb to press that button numerous times every day and don't find it awkward.

Yes, I use the iphone home button with my thumb all the time too. But what I'm saying is that when you press the home button with your thumb its usually from the side....bot from below. Will you have to have your thumb press the fingerprint sensor from below and not from the side? Cause that WOULD be awkward.

 

[macs4nw]

To add to that, top notch security needs to be incorporated into this technology. Meaning, the sensor cannot be easily defeated by trickery and well known methods that work against so many other sensor devices.

I'm confident that the security experts and bad guys alike are going to go to work on this as soon as they can. If Apple hasn't made this bulletproof, they're going to have their biggest bomb in a long time.

I hope, for Apples sake and those who will use the new sensor, that this will be robust and successful.

And that's my concern also. Fingerprints as well as passwords ultimately end up as just a string of Os and 1s, and thus hackable. Unless some extremely nifty hack-proof technology is deployed, a brute force attack could unravel that false sense of security pretty rapidly.

Moreover, when this becomes more commonplace, it'll be the same fingerprint used for all secure sites one is going to access, whereas you could have different passwords for different sites. Iow, when your fingerprint authentication has been compromised, your entire digital life is vulnerable, rather than just the one unique password for a single site. Sobering thoughts.

 

[iSunrise]

If it's the same bleeding 4 inch screen, I hope someone in the crowd yells out "BOOOO". I would if I were there. Guess I'll know if I'm coming out of pocket for a $700 Note 3 in a few hours.

Just found out today that the Note 3 can shoot 4k video, too. More and more I'm being pushed to getting my first Android phone.

4K on a phone is just a gimmick at the moment. If the iPhone 5S has more sophisticated tech, Dual LED and maybe even 60p/120p video, the decision is easy.

You´re right about the screen though. I hope that the iPhone 6 will at least have 720p, I hate these proprietary Apple resolutions.

 

[Rogifan]

So you are telling me that those are major updates? A major update would be a bigger screen, higher resolutions, NFC, etc..

Since when did better battery life become a major update, or adding color to a phone?

Yes new software and fingerprint technology would be a major update to me. How is higher resolution a major update? Maybe my eyesight is really bad but I can't discern individual pixels on my iPhone 5 so what is a higher resolution going to do for me?

Really the only thing we know about this phone is the display size and external design will be the same. So I'm not sure how you can claim something that hasn't been announced is just a "minor update".

 

[macs4nw]

Can't. Freaking. Wait.

Dual LED Flash.
Fingerprint Sensor.
Faster Processor.
Improved Battery Life.
New Colors.
iOS 7.
Improved Camera.

Let's Go!

Not to mention alluring new colors, and a possible 128GB storage option.

 

[ViperDesign]

Yes new software and fingerprint technology would be a major update to me. How is higher resolution a major update? Maybe my eyesight is really bad but I can't discern individual pixels on my iPhone 5 so what is a higher resolution going to do for me?

Really the only thing we know about this phone is the display size and external design will be the same. So I'm not sure how you can claim something that hasn't been announced is just a "minor update".

Yikes, no wonder apple sells millions of small updated phones every year.

By the way, iOS 7, really isn't a major update. Been using it for 2 months now. Basically the same with a different color scheme.

 

[SandboxGeneral]

And that's my concern also. Fingerprints as well as passwords ultimately end up as just a string of Os and 1s, and thus hackable. Unless some extremely nifty hack-proof technology is deployed, a brute force attack could unravel that false sense of security pretty rapidly.

Moreover, when this becomes more commonplace, it'll be the same fingerprint used for all secure sites one is going to access, whereas you could have different passwords for different sites. Iow, when your fingerprint authentication has been compromised, your entire digital life is vulnerable, rather than just the one unique password for a single site. Sobering thoughts.

Very good thoughts and one thoughts that need contemplation in regards to one online security measures. For instance, I use LastPass in conjunction with a YubiKey one-time-password USB device for added security.

Should I choose to switch to fingerprint technology, once widely available, you're right, should it be compromised, I would be in a world of hurt.

There would, should, be a second factor of authentication to go with the fingerprint method.

 

[Manzzle]

congrats, you bought your man purse accessory?

Oh I will but but see I don't have small hands, the Note 2 fits just right in my hands and my pocket. Mind you I'm only 5'9 and weigh 154 pounds. Today while riding the NYC trains I've noticed how many people have the Galaxy S 4.

Yes, complain all you want about folks thinking that a larger screen is going to make a phone no longer pocket-able of fit in ones hand. The "Mega" from Samsung to me is big but still I would even get that if it had better specs.

I barely use my phone to talk these days. It's like texting and picture sending and Instagram have taken over for me.

 

[Taz Mangus]

Oh so this will be new and exciting? Dude you haven't seen it yet. Definition of fanboy here.

So what if someone is a fan of what Apple does. Why is it a concern to you? Did someone piss in your coffee today?

 

[Blorzoga]

Can't. Freaking. Wait.

Dual LED Flash.
Fingerprint Sensor.
Faster Processor.
Improved Battery Life.
New Colors.
iOS 7.
Improved Camera.

Let's Go!

The only thing I can't wait for is ios7. A fingerprint scanner is pretty much useless. The camera's already good enough and the processor's good enough too. This is definitely a skip for me. Maybe the 6 will have some awesome features.

 

[Rogifan]

Yikes, no wonder apple sells millions of small updated phones every year.

By the way, iOS 7, really isn't a major update. Been using it for 2 months now. Basically the same with a different color scheme.

Well since there really wasn't anything wrong with iOS I see nothing wrong with it being the same.

So based on your criteria the Android phones that are pushing 5" now can no longer receive major updates. I mean once they go beyond 5" they're basically in phablet territory. Oh and a lot of them already have NFC and IR blaster so its just minor updates from now on I guess...using your criteria...

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The only thing I can't wait for is ios7. A fingerprint scanner is pretty much useless. The camera's already good enough and the processor's good enough too. This is definitely a skip for me. Maybe the 6 will have some awesome features.

Awesome features like?

 

[walmartmartyr]

Yup, cases like the life proof or otter box won't allow the fingerprint sensor to work. Also, wearing gloves, say in the winter will prevent u from unlocking the phone. That'll b annoying!

 

[garylapointe]

Improved battery life? Not worth mentioning when it's only by 10%

If it were 10% less it'd be getting some complaints!

Gary

 

[newyorksole]

So basically just a minor update. iOS 7 isn't anything ground breaking, new colors, welcome to the 21st century, faster processor is a given, improved camera, again should be a given.

SO basically this is a minor update with an amazing new finger print scanner, wow.

How about a bigger screen, NFC, infrared, etc....

It's still an update. Bigger screen? Coming next year. NFC? Probably next year too? Infrared? Idk...

The iPhone is already great. The features I listed are excellent improvements over an already good iPhone.