Your Thoughts: iOS 7 and Fingerprint Scanner in Next Generation iPhone

[hellomoto4]

Hey everyone

Recently there's been plenty of rumour regarding a fingerprint scanner which may potentially be included in a future generation of the iPhone.

Much debate is around regarding the potential location of a fingerprint scanner: many forum members here (and elsewhere) postulated that Apple would build it into/behind the display, such that a 'swipe to unlock' motion would simultaneously read the finger and unlock the device. Comparatively, others believed that the scanner would have to be built into the home button or another region on the device, as it may not be possible for Apple to build the scanner into the display. Personally, I am not sure about what is and isn't possible, so I was hoping that the next generation iPhone had a scanner built into the display for typical Apple simplicity.

However, I've created this thread to throw around the question regarding the possible location/s of a fingerprint scanner in the next generation iPhone. As you may well know, with iOS 7, it is now possible to unlock the device by swiping anywhere on the lock screen. Surely this would make it impossible for Apple to recognise a fingerprint, as (virtually) the entire display would need the ability to register an input.

So, what is it that you think? If Apple's next generation iPhone were to include such a scanner, where do you think it would be now?

Disclaimer: This thread is simply present to provoke discussion and personal opinion regarding the possibility and potential location of a fingerprint scanner in either the next generation iPhone or future generation/s. Please do not reply with malicious comments which do not conform to the purpose of this thread. Thanks!

 

[cmChimera]

Hey everyone

Recently there's been plenty of rumour regarding a fingerprint scanner which may potentially be included in a future generation of the iPhone.

Much debate is around regarding the potential location of a fingerprint scanner: many forum members here (and elsewhere) postulated that Apple would build it into/behind the display, such that a 'swipe to unlock' motion would simultaneously read the finger and unlock the device. Comparatively, others believed that the scanner would have to be built into the home button or another region on the device, as it may not be possible for Apple to build the scanner into the display. Personally, I am not sure about what is and isn't possible, so I was hoping that the next generation iPhone had a scanner built into the display for typical Apple simplicity.

However, I've created this thread to throw around the question regarding the possible location/s of a fingerprint scanner in the next generation iPhone. As you may well know, with iOS 7, it is now possible to unlock the device by swiping anywhere on the lock screen. Surely this would make it impossible for Apple to recognise a fingerprint, as (virtually) the entire display would need the ability to register an input.

So, what is it that you think? If Apple's next generation iPhone were to include such a scanner, where do you think it would be now?

Disclaimer: This thread is simply present to provoke discussion and personal opinion regarding the possibility and potential location of a fingerprint scanner in either the next generation iPhone or future generation/s. Please do not reply with malicious comments which do not conform to the purpose of this thread. Thanks!

I hope it's the entire display. And they have shown tech to be able to do this, but I don't know if Apple has been able to implement it.

 

[lancastor]

I think it's positioned behind the home button.

Recognize a fingerprint during a swipe gesture and sensors behind a glas front: I don't think that would be possible.I don't know it and it would be really great. But I think the home button option will be realized.

 

[.beam.]

Could it be possible for fingerprints to be stolen using this software?

 

[Ent]

It will happen. It coincides with iCloud keychain in iOS 7 which allows you to store credit card info and multiple passwords across devices.

 

[Zwhaler]

Could it be possible for fingerprints to be stolen using this software?

Seems inevitable they would end up logging and tracking our fingerprint data... I'll be avoiding that if possible on my next phone.

 

[.beam.]

I would not want to be dealing with stolen biometrics. I'm in the military.

 

[madsci954]

With the new features and changes with iOS, I feel that a fingerprint scanner would be possible.

 

[roland.g]

iPhone 5S: users get fingerprint scanner.

iPhone 5S: NSA gets iPhone user fingerprint data.

 

[ucfgrad93]

I don't think there will be a fingerprint scanner on the next iPhone. I don't want one on my phone.

 

[Jimbo47]

I don't think there will be a fingerprint scanner on the next iPhone. I don't want one on my phone.

So there won't be one because YOU don't want one? People need to realize just because its on the phone doesn't mean you have to use it.

 

[sparky1499]

I just can't see a fingerprint scanner coming in the next iPhone.

 

[Mrg02d]

What would the 5S be without one? Just a faster faster 4s?

 

[WhackyNinja]

I think it be a nice idea for iOS 7. But idk if Apple would do it

 

[Mrg02d]

I think it be a nice idea for iOS 7. But idk if Apple would do it

Without one, it would be like the Galaxy S4...Just a faster Galaxy S3...

Its got to have SOMETHING other than a 33% faster chip in an already fast phone.

 

[KenAFSPC]

Fingerprint scanner, iOS keychain, and fingerprint functions for developers

These features would:

1. eliminate the long alphanumeric passwords currently required by government and corporate networks;
   
   
2. provide secure authentication for mobile payments, including purchases from the Apple Store, as well as wireless payments made to vendors using near field communication or Bluetooth;
   
   
3. simplify web login/password entry for the web, whereby a fingerprint scan would populate the user's login/password and personal information from a secure password store (IOS Keychain) in Safari;
   
   
4. eliminate login/password entry for third-party iOS7 applications (e.g., your bank's IOS app), by allowing third-party developers to substitute fingerprints for passwords;
   
   
5. provide seamless multi-user support, which would benefit home users, as well as corporations and governments, that share one device (e.g., iPad, future Macbooks) among multiple users.

For those concerned about privacy, keep in mind that your fingerprint and associated biometric data would be used to generate a unique, Apple-proprietary digital decryption key (I.e., a long string of 1s and 0s) that is probably specific/unique to your device. Your actual fingerprint would not be stored on the device, and no application or server would get your fingerprint. No third-party application would be able to see or access the fingerprint reader directly. Apple could change how the fingerprint key is calculated in a future iOS release.

 

[KenAFSPC]

So, what is it that you think? If Apple's next generation iPhone were to include such a scanner, where do you think it would be now?

I don't think the Authentec technology that Apple acquired will do what you you are suggesting. My understanding is that the sensor can be placed behind the screen, but it does not make the entire screen fingerprint capable. It would only sense your finger on a specific area of the screen.

The sensor may be small enough to fit behind the home button, but I would be surprised if Apple goes that route.

 

[alia]

Fingerprint scanner, iOS keychain, and fingerprint functions for developers

These features would:

1. eliminate the long alphanumeric passwords currently required by government and corporate networks;
   
   
2. provide secure authentication for mobile payments, including purchases from the Apple Store, as well as wireless payments made to vendors using near field communication or Bluetooth;
   
   
3. simplify web login/password entry for the web, whereby a fingerprint scan would populate the user's login/password and personal information from a secure password store (IOS Keychain) in Safari;
   
   
4. eliminate login/password entry for third-party iOS7 applications (e.g., your bank's IOS app), by allowing third-party developers to substitute fingerprints for passwords;
   
   
5. provide seamless multi-user support, which would benefit home users, as well as corporations and governments, that share one device (e.g., iPad, future Macbooks) among multiple users.

For those concerned about privacy, keep in mind that your fingerprint and associated biometric data would be used to generate a unique, Apple-proprietary digital decryption key (I.e., a long string of 1s and 0s) that is probably specific/unique to your device. Your actual fingerprint would not be stored on the device, and no application or server would get your fingerprint. No third-party application would be able to see or access the fingerprint reader directly. Apple could change how the fingerprint key is calculated in a future iOS release.

I agree with all of this. I am already required to use two-factor authentication to get into my work VPN remotely, so this would simply things if it was implemented by Citrix. I'll be excited for a fingerprint sensor on the iPhone.

 

[hellomoto4]

Thanks everyone for your contributions.

I had an idea about a possible implementation, whereby the scanner is located within the home button:

1. User is required to tap the home button to 'awake' device from sleep
2. Upon tapping, scan of fingerprint is read
3. Graphic on lock screen indicates match or mismatch of print
4. If correct match, user slides to unlock like normal

Just another possibility, as I too have doubts over whether or not the entire display could be a scanner. This way, is is still easy for third party applications to utilise the home button as a scanner (whereby it would not be necessary to actually click the button to initiate scanning)

 

[lancastor]

An idea: Instead of clicking the homebutton and unlock your device with a swipe, you could lay your thumb on the homebutten and the device gets unlocked.

 

[Michael CM1]

iPhone 5S: users get fingerprint scanner.

iPhone 5S: NSA gets iPhone user fingerprint data.

Look, if the NSA is gonna get all of our info, it might as well get our fingerprints so when we use those to check in somewhere a friendly NSA employee can open the door for us and take us out to dinner before bleeping us.

 

[YeahBuddy]

Use the iSight camera and make it scan my eye. Way more futuristic.

Plus it'd be sick if Siri said "Access Granted" every time I unlocked my phone.

 

[AdonisSMU]

So there won't be one because YOU don't want one? People need to realize just because its on the phone doesn't mean you have to use it.

People act like they have to buy everything thats available.

 

[danahn17]

Use the iSight camera and make it scan my eye. Way more futuristic.

Plus it'd be sick if Siri said "Access Granted" every time I unlocked my phone.

Hmmm...if they did that, they should put it behind the display. It would put a whole new meaning to "retina display"

I think a fingerprint scanner would be really cool... Of course, it depends on how it is implemented. I'm not sure I'd use it for websites and passwords but if I could lock/unlock my phone with a swipe of my finger, that'd be really cool and convenient (as opposed to passwords or dots or whatever is currently in use right now).

At the same time, it seems so... unnecessary in some ways. Especially when other promising technologies (NFC or Google Wallet or what have you) could be better implemented too. But I suppose you could make the argument that Siri was unnecessary too when it was announced... but because of the iPhone, voice recognition tech got widespread adoption afterwards.

 

[solarguy17]

What would the 5S be without one? Just a faster faster 4s?

No. The 5S would be a new phone that has the same look as the 5 but with completely new internals and based in previous "S" phones, at least twice as fast.

Why would it be a faster faster 4S? The 5 is nothing like the 4S.