Face the future with Apple
Face recognition could replace fingerprint scanners on the next iphone, writes Mark Gurman.
Apple's sensor has 3-D depth perception, which means the system is less likely to be duped by 2-D pictures.
Apple is working on a feature that will let you unlock your iphone using your face instead of a fingerprint.
For its redesigned iphone, set to go on sale later this year, Apple is testing an improved security system that allows users to log in, authenticate payments, and launch secure apps by scanning their face, according to people familiar with the product.
This is powered by a new 3-D sensor – added the people, who asked not to be identified, discussing technology that’s still in development. The company is also testing eye scanning to augment the system, one of the people said.
The sensor’s speed and accuracy are focal points of the feature. It can scan a user’s face and unlock the iphone within a few hundred milliseconds, the person said.
It is designed to work even if the device is laying flat on a table, rather than just close up to the face. The feature is still being tested and may not appear with the new device.
3-D sensor may replace finger scanner
The intent is for it to replace the Touch ID fingerprint scanner, according to the person. An Apple spokesman declined to comment.
In testing, the face unlock feature takes in more data points than a fingerprint scan, making it more secure than the Touch ID system, the person said.
Apple introduced Touch ID in 2013 with the iphone 5s for unlocking the phone and it added support for authenticating payments and logging into apps a year later. Apple is not the first to use different forms of biometric authentication. In its latest phones, Samsung included iris scanners that let users unlock their phones and make payments by scanning their eyes.
Samsung’s feature on its Galaxy S8 smartphone launched to poor reviews as users were able to trick the sensor with printed photo copies of a person’s eyes.
Apple’s sensor has 3-D depth perception, which means the system is less likely to be duped by 2-D pictures. Analysts at Jpmorgan Chase and other firms said earlier this year that a 3-D sensor would likely be included in the next iphone.
In addition to the face unlock feature, Apple is testing nextgeneration iphone prototypes that include a dedicated chip for processing artificial intelligence tasks and screens that can display content at a higher frame rate.
The AI chip is internally called the Apple Neural Engine and would improve battery life by handling tasks like image recognition and typing suggestions. The faster screens in testing are the same as the Promotion displays in Apple’s latest ipad tablets, one of the people said.
Other improvements
For the device’s decade anniversary, Apple is also testing a new glass casing, steel edges, and a larger display that fits into a smaller overall body.
The new phone will have glass on both the front and back that curves at the edges. Between the glass front and back is a stainless steel frame that houses power and volume controls, according to news reports. The front and back glass looks continuous because of how thin the steel surrounding frame is, people familiar with the device said.
The edge-to-edge display’s only break will be a cutout in the glass to fit in the earpiece, front facing camera, and facial recognition sensor, one of the people said.
The redesigned iphone will use an OLED screen, which reproduces colours more crisply, while the company is also planning updates to the iphone 7 and iphone 7 Plus that still include standard LCD screens.
The new 3-D sensor is being this year.
It’s unclear whether the new 3-D sensor will support AR features, or just focus on face and eye scanning for security and authentication.
For now, Apple’s public AR work is focused on ARKIT, a software platform for developers to make AR apps for iphones. – Bloomberg
It may be a stretch to say it's life changing, but it's improved their digital lives.
Kiwis in small towns and hard-toreach rural areas. However, it’s also a good option for city-dwellers with slow speeds.
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I had my doubts when my parents said Spark had recommended 4G internet. I struggled to get 4G on my phone at their house so I didn’t think their internet speeds would improve.
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Another bonus is that it costs the same as standard broadband plans. You can also keep your landline and there’s a free trial period. However, if you’re tempted to take the unit on holiday, you can’t. It can only be used at its designated address.
Thousands of Kiwis are still dealing with slow internet speeds, even those that live in cities or big towns. The ultrafast fibre network will be great when it’s available everywhere, but some people have several years to wait. If you’re getting impatient, then I’d highly recommend trying 4G internet.