Apple had introduced fingerprint scanning feature to prevent users from the hassle of forgetting their passwords and also to make sure that the phone cannot be exploited by hackers and thieves if it gets stolen. However, the company believes that this is still not enough and they need to augment their security measures, even more, to provide maximum privacy and protection to iPhone users.
Perhaps this is why Apple is planning to replace the fingerprint scanning feature with facial recognition in their next model of iPhone.
Analyst Rod Hall from J. P Morgan stated that the forthcoming iPhone model might include a front-facing 3D scanner in place of the Home button, which will, either way, be replaced since Apple is designing a full-glass front for the new phone model. Hall stated that Apple believes biometric facial scanning is going to solve some privacy issues and will make the device much more protected while using Apple Pay. It will also reduce the problems created by wet weather conditions during which fingerprint scanner usually doesn’t work properly. Hall further added that addition of this feature would mean that the cost of the new phone will increase about $10 to $15 at least, per phone. This means the next iPhone is going to be a lot more expensive that one might expect.
According to Loup Ventures’ analyst Gene Munster, Apple is for sure working on augmented reality platform and has plans in place to incorporate 3D sensors in its upcoming phones. Whereas Hall believes that this feature will most likely be used for carrying out home renovation measurements, 3D printing related scanning and for clothes sizing.
If the analysis is authentic, we can expect Apple to become second such company after Google to provide this feature. It is worth noting that the Android platform by Google already offers Trusted Face security lock setting. As per Luca Maestri, the chief financial officer at Apple, the sensors and chips are most important strategic investments of the company so far and formulate a vital part of its intellectual property.
Hall also stated that along with enhancing security, the 3D sensor could also be used to provide improved augmented reality settings to the users.
“One obvious and potentially most compelling use would be AR/VR experiences in which the user’s hands and other real world objects are being scanned and integrated into a field of view provided by the iPhone mounted into a Google Daydream-like headset. This would open up many interesting entertainment and gaming experiences not available today and might give Apple something extra in an AR/VR accessory compared to Google and others,” noted Hall.
Apple’s iPhone 8 is still five months away from its release and we all know that Apple is a company that keeps its devices’ new features hidden from the public eye until the day of release. This is why the analyses could very well be mere speculations too. Let’s wait and watch what Apple has in store for iPhone fans in iPhone 8.
Source: NBC | Image via: Pixels/Kaique Rocha
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