FaceID
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Homeland Security wants to scan your face at the border
Maybe Apple has the right idea when it comes to the future of identification, with Face ID built into the new iPhone X. The Department of Homeland Security wants to scan the faces of people entering or leaving the country, without needing to have anyone get out of their cars. The DHS's Silicon Valley office is hosting an "industry day" on November 14th to find ways to do just that, even if folks are wearing sunglasses and hats or the driver is looking away from the cameras.
Apple might share iPhone X face data with developers
Despite Apple claiming it securely stores your encrypted face info on the iPhone X, Reuters is reporting that the company permits developers to access "certain facial data" with user permission. This includes a visual representation of your face, and over 50 facial expressions.
Apple denies reports that it altered Face ID specs (update)
Ever since the iPhone X was announced, there's been rumors that the handset will be a rarer commodity than gold dust and the Venus de Milo's arms, combined. That's because the components used to build the device's facial-recognition sensor are so complex that it's been nearly impossible to mass-produce. Now, a report from Bloomberg suggests that Apple has found a solution by "relaxing" the specifications for FaceID.
Apple responds to Sen. Al Franken’s Face ID concerns in letter
Apple has responded to Senator Al Franken's concerns over the privacy implications of its Face ID feature, which is set to debut on the iPhone X next month. In his letter to Tim Cook, Franken asked about customer security, third-party access to data (including requests by law enforcement), and whether the tech could recognize a diverse set of faces.
iPad Pro could be Apple's next device to use Face ID
It's safe to assume that the face recognition system in the iPhone X will eventually reach other devices, but which ones are next in line? KGI's Ming-Chi Kuo might have an idea. The historically accurate analyst expects the next generation of the iPad Pro to adopt the TrueDepth camera and, by extension, Face ID. This would unify the experience across Apple's mobile devices, the analyst says, and would spur developers knowing that they could use face recognition across multiple Apple devices, not just one handset. The new iPads would ship sometime in Apple's fiscal 2018, which ends in September of next year.
Facebook reportedly tests facial recognition to recover your account
Your face is getting a lot of attention lately. The iPhone X's Face ID is a recent example, as is Android Pay's reportedly upcoming facial authentication for loyalty programs. Airports may soon use the tech to help streamline boarding and security lines, though there are still privacy concerns over the implementation. Still, that hasn't deterred Facebook from testing "a facial recognition feature to help secure your account," according to a tweet from TheNextWeb's Matt Navarra.
Face ID parts could cause iPhone X shortages
It's safe to say that people are eagerly anticipating the iPhone X; it represents a step forward in design and tech for Apple. But now, The Wall Street Journal reports that difficulties in manufacturing components crucial to Face ID could lead to significant shortages of the iPhone X.
Apple’s Venmo-like money transfers will arrive after iOS 11
A new payment service from Apple is set to launch sometime this fall through iOS 11 and watchOS 4 updates. Apple Pay Cash will allow Apple device users to transfer money between each other within Messages or through Siri.
You can disable the iPhone X's FaceID if you're in trouble
Ever since Apple unveiled the iPhone X with FaceID, people have been asking the same, very pertinent question. What if some mugger or unscrupulous cop snatches the device out of your hands and points the depth-sensing camera at your face? According to an email purportedly from Apple's Craig Federighi, there's a built-in safeguard for such an event.
Apple questioned about Face ID security by the US Senate
A lot of people quickly raised concerns about privacy and security the moment Apple revealed iPhone X and its Face ID feature. Edward Snowden, for instance, thinks it normalizes face scanning, "a tech certain to be abused." Now, US Senator Al Franken is pressing the tech titan for answers, penning a letter addressed to Apple chief Tim Cook with a list of questions concerning the technology's "eventual uses that may not be contemplated by" its customers.
Apple says too many faces ruined its Face ID stage demo
When Apple OS chief Craig Federighi tried to demo Face ID on stage during Cupertini's annual iPhone event, it didn't quite work as he expected. "Your passcode is required to enable Face ID" popped up, eliciting a nervous chuckle out of Craig and forcing him to switch to the spare demo phone. While people were quick to say that Face ID failed its first test, the hiccup apparently happened not because iPhone X's star feature didn't work, but because it worked too well. Apple told Yahoo's David Pogue that Face ID failed on stage, because it tried authenticating a lot of faces other than Craig's.
Apple’s Face ID replaces Touch ID on the iPhone X
Apple has just revealed Face ID, a new facial recognition feature that will make its debut on the iPhone X. The technology is powered by what the company calls a True Depth camera system, which is made up of a bunch of sensors that detect your face, even in the dark, and let you unlock your iPhone by simply looking at it. Altogether, Face ID uses ambient light, infrared and proximity sensors, as well as a flood illuminator, speaker, microphone and, of course, the front camera to make the "magic" happen. Meanwhile, a newly minted, dual-core A11 Bionic neural engine will process that information.
Firmware suggests the next iPhone will use infrared face unlock
Ever since our close look at an alleged render of the next iPhone back in May, there have been rumors of 3D face scanning plus a large screen-to-body ratio flying about. Today, we finally bring you some solid evidence about these features, courtesy of -- surprise, surprise -- Apple itself. After digging up new details about the Apple HomePod in its leaked firmware, iOS developer Steve Troughton-Smith came across some code that confirm the use of infrared face unlock in BiometricKit for the next iPhone. More interestingly, in the same firmware, fellow developer Guilherme Rambo found an icon that suggests a near-bezel-less design -- one that matches rumored schematics going as far back as late May. For those in doubt, Troughton-Smith assured us that this icon is "specific to D22, the iPhone that has Pearl (Face ID)."
