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Daily Roundup: Apple explains Touch ID, Google's modular phone and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Apple explains how the iPhone's fingerprint sensor keeps your info secure
If you've ever wanted to know how the iPhone 5s' Touch ID fingerprint security works beyond a basic overview, you'll be glad to hear Apple has just delivered a motherlode of new details. An updated version of its iOS Security white paper (PDF) explains much of what happens to your finger data after you touch the sensor. In short, your information may be more hack-resistant than it seems at first glance. Each A7 chip has a unique secure space that neither the A7 nor Apple can read, and every authentication session is encrypted end-to-end. The company is also offering a deeper explanation of what it does with your fingerprint image, noting that the print only lasts in memory until it's turned into a decryption key. As we've known for a while, there are safeguards that wipe out that key after 48 hours of inactivity, a reboot or five failed login attempts. While the new insights will only have so much usefulness when developers can't use Touch ID for their own apps, they suggest that there's little to no chance of fingerprint theft or a large-scale data breach.
How to improve the reliability of Touch ID with this simple trick
If you are having a problem with Touch ID recognizing your fingerprint, here is a simple trick for iPhone 5s owners that'll improve its reliability. According to reader Mike Sierra, you can significantly improve Touch ID by scanning the same finger and storing it five times on your device. You can enter a new fingerprint scan by following the written directions below or by watching the video directions here. Just rinse and repeat five times to get the best performance. Ensure that the Home button and your finger are clean and dry. Hold the iPhone as you normally would when touching the Home button. Touch your finger to the Home button lightly (don't press to click it) and hold it there until you feel a short vibration or until you are asked to lift your finger. Continue to touch and lift your finger slowly, making small adjustments to the position of your finger each time. Once the initial scanning is complete, you'll be asked to adjust your grip to capture the edges of your fingerprint. Hold the phone as you normally would when unlocking it and touch the adjacent outer areas of your fingertip, instead of the center portion you initially scanned. The fingerprint will be saved when the scan is complete Note that the five fingerprint scans will use up all available slots for fingerprints in iOS 7, but you likely will capture every nook and cranny of the finger you are scanning. We've tested this trick and it seems to be working with as few as two saved scans. Test it out and let us know what you think in the comments.
Apple patent filing adds trackpad functions to home button and turns entire display into fingerprint sensor
Arguably the most notable characteristic of the iPhone 5s is the TouchID fingerprint sensor, which lets you unlock your phone and authorize app purchases simply by resting a pre-authenticated fingertip on the home button. It turns out, however, that Apple might've had plans for the technology that go far beyond just that. According to a patent application filed with the World International Property Organization, the Cupertino company may use TouchID's sensor technology to transform the Home button into a trackpad, similar to the ones on BlackBerry's older line of Curve handhelds. Indeed, the patent filing describes how users could navigate the phone by "revolving" or "twisting" their fingerprint on the button's sensor. Additionally, the sensor could measure the length of time and amount of pressure that is placed on it, which might lead to more interesting use-cases in apps or games. What's even more intriguing, however, is that the document goes on to describe how the entire display can be used to read your fingerprints. This sounds like a crazy idea at first, but if implemented, the phone would then know exactly which finger of which hand is on the screen. This could lead to certain actions mapped to specific digits -- perhaps a long-press of your index finger could launch Maps, while a pinch of your pinky and thumb could open up Messages, for example. A few diagrams from the patent application show how screen-wide fingerprint recognition could be used for playing a piano or touch-typing on the virtual keyboard. If you're concerned that this could lead to serious battery drain, the patent even addresses that, stating that the phone would be smart enough to recognize when it's in moments of fingerprint recognition (i.e. "enhanced sensitivity") or when it's normal everyday use, otherwise known as "reduced sensitivity." Further, it seems that enhanced sensitivity could just be restricted to small screen areas so that only certain apps -- like banking or email perhaps -- would be cloaked in that extra layer of protection. Of course, just because such functionality is filed away in a patent application doesn't mean we'll see this in real life. However, taken with the promise of Apple's recent acquisition, we'll admit we're very interested to see how the iPhone 6 will turn out. Those interested in patent minutiae can go ahead and peruse the rather lengthy 612-page document in the link below.
Apparently Touch ID doesn't like 180-degree unlock attempts
I'm not going to pretend like I discovered this bug after weeks of rigorous testing -- in fact, had I slid my iPhone 5s into my pocket in a different manner, I'd never even have known this existed -- but here we are. Despite Apple touting the Touch ID sensor as being able to read prints in any orientation without issue, my phone practically refuses to accept unlock attempts at 180 degrees. But rather than just refusing to unlock, it produces the signature Apple logo and black background that signifies a reboot before returning to the lock screen after about 10 seconds. At first, I thought it was just my device, and given that the other iPhone 5s users here at TUAW have been unable to duplicate the glitch, I was satisfied to leave it at that. But then I stumbled across a YouTube video from another user experiencing the exact same bug as me. This is undoubtedly the strangest little glitch I've discovered since snagging my iPhone 5s on launch day, and since I don't make a habit of unlocking my phone upside-down, it's not exactly worth a trip to the Genius Bar. Still, the bug is present regardless of which of my programmed fingers I use, and it only occurs when trying to unlock the device from a 180-degree angle. I'd love to hear if any of you iPhone 5s owners out there are able to duplicate this, so feel free to chime in down below!
Apple to build manufacturing facility in Arizona, create 2,000 jobs in the process
It's no secret that Apple's investing in stateside manufacturing, considering its jet engine-like Mac Pro is being assembled in the great state of Texas, but it looks like Cupertino is getting even more serious about building things in the US. Arizona has just announced that Cook and friends will be opening their latest manufacturing facility in Mesa. The center is expected to create at least 700 jobs in its first year, and another 1,300 spots for construction workers. There's no peep from either camp on what exactly the plant will churn out, but a company by the name of GT Advanced Technologies is talking. The outfit's revealed that it'll help Apple produce a sapphire material in the state. Since iPhone cameras and the Touch ID sensor each use sapphire glass, its likely the factory will be providing parts for those specific components. Update: Apple's given us a statement regarding its future digs in the Copper State, and it turns out the complex will be completely powered by renewable energy from the day it opens. Head past the break for the firm's note.
Poll: How well does the iPhone 5s Touch ID work for you?
The iPhone 5s seems to be the best iPhone Apple has ever made, yet after a month of use, it's primary feature -- the Touch ID fingerprint scanner -- doesn't seem to be all that. To be sure, Touch ID seems to work reasonably well for a number of users, but there's a growing number of anecdotal reports (including from myself) in Apple's Support Communities that the Touch ID is hit or miss with an increasing number of false-negatives resulting in users having to re-code their fingerprints or even restore their iPhones completely. Here at TUAW we'd love to hear from you about your Touch ID experience. Take the poll below and feel free to elaborate in the comments. %Poll-85494%
Each individual Touch ID sensor will only work on one phone
When Apple first revealed the Touch ID fingerprint sensor, it was accompanied by a long and detailed explanation of how and where your fingerprint data is stored on the device -- in a special area on the iPhone 5s' A7 chip. But as iMore has discovered, locking your print details away in a dark corner of the processor isn't the only advanced hardware security measure that Apple has taken. It now appears that each Touch ID sensor is paired to its host device and won't respond if used elsewhere. After being contacted by a third-party iPhone repair and modification company that was having an issue getting a replacement Touch ID sensor working on a new iPhone 5s, iMore did some testing. They discovered that each Touch ID sensor, though appearing identical on the outside, will only work with the phone it came with from the factory, suggesting an additional security layer that Apple decided to not to disclose. But why pair the hardware components in such a way? Well, hackers are crafty, and while Apple insists that the fingerprint data is stored in a way that couldn't be reverse-engineered, if someone could tap into the conversation between the Touch ID and the A7 chip (possibly by spoofing the digital appearance of the Touch ID sensor) that information could be vulnerable. The chances that an individual could pull off such a feat is unlikely on its own, but by tying the sensor itself to one specific device makes it exponentially more difficult.
AuthenTec co-founder talks Touch ID, shows off early prototypes of fingerprint-authorization device
Without question, the flagship feature on Apple's iPhone 5s is Touch ID. Conveniently located beneath the home button, Apple's Touch ID is inconspicuous and provides a quick and seamless way for users to protect their device without having to enter in a passcode every five minutes. The technology Touch ID is based on, however, didn't always come in such a small package. In fact, early prototype devices showcasing the technology were quite large. Apple's Touch ID is based on technology the company acquired when it purchased AuthenTec for about US$356 million in 2012. Earlier this week, AuthenTec co-founder F. Scott Moody delivered a speech at North Carolina State University -- his alma mater -- where he talked about the technology's origins and its subsequent acquisition by Apple. AppleInsider was able to attend the talk, relaying a number of interesting tidbits about the technology that powers Apple's Touch ID. Again, early prototypes housing AuthenTec's fingerprint authorization technology were extremely large, as evidenced by the photo below. Over time, however, AuthenTec was able to significantly shrink all the necessary components down into a much more practical and commercially viable package. Another interesting nugget of information is that AuthenTec, in refining its fingerprint technology, consulted with a number of dermatologists in an effort to get the feature working as flawlessly as possible. AppleInsider adds: Once the early technology and size issues were resolved, the AuthenTec team worked to make the sensor even more embeddable and sleek. Along the way, he said, there was a lot of trial and error and failed experiments, but he and his team learned from each of them as they refined their technology. When AuthenTec came out with their final product, the company generated interest from a number of customers, including Apple, Motorola and Fujitsu. Apple, in particular, "ate it up," Moody said, and eventually bought the entire company in 2012 for $356 million. With respect to Apple's immense interest in the technology, remember that Apple, back in August of 2012, filed a PREM14A proxy statement with the SEC, thereby providing a number of details surrounding the AuthenTec acquisition. Specifically, the proxy statement shows that Apple wanted to strike a deal as quickly as possible. During the negotiation process, for example, Apple indicated to AuthenTec that it would not participate in a bidding war for the technology with other companies. What's more, Apple informed AuthenTec that it would rescind its offer if the company "decided to solicit alternative acquisition proposals..." The statement also reads in part: Representatives of Apple then outlined a proposed transaction structure and the process and timeline for negotiating the transaction. Representatives of Apple also noted Apple's desire to proceed quickly due to its product plans and ongoing engineering efforts. If you're uber-curious about the process involved in the AuthenTec acquisition, The Next Web has a nice article detailing all of the highlights from Apple's proxy statement over here.
Switched On: A marriage of conveniences
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. A general love of the new notwithstanding, it has always been a bit odd that new flagship phones from Apple have dramatically outsold previous generations. Mostly because so much of the iPhone's value comes from software and Apple tends to preserve nearly all of the functionality in OS upgrades for previous years' models, making them a relatively good value. However, in the case of the iPhone 5s, Apple has implemented hardware in Touch ID that nicely complements the efficiency of its new mobile operating system, iOS 7. Now, even with the removal of many user interface accoutrements, such as digitized green felt in Game Center that Apple itself has mocked, there are still some whimsical excursions in iOS 7, including the slow-mo video mode and the parallax feature. There are also a few "aha!"-inspiring additions, such as support for the M7 coprocessor that will serve to save battery life by handling motion detection and the two-tone flash that results in more natural-looking photographs.
iOS 7 video tip: Associating Touch ID fingerprints with fingers
Today's iOS 7 video tip is for iPhone 5s owners who want to know more about Touch ID fingerprints. While the device simply stores fingerprints as "Fingerprint 1," "Fingerprint 2" and so on, you might want to know which finger corresponds to that title. We'll show you how, courtesy of the original written tip by Jeff Gamet of The Mac Observer. You can then edit those titles so you know exactly what fingerprint data is stored in each file, or even delete a fingerprint from Touch ID. As with all of our other video tips, this one can be set to full-screen for easier viewing.
AllThingsD reports October 22 Apple event
Red alert! Red alert! For anyone who has been anticipating a new iPad or perhaps a Retina display iPad mini, holding out for the release of the new Mac Pro or dreaming about the mythical iWatch -- the wait may soon be over. AllThingsD is reporting that Apple is holding an event on Tuesday, October 22 -- primarily for iPad announcements. John Paczkowski reports that the new Mac Pro and OS X Mavericks are probably on tap for the meeting, but the focus will be the fifth-generation iPad, rumored to have a thinner and lighter design similar to that of the iPad mini. And of course, the iPad mini might finally see that Retina display we've all been wishing for. Will those new iPads feature Touch ID for fast unlocking? We'll only know when the event takes place. Paczkowski also notes that October 22 is one day after Microsoft's new Surface 2 begins shipping -- so we're sure to hear some good snark from the Apple executives. It is also the same day as Nokia's Innovation Reinvented showcase. Fun abounds! Your TUAW metaliveblog team will be on hand to provide you with information and commentary as the announcements unfold. [Update: This was foretold to the world back in September, it seems]
Find which fingerprint is associated with Apple ID
Jeff Gamet at The Mac Observer posted a very helpful article today on how to identify which of your 10 fingers are linked to your Touch ID on your new iPhone 5s. He walks through the six steps necessary to differentiate which of the saved five fingers you use as your passcode. (You did use a finger, didn't you?) One caveat to this post though: You can "assign custom names to each fingerprint" by opening the Fingerprints screen, then tapping edit and tapping the name, which is listed as Finger 1 through Finger 5. Choose the one you want to rename and type away. This part of the tip is offered by The Mac Observer reader Nik Jones and tweeted by @mcelhern (Kirk McElhern). Thanks guys! If you need help setting up the Touch ID on your new iPhone 5s, Apple support has just the document you can read, iPhone 5s: Using Touch ID.
Oh look, another "easy" way to spoof Touch ID on the iPhone 5s
I'll be honest: I'm getting kind of tired of seeing words like "easy" and "simple" being used to describe the ridiculous how-to videos showing that it's possible to trick the Touch ID sensor on the iPhone 5s into believing you're someone you're not. The latest in what is sure to be a never-ending string of "me too!" hackers claiming they have figured out the best way to fool the iPhone is SRLabs, though I'm not seeing how this could possibly be categorized as "easy." Here's a list of the steps to pulling off this spoof (you can check out the process used by the Chaos Computer Club on our original article regarding the trick). First, snap a photo of a perfect print from the finger that will unlock the device. Without the victim knowing, of course. Use digital photo software to separate the print from the rest of the image and then "retouch as required." If your spouse or nosy friend has recently been taking Photoshop classes, this might be why. Print the image of the fingerprint on translucent plastic using black toner. Place the image of the print over a piece of photo-sensitive copper circuit board and then expose it to intense UV lighting. The folks from SRLabs used a face tanner for this. You have one or two of those laying around, right? Develop the circuit board in a bath of Sodium Carbonate Monohydrate or Potassium Carbonate. You know, just whichever one you have in the pantry. Etch the fingerprint into the copper by placing the copper board into an etching solution. Cover the print mold with graphite spray to help spoof the capacitive properties of a normal human finger. Cover the print in wood glue, let it dry, and then peel it from the mold. Oh, and the most important step of them all: Steal the phone from the victim, without them knowing it. If they find that their phone has been stolen, they can remotely wipe the device, which would mean you just did a lot of hard work for nothing. Then unlock the device. You only have a few attempts to do this correctly, because if you fail multiple times in a row the device will demand the numeric passcode and your plan is foiled. Easy! Right? RIGHT!? Seriously though, every time one of these groups comes forward with another slightly tweaked method for fooling Apple's top-of-the-line smartphone, I can't help but think how much easier it would be to just steal the phone in broad daylight and then torture the owner into unlock it themselves. If there's anything on your phone that would warrant someone to go through these insane steps to breach its security features, you should probably be using a 20-digit passcode and keep your phone within your grasp at all times. Touch ID isn't infallible, but it's better than a 4-digit passcode (which can be brute-forced in less than an hour or simply spied by someone peeking over your shoulder), and it's clearly better than no security at all, which is how many consumers use their phones every day.
Security team describes iPhone Airplane Mode issue
The addition of an easily accessible control panel for turning on features like WiFi, brightness and Airplane Mode from the iPhone's lock screen was a welcome addition to iOS 7. But, as a group of German security researchers has discovered, it may provide a backdoor for thieves to break into your phone. You can see a demonstration of the workaround, which uses the Control Center shortcut for Airplane Mode, in the video below from the security SR Labs. The workaround, if executed quickly and correctly, gives the thief time to spoof your fingerprint to bypass the iPhone 5s TouchID reader. While spoofing a fingerprint might not be as easy as it sounds, it's still a risk that 5s users should be aware of. The process still requires a high degree of skill that your common iPhone thief doesn't have. Still, it's only a few weeks into the phone's release. As time goes on, these methods will become more refined and easier to pull off. Thankfully there's a whole world of security professionals out there keeping a watchful eye on every possible workaround. Be aware, be secure and, for the love of God, try not to lose your phone.
Caturday: O'Malley unlocks with pawprint technology
Touch ID? That's soooo old-fashioned. All the cool cats are trying O'Malley's method of unlocking his human's devices using that amazing pawprint™ technology. It appears as if O'Malley has also found a fail-proof way of keeping owner Eric S from doing any work on his Mac. We'd love to see photos of your favorite feline soaking up the warmth of an Apple product, chasing a Magic Mouse, or just being a general nuisance while you're attempting to work on your Mac, iPad, or iPhone. Please let us know via our feedback page and please remember that your cat photo has to have some sort of connection to Apple or its products. For security reasons we can't accept inbound attachments, so you should host the photo (Dropbox, Flickr, iPhoto Journals, etc.) and send us the link. Many thanks to Eric S for sharing this photo with us.
The TUAW iPhone 5s Review: Two writers, two phones, one review
For the first time since the original iPhone was replaced by the iPhone 3G, we have a new iPhone (or in this case, a pair of new iPhones) taking the place of the previous generation rather than just acting as an upgrade. So, because of this unique circumstance -- and because we had multiple TUAW writers picking up the iPhone 5s on launch day -- we decided to do a special combo review, featuring the opinions of both Megan Lavey-Heaton (whose last phone was the iPhone 4s) and me, Mike Wehner (who is switching over from the iPhone 5). Enjoy! Megan: I never felt like my iPhone 4S was a shabby phone, even when the iPhone 5 was introduced. For the first time since I purchased an original iPhone, I was satisfied to wait out my two-year contract. Even at the very end, just before I handed my 4S over to the Apple Store employee to recycle, I tweeted that it was a good phone. Mike: To be completely honest, I didn't need a new phone. I was perfectly happy with my iPhone 5 -- aside from the fact that I wanted a bit more storage than the measly 16GB model that was the last available at my local AT&T on launch day -- and picking up the 5s was done partly out of curiosity and partly because I'm admittedly a sucker for the most powerful smartphone on the market. As I was already satisfied with the iPhone 5, I assumed the 5s wouldn't actually change the way I used my phone, but it turns out I was mistaken. Immediate impressions Megan: Damn, this phone is light. I was terrified of dropping the thing or accidentally flinging it across the room. It took me about a day not to miss the solid heft of the iPhone 4S in my hand. Second impression: This phone is so fast that it catches you off-guard, especially if you're coming from a 4S or earlier. It's like the first time you used a SSD MacBook Air after using traditional MacBooks. John Gruber compares using the 5s to using the MacBook Pros of five years ago, and it's a great comparison. The performance is just that good. In the past, I'd call up the Mail client and wait a minute or for the 100 or so emails that pop in on a weekday morning -- at least long enough for me to have a sip of coffee. Now, I barely reach for my mug, and my email is waiting for me. Apps that tended to take own sweet their own time to load, such as Tumblr, now do so immediately. The iPhone 5s is also my first LTE phone, and I actually had to double-check to make sure that it was switching over to the WiFi network when I went to work. The phone speeds were so fast that I didn't realize I wasn't on WiFi for a bit. Mike: The AT&T rep handed me the iPhone 5s while I was already holding my iPhone 5, and it felt like I was being handed a doppleganger of my old device. That's a long-winded way of saying that they look almost identical. The only difference between the two is the slightly recessed Home button on the 5s, which now features chamfered edges and a flatter center surface. To someone who didn't touch the "old" home button a hundred times each day, that might not seem like a very big change, but for the iPhone faithful it's actually a noticeable tweak. The new Home button seems to click louder and with more authority than the old one, which is actually a welcome alteration. That said, iPhone 5 owners won't be able to tell a difference in weight or dimensions, because there is none. Almost immediately upon actually playing with the device I noticed how speedy it is, even compared to my year-old iPhone 5. The thing is blindingly quick with just about everything. Icons respond immediately to touch and in apps or games where you need to drag items around the screen, there is no latency whatsoever. I know you're thinking "But my current iPhone doesn't have latency to begin with!" And I understand, because that's what I thought as well, but as soon as I had a few minutes with the 5s I realized how wrong I was. Is this a game-changer? Of course not, but it's nice to be able to notice a measurable upgrade in power right from the very beginning. This hasn't just brought an occasional smile to my face when messing around with menus, but it has actually made certain iPhone tasks less burdensome, and even enjoyable. For example, using Safari to browse the web while on the go was always a hassle. It's always been too slow and too unresponsive to be truly useful when I'm in a hurry. With the iPhone 5s and iOS 7's Safari, it's practically a treat. Checking comments on a TUAW story (which is something I frequently do when I'm away from my desk) was a two-minute task on my iPhone 5, but I can now whip through several stories in as much time as it took me to navigate to a single article on my old phone. Touch ID Megan: The scanner works as advertised. I programmed my thumb and off I went. It's extremely convenient. The only time the scanner hasn't worked for me was when I accidentally tried to unlock it with the wrong finger or when I hit the home button with the side of my thumb (an area that wasn't originally mapped). There's no time delay when using the Touch ID. It worked just as fast, if not a bit faster, than swiping and keying in a passcode. If anything, it's better because I don't have to stop and key in said passcode. But, I do like having that backup and have used it. If anything was a hassle about Touch ID, it was my fault, not the software's. Thanks to muscle memory, I'd automatically swipe to unlock the phone instead of using Touch ID. Once the passcode screen appeared, I remembered to use my finger. It's getting better, but it'll take a few days to undo six years of muscle memory. Touch ID is also used when you receive a notification on your lock screen. Touch the home button, and once the phone is turned on, you're sent to the location of the last notification to address it. I really wish you could just swipe to dismiss a notification from the lock screen, but that's an issue with iOS more than Touch ID. Mike: You set up the Touch ID to recognize one or more of your prints, and then rest your finger on the home button in order to unlock your device without using a passcode. It's extremely fast, and you can almost always unlock your phone with your finger quicker than you would by typing in a code. Simply put, I was shocked by how well it worked. Touch ID isn't sexy. At least it's not sexy in the way that "fingerprint scanner" makes it sound, and that's perfectly fine. When you place your finger on the sensor it doesn't say "scanning fingerprint" or anything of that nature, it just unlocks the device and takes you to the home screen. In fact, even if you mess up (like use a finger that's not set up for Touch ID) it doesn't even explicitly state that the print is wrong, it just says "Try Again." It's not flashy, it just works. Camera Megan: I was expecting a better camera when I moved up from the 4S, but I was blown away by how great the camera is. One of the first pictures I took was of the fountain outside work. It was my first time using burst mode and using the digital zoom that wasn't available on the 4S. The results were outstanding. The iPhone automatically determined which of the eight shots I took was the best, but it gives you a chance to choose another. With that, and subsequent tests of burst mode, the software did choose the best of the images. Burst mode happens so fast though that you suddenly have 8-10 shots taken before you realize it. Word to the wise: Make sure to clear your iPhone camera roll frequently if this happens, otherwise you'll run out of space quickly. I'm not a fan of digital zoom, but I am impressed with the results from the 5s. As you can see in the photo above, the a lot of detail is captured in the water spray. It only has that soft focus-feel to a digital zoom shot along the edge of the building in the background, and the photo isn't pixelated as I've come to expect from most digital zooms. I might actually use it now, at least some of the time. Likewise, the True Tone flash also lives up to its name. As you can see from the image above, the left was taken without a flash and the right with the flash on. The True Tone flash makes the cat's fur and my socks come out at the right colors without having to do any post-processing. But the low-light shot without the flash is equally as good, and I'm happy with both. I'm not a fan of using the flash, but if I need a fill light, I'll be more comfortable using this flash. I tested the slo-mo video while my husband washed dishes, and it's incredibly easy to use. Shoot the video, and in post-processing, you can adjust the sliders to slow down certain segments of the video. I wish you could slow down more than one segment of the video. Engadget observed that the slo-mo doesn't stick when you transfer the video to your computer, but it does if you upload to YouTube. I tried editing the video in iMovie on the iPhone, and likewise, the slo-mo doesn't stick there either or when I tried uploading to Facebook through the app. However, if I uploaded to Facebook by sharing from Photos, it retained the slo-mo. So, if you want to share those videos to YouTube, Facebook or Vimeo, you'll have to do it through Photos, which is a bit annoying. Mike: I'm not a huge camera snob, so I've been reasonably satisfied with just about every iPhone camera since the 4s. I take photos of the most obnoxious things -- like my cats, for example -- so if I'm not at some sort of tech event, where I'd be taking my DSLR anyway, just about anything will satisfy me. Now, with that said, the iPhone 5s camera is quite a drastic upgrade from the iPhone 5 in ways I hadn't expected, even considering how much Apple talked them up. Firstly, the lens works much better in low light, which is a problem that plagues just about every smartphone camera on the market. The camera on the iPhone 5s isn't perfect in this regard, but it's definitely a step up. Along with the addition of a dual-tone LED flash, taking photos in sketchy lighting is now a much more pleasurable affair. But what really impressed me about the new camera is the slow-mo 120fps video mode. I've only used it on a handful of things so far, but I can already tell I'm going to have a lot of fun with this. I'm a huge sucker for slow-mo videos, and at 120fps, the videos the 5s can produce are actually pretty stellar. You can select the section of the video you want to slow to a crawl and save clips to YouTube (or Vimeo or Facebook), which I've already done enough to annoy some Facebook friends. Battery Life Megan: I charged the phone to 100% on Friday night and by Sunday afternoon, it had fallen to 20%. This included a couple hours of playing Chillingo's Order Up to Go, a game that normally chewed through my iPhone 4S battery. In the same amount of time it took for the 4S to go from fully charged to gasping for battery, the 5s only used 10% of its battery. So far, this matches TechCrunch's observation of battery use. But, to get the best gauge on it, though, I need to take the phone through a normal work week. Mike: I started to get the feeling that my iPhone 5's battery life was beginning to decline, as many of them tend to after 12 months of practically non-stop use (I'm really, really hard on my mobile batteries). But even if it was, I don't think my iPhone 5, when new, had a battery that matches the 5s. Under normal use, the phone loses less than half its charge in a day's time, but under my own torture test I was able to drain it in 12 hours of gaming, constant fiddling, downloading, AirDropping, and so on. If you've been satisfied with the battery life stats of iPhones in the past, you should be perfectly content with the iPhone 5s. Verdict Megan: If you're looking to upgrade from a 5, unless you're itching for the better camera or Touch ID, stick with the phone you have. While the new features are fantastic, it's not enough to prematurely upgrade your phone unless you have the cash to spare. If you have a 4S or earlier, then absolutely go for the 5s. Mike: As a former iPhone 5 owner, I'm happy I made the upgrade simply for the additional power the iPhone 5s affords me. However, unless you're an avid player of the latest iOS games or absolutely can't wait an extra few seconds for a web page or email to render, you should be satisfied where you currently are. Touch ID is fancy and the new camera has some pretty cool new tricks, but these alone won't be enough to sway most current iPhone owners on their own. If you have an iPhone 4s or later, I'd recommend an upgrade just for the sake of being able to use the latest apps (since the two-year mark is where some developers begin to ignore the older phones and focus only on the latest models). Overall, it's a fantastic phone, but when compared to the iPhone 5, it is indeed an incremental upgrade.
Fooling Touch ID may be possible, but calling it 'easy' is a bold-faced lie
By now you've all probably seen the video that is currently making its way around the web claiming to show how easy it is to fool the Touch ID sensor on the new iPhone 5s. In it, a shaky-handed individual uses what appears to be a thin film of some sort to trick his phone into thinking he was using his correct finger, when in fact he wasn't. It's important to note that we're still waiting on the video showing the actual process -- which is obviously the more important part -- but for the moment we'll give the videos creators the benefit of the doubt. Easy? Ha! Certain corners of the tech blogosphere are reporting this as an "easy" trick, and even the original posting on the Chaos Computer Club website refers to the trick being pulled off "using easy everyday means." Again, assuming this trick is legitimate, let's take a look at the list of items are required to pull it off: A perfect print (on a reasonably flat and clean surface) from the correct finger needed to unlock the device. Superglue (which must be fumed to allow adherence to the print itself). A high-quality digital camera capable of capturing photos with 2400 dpi resolution. An image editing program to "clean up" the print and make it useable (and the knowhow to pull this off). A sheet of printable clear plastic. A printer that can both print in 1200 dpi and has a special "thick toner" setting. Liquid latex (or wood glue) along with a few drops of glycerine to smear over the printed image. You then have to breathe on the fake print to give it just enough moisture to be read. Oh, and you also need the phone itself, which you'll need to obtain without the target knowing (or they can remotely wipe the phone in an instant). If you're missing just one of these things, you're out of luck. On top of that, the iPhone 5s automatically asks for your passcode after five failed finger unlock attempts, and you can't proceed without it at that point. For extra security, it also has a setting that will wipe the device completely after 10 failed finger unlock passcode unlock attempts. You better make that print flawlessly the very first time, or it's game over. It's a fingerprint, not an iron cage As Apple noted at the iPhone 5s reveal event, the company's figures show that half of iPhone owners don't use any security measures on their devices whatsoever. Touch ID is designed to change that. Is Touch ID more secure than no passcode? Of course it is. Is it more secure than the standard 4-digit passcodes many people use (which can be brute-forced in less than an hour)? I'd argue that yes, it is. But if you're storing nuclear launch codes on your iPhone, you're probably going to want to go with the 20-digit code route or, you know, just not let your phone out of your sight. Touch ID is not faultless, and although using a finger you chopped off a friend isn't likely to work, there are techniques that almost certainly can fool it. Apple likely over-promised, with the talk of "sub-epidermal" scanning, but this doesn't mean biometrics is dead -- at least not anymore than my home door lock is dead because someone can photograph my key and then make a copy in 10 minutes at the local Walmart. It's a new security option, and it's an extremely convenient and secure one, even if your spouse has access to a high-end printer, liquid latex and takes Photoshop classes in her spare time. Stop worrying. Your text messages and Facebook updates are safe. [Image credit: gfairchild]
Talkcast 10pm ET: iOS 7, phone launch, touching the iVoid, and more
All-new dial-in experience! See below -- do not call into Talkshoe, we won't be there. Be sure to set up Fuze Meeting before the show if you want to join in live. It's Sunday, and it's time for the TUAW talkcast! If only we had anything to talk about this week... nah, just kidding. It's an iPhone launch to remember, and an iOS 7 introduction to boot. We've seen a frantic few days, with long lines and frazzled activations, not to mention an Apple TV update that had to be rolled back suddenly. Equally concerning, the German hacker group Chaos Computer Club claimed on Sunday that they were able to spoof a fingerprint to unlock the iPhone 5s via the Touch ID sensor. The process of capturing and manufacturing the fake print was somewhat involved, and of course once the spy print was made the hacker would still need to get access to your phone -- if phone and print were stolen simultaneously, you might have the hour or two of time before the fake print was ready to wipe your phone remotely. Gizmodo's Jesus Diaz suggested the real risk is that a jealous spouse might use this approach to spy on an iPhone 5s, which is an intriguing domestic drama in the making. Google's Tim Bray suggests that such a vulnerability is situational; in some cases, Touch ID is superior to a PIN, in other cases the converse. We'll discuss this development, plus more news, tips and tricks, and also wish two of our own a very happy birthday! (Steve and Victor.) Join us at 10pm ET, won't you? Reminder on new-style talkcasting: With some help from the fine folks at Fuze, we're using a new system to record the show. This should let everyone listen in live -- and, if you want, raise your hand as you would in the Talkshoe room to get unmuted and chime in. You can join the call in progress (meeting # is 20099010) at 10 pm ET from any computer via this link; if you download the Mac or Windows Fuze clients ahead of time, you'll get better audio and a slicker experience. Just click the phone icon to join the audio once you're in. Using an iPhone or iPad? Grab the native clients from the App Store and get busy. (Even Android users can join the party.) Still feel like using the conventional phone dial-in? Just call 775-996-3562 and enter the meeting number 20099010, then press #. While the Fuze web and native clients have a chat channel, we'd like to reserve that for host participants, requests to talk and other real-time alerts... so the full-on chat for the show will appear in this very post at 10 pm tonight. You'll need Twitter, Facebook or Chatroll credentials to participate in the chat. We'll remind everyone to check back in at that time. Your patience and forbearance with our new tech is appreciated in advance. For the time being, the podcast feed of the show will continue to originate from Talkshoe and should be there within 24-36 hours. See you tonight!
Chaos Computer Club says it's beaten Apple's Touch ID fingerprint reader (video)
Already feeling secure about using just your fingerprint to unlock the new iPhone 5S? European hacker association Chaos Computer Club claims it can be circumvented with "easy everyday means." According to CCC hacker "Starbug", tactics laid out in a how-to from 2004 are all that are required, with just a higher res fake needed to beat the Touch ID reader. The process, requires a 2400 DPI photograph of someone's fingerprint from a glass surface, which is then laser printed at 1200 DPI and used to create a thin latex sheet that serves as the fake. Simple, right? It's a bit more labor intensive than the old way (just watching someone input their passcode or pattern) but users may want to consider fingerprint access as a measure intended more for convenience than security. [Thanks, Frederic]
