Apple is reining in their 10 year anniversary with the release of the iPhone 8 with a twist to it. The iPhone 8 is rumored to use facial recognition technology to unlock a user phones therefore forgoing the Touch ID feature that we have seen since the 5S.
The technology used for the newest iPhone is said to be an up-and-coming Israeli startup called RealFace. According to an article by Fox News, the technology is so precise that it can recognize faces with up to a 99.67% success rate and even distinguish between identical twins. But how does this really work? And will Apple go through with their idea of removing Touch ID for an edge less design”.
An iPhone 8 model is laid out here and the home button which holds the function of Touch ID, has been removed. 9to5Mac.
The iPhone 8, or rumored name iPhone X by Apple Insider, will accomplish this new method of unlocking their phone by using both facial and iris recognition. A video on Cnet.com shows RealFace in action, RealFace’s Chief Technology Officer Gidi Littwin, held the phone up to his face and the blue lock unlocked allowing him access but when his coworker walked over and tried to unlock his phone the screen flashed a red lock button and refused to open.
The new phone is also said to incorporate 3D sensing and modeling into the iPhone 8/iPhone X. This 3D feature will allow users to replace the head of a character in a 3D game as well as take 3D selfies, and in the selfie-obsessed world we live in, this is big news.
Whether the Touch ID will be completely removed from the new design is still up in the air, Fox News says, “this will result in an edge less design which for whatever reason couldn’t coexist peacefully with Touch ID.” While a reporter at Apple Insider says the newest phone will have a two-step authentication, combining both facial recognition with fingerprint scanning.
The iPhone 8/iPhone X will be available in the standard 4.7-inch display as well as a plus version which according to Mac rumors, is said to have a 5.8-inch display oppose to the 5.5 inch display seen on the iPhone 6 Plus/iPhone 7 plus.
But how safe is facial recognition? People were skeptical when Apple released the 5S, the first phone with Touch ID, rumors spread that this is merely a tool for the government to get the fingerprint of all Apple users. That being said, I can only imagine the skeptic comments that will come about with the release of the iPhone 8 in September.