iPhone 5S to include fingerprint scanner: WSJ

While we count down the hours to the much-awaited launch of Apple’s newest iPhones, more leaks and confirmations are coming in...

Nishtha Kanal|Sep 10, 2013, 09:05:04 IST

While we count down the hours to the much-awaited launch of Apple’s newest iPhones, more leaks and confirmations are coming in hard and fast regarding the specifications. The biggest feature of the anticipated launch has been the fingerprint scanner and it looks like the more expensive of the two handsets slated to be launched tonight will be home to it.

Rumours about the fingerprint scanner in the iPhone 5S have been doing the rounds of the tech circles for quite some time now, but The Wall Street Journal, ahead of the Tuesday event has more or less confirmed the feature. According to the report, the fancy feature will be a part of only the iPhone 5S and not the rumoured low-end iPhone 5C. Cover

A fingerprint scanner just for the iPhone 5S

The report is backed up with references to hardware of this sort that had been found in the beta version of iOS 7. A leak by developer Hamza Sood contained codes of a setup process that made a reference to a biometric scanner located within iPhone’s home button. The description of the sensor showed users placing their fingers on the iPhone’s Home button and seeing an image of a thumbprint in changing colours.

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While the technology of fingerprint recognition has been an often visited one by tech companies in order to avoid the need to remember passwords, it hasn’t quite been done right yet. The report by WSJ now notes that newer technology allows for devices to take multiple scans with the finger held in one place, thereby increasing reliability of the readings compared to older technology.

The Cupertino based company will be adding the fingerprint scanner on the more expensive of the two devices, the iPhone 5S, which will by far be the most high-profile consumer electronic device to be home to a fingerprint scanner. The key to widespread public adoption is touted to be the technology’s reliability and ease of use.

Apple’s event is all set to be held tonight at its Cupertino headquarters and will see the launch of the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C.

By Nishtha Kanal

Intrigued by all things social, Nishtha will invariably tweet about you. When not tweeting or writing about the next viral video, you will hear her proclaiming her love to Metallica, James Hetfield, Opeth, Akerfeldt and all bands that go 'growl'. She also obsesses about ACP Pradyuman and South Park and you will always find her moving around with a book. Her focus is on all the happening stuff in the tech domain, and she won't hesitate to take a shot at some of the oddball devices that make their way to our labs.