guess my idea of cutting the finger off the users phone and doing it that way is not really going to take off

I just don't see how this is news worthy.

I just don't see how this is news worthy.

its as news worthy as this? http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=381697 not much real newsworthy stuff I guess

"Hey guy's I figured out how to get around this fingerprint reader. We just do the same thing we have done in the past to fool fingerprint readers. I'm so smart I'm hacker status." http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N1C0YOnHvPk/UMAGf2PcCiI/AAAAAAAAFjI/DdsdOEs0XFk/s320/Annoyed-facepalm-picard-l.png

Most of us know the fingerprint usage has been around for quite some time and been used on a variety of devices etc. So imo well done for Apple who managed to make it actually useful from what I have been reading online from reviewers/users and not just a lousy gimmick as it was the case with many fingerprint devices(e.g laptops) that was used on. Its a good step forward. I won't comment on its security but for the simple user and everyday thieves is another extra step to prevent them hack/bypass the device. I'm not an Apple fan, I had Android almost since launch and a proud owner of a Galaxy Mega 6.3(i9200) but as a true technology lover, I can't ignore the fact the although the iPhone's are way overpriced and a little behind the competition is terms of features lately, they are still very capable and good devices and Apple makes a sh*tload of money of them. Also the performance of the new A7 chip, even with offscreen 1080p in the review from Anand, is simply stunning for a dual-core soc. Back on topic. Well done again for actually making a working fingerprint feature on a phone. Although a small one and not even with an HD display. 😀

Most of us know the fingerprint usage has been around for quite some time and been used on a variety of devices etc. So imo well done for Apple who managed to make it actually useful from what I have been reading online from reviewers/users and not just a lousy gimmick as it was the case with many fingerprint devices(e.g laptops) that was used on. Its a good step forward. I won't comment on its security but for the simple user and everyday thieves is another extra step to prevent them hack/bypass the device. I'm not an Apple fan, I had Android almost since launch and a proud owner of a Galaxy Mega 6.3(i9200) but as a true technology lover, I can't ignore the fact the although the iPhone's are way overpriced and a little behind the competition is terms of features lately, they are still very capable and good devices and Apple makes a sh*tload of money of them. Also the performance of the new A7 chip, even with offscreen 1080p in the review from Anand, is simply stunning for a dual-core soc. Back on topic. Well done again for actually making a working fingerprint feature on a phone. Although a small one and not even with an HD display. 😀

I think a biometrics on a phone is a fantastic idea, but Apple chose the worst possible way of doing it. If you want to prevent the average person from breaking into your phone while not wasting time trying to get into it, a 4-digit passcode is probably going to be faster and more effective. If you want good security without wasting time entering a long password, this type of fingerprint reader is not the way to go. As for the A7 performance, while I'm sure it's good, one of the reasons Apple gets good performance on such crappy hardware is because of the amount of optimizations they make to the OS. This is one of the benefits of having such a locked-down and proprietary platform.

I think a biometrics on a phone is a fantastic idea, ....

+1. I don't care who implements it first or better. Its nonetheless a good step forward.

As for the A7 performance, while I'm sure it's good, one of the reasons Apple gets good performance on such crappy hardware is because of the amount of optimizations they make to the OS. This is one of the benefits of having such a locked-down and proprietary platform.

Yeah, of course Apple SoC goes hand to hand with their OS. A bit off topic. And as I said I'm not really an Apple fan, mainly due to price/features, tbe I have to admit that a 5-5.5" iPhone would be very interesting. 😉

I think a biometrics on a phone is a fantastic idea, but Apple chose the worst possible way of doing it. If you want to prevent the average person from breaking into your phone while not wasting time trying to get into it, a 4-digit passcode is probably going to be faster and more effective. If you want good security without wasting time entering a long password, this type of fingerprint reader is not the way to go. As for the A7 performance, while I'm sure it's good, one of the reasons Apple gets good performance on such crappy hardware is because of the amount of optimizations they make to the OS. This is one of the benefits of having such a locked-down and proprietary platform.

You are pretty spot on with the second point, but definitely not with the first. I have a 5S right in front of me and the fingerprint sensor is insanely fast. You tap the home button and it basically skips the lockscreen and you are in your phone. Tap it with the wrong finger and it will tell you to try again, so it is in fact reading my finger. It is miles faster than typing in a passcode.

You are pretty spot on with the second point, but definitely not with the first. I have a 5S right in front of me and the fingerprint sensor is insanely fast. You tap the home button and it basically skips the lockscreen and you are in your phone. Tap it with the wrong finger and it will tell you to try again, so it is in fact reading my finger. It is miles faster than typing in a passcode.

Hmm, I guess Apple managed to figure out a fast way to make it work. I'm used to fingerprint readers of the same type that take a second or two to process the information.

You just can't keep a committed hacker down at all. Still stunned at how much personal details some people commit to a SmartPhone, which is obviously often a lot smarter than the owner. My Sammy is more of a media centre which I use to send the occasional text or make a call.

You are pretty spot on with the second point, but definitely not with the first. I have a 5S right in front of me and the fingerprint sensor is insanely fast. You tap the home button and it basically skips the lockscreen and you are in your phone. Tap it with the wrong finger and it will tell you to try again, so it is in fact reading my finger. It is miles faster than typing in a passcode.

Although I don't have a hands-on experience with it, almost all the videos I have seen with it, is indeed a lot faster that typing a 4 digit pass.

Although I don't have a hands-on experience with it, almost all the videos I have seen with it, is indeed a lot faster that typing a 4 digit pass.

And this is how it should have been marketed; as a quicker, more convenient unlock method. It's a shame that some marketing guy who probably watched a bunch of 80's sci-fi and decided to promote this as an ultra secure breakthrough technology while the reality is that it is neither. I am a fan of this and facial recognition, but understand that both pale in comparison to other methods when it comes to securing a device and should only be expected to offer convenience.

And this is how it should have been marketed; as a quicker, more convenient unlock method. It's a shame that some marketing guy who probably watched a bunch of 80's sci-fi and decided to promote this as an ultra secure breakthrough technology while the reality is that it is neither

They didn't? If you watch the Apple press that is exactly how the marketed it. It's just the media and fanboys that rustled up the rest. They basically came out and said a lot of you don't use passcodes because it's a hassle, now it's less of a hassle.