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Apple Tests 3-D Face Scanning To Unlock Next iPhone: Bloomberg (bloomberg.com)
Five years ago, Apple made fingerprint scanners on smartphones popular. Now the company may have found a better technology to replace it. According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, the Cupertino-based company is exploring 3D facial detection as a replacement for Touch ID fingerprint authentication. From the article: This is powered by a new 3-D sensor, added the people, who asked not to be identified discussing technology that's still in development. The company is also testing eye scanning to augment the system, one of the people said. The sensor's speed and accuracy are focal points of the feature. It can scan a user's face and unlock the iPhone within a few hundred milliseconds, the person said. It is designed to work even if the device is laying flat on a table, rather than just close up to the face. The feature is still being tested and may not appear with the new device. However, the intent is for it to replace the Touch ID fingerprint scanner, according to the person.
this is NOT the reason to hate this idea....
you HATE this idea because all ANYONE (cops, crooks, exes, whatever) needs to do to unlock your phone is get it close to your face -- with or without your enthusiastic cooperation or awareness.
Just more insidious. Use your face to lock your phone. Get arrested by police. Police just hold your phone up to your face, no password needed.
So, no more refusing to give your fingerprint to consent to having your phone unlocked after it's been seized or taken by someone unauthorized, I suppose? They just point it at your face and voila, all your info is theirs to read.
I suppose you could make distorted faces at them to prevent it from happening... until you get tired.
This seems like *less* control over your device.