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You appear to be assuming that integrating Touch ID into the display was Apple's first choice. If face ID works as promised I can’t see why anyone would prefer

You appear to be assuming that integrating Touch ID into the display was Apple's first choice. If face ID works as promised I can’t see why anyone would prefer Touch ID over Face ID. Even if your assumption is correct Face ID is still innovative.

pacala 9y ago
TouchID requires me to touch the device. I _know_ when I'm identified. FaceID works at a distance, data could easily leak to any number of surveillance programs, corporate or governmental.
- yequalsx 9y ago
  EDIT: I understand your response now. Thank you for providing such an example.
- zimpenfish 9y ago
  > FaceID works at a distance Do you know what distance? I mean, literally no-one has an iPhone X right now to test this. > data could easily leak to any number of surveillance programs Never leaves the Secure Enclave on the phone - same as Touch ID.
  - ProAm 9y ago
    > I mean, literally no-one has an iPhone X right now to test this. You're commenting on an article written by a guy with an iPhoneX
    - zimpenfish 9y ago
      True but which mentions nothing about Face ID working at a distance or whether he even tested that.
- pertymcpert 9y ago
  The data won't be leaked.
aetherson 9y ago
There are fairly plentiful leaks from Apple indicating that they attempted to get an "under display" fingerprint sensor to work. I don't know that "Apple" had a first choice at all, and I suspect that there was diversity of opinion within Apple about which authentication method would be superior if both were technically feasible. People might reasonably prefer fingerprint to facial recognition for speed reasons, allowing the phone to be unlocked by the time you look at it.
- PacketPaul 9y ago
  I don't understand why they did not put the touch sensor on the back.
  - aetherson 9y ago
    I think they regard that as surrender to Android.
  - matwood 9y ago
    Because that's a bad place for the sensor. If I have to pick up my phone and touch the sensor on the back, I might as well use FaceId.
    - aetherson 9y ago
      Well, unless you're taking your phone out of your pocket. Seriously, the "back of phone" placement for the fingerprint sensor has downsides when it comes to "phone on the table," but it's awesome for the pocket. I just got a Pixel 2 XL, which has a more reliable fingerprint reader than any other one I've used (comparison points: Nexus 5x, iPhone 6+, 2017 Macbook Pro touchbar), and it's amazing. My phone is utterly reliably unlocked by the time I clear it from my pocket. And a back fingerprint reader + the FaceID system would be great in combination. The FaceID system could compensate for the back-of-phone fingerprint reader's weakness when it's on your desk (or when wearing gloves/hands wet).
      - matwood 9y ago
maccard 9y ago
Depending on the performance, when I use TouchID from my pocket, the device is unlocked by the time I get it in front of me to use (because I pick it up and hold my thumb over the fingerprint sensor)
iainmerrick 9y ago
I think driving is a good example -- if your phone is mounted on a holder on the dashboard, you can easily and reasonably safely unlock it with your thumb, but face ID will be fiddly and dangerous. They probably figure that people should be using CarPlay, though.

pacala 9y ago

TouchID requires me to touch the device. I _know_ when I'm identified. FaceID works at a distance, data could easily leak to any number of surveillance programs, corporate or governmental.

yequalsx 9y ago
EDIT: I understand your response now. Thank you for providing such an example.
zimpenfish 9y ago
> FaceID works at a distance Do you know what distance? I mean, literally no-one has an iPhone X right now to test this. > data could easily leak to any number of surveillance programs Never leaves the Secure Enclave on the phone - same as Touch ID.
- ProAm 9y ago
  > I mean, literally no-one has an iPhone X right now to test this. You're commenting on an article written by a guy with an iPhoneX
  - zimpenfish 9y ago
    True but which mentions nothing about Face ID working at a distance or whether he even tested that.
pertymcpert 9y ago
The data won't be leaked.

aetherson 9y ago

There are fairly plentiful leaks from Apple indicating that they attempted to get an "under display" fingerprint sensor to work. I don't know that "Apple" had a first choice at all, and I suspect that there was diversity of opinion within Apple about which authentication method would be superior if both were technically feasible. People might reasonably prefer fingerprint to facial recognition for speed reasons, allowing the phone to be unlocked by the time you look at it.

PacketPaul 9y ago
I don't understand why they did not put the touch sensor on the back.
- aetherson 9y ago
  I think they regard that as surrender to Android.
- matwood 9y ago
  Because that's a bad place for the sensor. If I have to pick up my phone and touch the sensor on the back, I might as well use FaceId.
  - aetherson 9y ago
    Well, unless you're taking your phone out of your pocket. Seriously, the "back of phone" placement for the fingerprint sensor has downsides when it comes to "phone on the table," but it's awesome for the pocket. I just got a Pixel 2 XL, which has a more reliable fingerprint reader than any other one I've used (comparison points: Nexus 5x, iPhone 6+, 2017 Macbook Pro touchbar), and it's amazing. My phone is utterly reliably unlocked by the time I clear it from my pocket. And a back fingerprint reader + the FaceID system would be great in combination. The FaceID system could compensate for the back-of-phone fingerprint reader's weakness when it's on your desk (or when wearing gloves/hands wet).
    - matwood 9y ago

maccard 9y ago

Depending on the performance, when I use TouchID from my pocket, the device is unlocked by the time I get it in front of me to use (because I pick it up and hold my thumb over the fingerprint sensor)

iainmerrick 9y ago

I think driving is a good example -- if your phone is mounted on a holder on the dashboard, you can easily and reasonably safely unlock it with your thumb, but face ID will be fiddly and dangerous. They probably figure that people should be using CarPlay, though.