Apple's Beats brand in April unveiled the Powerbeats Pro, a redesigned wire-free version of its popular fitness-oriented Powerbeats earbuds.
Samsung Said to Follow Apple's Lead with Fingerprint Sensor, No Iris Scanner in Galaxy S5
Previous rumors hinted that Samsung's next flagship device would leapfrog the iPhone 5s with new iris scanning technology, but that rumor may be inaccurate. A recent report from The Korea Herald claims the Korean handset maker instead is working on fingerprint sensor technology for its upcoming flagship Galaxy S5 phone.
Samsung Vice President Lee Young-hee said in a recent Bloomberg interview that the company was looking into the possibility of using an iris scanner, but can't confirm that the technology would be incorporated into the Galaxy S5.
Apple has also been rumored to be working on iris scanning functionality, but industry insiders predict it will take several years before a single camera module will be able to serve dual functions as a front-facing camera and an iris scanner. In the interim, manufacturers like Samsung are expected to adopt display-wide fingerprint scanners that would unlock a phone by allowing a user to tap on the screen. Apple has revealed its own interest in such technology, including the ability to turn display areas corresponding to app icons such as those for banking or email apps into fingerprint sensors.
"Among the different types of biometric sensors that Samsung is testing for its Galaxy S5, the tech giant will go for fingerprint authentication rather than unintuitive user experience of iris recognition," said an industry source who declined to be named.
"Who would want to put their handset up close to their eyes for authentication in places like movie theaters and bed, or even while they are driving?," the industry source added.
Samsung Vice President Lee Young-hee said in a recent Bloomberg interview that the company was looking into the possibility of using an iris scanner, but can't confirm that the technology would be incorporated into the Galaxy S5.
“Many people are fanatical about iris recognition technology. We are studying the possibility but can’t really say whether we will have it or not on the S5.”The Korea Herald report cites industry sources who claim the iris scanning technology would provide an unfamiliar and uncomfortable user experience. It also is technically challenging as it would require a long-range camera, in addition to a rear camera and a front-facing camera. The inclusion of three camera modules would force Samsung to redesign both the internal layout and form factor of its Galaxy S phones.
Apple has also been rumored to be working on iris scanning functionality, but industry insiders predict it will take several years before a single camera module will be able to serve dual functions as a front-facing camera and an iris scanner. In the interim, manufacturers like Samsung are expected to adopt display-wide fingerprint scanners that would unlock a phone by allowing a user to tap on the screen. Apple has revealed its own interest in such technology, including the ability to turn display areas corresponding to app icons such as those for banking or email apps into fingerprint sensors.
[ 165 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
74 months ago
You think Apple invented fingerprint scan security?
No, but just like multi touch, App Store, Siri, and dozens of countless features, they were the first to put it in a useful package rather than geeky proof of concepts, and that's what samsung copies; not technology itself as much as practicality of technology
74 months ago
What?
"Who would want to put their handset up close to their eyes for authentication in places like movie theaters and bed, or even while they are driving?," the industry source added.
Using the phone in a movie theatre or the car? these are the people that should be restricted from all forms of technology!
"Who would want to put their handset up close to their eyes for authentication in places like movie theaters and bed, or even while they are driving?," the industry source added.
Using the phone in a movie theatre or the car? these are the people that should be restricted from all forms of technology!
74 months ago
You think Apple invented fingerprint scan security?
That's pretty unfair as a comment: I agree with you that there is no way that Apple will actually be able to sue over Samsung playing copycat with a fingerprint sensor, but just look at the first Android implementation of a fingerprint scanner. Its clumsy, on the back, smudges the camera every time you use it, inaccurate and pretty unpleasant to use.
At the same time Apple brings out a solution which is always there, working in the background, very easy to set up and impressively accurate. All of a sudden Android manufacturers are like "oh yeah, that's obviously how we would have implemented a fingerprint sensor in an intuitive, non-gimmicky way" and bring it straight to their phones. HTC will pretend their first fingerprint phone never even happened and that Apple's way was always what they planned to do.
I like competition, I like certain things that Android manufacturers do, less so Samsung but the HTC One is a gorgeous phone and the Nexus 4 and 5 are both outstanding value for money, but its things like this, like that internal Samsung document that leaked showing Samsung trying to make their user experience more iPhone-like that REALLY hacks me off.
74 months ago
Samsung is working on a phone with a fingerprint scanner & brighter OS.
Heres a photo of their prototype:
Heres a photo of their prototype:
74 months ago
Apple's legal team is the big winner here?
You think Apple invented fingerprint scan security?
74 months ago
They forgot to mention that unlike the iPhone, there won't be a 4 digit pin code required. So if your finger doesn't scan, well, too bad, you can't access your phone.
74 months ago
Am I the only one who would rather not have to gouge out an eyeball out or chop a finger off if my phone turns out to have a security flaw?
Given a choice, I would much prefer a device with no biometric systems in it at all.
Given a choice, I would much prefer a device with no biometric systems in it at all.
74 months ago
No surprise here. Samsung is a copying company. Even before Apple their strategy was to copy the market leader in a given industry and make similar products at a cheaper price. It works for them. I don't buy any of their products though. It's mostly of lower quality and I've had a few bad experiences with them.
74 months ago
Right, Xerox management took the R&D ideas their own team developed and created a sales winning personal computing revolution that swept the world over the last thirty years. Changing how everyone on the planet interacts with their computing devices. Yup, i still recall the early days of the Xerox PC, how it made inroads in all other computing platforms. How even early scoffers later adopted the interface as their own. And how today Xerox is a world leader in computing devices. .........Steps back into multi universe phase shifting portal .......presses return to reality button and disappears .......
You know, the first GUI computer made by Apple, The Lisa, cost almost exactly the same amount as the Xerox Star, and didn't sell that much more. The Macintosh also didn't set the world on fire saleswise. It was a modest success for its first year, then sales dropped sharply for it afterwards.
When you look at the first Mac from outside Apple world, it was a great precursor device, but not the world changing machine it's made out to be.
[ Read All Comments ]
The non-profit Wi-Fi Alliance today announced the release of the Wi-Fi 6 certification program, noting that devices with the Wi-Fi 6 Certified logo will meet the "highest standards for security...
MacRumors has partnered with Anker again this week to offer our readers a chance to save on nine accessories, including USB-C chargers, wireless chargers, Lightning cables, and portable battery...
New to Apple Watch Series 5 models is a built-in compass that allows users to see which way they are facing, complete with a new Compass app that displays heading, incline, latitude, longitude, and...
Mophie this week launched a new wireless charging stand for any Qi-enabled smartphone, including the latest iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max devices. The accessory is available on Mophie's...
Amazon is offering customers a chance to save when pre-ordering the Apple Watch Series 5, which is set to be released this Friday, September 20. The retailer's sale is focused on select models of...
Apple premiered its first TV show at the Tribeca TV Festival on Saturday. Dickinson is a period drama that centers on the life of 19th century American poet Emily Dickinson, played by pop star Hailee...
Apple's biggest product unveiling of the year is now in our rear-view mirror, with the company taking the wraps off of new iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPad models while also prepping for the launch...
On the same day that iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max pre-orders began, some customers are already beginning to see their order statuses shift from "processing" to...
