Hints of Touch ID Support for iPad Found in iOS 7.1 Code - MacRumors
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Hints of Touch ID Support for iPad Found in iOS 7.1 Code

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Since the release of the iPhone 5s last September, most observers have expected that the Touch ID fingerprint feature will be making its way into the iPad lineup as Apple is able ramp up production on the sensors, so it is no surprise that KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo earlier this month predicted that both the iPad Air and Retina iPad mini will be gaining the feature later this year.

Actual evidence of iPad Touch ID support has now been discovered by French iOS developer Pierre Blazquez, as noted by iDownloadBlog. The evidence comes in the form of a BiometricKit bundle in iOS that serves as the framework for the Touch ID functionality, with the bundle being listed as compatible with both iPhone/iPod and iPad families.

touch_id_ipad_biometrickit
Apple classifies its iOS devices into three families, with iPhone/iPod receiving a "1" designation, iPad receiving a "2" designation, and Apple TV classified as "3". BiometricKit is currently showing compatibility with both 1 and 2 families, although it is not exactly clear when iPad was added to the list.

Apple is likely to stick to its typical yearly upgrade cycle for this iPad generation, meaning that new iPads should appear in the latter part of this year. Kuo predicts that the new iPads will appear in late Q3 around the same time as new iPhones and perhaps Apple's much-rumored iWatch.

Update 9:07 AM: As noted by Benjamin Mayo, the reference has been around for "several iOS updates", but it still indicates that iPad support is likely in the works.

Related Roundups: iPad, iPad mini
Tags: iOS 7.1, Touch ID
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Don't Buy), iPad Mini (Caution)
Related Forum: iPad

Top Rated Comments

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dauby88
156 months ago
No surprise here. Now lets hope they incorporate multiple user accounts into iOS 8. Touch ID is a great gateway to separate user logins.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
taptic Avatar
taptic
156 months ago
Mindblower!

I thought they were just going to keep it for the iPhone forever like they did with Siri...
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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xmichaelp
156 months ago
So the Air 2 is going to have a laminated screen and Touch ID? Sounds good enough to wait for. Really hope they go 2 GBs of RAM in the next gen of iDevices though.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
street.cory Avatar
street.cory
156 months ago
This is one of the things I've been waiting for before I upgrade my iPad.

An obvious and welcome addition indeed!
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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wizard
156 months ago
What incredible nonsense.

The IPad is getting stale. Apple needs to step up and set this thing apart from all other tablets.
That is baloney right from the start.

They have that 64 bit processor that they need to put to work.
They already do put it to work! IOS 7 was significantly updated to leverage the 64 nature of the A7 processor.

I have a IPad 2 that works just as well as the new ones.
Obviously you haven't picked a recent iPad, ipad 2 isn't even close to the new hardware.

Give me a reason to upgrade.

If iPad 2 works for you, you have no reason to even think about an upgrade.

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Am I the only one who still haven't found an use for the iPad ?

In my case I use the thing more and more everyday. It just works well for me.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
whooleytoo Avatar
whooleytoo
156 months ago
The IPad is getting stale. Apple needs to step up and set this thing apart from all other tablets.

They have that 64 bit processor that they need to put to work.

I have a IPad 2 that works just as well as the new ones.

Give me a reason to upgrade.

A few months back I upgraded from an iPad 2 to an iPad Air, and the difference in network/download/browsing speed is huge, the Air has MIMO while the 2 doesn't. That alone made it worthwhile for me, not to mention the A7 is so much faster, and the iPad itself smaller & lighter without compromising the screen. And obviously, the iPad 2 isn't Retina either.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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