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Android manufacturers to abandon new technology to copy Apple's?

Written by Matti Robinson @ 09 Oct 2017 11:14 User comments (4)

Android manufacturers to abandon new technology to copy Apple's?

If you spent the first half of this year watching closely at smartphone rumors and leaks, you would have thought that an in-screen fingerprint sensor in smartphones this year is an inevitability. If not for iPhone, it's going to be in one or more Android phones by the end of the year.
This might still, of course, hold true but Apple has already chosen a different technology for authentication, and according to a respected analyst it's not the only one.

Apple chose to remove the fingerprint reader from its upcoming flagship phone iPhone X entirely. It has developed a new type of recognition to replace Touch ID called Face ID. Because there's no room for a fingerprint sensor in the front with the new 'bezel-less' display, and perhaps in-screen sensors weren't up to par yet, Apple developed and introduced a face detection system that could be even better.

According to the company it is even more secure, and, since you are wondering, can take into account that you might grow a beard and occasionally wear a hat. Using so-called TrueDepth camera the iPhone X detects your facial features in three dimensions.



All this sounds very sci-fi, and it's not clear how well the technology works because the phone isn't out yet, but according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo Android manufacturers have already made shifts towards the face detection technology. After the iPhone X reveal manufacturers have been contacting face detection firms in unprecedented pace.

This would seem to indicate that Android manufacturers might have not perfected the in-screen fingerprint sensor either, or perhaps just see more value in adding face detection for both better security and additional features, like Apple's face recognition animated emoji, animoji.

Of course, there's already been multiple Android products with face detection on the market but none so far have removed fingerprint reader and gone all-in with face detection.

Some Chinese companies, however, already showed early demos of in-screen fingerprint sensors during the summer so it would seem likely that at least some future products would have that technology too.

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4 user comments

111.10.2017 13:50

Put the fingerprint reader BEHIND the device!

Facial rec is slow.......a matter of holding the phone for a full second or two is terrible! Add to that, night will require the flashlight and GOD help anyone doing that with me behind them, especially in dark places. I'll take their phone and throw it!

Fingerprint reader is the best way to unlock device IMO.

211.10.2017 14:11

Microsoft was doing this on their 950/950XL over a year ago. It is amazing how everybody loves to give Apple credit for doing something first when really they copy people and get their ship to spread the me first narrative. Fingerprint readers as well as facial recognition has been around on computers for years as well. It was good to see Microsoft put it on phones as well as have the phone boot to a full OS as well. I guess Apple will have their phone do that in 2 to 3 more years and claim they innovated that as well.

I hope Android take the remaining 15% of the market share that they don't already own.

317.10.2017 06:47

Originally posted by bw5011:
Microsoft was doing this on their 950/950XL over a year ago. It is amazing how everybody loves to give Apple credit for doing something first when really they copy people and get their ship to spread the me first narrative. Fingerprint readers as well as facial recognition has been around on computers for years as well. It was good to see Microsoft put it on phones as well as have the phone boot to a full OS as well. I guess Apple will have their phone do that in 2 to 3 more years and claim they innovated that as well.

I hope Android take the remaining 15% of the market share that they don't already own.
Galaxy Nexus had this in Nov 2011 neary 6 years ago. Nexus 4 also had this in Nov 2012

419.10.2017 09:30

You are in an accident and you have facial injury. Your phone won't recognise you. You can't call for help. What a pain !!!

Do it like I do. I only have contacts on my phone. Absolutely zero items that require security or privacy. I have an email address that is used ONLY for google registration and "Google Play" updates. It is permanently unlocked. I have nothing to lose !!!!

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