Neil Hughes
Apple is expected to launch a new iPhone this year with a fingerprint sensor hidden beneath the home button — an intuitive design that could be difficult for competing Android and Windows Phone devices to copy.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities expects Apple's acquisition of AuthenTec to pay off this year with the so-called "iPhone 5S," the company's anticipated next-generation handset. He believes Apple will find a way to integrate the fingerprint sensor into the home button, allowing Apple to keep its "minimalist design."
In contrast, many Android and Windows Phone devices have more than one button below the display, and those buttons frequently lack the mechanical push of Apple's home button. As a result, attempts to integrate fingerprint scanning on competing devices would be less intuitive, and could frustrate users, Kuo said.
He believes that with the addition of a fingerprint sensor below the iPhone's home button, Apple will be able to replace the use of usernames and passwords, allowing users to authenticate in a more efficient manner. He also expects that the fingerprint scanner will integrate with applications such as Passbook to enhance their functionality.
Kuo has a particularly strong track record in predicting Apple's future product pipeline. Last year, the analyst accurately forecast the company's entire fall lineup, including the taller design of the iPhone 5 and iPod touch, thinner iMacs, the iPad mini, and the fourth-generation iPad with Lightning connector.
Beyond the "iPhone 5S," Kuo expects a new handset based on the iPhone 5 design will also launch this year. Kuo's comments are in line with recent rumors, that have pegged Apple as planning to release a more affordable iPhone model this year targeted at emerging markets.
Kuo believes the less expensive iPhone 5 will feature a new design, including a plastic casing, to cut costs and expand Apple's iPhone lineup.
The analyst has also predicted that the iPad mini will gain a Retina display in 2013, while the full-size iPad will sport a lighter and thinner design with a smaller bezel. He also expects new Retina MacBook Pros with cheaper prices, the discontinuation of the legacy MacBook Pros, and a refresh to the Apple TV set-top box — but no full-fledged television set this year.
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130 Comments
OK, I'll give the guy some slack because he's accurately predicted stuff in the past. However, With this fingerprint reader. Unless every website, every program, every piece of hardware that you use integrates this technology, it's not going to work. For this to completely replace usernames and passwords, there will have to be a lot of up-front work on the user's part and the developer's as well. you're still going to need back-up passwords and usernames for cases where you don't have your phone (like on a PC/Mac) or internet cafe. It's just too complex of a situation.
That being said, If Apple would be the first to go completely password-less in 2013 (within it's native ecosystem), they're going to have to refresh every product they make with the technology to really get full adoption, and even then it's going to be a "Beta"-like situation. I can see that happening given other services Apple has done this way (Siri).
You know, honestly, if they were to integrate this in 2013...I just don't know. It's just like Siri, or Maps...Guys...fix the known issues and improve the native features you already have. Sand the back-sides of the drawers first. They keep diving into new territory without fixing the know issues first. Good enough is just not good enough.
So now this analyst is a UX expert?
Highly intriguing rumour, would be a good way to secure your phone. If Apple was to release this and slowly increase the functionality as it matures they'd do very well I think.
uh fingerprint sensor ??? Where is your NFC, iPhone?
Maybe "S" will stand for security this time around?