Apple has been 'all-in' on iPhone X Face ID replacing Touch ID for over a year - report

Apple has allegedly been planning for Face ID to be a full replacement for Touch ID for well over a year, a new report claims, refuting earlier claims by the supply chain that the removal of the fingerprint technology is a recent decision.

In a response to a Twitter user on Wednesday, Daring Fireball's John Gruber stated that Apple's Face ID has been in the works for some time, and has been considered a replacement candidate for Touch ID for "over a year."

None. My understanding is that Apple has been all-in on Face ID as the replacement for Touch ID for over a year now.
— John Gruber (@gruber) September 13, 2017

It is not clear where Gruber has obtained his information about Face ID — but it is clear from the announcement event on Tuesday that Apple has been working on it for some time.

In a follow-up tweet, he specifically refuted rumors from this summer claiming Apple was still considering Touch ID for the iPhone X.

In addition, when those reports began claiming Apple was waiting until the last minute to decide whether or not the technology would be implemented, Gruber explicitly said that Apple had already finalized what sensors the device would have — but also said that the lack of Touch ID "would be weird."

Apple's Face ID technology introduced in the iPhone X is made up of four components including an infrared camera, a flood illuminator, a dot projector, and the front camera. The combination of sensors generates a 3D map of the face that it compares to the mathematical models of the stored face, utilizing the new A11 Bionic neural engine.

79 Comments

Maurizio 42 comments · 8 Years

About 7 years ago

FaceID and the related technology took probably a few more than one year to develop; it may be very well the contrary, that touchID was kept for a while as a backup while giving FaceID the last year or two of developement.
*And* the technologies around FaceID allows a lot more than identification, so it is more a strategic move on a medium/long term plan.

Maurizio

asdasd 5682 comments · 21 Years

Gruber does know stuff, but it doesnt make sense really. If they could do both, if touchID worked on the screen then both together would be amazing.

sog35 said:

Ming Kuo once again proven to be a snake oil salesman.

Sure he gets SOME things right.

But he spews SO MANY THINGS that he is bound to get SOME things right.

FaceID was always a possibility, even earlier than last year. With the iPhone 7+ dual camera's with depth perceptions, FaceID was the next logical step.

But like ALWAYS Ming Kuo always tries to paint Apple as incompetent and always facing supply issues.I stand by my word years ago: Apple should hire a security team and visit Kuo at his home and office. Nothing illegal or criminal. But just let Kuo 'feel' Apple's presence.

I am no expert on this but I think that might be a marketing fail for the company, particularly if he takes a picture of Apple heavies outside his office.

macplusplus 2116 comments · 9 Years

AppleInsider said:

It is not clear where Gruber has obtained his information about Face ID

Read again the tweet: he says "my understanding is that..". There is no information obtained or whatsoever, just divination.

mike1 3431 comments · 10 Years

Maurizio said:

FaceID and the related technology took probably a few more than one year to develop; it may be very well the contrary, that touchID was kept for a while as a backup while giving FaceID the last year or two of developement.
*And* the technologies around FaceID allows a lot more than identification, so it is more a strategic move on a medium/long term plan.

Maurizio

Of course it took more than a year develop. That's exactly what the author of the report said. He also claims that a year ago was when Apple decided that they could go all-in with Face ID and not look at other options.