How I believe Apple's fingerprint technology will work on iOS devices

[smoledman]

First of all it will add an additional logon method(right now only passcode exists). Second, it will be integrated into Passbook for purchasing. Third, Apple will allow you to use it for app store purchases and iTunes instead of your Apple password.

Fourth, Apple will offer an enterprise service to online retailers and websites to use Apple Secure Logon™. The way that will work is Apple keeps a database of fingerprint images with unique IDs(maybe a hash value of the print). Databases have long supported BLOB data and this is a perfect application of it.

The way a 3rd party app uses Apple Secure Logon™ is like this:

1. When you register as a new user(or customer), the app presents the Fingerprint UI control. The control scans the image of your print, sends it back to Apple through a proprietary web service interface and gets back the hashcode.

2. The app uses that hashcode as your userid in it's private database. After that you have the option to enter your address/phone OR allow them to look it up from Apple's database through fingerprint logon.

3. Then later when you need to logon to an app, it presents you with the fingerprint control again, gets back the Apple hashcode, does the hashcode looup in it's own database and you're logged in.

 

[Blackberryroid]

Fingerprint scanners look disgusting, totally not Jony Ive's thing.

 

[smoledman]

Fingerprint scanners look disgusting, totally not Jony Ive's thing.

As if Ive gets 100% call on everything an iPhone gets to be. Besides the biometric security would extend to Macs.

 

[boss.king]

I think something like the technology in the Surface 2 is the only way Apple would have anything to do with fingerprint recognition. Also, it would be a bit clunky to have to check back with Apple's servers every time you want to make a purchase.

 

[smoledman]

I think something like the technology in the Surface 2 is the only way Apple would have anything to do with fingerprint recognition. Also, it would be a bit clunky to have to check back with Apple's servers every time you want to make a purchase.

I'm just throwing out ideas of how this might work. The way I look at it is Apple wants to create the maximum convenience for it's users and adding a universal biometric logon method goes a long way towards that.

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Also knowing Apple everything with this starts with having the BEST fingerprint reader available to consumers EVER. Apple's will boast the biggest # of fingerprint feature matches(arch, loop, whorl) compared to anyone elses. Then they combine that with the best software integration(logon, Passbook, third party control). That's how Apple wins.

 

[chaosbunny]

As long as I don't HAVE to use it. Giving Apple (or Microsoft, Google, ...) ones fingerprints is a bad idea.