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The Game 161

macrumors Nehalem
Dec 15, 2010
30,991
20,174
UK
How about people wait to see it first before making judgements? considering how bad the 5S finger scanner is who knows if it will be any worse than that.
 

vomhorizon

macrumors 6502a
Sep 24, 2013
952
68
Spot on, I too would say the actual electronics inside the phone are Samsung's strong points. They make great electronics, displays, and batteries, some of the best. They really suck though at software and design. One would have hoped that they would have addressed these shortcomings by now, but with the success they've had you can't blame them for not fixing it when its not hurting their sales.

Electronics are one very small aspect. Most folks that study the smartphone revolution really regard the "hardware" on these devices as a gateway to the software...I don't often encounter many people who bought samsung because its RAM is so good, or because its HD quality is much better than the HD on the LG.
People would ditch samsung in 2 minutes if google stopped supporting them and samsung had to rely on a much younger ecosystem for support (hypothetically speaking)..However the problem arises when the normal smartphone buying public does not associate with the OS but the hardware running it. If android on a Galaxy phone turns out to be buggy or the OS+TW combo turns out to be less than optimum people would not blame google but would blame Samsung..This is why having total control over the OS is so important and why i feel samsung's efforts with tizen are more important strategically then any long term contract they sign with google. Apple has been doing software for decades and despite vocal forum members (across the internet) ios7 has widely been regarded as a "fresh" upgrade to IOS compared to what people perceived ios in the past vis-a-vis modern android developments. I see this being one of the reasons why iphone 5s despite being the same form factor and having the same appearance as the 5 seems to be gaining market share vis-a-vis samsung in north america and europe.
 

Savor

Suspended
Jun 18, 2010
3,742
918
The problem with Samsung being a conglomerate that they are is their talent pool is scattered all across different divisions. Samsung can make interesting devices at times. Galaxy Camera, Gear Fit, Smart TV's, etc. Most cases they become the jack of all trades but masters of none. They don't have one direction. Their best engineers from each department doesn't always have the same taste, foresight, or vision like the others. There is not ONE vision. Sony was the same way. But Samsung caters to the every day people. The common denominator. Hard to focus on one aspect with so many different products coming out every month. Apple focuses on very few product lines and changes it very little each year. They have more of the dedication and the focus because they have more time on their hands while Samsung has alot on their plate.
 

jamezr

macrumors P6
Aug 7, 2011
16,081
19,082
US
Not a troll statement at all, it's based on actually seeing it with people who have the phone. Doesn't work 9 times out of 10 and it's never used at all.
Thats a true statement for my experience. I have the 5s and stopped using the fingerprint scanner because it never worked very well for me......
 

sixrom

macrumors 6502a
Nov 13, 2013
709
1
With the iPhone 5s you can both wake up and unlock your phone one-handed with a simple press of the home button via you thumb.

With the Galaxy S-5 you need to have two hands available, wake up the device, THEN swipe your finger on your 2nd hand across and hope that it works (many reviews say it is very unreliable).

Why would Samsung screw up this very simple, yet extremely useful, one-handed feature? Do they just not have the dedication to quality that Apple does?

Sometimes it seems like Samsung is more concerned with adding half-baked products and features that don't really work half as good as the leader of the industry : Apple.
Different companies take different approaches. Step out into the world and take notice.
 

vomhorizon

macrumors 6502a
Sep 24, 2013
952
68
Thats a true statement for my experience. I have the 5s and stopped using the fingerprint scanner because it never worked very well for me......

In my case it works rather well (90+% first time unlock)..It was quite a bit unreliable when i had jailbroken but since upgrading to the last 2 versions of IOS it has worked very well. I did notice some trouble in extreme cold weather especially with the fingers i did not use very often. For me its not as much about unlocking the device but the app store purchases..
 

jrswizzle

macrumors 603
Aug 23, 2012
6,107
129
McKinney, TX
Not a troll statement at all, it's based on actually seeing it with people who have the phone. Doesn't work 9 times out of 10 and it's never used at all.

Thats a true statement for my experience. I have the 5s and stopped using the fingerprint scanner because it never worked very well for me......

This was a software issue that didn't affect everyone. Has since been fixed with the 7.1 update - I'd urge you to try it again.

As someone who never experienced the "fade" issue (launch day 5S), I can say with 100% certainty I can't imagine my phone without TouchID. I use a 5C and 5S daily (one for work the other is personal) and I sorely miss TouchID on my 5C (and my iPad). Not only is my 5S more secure (fingerprint + complex password versus 4 digit code), its just more convenient - faster and I can unlock without looking at the display all in one push. Most of the time it works so quickly, all I have to do is press the home button as I would normally and it reads my print.

And I've experienced a nearly perfect success rate - even at some wonky angles.
 

The Game 161

macrumors Nehalem
Dec 15, 2010
30,991
20,174
UK
This was a software issue that didn't affect everyone. Has since been fixed with the 7.1 update - I'd urge you to try it again.

As someone who never experienced the "fade" issue (launch day 5S), I can say with 100% certainty I can't imagine my phone without TouchID. I use a 5C and 5S daily (one for work the other is personal) and I sorely miss TouchID on my 5C (and my iPad). Not only is my 5S more secure (fingerprint + complex password versus 4 digit code), its just more convenient.

And I've experienced a nearly perfect success rate - even at some wonky angles.

I don't have a 5S so not really bothered about if it works or not. I was just simply giving my experience on what I have seen as I know alot who have it. Don't get me wrong it's one of those features that are nice to have available but everybody I know don't use it..but each to their own really.
 

jrswizzle

macrumors 603
Aug 23, 2012
6,107
129
McKinney, TX
I don't have a 5S so not really bothered about if it works or not. I was just simply giving my experience on what I have seen as I know alot who have it. Don't get me wrong it's one of those features that are nice to have available but everybody I know don't use it..but each to their own really.

Sure - just pointing out that a TouchID sensor that only works 10% of the time (as you claimed) is not normal at all. In fact, the real issue was that the sensor got worse over time - not that it never worked to being with.

Just don't like seeing people dismiss genuinely awesome tech without either having given it a shot or simple because someone they know had a bug.

For a majority of people TouchID worked flawlessly - now that 7.1 has addressed the "fade" bug (which supposedly affected the learning algorithm), not only will people not experience degradation in success rates - they should actually see it get better (i.e. be able to position their thumbs or fingers at almost ANY angle and still have it work).

IMO, new features should be implemented if they add functionality and are efficient and fun to use. TouchID does this well....not so sure about Samsung's implementation. If its not any quicker than typing a 4 digit code or using the pattern, why bother?

And, quickly - I'm actually glad Apple hasn't opened up the sensor to other apps as of yet. I've read there are some questions as to the security of Samsung's offering being only encrypted locally and open to third parties like PayPal.
 

mib1800

Suspended
Sep 16, 2012
2,859
1,250
Just don't like seeing people dismiss genuinely awesome tech without either having given it a shot or simple because someone they know had a bug.

Just like some ifans who are already dismissing the S5 scanner when the phone is not even out (or because they saw some idiots who have a few minutes with S5 on youtube complaining it). :p
 

jrswizzle

macrumors 603
Aug 23, 2012
6,107
129
McKinney, TX
Just like some ifans who are already dismissing the S5 scanner when the phone is not even out (or because they saw some idiots who have a few minutes with S5 on youtube complaining it). :p


Ehh - even if it is 100% reliable! the implementation is inferior. Don't need the phone itself to know the facts.

Anyhow, do you boo boo.
 

jamezr

macrumors P6
Aug 7, 2011
16,081
19,082
US
Ehh - even if it is 100% reliable! the implementation is inferior. Don't need the phone itself to know the facts.

Anyhow, do you boo boo.
It looks like the fingerprint scanner work very well from Tom's Hardware review.
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/sam...der,26135.html

Just because Samsung will allow the service to be used for other apps....does not make it less secure. This type of in app cross handshake happens billions of times a day.....You have probably done it yourself with eBay...Paypal...your bank....paying bills online. If you have proof that it is not secure i would really like to see it. The phone has not been released so no one has had hands on really test the device and the security.
 

jrswizzle

macrumors 603
Aug 23, 2012
6,107
129
McKinney, TX
It looks like the fingerprint scanner work very well from Tom's Hardware review.
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/sam...der,26135.html

Just because Samsung will allow the service to be used for other apps....does not make it less secure. This type of in app cross handshake happens billions of times a day.....You have probably done it yourself with eBay...Paypal...your bank....paying bills online. If you have proof that it is not secure i would really like to see it. The phone has not been released so no one has had hands on really test the device and the security.

I'm not talking about security - though it cracks me up no one questions Samsung as they pass along the fingerprint data to various third parties while people berated Apple about the security of TouchID - which, at least initially seems far more secure based on explanations of how each work.

Simply that given the way Samsung implemented their fingerprint offering, it just doesn't seem any more convenient - which is kinda the whole point, at least in my view of TouchID. To have to use 2 hands, swipe down at a certain speed and angle only AFTER waking the phone seems only barely less time consuming than entering a four digit code (which I can do one-handed on any Android device) or even the pattern lock (which I got proficient at doing one-handed - even my relatively complex version).

In my mind, TouchID is only popular and worthwhile if I get the security benefits ALONG WITH the convenience. Otherwise, its just another time consuming "more secure" way to lock my phone.
 

jamezr

macrumors P6
Aug 7, 2011
16,081
19,082
US
I'm not talking about security - though it cracks me up no one questions Samsung as they pass along the fingerprint data to various third parties while people berated Apple about the security of TouchID - which, at least initially seems far more secure based on explanations of how each work.

Simply that given the way Samsung implemented their fingerprint offering, it just doesn't seem any more convenient - which is kinda the whole point, at least in my view of TouchID. To have to use 2 hands, swipe down at a certain speed and angle only AFTER waking the phone seems only barely less time consuming than entering a four digit code (which I can do one-handed on any Android device) or even the pattern lock (which I got proficient at doing one-handed - even my relatively complex version).

In my mind, TouchID is only popular and worthwhile if I get the security benefits ALONG WITH the convenience. Otherwise, its just another time consuming "more secure" way to lock my phone.


Exactly......but if you do not allow third party app access then it is only a nice secure way to unlock your phone. Apple only allows you to use TouchID for Apple purchases made through iTunes...where they can make money......
If they wanted to make it convenient for their customers they would allow other apps to securely use the TouchID for payments. Or even to secure data already on the phone.
 

jrswizzle

macrumors 603
Aug 23, 2012
6,107
129
McKinney, TX
Exactly......but if you do not allow third party app access then it is only a nice secure way to unlock your phone. Apple only allows you to use TouchID for Apple purchases made through iTunes...where they can make money......
If they wanted to make it convenient for their customers they would allow other apps to securely use the TouchID for payments. Or even to secure data already on the phone.

FOR NOW - they will take their time making sure the fingerprint data is passed securely to third parties. I'm fine with this for now. I prefer to understand where my information is going - even if I don't think a fingerprint is all that sensitive.

I fully expect TouchID to be opened up....especially since they said it would be at some point in time. As it is, TouchID does what it set out to do beautifully. It is extremely convenient - added functionality would be icing.
 

vomhorizon

macrumors 6502a
Sep 24, 2013
952
68
Exactly......but if you do not allow third party app access then it is only a nice secure way to unlock your phone. Apple only allows you to use TouchID for Apple purchases made through iTunes...where they can make money......
If they wanted to make it convenient for their customers they would allow other apps to securely use the TouchID for payments. Or even to secure data already on the phone.

One step at a time bro..Apple has made sure that it builds up on touch ID using security as the driving force. There efforts were strongly focused on that end (to make sure that your biometric data is safe). App store was a very good start in my opinion. I think "payments" would be a service where apple would look to venture into next given its huge amount of customer credit cards..I think they'll announce partnerships with vendors @ WWDC..Glad that samsung partnered with paypal as that pretty much means that apple won't be doing the same (as was being rumoured a few months ago) and I think apple doesn't need paypal given that it has a much bigger customer base..On the hardware end we'll see Touch-ID coming to the tablet family in 2014 and on the software end i feel apple will get into payments through touch ID with multiple partnerships with vendors across the board.
 

kdarling

macrumors P6
I'm not talking about security - though it cracks me up no one questions Samsung as they pass along the fingerprint data to various third parties while people berated Apple about the security of TouchID - which, at least initially seems far more secure based on explanations of how each work.

Contrary to a few articles with poor reporting, Samsung does NOT pass any fingerprint data outside the phone.

There's no need to. All a third party app needs to know is if the user was authenticated.

Simply that given the way Samsung implemented their fingerprint offering, it just doesn't seem any more convenient - which is kinda the whole point, at least in my view of TouchID. To have to use 2 hands, ...

Some reporters have trained the GS5 to work with one hand.
 

jamezr

macrumors P6
Aug 7, 2011
16,081
19,082
US
One step at a time bro..Apple has made sure that it builds up on touch ID using security as the driving force. There efforts were strongly focused on that end (to make sure that your biometric data is safe). App store was a very good start in my opinion. I think "payments" would be a service where apple would look to venture into next given its huge amount of customer credit cards..I think they'll announce partnerships with vendors @ WWDC..Glad that samsung partnered with paypal as that pretty much means that apple won't be doing the same (as was being rumoured a few months ago) and I think apple doesn't need paypal given that it has a much bigger customer base..On the hardware end we'll see Touch-ID coming to the tablet family in 2014 and on the software end i feel apple will get into payments through touch ID with multiple partnerships with vendors across the board.
The WWDC is not that far off huh? This year is flying by! Apple has had the TouchID for a long time now.....it was revealed in Sept(?) when the IP5 was released. But I am sure they had it under development for quite some time. They had the ability to create/cement any partnerships they wanted in that time. Samsung was able to announce the PayPal partnership at announcement.
Apple wants to keep TouchID all to themselves to make money through their delivery channels. Opening up TouchID to third party apps might get in the way of that......
 

vomhorizon

macrumors 6502a
Sep 24, 2013
952
68
The WWDC is not that far off huh? This year is flying by! Apple has had the TouchID for a long time now.....it was revealed in Sept(?) when the IP5 was released. But I am sure they had it under development for quite some time. They had the ability to create/cement any partnerships they wanted in that time. Samsung was able to announce the PayPal partnership at announcement.

Touch ID is just 6 months old from launch and only one apple device has it so far.

Paypal partnership by samsung has absolutely nothing in common with apple getting into payments as a service (as is being rumoured). Basically apple's rumored entry into payments would create an entity that is similar to paypal not simply something that uses its biometrics to log into paypal to complete the purchase. Say you go into Best Buy (app or website) and want to buy something, you'd have the option of paying through your apple id where your credit card on file would be charged automatically once you have set up payments through touch ID. This is a complex arrangement (more so than simply signing a deal with paypal whereby you replace your paypal username and password with a finger swipe) and requires deals with individual and group vendors (much like paypal has done over the years). I am sure apple will take its time to come up with an arrangement that is competitive as they usually take a long time..The driving "push" in E-commerce would come when apple gets touch-ID into the iPad as a lot more purchases are made with that device than with the phone..

The Apple paypal deal that was being rumored made absolutely no sense as apple has way more credit cards on file then paypal and giving PAYPAL a cut of the business makes absolutely no financial sense. Since apple's core business is not payments their efforts would probably be focused on the "service" side of the business and they may be cheaper to use than paypal.

Apple Is Already Way Ahead In Mobile Payments
217

Mike Elgan (10:49 am PDT, Jan 25th)
thing
Pundits (including me) have been predicting Apple’s entry into the mobile payment space — using a smartphone instead of a credit card to buy stuff in the real world — for years.
It hasn’t been a hard prediction to make. The financial rewards are enormous, and Apple has filed multiple patents around mobile payments over the years.
Now, it’s finally happening. And although Apple hasn’t really started yet, they’re already way, way ahead of just about every other player.
The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services, Eddy Cue, “has met with industry executives to discuss Apple’s interest in handling payments for physical goods and services on its devices, according to people familiar with the situation.”
The paper also said that online store boss Jennifer Bailey has been re-assigned to a new role where she’s tasked with growing a payment service at Apple.
The move would pit Apple in direct competition with PayPal, Square, Stripe, Google, Amazon, MasterCard and many others.

Read more at http://www.cultofmac.com/263970/apple-already-way-ahead-mobile-payments/#hJtTWSt8K5Vfh8YO.99

As indicated, Apple is looking to set up a service which competes with Paypal not take a shortcut and provide a paypal username, password activation through touch-ID. Apple likes to develop its own services (app store, iTunes, iTunes Radio, iBooks, Maps etc) and that is the approach they'll take in my opinion as opposed to what samsung is doing (using paypal to make payments, using Slacker to do music etc etc)..
 
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jamezr

macrumors P6
Aug 7, 2011
16,081
19,082
US
Touch ID is just 6 months old from launch and only one apple device has it so far.

Paypal partnership by samsung has absolutely nothing in common with apple getting into payments as a service (as is being rumoured). Basically apple's rumored entry into payments would create an entity that is similar to paypal not simply something that uses its biometrics to log into paypal to complete the purchase. Say you go into Best Buy (app or website) and want to buy something, you'd have the option of paying through your apple id where your credit card on file would be charged automatically once you have set up payments through touch ID. This is a complex arrangement (more so than simply signing a deal with paypal whereby you replace your paypal username and password with a finger swipe) and requires deals with individual and group vendors (much like paypal has done over the years). I am sure apple will take its time to come up with an arrangement that is competitive as they usually take a long time..The driving "push" in E-commerce would come when apple gets touch-ID into the iPad as a lot more purchases are made with that device than with the phone..

The Apple paypal deal that was being rumored made absolutely no sense as apple has way more credit cards on file then paypal and giving PAYPAL a cut of the business makes absolutely no financial sense. Since apple's core business is not payments their efforts would probably be focused on the "service" side of the business and they may be cheaper to use than paypal.



As indicated, Apple is looking to set up a service which competes with Paypal not take a shortcut and provide a paypal username, password activation through touch-ID. Apple likes to develop its own services (app store, iTunes, iTunes Radio, iBooks, Maps etc) and that is the approach they'll take in my opinion as opposed to what samsung is doing (using paypal to make payments, using Slacker to do music etc etc)..

But it does make sense....giving their customers options and convenience does make sense. TouchID was not just developed 6 months ago. It was probably in the works for a couple of years or more. They had the time and resources to have partnerships available at launch. They chose to go the route that will make them the most money at the expense of convenience for their customers. They want to direct all content through their own content channels. This is done to maximize profits.....not give their customer options.
Adding partnerships and flexibility through TouchID to make payments and authentication to other apps makes sense. But Apple wants their customer base to only buy their content through their own channels.
 

vomhorizon

macrumors 6502a
Sep 24, 2013
952
68
But it does make sense....giving their customers options and convenience does make sense. TouchID was not just developed 6 months ago. It was probably in the works for a couple of years or more.
Adding partnerships and flexibility through TouchID to make payments and authentication to other apps makes sense. But Apple wants their customer base to only buy their content through their own channels.

Apple acquired authentech in the middle of 2012. What services apple gets into depends upon the size and scope of its ventures. If apple ultimately feels that the entire mobile payments mechanism is not optimum and it should do something about it (by getting into the business for themselves) then the customer actually benefits once apple manages to land a system that takes over the entire mechanism and makes it simpler. Not all of ios or apple store users use paypal, or even wish to do so. Where is the sense in apple tying up with a third party payments company that has fewer credit cards (account holders) then it and that actually charges money per purchase on top of what apple may have in mind? Apple's approach to payments looks similar to its approach to music, maps and other services it offers. Apple could have simply licenced pandora or spotify and integrated it into their app. Apple chose to develop iTunes radio based on its own legal deals made with the music industry through iTunes. Apple could have integrated pandora months before iTunes radio was launched but they decided to get into a system for themselves because they feel they can do a better job. Why did samsung not provide its customers more benefits? Why just paypal? Why not with Amazon or other services..Every OEM does what is best for its business given the constraints..For Samsung, they do a superficial job at "services" and do not invest a lot of time or money into services as apple does (app store, itunes, ibooks, maps etc)..

Apple has probably been "interested" in payments for a few years now given their patent activity and acquisitions. When they have a product ready they'll launch ( i feel it could be at WWDC 2014 but may be pushed back until touch-ID lands into the iPad) and it looks like apple is looking to take over the entire purchasing mechanism from its apple id rather than outsource all the work to a third party that has a smaller customer footprint then it.

http://www.patentlyapple.com/patent...irtual-equivalent-of-a-credit-card-swipe.html

According to BI paypal has less than 100 million accounts on file and out of these 100 million how many are with customers that use apple? Will the customer benefit more from a apple-paypal tie up or from apple offering a service that is better, integrated into the existing ios apple store setup and that can be used by all of its customers (600 million of them that trust apple with their credit cards)?

Apple might push for apple/ioS payments at physical stores as opposed to carrying cards on person if their patent activity is any indication.

chart-of-the-day-accounts.jpg


They had the time and resources to have partnerships available at launch.

Depends upon what partnerships you are referring to. A deal with paypal like the one done by samsung? Whats the point of doing that (going through a legal-partnership) when you already have decided to set up a payments wing of apple that effectively competes with paypal? Apple's customers do like the fact that apple does all three aspects of its mobile systems, Hardware, Software and Services..unlike a lot other OEM's that do just one and outsource the rest..
 
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