Every year, Apple releases a new iPhone model, changing its design, improving performance, and demonstrating new interesting features and technologies that ensure comfortable use of the phone. However, it was difficult and very difficult for engineers, designers and other equally important employees of the Cupertino company to invent a new design for the iPhone every year. This is how a permanent model with the prefix “S” at the end (and later “C”) appeared in the line of Apple smartphones. These phones were practically no different from their predecessors from last year in appearance, but surpassed them in power and other parameters that are so important for many geeks. In addition to the above, the improved iPhone models had a certain “trick” - a function or technology that stimulated people to buy. For the 4S it was Siri, which performed the role of a voice assistant quite well, although from the very beginning it could only communicate in English, and the iPhone 5S proudly demonstrated an innovative fingerprint scanner Touch ID
, allowing you to provide reliable protection to your smartphone from prying eyes and hands, but is fingerprint scanning technology really that important and what negative and positive aspects does it entail? I will try to thoroughly understand all this in this article.
The main purpose
The option, available in Apple devices starting with the fifth iPhone, iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3, is installed in the Home key (on all devices it is mechanical, on the iPhone 7 it is a sensor, on the iPhone X it is integrated into the display). The technology is quite complex: it consists of a metal ring, a sensor and a switch that responds to pressure. The top of the key is made of sapphire crystal and is used to send a fingerprint scan to the sensor, which reads the image and, if a match, proceeds with further actions. Typically, this key is used to unlock it, but there is the possibility of additional protection of the smartphone and payments.
The main goal of this service is to gain access to working with an Apple device. Thanks to Touch ID, you don’t have to enter passwords or pins, but simply put your finger on the scanner. Another use case is to pass authorization in various applications from Apple and other developers, the number of which is constantly increasing. In addition, payment through this development for purchases in stores has recently become popular.
To do this, you need to link to the device identification number (ID) of the plastic card, and during payment using the terminal, take the following steps:
- take an iPhone;
- bring it closer to the reading device;
- touch your finger to the smartphone scanner. As a result, the money will be transferred from the card in one second.
This method is very convenient and is rapidly gaining popularity, because you do not need to enter an additional PIN code. But not all retail outlets yet have the option to pay for purchases through Apple Pay.
Touch ID and security
If we talk about security, Touch ID shows amazing results.
By continually scanning your fingerprint from different angles, a more accurate image is created over time, allowing your finger to be even better recognized. At the same time, the probability that someone in the world has a separate part of their fingerprint can coincide with yours is approximately 1 in 50,000, when the chance of guessing the password is 1 in 10,000. It is impossible to hack Touch ID in practice
, copy too. The fact is that your fingerprint is stored as an encrypted mathematical formula. In addition to encryption, a special unique key is also required to access the fingerprint; only the native processor of the device knows it (Secure Enclave technology). In other words, if you change the processor or sensor, they will not see each other, since they will not be located within the same iPhone.
Let's summarize. The iPhone 5S turned out to be really powerful, beautiful and interesting in terms of technology, but the introduced Touch ID turned out to be a very controversial innovation and as a result raised many unanswered questions online - are our fingerprints being stolen, how will the technology revolutionize iOS itself, should we wait for a sensor to analyze the retina, saliva, hair, and so on... In reality, users only got the opportunity to unlock the smartphone and avoid entering a password, which already costs a lot.
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Register in services
You can authorize in various programs and services via Touch ID like this:
- go to the device settings;
- find Touch ID and password;
- activate the item “iTunes Store, App Store”.
Next, the operating system will independently download the required additions to the gadget and notify you of the need for additional authorization. Fingerprint identification is performed separately for each of the applications that you are going to access via Touch ID.
About the global benefits of Touch ID
Those users who follow the release of new mobile devices probably know that many companies are not averse to borrowing ideas from the same Apple. Touch ID is no exception.
The idea of using a fingerprint scanner on a smartphone is not new, but it was with the advent of Touch ID that scanners became widespread. If previously we only saw them on flagship smartphones, today scanners are used even on budget devices!
Here is an example of a device, the cost of which at the time of writing is only 5-7 thousand rubles, and it is already equipped with a fingerprint scanner. True, this smartphone has a scanner located on the back of the case:
The smartphone is called DOOGEE X5 Max.
Possible malfunctions
This technology for accessing equipment is very convenient, but in some cases difficulties arise in its operation. There are several reasons for failures:
- the key itself or the hand is dirty - the problem can be easily fixed, you just need to wipe the touch surface and hands;
- problems with the software - in order to avoid encountering them, you must log in using two fingers at once during the first installation. If for some reason this could not be done before the malfunction occurred, everything can be fixed by performing a service flashing;
- Defects from the manufacturer are quite rare, but still possible. The main symptom is that there is no reaction to touching the Home button; the device cannot be rebooted either. In this case, you will also have to contact the service center.
Any potential problems with the Touch ID functioning settings will be fully compensated by its functionality. For example, you get excellent speed and quality of work, payment processes are optimized, and you won’t need to remember numerous complex security combinations. In addition, failures occur very rarely.
Now you know what Touch ID is and what it is used for. In fact, the manufacturer has created a unique service, truly modern and comfortable. The most important thing is to carry out the initial steps correctly and make the most of all the possibilities. What do you think about this development? Leave comments and subscribe to our updates.
Setting up Touch ID
The technology does not provide the user with the ability to quickly enable all its functions - it is not activated on a new, just purchased phone.
And in order to perform the initial setup of a mobile phone or tablet, you should follow certain steps:
- Wipe the Home button and your fingers to avoid distorting your fingerprints during the identification process;
- Enter a password that can be used if you cannot unlock your device using Touch ID for some reason. The password request occurs 2 days after the last unlocking occurred;
- Taking the device in the same way as when normally using a smartphone or tablet, place your finger on the Home button;
- Keeping your hand in the same position, wait for a slight vibration of the device or sound, which is a signal that the first stage of setup has completed.
After this, the gadget can only be unlocked by the person who carried out the setup.
Access can be obtained by waking up the smartphone or tablet from sleep mode (by pressing one of the buttons on the body) and placing your finger on the sensor.
Rice. 3. To access your iPhone, just press the Home button with your finger
You may be interested in:
What to do if Touch ID on iPhone does not work. How I solved this problem on iPhone 6S Plus
Last week we asked to see why Touch ID suddenly stopped working on the iPhone 6S Plus, which is used to unlock using a fingerprint. In the settings, on the “Touch ID and passcode” tab, the previously entered fingerprints were not found, and the function of adding a fingerprint itself was not active. This behavior of iOS did not bode well for the owner and clearly indicated a hardware problem. However, everything ended well... but let's take it in order.
What is the danger of Touch ID failure?
There are breakdowns that cannot be repaired by regular services. I will say more - not all authorized Apple service centers have the necessary equipment. Such breakdowns primarily include replacing the Home button starting with the iPhone 5S, that is, those devices with a fingerprint scanner.
If you wish, you can replace it yourself, but you won’t be able to keep Touch ID working. The fact is that Touch ID is tied to the device's processor and is unique for each phone. You can perform the necessary calibration after replacing the Home button only using a special Horizon Machine device, which Apple provides to official service centers (in theory, they should be in every one, but not a fact).
Something similar happened with third-party displays on the iPhone 8, which stopped working after installing iOS 11.3, but this is a purely software limitation, although not a pleasant one.
So, it is useless to solve the problem with a non-working fingerprint scanner by flashing the device or restoring the device from a backup copy - a miracle will not happen. Most often, this problem occurs due to physical damage to the Home button cable (moisture, careless assembly/disassembly of the device), or the cable is simply not fully installed during assembly.
As it turns out, the latter is exactly my case. It turned out that the problem with Touch ID appeared after replacing the battery in one of the unofficial services. Having disassembled the phone, it turned out that the Home button cable was not fully inserted into the connector.
Having reconnected the cable, I also checked the integrity of the cable itself (on iPhone 6/6S it is not uncommon for them to break at the base of the button). If you decide to climb inside the device yourself, before disconnecting any cables, turn off the phone and disconnect the battery cable. These are the unpleasant moments that happen thanks to the crookedness of some masters.
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