Hints of fingerprint recognition found in iOS7 beta

Hints of a fingerprint recognition feature have been found in the latest beta of Apple Inc.'s iOS 7 operating system for mobile devices like the iPhone and iPad.

 

Developer Hamza Sood found references to fingerprint recognition while poking around in the beta, The Next Web reported.

 

"This could indicate that Apple plans to support such biometric ID measures in the next version of its iPhone, though evidence of new features sometimes appears in beta software long before it makes an appearance in an Apple product," it said.

 

It said Sood found the references in the Accessibility section of iOS, which had references to tutorial images explaining how to identify a user by their fingerprint.

 

It said the description has a thumb placed on the home button of a device "and a string that indicates ‘Recognition is complete.’"

 

"We have previously heard from sources that a fingerprint ID unit could make an appearance in the next iPhone. It would be enabled by tech purchased by Apple in its acquisition of Authentec," The Next Web said.

 

A fingerprint ID could enable quick switching of users all accessing the same iOS device, it added.

 

Yet, The Next Web said biometrics at this time may have pitfalls in high-security uses.

 

"It’s simply too finicky and easy to circumvent if it’s used alone. So there’s likely going to be a bit of work before it’s in common use as part of a payment or secure login flow on a portable device," it said.

 

At this stage, however, it said fingerprint ID can identify different users of a single iOS device, and automatically loading their profile. — TJD, GMA News