Face ID could reach Mac lineup within a 'couple of years'
Apple could be bringing Face ID over from iPhone to Mac within a few years, according to a report, with the added possibility of using cameras embedded in the display itself.
In terms of security, the Mac and MacBook lineup still largely depend on passwords and, in some cases, Touch ID. While iPhones and iPads currently benefit from using Face ID as a biometric security mechanism, it is proposed that it could make its way to the Mac product lines in the future.
According to Mark Gurman's latest "Power On" newsletter for Bloomberg, the change to Face ID is anticipated to happen "within a couple of years." The move will apparently be part of a general shift of all applicable products over to Face ID.
Currently, the MacBook Pro lineup, the 24-inch iMac, the iPhone SE, iPad Air, and iPad all use Touch ID for biometric security.
According to Gurman, the changes would include an embedding of a camera into the display, though this may be saved for the more expensive models in respective ranges. Doing so would effectively eliminate the need for a notch at the top of the display.
A move to push Mac towards Face ID is beneficial to Apple beyond providing users an alternative authentication system. Unlike Touch ID, Face ID's hardware also enables depth mapping, and in turn augmented reality applications.
The concept of Face ID on MacBooks have been circulating for a while, with Apple demonstrating in patent applications that it was considering the addition for some time. However, such a change would require major alterations to the design of the MacBook, due to the incredibly thin lids, though such concerns aren't an issue for thicker desktop Macs like the 24-inch iMac.
Read on AppleInsider
In terms of security, the Mac and MacBook lineup still largely depend on passwords and, in some cases, Touch ID. While iPhones and iPads currently benefit from using Face ID as a biometric security mechanism, it is proposed that it could make its way to the Mac product lines in the future.
According to Mark Gurman's latest "Power On" newsletter for Bloomberg, the change to Face ID is anticipated to happen "within a couple of years." The move will apparently be part of a general shift of all applicable products over to Face ID.
Currently, the MacBook Pro lineup, the 24-inch iMac, the iPhone SE, iPad Air, and iPad all use Touch ID for biometric security.
According to Gurman, the changes would include an embedding of a camera into the display, though this may be saved for the more expensive models in respective ranges. Doing so would effectively eliminate the need for a notch at the top of the display.
A move to push Mac towards Face ID is beneficial to Apple beyond providing users an alternative authentication system. Unlike Touch ID, Face ID's hardware also enables depth mapping, and in turn augmented reality applications.
The concept of Face ID on MacBooks have been circulating for a while, with Apple demonstrating in patent applications that it was considering the addition for some time. However, such a change would require major alterations to the design of the MacBook, due to the incredibly thin lids, though such concerns aren't an issue for thicker desktop Macs like the 24-inch iMac.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
also, FaceID hardware is used for more than just FaceID; the invisible infrared dot emitters are used for stuff like Portrait Mode and 3D scanning that just don’t have a lot of utility on the Mac.
it’s sure to come along sooner or later but I don’t blame Apple for considering it a low priority.
I'm not holding my breath
Apple Watch unlocking of my Mac works very inconsistently. Can't depend on it. I never know when it will work and when it will not. I'm happy when it does work, and when it doesn't I have no idea why. Meanwhile, for my work computer, I use WIndows Hello which is not perfect but overall works very well. I know there were some cases where security researchers were able to trick it. But if you look at the risk/convenience analysis, its worth it, and it's here and now, not sometime in the future.
iMac's don't have the same space restrictions can be used by a number of people and I think are more likely to be shared more often now and in the future as peoples personnel devices get better and they just want to be able to pull up to a big screen occasionally.
I wonder if they can do faceID Relay so if a user has a faceID device with them in their pocket the Mac camera array could securely share a video stream with the device and get credentials that way for multiple users.
Maybe par of the reason the XDR display is getting a A chip is to do the same RemoteID tricks.
I understand the point that the screen portion of the laptop might be too thin, but to be real, we're all used to camera bumps nowadays, it wouldn't surprise me if they come to laptops sooner than later.