Rumor: LG hopes to catch up to Apple with fingerprint sensor in next-gen Android phone
LG Electronics is reportedly testing a prototype version of the next generation of its flagship G-series smartphones that will allegedly include a swipe-based fingerprint sensor, countering the Touch ID capability of Apple's iPhone 5s.
The so-called "G3" from LG is said to currently be in testing, according to a report published this week by The Korea Herald. The next-generation Android handset is reportedly expected to debut at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, scheduled for February of 2014.
However, unlike Apple's Touch ID fingerprint sensor embedded in the iPhone 5s home button, which allows a user to simply place their finger on the scanner, LG's method "would likely come as a swipe fingerprint sensor," the report said. That would suggest that LG has been unable to replicate the patented, unique fingerprint scanning technology Apple acquired in its purchase of security firm AuthenTec.
The Times report also cited an unnamed source who indicated that Apple plans to bring Touch ID to a "broader range of its products, including smartphones and tablet PCs." Touch ID debuted on the iPhone 5s in September, but was not added to Apple's late 2013 iPad lineup, leaving the feature exclusive to the company's flagship smartphone for the time being.
LG's rumored "G3" smartphone is also reportedly expected to include Google's Android 4.4 Kitkat operating system, as well as a "Quad HD" display and a 2.2-gigahertz octa-core processor. The report also said that LG is developing a wearable smart watch and health and fitness wrist band that will sync to the "G3," and those devices are also rumored to debut at the Mobile World Congress event.
LG is not to be confused with LG Display, an independent company that is also a key supplier for Apple, providing high-resolution panels for the iPhone and iPad. In October, one rumor claimed that LG Display will provide OLED screens for Apple's rumored wrist-worn "iWatch" accessory.
The so-called "G3" from LG is said to currently be in testing, according to a report published this week by The Korea Herald. The next-generation Android handset is reportedly expected to debut at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, scheduled for February of 2014.
However, unlike Apple's Touch ID fingerprint sensor embedded in the iPhone 5s home button, which allows a user to simply place their finger on the scanner, LG's method "would likely come as a swipe fingerprint sensor," the report said. That would suggest that LG has been unable to replicate the patented, unique fingerprint scanning technology Apple acquired in its purchase of security firm AuthenTec.
The Times report also cited an unnamed source who indicated that Apple plans to bring Touch ID to a "broader range of its products, including smartphones and tablet PCs." Touch ID debuted on the iPhone 5s in September, but was not added to Apple's late 2013 iPad lineup, leaving the feature exclusive to the company's flagship smartphone for the time being.
LG's rumored "G3" smartphone is also reportedly expected to include Google's Android 4.4 Kitkat operating system, as well as a "Quad HD" display and a 2.2-gigahertz octa-core processor. The report also said that LG is developing a wearable smart watch and health and fitness wrist band that will sync to the "G3," and those devices are also rumored to debut at the Mobile World Congress event.
LG is not to be confused with LG Display, an independent company that is also a key supplier for Apple, providing high-resolution panels for the iPhone and iPad. In October, one rumor claimed that LG Display will provide OLED screens for Apple's rumored wrist-worn "iWatch" accessory.
Comments
How is everyone doing with Touch ID? Mine is quite flaky, working about 20% of the time.
It won't be as good. All these "rushed" to market copies of Apple's tech are inferior. Mainly b/c they are "rushed!"
Best
[/I]
If my wife can do it anyone can.
Lead and they. Shall follow.
I'm surprises Scamsung didn't say they make a 128-bit chip :no:
Mine works abou 99% of the time. The only issue I had was one I messed up the tips on the 3 fingers I had scanned in. I rescanned one as a 4th print and it worked fine until they healed up. Now they all 3 work great again. It is actually one of those things I still think is pretty impressive after a few months of use.
Sad, isn't it. All this putting down of Apple inventions, or new uses of earlier implementations of some technology, but when the competition also implements an earlier tech, or shamelessly copy the idea/design/tech from Apple it is somehow considered 'obvious'. Take a peek down history lane:
Apple moves laptop keyboard to the back, near the screen, creating an armrest while typing. All laptops therefrom adopt the same design and trolls tell us this is only logical evolution,
Apple integrates the battery in their iPods. Competitors music players start to do the same. Same thing happened after Apple's new laptop design, same thing with the iPhone. And now tablets,
"A virtual keyboard on a touchscreen? No way that'll work!" But when they see their market share drop and think "well, we might need to do this as well as Apple is taking away all our customers who used to be so loyal to us".
Next thing we'll see is them removing the ODD, soldered RAM/GPU and trolls will...
Ah, what's the use. They will simply never get it. Apple does. Perhaps all Wall St. blue-suit-red-tie wannabes are also trolls working for Apple competitors to write such nonsense. I think Jess3 illustrated it best in The Zen of Steve Jobs:
Almost never fails for me.
Try retraining.
until the ones saying so decide to use the idea themselves. Larger-display smartphones are "gimmicks" too. Once upon a time smaller iPads would have been considered "gimmicky". If something is desired by the marketplace there will be plenty of companies vying to fill it whether it's a gimmick or not.
Mine works really well for the most part, although sometimes the sensor just won't activate it seems. It pulls up the dial pad, and won't attempt to read my thumb print. I can punch in the code and then try it again, and it works fine (and this isn't just after a reboot - I know you have to punch in the code after that). Any new tech is going to have its growing pains. Mine works most of the time, so the times that it doesn't aren't annoying.
PS: I wonder if TouchID requires the increased security features of AArch64.
I haven't had any issues. I wonder if people are scanning in their prints in the manner that is shown on the graphic. Meaning, vertical and straight down in an unnatural position. I did mine on an angle in the position I would most likely try to do a scan when holding it with one hand.
Adding touch id to Android is like improving the lock on your door when all the windows are open. A waste of time, in other words.
The rumor chatter is Samsung is developing a retina scanner to top Touch ID.