14 DAY TRIAL // In case you were wondering whether or not the next-generation iPhone will have that rumored fingerprint sensor, look no further than the latest iOS 7 beta.
A folder dubbed “BiometricKitUI” has been discovered in iOS 7 Beta 4 by Hamza Sood (and made public by 9to5mac) and, while the folder bears enough evidence of the fingerprint sensor in and of itself, the contents provide even more clues regarding the biometric capabilities of Apple’s next iPhones.
The code strings mention a fingerprint that changes color during the setup process, print recognition, etc. One string says, “Photo of a person holding an iPhone with their left hand while touching the Home button with their thumb.”
There has been a lot of chatter regarding Apple’s plans to incorporate a fingerprint sensor underneath the phone’s Home button.
While there haven’t been many hardware leaks to back up these claims, iOS 7 Beta 4 certainly provides more than enough evidence that Apple is (at least) testing such hardware.
iOS 7 Beta 4 was seeded to Apple’s vast developer community yesterday, after much chatter regarding a potential delay of the software.
Despite a widely-publicized server breach that caused some of its systems to go down, the Cupertino giant seems to be on schedule with the development of iOS 7.
Apple is expected to release not one, but two new iPhone models this year. It isn’t clear whether both phones will be equipped with the biometric technology, but it’s reasonable to assume the Mac maker will want to differentiate the more expensive version – the iPhone 5S – using this feature.
The less expensive iteration is reportedly dubbed iPhone 5C, and a recent leak from China suggests it will be packaged in a box akin to that of the iPod touch.
In reporting on the working conditions over at Pegatron (an Apple supplier), China Labor Watch yesterday confirmed the existence of the “budget” plastic iPhone.