Delivering an unprecedented degree of smartphone security, Apple today confirmed that the forthcoming iPhone 5S will feature a new fingerprint-scanning technology called Touch ID.
The scanner, which is located in the iPhone 5S’s home button, can scan and ID the user’s fingerprint. Understandably, this feature is billed as being a safer and more reliable option than password protection.
The move is expected to dramatically boost smartphone security as more than half of all iPhone users don’t presently use a passcode, according to Apple.
In terms of specs, the new fingerprint scanner is 170 microns thin, has a 500ppi resolution, serves up a 360º reading capability, and can even scan the “sub-epidermal” layers of human skin.
Apple made a special effort this morning to explain that user fingerprint information is never uploaded to a remote server.
“All fingerprint [data] is encrypted,” pledged Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller, “and secured inside a secure enclave. It’s never available to other to other software. It’s never uploaded to Apple’s servers or backed up to iCloud.”
