First iPhone X fondlers struggle to admit that Face ID sort of sucks Just as it was hard for courtiers to tell the Emperor he wasn't wearing anything, the first iPhone X phondlers won't admit that Face ID will frustrate owners and make them work hard just to unlock the phone without a PIN. The reviewers don't want to spoil the fairytale. Face ID is Apple's new and incredibly complex face …
Yeah, let's not pretend that Touch ID is super reliable. On my previous 5s and 6, and on my current 6s*, it's probably one time in five that Touch ID fails and just becomes the much more long-winded way that I get to entering my PIN. I'll bet Face ID works just as well as Touch ID ever did.
* guess when I moved out of iOS development.
> A PIN number
That's much better better...
Touch ID works pretty well actually, given the fallback to a more-secure-than-I-would-otherwise-use PIN... A fallback which is compulsory on power-on, or after a significant period of not having used the device (I can't recall if the timeout is configurable).
The HTC equivalent of fingerprint unlock is about 99.9% reliable. Damp or oily fingures send me to the pin. I am not sure what this whole face ID thing is for to be honest. If you didn't want to touch the phone (usually with my right thumb, conveniently as thats the digit in the right place) then why would ytou want to unlock it.
I like the whole Android thing where if its within spitting distance of my car or headphones then its just unlocked. Feels a bit insecure to me though so never bothered setting it up. If I lived in my car or had headphones glued to my head then maybe I would. There might be a market for an implant . .
@John Robson except that a PIN is something you know (secret), whereas TouchID and FaceID are something you are (identity that can't be changed).
Fingerprints and facial recognition are the equivalent of user names, not passwords or PINs.
How can apple screw up so badly?
1) Let's make a phone out of glass!
2) Let's charge sheep customers over $1000 for it!
3) Let's charge same sheep customers over $200 when the glass breaks!
4) Let's pretend that it has awesome features that we sort of nicked off other inventors.
5) Screw the fact that most of 4) does not work.
Just sit back, wait and by God how quickly the money rolls in ..
You forgot
6) Different SIM (or none so Apple can be in control and make swapping phones or operators harder
7) No SD card
8) Have to use iTunes instead of Mass Storage to transfer music or photos
9) No FM radio, even though you can buy a WiFi Chip with it "free". Cheaper phones have great FM radios
10) Bad aerial designs, because they care more about their concept of appearance
11) Bad design of Touch controller IC mounting
12) Blocking 3rd party repairs
13) Difficult to replace batteries
14) Charghing for 2nd year warrenty in EU, where SOGA gives two years
15) two to five times profit margin on phones compared to similar feature/quality others.
16) 3.5mm phone jack, compatible cheaply with EVERYTHING and can easily be higher quality than Bluetooth (which needs another pair of codecs). The transducer to eardrum is an analogue signal.
17) No SD card slot.
My Sony Xperia has standard SIM, replacable cell, SD slot and is thinner, better signal than similar era iPhone.
My Wristwatch phone works on Roaming, has micro SIM, Micro SD card, camera, voice recording, bluetooth control of phone media and camera, earphone option, media playback (internal or phone), works as handsfree for phone and makes two way calls ON ITS OWN, without a phone mothership (only GSM, but it is a five year old design and under $30).
Apple stuff is fairly decent, up to iPhone 6. Now they are taking the piss. Interesting how well iPhone 6 sells. Same on newer model Mac Pro (aka waste bin). They have lost the fact that it must not just look nice and review good, but actually WORK!
@ Anonymous Content
Yes I agree, Face Recognition, invented by Apple this year, works perfectly well on the Windows Phone I bought two years ago (not sure why anybody would mark that down). You did have to get used to holding it at a certain distance but it worked well for me in most lighting functions including sunlight and complete darkness but I still find it quicker and easier to use a PIN.
Kind of obvious it's always going to struggle to get a focus lock quickly when you're moving of course, but yes, it's a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.
@katrinab
No it doesn't. I was actually very impressed with it, although I still find it quicker and easier to use a PIN. It's easier on a static system but the same system on the Surface computers I have seen, and on my Dell desktop, is incredibly fast.
Does the Windows version work with a photo of your face? The Apple version is supposed to not work if you do that.
I can't comment on the Windows version, but my old Galaxy SIII required you to blink when prompted as some proof that it was looking at a real person.
Pretty easy to fool with a mask or eyeholes with another sheet of paper behind, but at least a plain photo wouldn't work.
Something worked on Windows Phone?
Android has had face unlock for many years and it's worked pretty well, Sony demonstrated a much advanced 3d scanning tech 6 months ago,
https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/26/sony-to-demo-3d-face-biometric-running-on-xperia-smartphone/
So yes, how on earth did Apple screw up? We all know the answer, they bet on the wrong tech (under display fingerprint sensor), it didn't work out, and face unlock was the only path left open to them and they had zero time to perfect it, by the time they found out the original option was a non-starter, the rest of the hardware design was already done, and they couldn't miss the upgrade cycle/Xmas deadlines, so just shipped what they had, iPhone owners are either too stupid or too conditioned to care.
The Windows system is the same as apple's, just the previous version. Infrared iris scan, couldn't be filled by a photo, as you need the heat signature as well.
The Android system just used the normal front camera, which is why it could be easily fooled by photos. I used that on my old galaxy when it was first released, but it was pretty hopeless.
The Windows, and Apple, system is more secure than the old Android one, but the failure rate is very high, when the lighting isn't perfect.
The 3D face scanning on the Sony is new (2017), the photo-face recognition was PURE Android and came out half a decade ago as part of Google's new features (2012?) and none of the devices back then had a 3D camera, just a normal front-facing camera. It was proven to be fooled by a photograph within a couple of days of release...
I had this type of face recognition on my old Lumia (I think it uses a previous generation of the same sensor, as Apple have bought the company that Microsoft used for its sensors). The results in the reviews corroborate the experience I had.
In a normal room (not wearing my glasses), the unlock was reliable. Put glasses, sunlight or florescent light into the equation and the whole thing is hit and miss. I switched to just using the PIN as it was quicker and more reliable.
I'm surprised so many upvoted you.
In the context of comparison: someone can view you entering your PIN number, no matter how long, from which they can then steal your phone and have unlimited access.
They can't do this with your face, without restoring to extreme violence and removing your head to carry with them. Less extreme example for your finger of choice for touchID.Thus:
Face recognition, for all its faults, is safer than simply solely using a PIN.
"Face recognition, for all its faults, is safer than simply solely using a PIN."
Not entirely true. Say you're crossing the border in or out of the US. The border patrol agents can take your phone, hold it up to your face, and it unlocks. They can then proceed and go through your stuff. Legally.
With a PIN or passphrase, it gets a whole lot more complicated for these agents.
"The border patrol agents can take your phone, hold it up to your face, and it unlocks."
Provided the lighting is right, and they're holding it about 50cm from your face, and you're not wearing glasses or have an unusually dense amount of stubble that day, and they have the angle just right...
Actually, I think the problem is more that, while a PIN can be stolen giving anyone access to your phone, FaceID doesn't even let YOU into it under most circumstances...
But there are regimes (including the US I think) where they can't force you to reveal a password (without going through hoops) but they *can* force you to touch your phone. And I'm quite sure they can hold your phone in front of your face.
So, not so clear then.
Whilst I'm surprised at the downvotes!
I work in development for Android and can't bash Apple on this occasion! Having no home button means that to maintain security the primary method should be one that a hacker or thief has minimal chance of reproducing. A PIN on your debitcard is as vulnerable to an over the shoulder attack. Someone steals your phone with the PIN can then proceed to do whatever they want!
Have an upvote from me and ignore the apple-haters, who would hate almost anything they produced out of some bizarre ethos of anti-corporative ethos. Apple hardware and security methods are excellent. I wish I could say the same of Android. Keep in mind I aid development of the core Android OS!
The thumb print dimple is perfect for me when finding my [SE] in the dark or or in my pocket. Not that I unlock with the thumbprint, mind you. Pin only. In certain static situations (like perched above a desk, or for handicapped users, or at the beach in Cancun partying with the trend setters), Face ID will be useful but I have no problem with a Pin at all, in fact see it as more secure.
I AM anticipating applications that can leverage the tech for 3D modeling in DIY manufacturing and printing. Let the emoji obsessed fund the development say I. Real usage will develop as Apple scrambles to get it right.
I'd happily lose the facial ID for just the PIN and a full edge to edge screen.
There are obviously too many people looking to justify their job at Apple and forgetting the bigger picture. A PIN alone would have worked until they got the 'anywhere' screen touch ID to work.
I'd prefer a secure iPhone XE with just a PIN, if it's all the same. Simple, secure enough and it works every time.
I'd happily lose the facial ID for just the PIN and a full edge to edge screen.
There are obviously too many people looking to justify their job at Apple and forgetting the bigger picture.
I saw what you did there :).
Personally, the facial thing ruins it for me. I was interested in the new phone as it holds new ideas, but I'll probably get the 8, also because it looks less "look at me, I have the latest". I like iOS and what it does, but I must admit I have never been put off so much by new tech than when they demonstrated the face emoji thing. No thanks.
In the context of comparison: someone can view you entering your PIN number, no matter how long, from which they can then steal your phone and have unlimited access.
They can't do this with your face, without resorting to extreme violence and removing your head to carry with them. Less extreme example for your finger of choice for touchID.Thus:
Face recognition, for all its faults, is safer than simply solely using a PIN.
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