New clues fuel hopes for iPhone fingerprint scanner, Some technology observers think a fingerprint scanner in the next iPhone is all but a sure thing after new clues have surfaced hinting at the feature.
Evidence for a fingerprint scanner is "nearing the point of certainty," writes Gabrielle Levy on UPI.com.
That evidence includes a photo of what are assumed to be parts of the "home" button in the next phone, widely expected to be called the iPhone 5S. Those photos were leaked online by French site Nowhereelse.fr.
The components look similar to the hardware found inside the current iPhone 5 (pictured), but include a square black piece that some people think is the fingerprint scanner, reports The Inquisitr.
Reports suggest that an iPhone owner could unlock the phone using thumb recognition -- a security feature that some users might welcome, as iPhone thefts are on the rise. The 9 to 5 Mac website reports that the user interface for a fingerprint-scanning system has been complete, and quotes a source familiar with the development of the new iPhone.
In July, a developer poring through the code for Apple's (AAPL +2.07%) newest mobile software platform found a reference to a fingerprint. The coding includes the phrases "Photo of a person holding an iPhone with their left hand while touching the Home button with their thumb" and "A fingerprint that changes colour during the setup process."
So is a fingerprint scanner a sure thing? We'll know in less than a week. Apple is expected to unveil the new phone at a media event on Sept. 10. The company may also show a cheaper version of the iconic device, the so-called iPhone C, that it may sell in China and other emerging economies.
