iPhone 5S/6?

[Dangelus]

My concern was based around the fact that if the system had been defeated and if the example can be replicated the very items protected by the fingerprint scanner has fingerprints on them. You steal the device,  you get the prints.

The NYPD thing is admirable but what will they achieve? Say that they convince every 5S owner to use Touch ID.  Will this reduce thefts? Only if muggers start asking victims which phone they gave and decide not to mug if they have a protected 5S. It will reduce the loss of personal data and further thefts after the I initial theft yes, but the phone will still be lost and made inactive and wiped just like any other phone. Insurance companies will still be paying out etc.

[Bryancd]

My concern was based around the fact that if the system had been defeated and if the example can be replicated the very items protected by the fingerprint scanner has fingerprints on them. You steal the device,  you get the prints.

The NYPD thing is admirable but what will they achieve? Say that they convince every 5S owner to use Touch ID.  Will this reduce thefts? Only if muggers start asking victims which phone they gave and decide not to mug if they have a protected 5S. It will reduce the loss of personal data and further thefts after the I initial theft yes, but the phone will still be lost and made inactive and wiped just like any other phone. Insurance companies will still be paying out etc.

Of course it can be defeated, it's not intended to be the be all end all in security measures, thus my previous comment about the hyperbole of critics of this technology. It is better then alphanumeric in a lot of instances but more important, it's, as Rico also said earlier and others in this thread, CONVENIENT. This is not the end game, this is simply a bit better mouse trap.

[moyer777]

Hey speaking of all these fun phones... my daughter is looking for a used iPhone-- if you want to get rid of  yours or want to sell it... let me know.  THANKS!
Just send me an email...   rick@ragtagfugitivefleet.com

Thanks!

[X]

I don't see how this is the first mass market consumer device with bio-metrics. It's far from it. My laptop has bio-metric fingerprint locks. There have been other devices for years that have used the much harder to fool facial recognition security software. As Apple and several other companies have a foot in the door to the FR bio-metrics, I can easily see how this could become a much more secure and usable technology that would be much easier to adopt. A quick pic to make sure that you are you and bam, you have a more secure means of future transactions.

Hell, they already attempted a non-tech version of this by putting pictures on credit cards. Combine FR and NFC and you have a serious contender for security.

Currently, every single print rec on a mobile device or laptop seems more a sales gimmick than an actual security feature.

[Ktrek]

So far the store has not had one customer who wanted the 5s for the fingerprint ID in fact there have been a lot of negative comments about it and it's usefulness. Not only that we are seeing far more interest and sales for the 5c than the 5s. Probably a ten to one ratio or thereabout. I do like the new IOS 7 though even if it is a little cartoonish looking.

Kevin

[Feathers]

I do laugh at the use of the term 'hacked' for what's, effectively, an example of espionage.

Surely a 'hack' of the fingerprint reader would be a software patch, applied to a phone, that would anable it to accept fingerprints other than the ones that it was programmed for. All that's happened here is that someone has come up with a high enough resolution copy to bypass the lock.

This stuff has been done in films for years now, why the hysteria over the fact that it can be done in reallity too? Seems like a massive storm in a teacup to me (not helped by the naysayers waving fingers around and screaming 'I told you so'.)

Sorry, I'm not even sure why this is news. Are we locking Fort Knox using an iPhone fingerprint sensor these days? (I would have said Bank of England, but Gordon Brown sold all our gold years ago).

[Bromptonboy]

Sorry, I'm not even sure why this is news. Are we locking Fort Knox using an iPhone fingerprint sensor these days? (I would have said Bank of England, but Gordon Brown sold all our gold years ago).

Queue the theme to ....GOLD FINGER!

[Jobydrone]

A lot of outlets are reporting a 50% or higher price cut on the new "cheaper" iPhone 5C.  Walmart and Radio Shack are both selling for $45 or $50 until the end of the holidays.  I wonder if this is because of a lack of interest in the new colorful device or just an effort to sell more 2 year phone contracts?

[Bromptonboy]

I have an old iPhone 4 that I am dying to upgrade.  Since getting the latest apps & OS patches, it takes forever to open applications (too much for a beleagured processor).

Can't wait for the new release, since I will either get one of them, or get a price reduced 5S.

I also am thinking of switching to a 4-phone family share program with AT&T.  I would have to give up my unlimited data plan, but I am barely scratching the surface on usage.

[MARKO]

I have the 5s also had the 5 but i am looking forward to upgrading to the 6 hopefully there will be the 4.7 and the 5.5 inch i would buy the 5.5 one for sure.

[Bromptonboy]

Yes, I think I would like the bigger one as well.  The 4 is too small for my liking these days.

[Jobydrone]

I could go for the 5.5" screen myself, I was seriously considering leaving the Apple ecosystem for the Galaxy Note before I got my iPhone 5 a couple years ago.  I'd love a bigger screen for on-the-go streaming (Netflix/You Tube/HBO Go allow you to stream over LTE whereas Xfinity & Amazon continue to require a Wifi connection).  But I probably wont be upgrading just yet, my iPhone 5 is still working great.  Still excited to see what the new oferings look like.

[Bromptonboy]

Well, only a few more weeks to see what they are offering.  Any rumors about the storage capacity?  64GB still the upper limit?

[Jobydrone]

Nope one of the rumors I read says high end of 128 finally

[Ktrek]

Looks like if you are wanting the larger screen of the Iphone 6 you will have to wait about another 6 months. There is an issue with touch sensitivity on the edges of the screen. So, back to the drawing board.

Kevin