According to Patently Apple, the technology giant recently filed a patent application that could lead to the return of Touch ID on the iPhone as soon as this year. Why take a technological step back with Face ID, which unlocks millions of iPhone devices every day? First of all, there are a lot of people who are fed up with Apple’s face recognition. Honestly, it often takes several attempts to unlock yours iPhone 11 Pro Max. And the other day, when I had the opportunity to use myself Pixel 2 XL, the rear fingerprint sensor, feels faster and easier to use. Not that we would expect Apple to copy Google and abandon Face ID altogether (Hello Pixel 5, we look at you).
Based on the patent application, there is the possibility that Apple may equip the upcoming iPhone 13 series or later models with both Face and Touch ID. Users can choose to turn on one of the two options at the same time. The trademark application filed by Apple focuses on “a fingerprint sensing device with a narrow field vision (NFV) collimator and an organic footage. The device includes a touch screen layer, a collimator layer, and a pixel image sensor.” A collimator produces a narrow beam of rays and with a touch screen layer it is clear that an understated system is at work here.
Apple has already played with a new placement for Touch ID. With the iPad Air (2020), the tablet’s fingerprint scanner, is integrated into the device’s power button. And while we could see this feature in this year’s new iPhone series, Apple is reportedly also looking to add a fingerprint scanner that doesn’t show up on the Apple Watch.
How Apple’s display fingerprint sensor works according to new patent application
A report by ETNews (via MSPoweruser) describes a possible new health-related feature that will appear on the Apple Watch Series 7 and the next Samsung Galaxy Watch. We’ve been telling you for some time that Apple has been working on a non-invasive glucometer for the Apple Watch. It is the tool that insulin-dependent diabetics use before every meal to check their blood sugar so that they can find the right dose of insulin they need. The process requires diabetics to draw some blood by stabbing their fingertips with a sharp needle-like lancet. But it turns out that the next generation of Apple and Samsung smartwatches will make life a little less painful for diabetics.
Non-invasive Glucometer from Quantum Operation launched at CES this year
It is understood that three new smartwatches will be launched in the second half of 2021 and the model that will provide the blood glucose measurements will be called the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 or the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active. The Apple Watch Series 7 is supposed to offer the same feature. . The watches use a technology called Raman spectroscopy. Using a laser light, this technology can determine the composition of a substance, such as the amount of glucose in a person’s blood. There are other applications for this technology that go beyond diabetes.
But even limiting this feature to monitoring blood glucose levels could lead to a huge demand for Apple and Samsung’s new smartwatches equipped with the ability to deliver painless blood glucose measurements. In the US alone, there are 25 million insulin-dependent diabetics, according to the World Health Organization. (WHO); the number is rising due to the poor diet and lack of exercise that most Americans experience.
If Apple and Samsung offer this feature on their new smartwatches, there is no room for error. A reading that turns off even a small amount can result in the user ingesting too much or not enough insulin. With the latter, the sugar of the diabetic remains too high and can affect things like the user’s vision. If too much insulin is injected, a diabetic can suffer from hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and disappear.
