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Smartphone fingerprint scanners – what else should they be used for?

posted by Nick T. / Oct 14, 2013, 6:18 AM

Smartphone fingerprint scanners – what else should they be used for?

The Touch ID fingerprint scanner is one of the many cool features built into the iPhone 5s. It can be used instead of a lock screen PIN, as well as a substitute for the user's iTunes password. And from the looks of it, Apple's smartphone surely won't be the last handset to offer the perk – HTC just announced its One Max phablet, and as expected, the handset is equipped with a fingerprint scanner on its back. Again, it can be set to replace one's lock screen pattern, or to launch the user's favorite apps. Yet strangely, that's pretty much all that the fingerprint scanners on these smartphones are used for, even though we can see them being useful in other scenarios as well. Allow us to explain what we have in mind.

Uses for fingerprint scanners on smartphones

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16 Comments

1. emadshiny

Posts: 1144; Member since: Dec 05, 2012

Its still a gimmick. Lets wait for some innovative companies to upgrade it to its highest levels.

posted on Oct 14, 2013, 6:23 AM 7

14. rihel_95

Posts: 305; Member since: Mar 21, 2012

Loved point 3, and LoL at point 5!

posted on Oct 14, 2013, 2:54 PM 0

15. ZeroCide

Posts: 816; Member since: Jan 09, 2013

So what this article is saying is that the this "feature" provides nothing that the phone didn't already have before in some other form, which may or may not have been easier to use. True seems like gimick feature.

posted on Oct 14, 2013, 3:08 PM 0

16. haseebzahid

Posts: 1853; Member since: Feb 22, 2012

its not cool nor gimic it is something that we must ask to be removed from the phone othervise the phone snatchers will also cutoff our fingers along

posted on Oct 15, 2013, 4:23 AM 0

2. makio9

Posts: 48; Member since: Jul 23, 2012

House Doors! Definitely homes

posted on Oct 14, 2013, 6:24 AM 0

3. makio9

Posts: 48; Member since: Jul 23, 2012

I'll take the security risk, I'm as lazy as they come and I want to stick my hand out. Nothing more.

posted on Oct 14, 2013, 6:25 AM 0

4. chunky1x

Posts: 270; Member since: Mar 28, 2010

My porn sites.

posted on Oct 14, 2013, 6:25 AM 3

5. scriptwriter

Posts: 396; Member since: Nov 13, 2012

Finger print scanners on smartphones are old tech (Motorola Atrix). How bout making a phone with an iris (eye) scanner?

posted on Oct 14, 2013, 6:31 AM 8

7. Raihanpatel111 unregistered

Nice thought man.... But I think finger-print scanner is enough for smart phone....

posted on Oct 14, 2013, 6:55 AM 0

8. taikucing unregistered

but apple always claim they are the first

posted on Oct 14, 2013, 7:12 AM 2

11. bucky

Posts: 3791; Member since: Sep 30, 2009

Lol you guys are fighting amongst yourselves.

posted on Oct 14, 2013, 9:09 AM 1

6. eddyphone

Posts: 9; Member since: Sep 17, 2013

well I am not thrilled by that feature, simple

posted on Oct 14, 2013, 6:52 AM 1

13. andynaija

Posts: 1262; Member since: Sep 08, 2012

What feature?

posted on Oct 14, 2013, 1:09 PM 1

9. SonyPS4

Posts: 347; Member since: May 21, 2013

Fujitsu's Arrows Z ISW13F for Japan had this feature 1.5 years ago.

posted on Oct 14, 2013, 7:34 AM 1

10. DONUT

Posts: 436; Member since: Jun 27, 2013

the first slide is very similar to LG's Guest Mode. however, considering how fingerprint scanners are easily "hacked" (granted not many ppl would go through the trouble), personally i think LG's Guest Mode is better

posted on Oct 14, 2013, 7:54 AM 2

12. jad.boutary

Posts: 107; Member since: Sep 04, 2013

I like the switch off setting hope they will do it.. maybe i will ask some developers at xda to do it

posted on Oct 14, 2013, 11:57 AM 2

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