Apple announces biometric upgrades for MacBook Pro, Face ID mask bypass

Apple has upgraded its 13-inch MacBook Pro with Magic Keyboard with Touch Bar and Touch ID fingerprint biometrics, double storage for standards configurations and 2.8 times faster performance through 10th-generation quad-core Intel Core processors, the company announced.

The new MacBook Pro comes with Touch ID for fast login and online transaction security. The device has built-in security and privacy due to the Apple T2 Security Chip that runs software checks, encrypts data for SSD storage and protects Touch ID information such as online passwords and online purchases. The new MacBook Pro operates on macOS Catalina, the company’s latest operating system.

Apple has also released its fourth generation beta releases of iOS 13.5 and iPadOS 13.5 which include Exposure Notification and optimized Face ID for people who wear masks to unlock their iPhones, Apple Insider reports.

The Face ID function will skip the facial recognition process when a mask is detected and will ask the user to enter the passcode.

Developers in the test program can download the betas from the Apple Developer Center, while public betas should be available in a few days. Release notes provide the software hooks for the Exposure Notification API needed to develop COVID-19 contact tracing apps.

Some Apple users have resorted to workarounds to use Face ID while keeping their masks on.

Google Drive supports Face ID, Touch ID authentication on iOS, iPadOS

Google’s new Privacy Screen now features support for Face ID and Touch ID authentication for Apple users accessing Google Drive on iPhones and iPads, writes The Verge.

The feature can be activated each time the user switches to a different app or it can be delayed to optimize multi-tasking that involves switching from one app to the other. Google warns the new feature might overlook protection for notifications, some Siri features, and files and photos shared.

Announced last month, the feature is already available in the app update.

Article Topics

access management  |  Apple  |  biometrics  |  Face ID  |  facial recognition  |  fingerprint readers  |  laptops  |  tablets  |  Touch ID