Tag: Iris Scanner

Android P To Support Iris Scanner

Samsung introduced fingerprint scanner on the Samsung Galaxy S5, it made into stock android on Android Marshmallow. Samsung introduced multi-window mode on the Galaxy Note 4, it made into native Android on Android Nougat. Now Google is all set to adopt the support for Iris scanner in the Android P natively.

What does it mean?

This means that the Google Pixel 3 lineup from Google is expected to feature Iris scanner. Companies like OnePlus, Honor, and Xiaomi have already come up with the phones with face recognition. However, the technology used on these devices is not foolproof like the Iris Scanning.

In fact, the Samsung Galaxy S9 uses both Iris scanner and Face scanning to improve the over experience. Do note that, Samsung is the only mainstream smartphone maker to offer Iris scanner.

Is Iris scanner a safe authentication method?

For the most part yes. It scans different parts of the eyeball, which are very distinct even on twins. However, as of now, the one has to look at the phone from a specific distance to unlock the smartphone. Similarly, it takes an additional second more than the fingerprint scanner.

In fact, one cannot fool it using a 3D model or an identical twin like the Face ID. So, it is safe but not the fastest thing in the world. Even the hardware requirement for the Iris scanner is not as complex as Face ID, so it will be easy to mass produce.

Conclusion

The implementation of Iris scanner has been spotted on the alpha build of the Android P. Google should officially announce this new feature at the Google I/O 2018. The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL could be the first set of non-Samsung smartphones to feature this new technology.

March 1, 2018
Leaked: Samsung Galaxy S9, S9+ To Feature ‘Intelligent Scan’

The Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ are poised to be the most high profile unveiling of MWC 2018. A lot is expected from the two new flagship phones in terms of new features and improved camera performance. It is fair to assume that the design of the Galaxy S9 and S9+ won’t be turning any heads. Samsung might still spring a few surprises at the launch event especially pertaining to the biometric system.

In an APK teardown of the Settings app in the latest unreleased Android Oreo beta for the Galaxy Note8, an XDA member ‘mweinbach’ has found a few strings relating to ‘Intelligent Scan’. These strings could hint at a possible Galaxy S9 feature since neither the Galaxy S8 or Galaxy Note8 offer such a feature.

Iris Scanner on Galaxy S8

What Is Intelligent Scan?

There isn’t much known about the feature as of now. The same XDA member has also uploaded a Samsung help graphic. It basically explains to the users how this feature works. The seven-second graphic barely gets into any details of this new feature. No mechanism or hardware enhancement has been explained in the graphic. It only showcases that with ‘Intelligent Scan’ the biometric system will work in all lighting conditions, in theory at least.

Galaxy S9, S9+ Expected Design

Apparently, the new feature is a combination of face and iris scanning. This extra layer will improve accuracy and security of the system in extremely dark or lit up environments. These are the situations where iris scanning and facial recognition systems fail. There have been reports that suggest the Samsung Galaxy S9 devices might have a 3D sensor equipped front-camera for improved biometrics.

While a feature like this will be convenient, especially for people who still don’t like rear-facing fingerprint sensors. A major issue with this authentication system is third-party support. Unlike a fingerprint sensor which uses the standard Android API, Samsung-specific authentication systems have their own APIs and implementations. This means that Intelligent Scanning will only be used for unlocking a device but, in-app support for things like banking might not be available. Something that Face ID on the iPhone X does well.

January 29, 2018
Samsung Galaxy S9 Iris Scanner Will Work In The Dark

The Samsung Galaxy S9 is expected to be a revision to the Popular Samsung Galaxy S8 which was launched in early 2017. We have seen several leaks so far, including one which mentions a record-breaking screen-to-body ratio. Samsung Galaxy S9 may be an incremental upgrade as far as design is concerned but, there might be a few monumental upgrades as far as hardware and software are concerned. A new report claims that Samsung will upgrade the iris scanner on Galaxy S9 to 3MP from the 2Mp scanner found on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note8.

An industry source familiar with the matter told the publication that the iris scanner in the Galaxy S9 will have an improved camera lens and functions to help it better recognise users’ eyes. This move, as much as it is an upgrade, can be attributed to the rise in popularity of Apple’s Face ID and Huawei’s unveiling of its own facial recognition technology.

The source said:

The iris lens will be improved to 3-megapixels from 2-megapixels of Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 to capture clearer images. The scanner will better recognize users’ irises even when they wear eyeglasses, move their eyeballs or are in a too dark or too light environment.

Samsung is expected to introduce the iris scanning feature in its upcoming mid-range phones as well, such as the Galaxy A8+. A leak revealed that the Galaxy S8+ will have an infinity display, which was exclusive to Samsung’s flagship phones so far. Introduction of iris scanner in the Galaxy A series might not be far-fetched.

Samsung Galaxy S8+

“Iris scanner is the safest biometric authentication (among iris, fingerprint and face recognition) and we will continue to improve the system for upcoming smartphones for safer banking transactions,” a Samsung spokesperson told the publication, without making any reference to the Galaxy S9.

The Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ are expected to be launched at either MWC in February or at a separate event in March (similar to the Galaxy S8 and S8+).

December 11, 2017
LG G7 To Have An Enhanced Iris Scanner

The LG G7 is the next flagship smartphone that the company will launch early next year. A LG patent has been discovered which reveals that LG is preparing an advanced iris scanner that might arrive in time for the launch of the LG G7. The iris scanner is supposed to be secure enough to not just unlock the device but, also protect sensitive information such as bank account details to rival Apple’s Face ID.

The iris scanner checks the biometric characteristics of the eye and sets up with a light screen and a dark screen, since the iris changes in size, depending on how much light gets to it. Then the sensor will check what are you looking at and if you are the owner of the phone, the sensitive app will be available for opening.

Iris Scanners normally work with infrared light but, LG has developed a camera which can switch from infrared to a regular one. This means that there will be fewer sensors which will lead to a smaller bezel on top which means no more notch.

There isn’t much know about the LG G7 except the fact that it will launch close to the Samsung Galaxy S9 which means that similar to 2017, it will be powered by a year old chip while the Galaxy S9 will have the new and improved Snapdragon 845 unless circumstances change in 2018.

December 8, 2017
Samsung Galaxy S9 To Take On iPhone X’s Face ID

As 2017 comes to an end barely any exciting smartphone launches left to look forward to, the Galaxy S9 is the next phone everyone wants to talk about. It appears that Samsung has plans of taking on Apple in more than just advertisements. A new report suggests that the Galaxy S9 will have a new and improved iris scanner to compete with the iPhone X’s Face ID feature.

Samsung is developing a new software to make facial recognition on the Galaxy S9 faster than the Galaxy S8. It appears that Samsung is not favouring any hardware upgrade, and the Galaxy S9 will basically be an incremental upgrade as far as specifications are concerned. However, Samsung is planning to introduce a host of software tweaks to reduce the delay in recognising the face and scanning the iris of users.

This means that Samsung will avoid going for a “notch” at the top of the phone since it will rely mostly on the software to do its job rather than stuffing a host of sensors along with the front facing camera.

The rumours of what the Samsung Galaxy S9 will look like and what it will offer have increased ever since the iPhone X was launched. A recent benchmark listing reveals that the upcoming flagship phone will most likely be powered by the new Exynos 9810 chipset, which was announced earlier in November. The phone scores 2680 on the single-core Geekbench 4 test and a 7787 on the multi-core test. While the scores are impressive, the smartphone doesn’t even come close to iPhone X‘s single-core score of 4197 and multi-core score of 10051.

The Galaxy S9 will have the same screen size as the Galaxy S8 and similarly the Galaxy S9+ will have the same screen size as the Galaxy S8+. What will be different is the size of the bezels. The top and bottom bezels will be thinner than the ones found on the 2017 flagship phones.

There were rumours that the Galaxy S9 will have a screen-embedded fingerprint sensor but, a recent report claims that Samsung will introduce this technology only in the Galaxy Note9 in late 2018. This means that the fingerprint sensor on the Galaxy S9 will remain at the back of the phone but, might have a new position.

November 21, 2017