iPhones and Face Recognition

By Jeralyn, Section Civil Liberties
Posted on Thu Sep 14, 2017 at 02:13:56 PM EST
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The iPhone X (ten) does away with the home button and fingerprint ID and uses Face ID instead.

What's wrong with it?

From Slate: In the event you get arrested, a cop can just put your phone in front of your face and get all the stuff on it.

Even more likely, in my opinion, since most of us won't get arrested, muggers and robbers will know they can put your phone in front of your face and get all your banking info -- and after emptying your bank account at an ATM or charging up a storm for a few hours, sell the phone to a hacker.

Here's what Edward Snowden thinks.

I need a new phone now. The iPhone 8 and 8plus, which are revamped versions of the iPhone 7, are taking pre orders starting tomorrow. [More...]

Why not get a Samsung Galaxy 8 Note 8? Because the fingerprint reader to get into your phone is on the back and hard to reach with one hand.

I stopped in At&T last week to make sure that my grandfathered plan with unlimited data could be transferred to a new iPhone. It can, but they have even better and cheaper unlimited data plans now, and one that adds Direct TV streaming for $10 even if you don't have Direct TV with a satellite at home.

So many phones and carriers to choose from. I'm going to pre order one of them today, I have a feeling it will be the iPhone 8 (not plus) or the Samsung Note 8. If you can opt out of face recognition and use a four digit passcode for the iPhone X, then I'll probably get that for the size.

Is anyone here considering one these phones?

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iPhones and Face Recognition | 33 comments (33 topical)

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I was thinking about getting the 8. (5.00 / 1) (#5)
by caseyOR on Thu Sep 14, 2017 at 10:00:43 PM EST

I am concerned about the phone being, essentially made of glass. It seems that people have a hard enough time with the glass front breaking. If the phone is glass front and back with a thin layer of aluminum wrapped around the edge does that not make cracking/breaking so much more likely?

For someone like me who usually carries their phone in a front pocket the all glass phone is worrisome.

Wireless charging is not worth the risk of greater breakage to me. I don't have a problem keeping track of my cables and chargers.

isn't the 8? (none / 0) (#6)
by linea on Thu Sep 14, 2017 at 10:20:40 PM EST

just an upgrade to the 7? i have the 7 Plus and it is very sturdy. it gets tossed about and abused in my handbag daily.


: yes there is an 8 and 8 plus (none / 0) (#7)
by Jeralyn on Thu Sep 14, 2017 at 10:27:16 PM EST

which are just upgrades to the 7/7 plus essentially, and a X. The links I provided explain. That's why I included them.

: The 8 and the 8 plus are very jacked (none / 0) (#8)
by caseyOR on Thu Sep 14, 2017 at 10:49:57 PM EST

up improvements on the 7. The 8s are both made totally of glass, front and back. This is to facilitate wireless charging.
The 7 is not all glass and cannot be charged wirelessly. My concern has to do with the sturdiness of an all glass phone.

Casey, the glass has gotten so much (none / 0) (#27)
by ruffian on Sat Sep 16, 2017 at 03:28:17 PM EST

stronger int he last couple of models. And watching the presentation now, this new glass is even stronger, and steel reinforced. I have no idea how they do that.

Did you have an iPhone 4? IIRC it also had glass on both sides and I thought it was fine. Actually it was my favorite old iPhone as far as feel goes.

If you are one that likes to use a case anyway, it might not matter. I don't use a case unless I'm traveling and am throwing it in and out of my purse all the time, and I wouldn't let the all glass design stop me. But that's me - living on the edge - lol.


Thanks, ruffian. (none / 0) (#28)
by caseyOR on Sat Sep 16, 2017 at 05:12:36 PM EST

My current phone is a 5s. I like the 5s, but the battery is not what it used to be, and other glitchy problems are popping up.

I do keep a case on my phone all the time. Sounds like my fears about the glass are unfounded. I will wait awhile and see what people say after having the 8s for a few month. Unless my current phone becomes too annoying. If that happens I will be forced to buy a new one.


: Yes, that is always a good plan! (none / 0) (#29)
by ruffian on Sat Sep 16, 2017 at 05:27:05 PM EST

Let the early adopters report back! Hope the i5 hangs in there a while. You will definitely notice a big speed and battery improvement even if you get a 7.

Hmmmm, I have titanium crystal instead of lead (none / 0) (#30)
by Militarytracy on Sun Sep 17, 2017 at 11:06:25 AM EST

Because I get mad about easily chipping edges. It is much stronger, the edges don't chip. But dropped one accidently on slate and it was like a gun shot, it exploded. I found tiny pieces for months.


Watching the Apple presentation now (5.00 / 2) (#26)
by ruffian on Sat Sep 16, 2017 at 03:22:15 PM EST

Apparently the glass is steel reinforced...somehow. Actually the iPhone 4 was also glass on b