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Do you use a passcode on your iPhone? Apple marketing boss Phil Schiller thinks you should, and even has a new feature on the iPhone 5S that will let you make iTunes purchases with the touch of a finger.
Apple took the wraps off the iPhone 5S on Tuesday, saving one of the best features for last with Touch ID, a new hardware-based feature which allows users to unlock their device with only a fingerprint and even purchase content the same way.
Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller explained that Touch ID uses a ring sensor built into the home button of the iPhone 5S. Only 170 microns thin with a resolution of 500 ppi, the feature offers 360-degree readability by scanning the sub-epidermal skin layers of the user’s finger or thumb.
A stainless steel ring detects the presence of the user’s finger, even if they don’t actually depress the button. Best of all, Touch ID is baked right into iOS 7, so iTunes purchases can be authenticated without the need for a cumbersome password.
The iPhone 5S starts at $199 for 16GB with two-year agreement, available for purchase online or at Apple retail stores next Friday, Sept. 20.
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(Image courtesy of Engadget)
