• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Our Services
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter
  • Top Nav Social Icons

Mobile ID World

Mobile ID World

Identification Revolution

  • Mobile ID
    • What Is Mobile ID?
    • Identity Associations
    • Premier Partners
    • FAQ
  • News
  • Solutions
    • Behavioral
    • Facial Recognition
    • Fingerprint Biometrics
    • Iris Biometrics
    • Second Factor
    • Smart Cards
    • Smartphones
    • Vital
    • Voice
    • Wearable Tech
    • Other
  • Applications
    • Access Control
    • Cloud Technology
    • Commerce
    • Enterprise
    • Healthcare
    • Identification
    • Internet of Things
    • Law Enforcement
    • Strong Online Authentication
  • Exclusive
    • Interviews
    • Featured Articles
    • Podcasts
  • Companies
  • Events

Code, Marketing Materials Suggest Google Planned Face Unlock for Pixel 6

November 12, 2021

Code, Marketing Materials Suggest Google Planned Face Unlock for Pixel 6

Google originally planned to include a Face Unlock feature in the Pixel 6 smartphone, evidence suggests; and it could still bring it back. The evidences comes by way of XDA Developers, known for its investigative efforts to dig into various products’ source code.

XDA’s team had previously discovered evidence of a planned Face Unlock feature ahead of the Pixel 6’s launch, when a UK-based retailer accidentally leaked preliminary marketing materials. Now, an “XDA Recognized Developer” operating under the moniker “Freak07” has discovered code changes to a Pixel 6 configuration file that suggest Google was working on a Face Unlock feature to which it referred internally as “Tuscany”.

It still isn’t clear why Google opted to drop the feature before the Pixel 6’s launch, but it was a consequential decision. It left the device’s in-display fingerprint scanner as its only biometric modality for user authentication and, as it turned out, this feature ended up being the one salient failing of an otherwise well-received flagship smartphone.

Frustrated consumers have been airing the complaints on social media, and tech reviewers have attested that the sensor is slower than those of other smartphones on the market, and less reliable in terms of false rejections. Google has responded via its official Twitter account, suggesting that the device’s fingerprint scanning may be the result of “enhanced security algorithms”.

The debacle has been notable for the way it has illuminated the state of the art in mobile biometrics. In-display fingerprint sensors are still a fairly new innovation, and this was Google’s first attempt at the technology. Nevertheless, consumers are so used to the convenience of mobile fingerprint scanning that a slight misstep in getting the technology right has resulted in numerous complaints from Google’s customers.

It also shows the importance of including facial recognition as an option on mobile devices. After Apple catalyzed interest in Face Unlock systems with its iPhone X in 2017, the modality is now commonplace, and Google itself has deployed the technology impressively in its Pixel 4 and 4a smartphones.

XDA Developers’ Pranob Mehrotra believes that Google still may decide to correct course, writing that “the fact that it hasn’t removed all evidence from the source suggests that Face Unlock could make its way to the Pixel 6 series in the future.” Meanwhile, others have suggested that a software update could also improve the functionality of the in-display sensor. Either would be a relief to the Pixel 6 users who rely on biometric authentication, and are presumably otherwise happy with their devices.

Sources: XDA Developers, Android Headlines

Filed Under: Industry News Tagged With: Biometric, biometrics, face biometrics, Face Unlock, facial recognition, fingerprint recognition, Google Pixel 6, in-display fingerprint sensors, mobile biometrics, Pixel 6

Related News & Articles

Yoti Brings FRANKD to Scottish Tech Accelerator

Nuance Tops Opus List of Virtual Assistant Developers

Zwipe Launches Self-Enrollment Solutions for Biometric Cards

Primary Sidebar

Learn About Mobile ID and Aviation

Tweets

Sponsored Links

facetec logo

FaceTec’s patented, industry-leading 3D Face Authentication software anchors digital identity, creating a chain of trust from user onboarding to ongoing authentication on all modern smart devices and webcams. FaceTec’s 3D FaceMaps™ make trusted, remote identity verification finally possible. As the only technology backed by a persistent spoof bounty program and NIST/iBeta Certified Liveness Detection, FaceTec is the global standard for Liveness and 3D Face Matching with millions of users on six continents in financial services, border security, transportation, blockchain, e-voting, social networks, online dating and more. www.facetec.com

FACEPHI is a global leader in Facial Recognition technology and in Mobile Biometrics technologies. With a strong concentration in the financial sector, FacePhi’s product is rapidly becoming a service used by banks all over the world. Its implementation doesn’t just save money, it is also a way to attract clients and build loyalty, while increasing the security of transactions for both the customer and the business. To learn more about FacePhi, visit https://www.facephi.com/en/

Recent Posts

  • Mastercard Solution Certified Under UK’s Digital ID Framework
  • Transatlantic Digital Traveler Identity Project Gets High-Profile Tech Partner
  • Digital Identity Tech Demo Online Event
  • Mobile ID Comes to Another US Campus
  • New York DMV Developing Mobile Driver’s License

Footer

  • About Us
  • Company Directory
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Archives
  • CCPA: Do not sell my personal info.

Follow Us

Copyright © 2023 MobileIDWorld