Apple in 2017: “Nothing has ever been simpler, more natural and simpler. We call this Face ID ”. This is a real executive budget, when the company introduced facial recognition to the iPhone X.
Apple in 2021: “Nothing has ever been … less natural or more difficult. We call it Face No ID. ”This is a very well-made quote, which reflects the breakdown of facial recognition now that masks are essential pieces.
The global pandemic has thrown a wrench into Apple’s advanced cup scanner – our faces can’t be our passwords when our faces aren’t visible. And writing access codes in sight of strangers and co-workers alike can pose a security risk, especially for health care providers and other front-line workers who spend hours with an PPE.
Well, no mask or no mask, Apple’s Face ID works again, a bit.
With the iOS 14.5 update, released Thursday through the company’s public beta program and expected to go on sale this spring, you can unlock your iPhone without typing in a password, even if your face is dark. Just a small expensive catch: you need an Apple Watch, which needs to be unlocked and on your wrist. Talk about a well-designed Apple trap. That aside, this synergy is fantastic.