We all know that the touch screen interface of the iPhone revolutionized how mobile device owners could easily control their gadgets. Anyone can use any of his fingers to navigate and control their phones. But now, it seems that Apple is contemplating on a wild idea to integrate finger print recognition of the iPhone, something that should draw some cheers.

The abstract for the July 2nd filing states that a device, such as an iPhone perhaps, could “store user input signatures, including fingerprint signatures. The user input signatures can, in turn, be associated with user-selectable commands. When a user provides user input (including fingerprints) to the electronic device that matches one of the stored user input signatures, the device can initiate the associated user-selectable command.”

Obviously this is a security feature that will certainly be most welcome. But this also means that the iPhone is limited to the owner’s actions. That and some other people whose signatures would be stored will be the only ones to use the device. It could work and should this new feature pull through, people will surely love the new feature if and when it becomes a reality.

(Source) IT Wire

Tags: Apple, Apple, cheers, electronic device, finger print, fingerprint, fingerprints, fingers, gadgets, iPhone, iPhone, mobile device, new feature, security feature, signatures, touch screen interface

There is no doubt that iPhones are some of the most technology advanced phones today, but did you know that new evidence is showing some interesting new features on the horizon for the Apple phone? According to some reports, patent applications for the company include things like RFID tag readers, fingerprint identification technology as well as haptic feedback.

The haptic feedback will allow users to use their phones or MP3 players without actually using the screen, a good option for driving. The RFID reader will be added to those phones with touch screens. They will imbed these readers in the iPhone or iPod to get the phone into corporate and industrial areas. The fingerprint identification will help users to use each of their fingers to access different information on the device.

Tags: Apple, Apple, Cell Phones, fingerprint, iPhone, ipod, mp3, rfid readers, touch screens

What will the next generation iPhone bring? Well it’s a little too early to speculate on that but Apple is certainly working on it. A few new patents have emerged and they depict a few new features like haptic screens, RFID readers and fingerprint ID. The picture clearly suggests that such technology would definitely apply to the iPhone or the iPod touch.

The screen is using a grid of piezoelectronic actuators that will offer a tactile vibration response every time you press the screen. Do we need a haptic touchscreen? Yes we do:

However, one of a touchscreen’s biggest advantages (i.e., the ability to utilize the same physical space for different functions) is also one of a touchscreen’s biggest disadvantages. When the user is unable to view the display (because the user is occupied with other tasks), the user can only feel the smooth hard surface of the touchscreen, regardless of the shape, size and location of the virtual buttons and/or other display elements. This makes it difficult for users to find icons, hyperlinks, textboxes or other user-selectable input elements that are being displayed, if any are even being displayed, without looking at the display.

As for fingerprint identification or RFID reader, these are not exactly must-have features but they would be also useful in a future iPhone.

Tags: Apple, Apple, fingerprint, haptic, ID, iPhone, Mobile News, patent, Portable Devices, rfid readers

Dell announced its newest laptops in the Vostro line-up for small businesses including the new 13.3 inch Vostro 1310 and 15.4 inch Vostro 1510. A 17-inch version, the 1710, will also be unveiled in mid-May. Dell claims that these Vostros are the result of listening to customer feedback and quicly acting on them to improve the existing series. One of the examples highlighted was the fact that customers wanted data protection and pre-installed security software.

The new Vostro 1310 and 1510 feature a sleek design with slot optical drive making them thinner. The 13.3 inch Vostro features a 94% viewing area of a 14.1 inch model, while at the same time weighs 20% less. Dell has also thrown in 10GB of Dell DataSafe Online Backup with the laptops. Added security measures include fingerprint eaders, Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2, McAfee Total Protection and others.

The Dell Vostro 1310 starts at US $749 and the 15.4-inch Dell Vostro 1510 starts at $599. Both are available today in Europe, Middle East and Africa, and will soon hit the North American shores and Asiapac/Japan region on May 1 and May 5 respectively.

Dell

via press

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Tags: fingerprint, Laptops, tpm, vostro