Galaxy S6’s improved fingerprint scanner lets you log into websites with one touch [VIDEO]

The Samsung Galaxy S6 features improved finger scanning hardware that gives us something functionally identical to Apple’s highly-touted Touch ID, but its software-side enhancements build a case for the S6 as the benchmark for fingerprint authentication. Take for example the newly added ability to login to your favorite websites with just the touch of your finger.

While not a full-fledged password manager, Samsung’s finger scanner now sports the ability to securely store login credentials for use in the phone’s web browser. Find the site you want to login to, scan your finger, and the phone’s software will autofill the form. No more typing in usernames or fumbling over your super secure passwords (they are super secure, right?).

The first time you log into a site, the Galaxy S6 will ask you if you want to store the credentials and use the finger scanner to authenticate website sign ins in the future (provided you have already set up the fingerprint reader). You’ll have to do this individually at first for each login, so you can choose which sites require authentication.

While Apple has done a lot to improve the Touch ID experience and open it up to third-party developers, it has been slow to roll out core functionality in the same way that Samsung has with their Galaxy line. Before, we could say Samsung’s hardware lagged behind, but now it seems Apple may be the one with some catching up to do.

Qualcomm’s 3D fingerprint scanner could finally allow Samsung to ditch physical home buttons [VIDEO]

Alongside an announcement that they’ve teamed up with CyanogenMod, Qualcomm had some other interesting news to share this morning. The first bit of news pertains to the next generation of Snapdragon.

The details are scarce at the moment, but we’re told to expect Snapdragon “820” to be built with a FinFET 14nm or 16nm process, which would make for a physically smaller die that uses less power. Qualcomm will also be taking this opportunity to introduce their own mobile 64-bit CPU architecture named “Kryo,” which is a custom ARM v8-A chip. Sampling will begin later this year, which should mean first devices will start to use the new chipset as soon as this time next year.

But that’s not even the most exciting news out of Qualcomm today. The company announced a new fingerprint scanning technology that utilizes 3D imaging through supersonic waves to capture a user’s fingerprint instead of 2D-based sensors currently used by the likes of Samsung and Apple.

Dubbed “Sense ID,” the fingerprint scanner’s ability to capture a print using supersonic waves enables the scanner to be used even if the scanner’s surface is covered by plastic, glass and metal. Imagine a device that doesn’t require a physical home button or any other visible, tangible part that the user has to interface with in order to enable fingerprint scanning — !%&* just got real.

Samsung currently uses Synaptics’ surface area fingerprint scanner for the Samsung Galaxy S6. As you’ll see in our quick video showing the feature it doesn’t require you to swipe anymore, but it does still require a physical surface (and we suspect that’s the main reason Samsung still uses physical home buttons aside from visual differentiation). Apple would wet itself if Samsung could finally meet everyone’s wishes to ditch that button and place a scanner beneath a small bezel area unseen by the user.

More than just practicality and design, the ultrasonic 3D imaging also makes Qualcomm’s implementation more secure. The sensor’s ability to map the surface area — including the depth of the ridges and all the other unique imperfections in your fingers — makes it harder for no-gooders to spoof a 2D pattern based on your fingerprint.

Qualcomm says some of their current chips (namely the Snapdragon 810 and the Snapdragon 425) already support Sense ID, so device manufacturers planning to use their latest silicon will have the option to put these scanners inside forthcoming phones without much issue. Qualcomm is also working on a standalone solution for even more flexibility.

As good as the fingerprint scanning technology on the iPhone 6 and Samsung Galaxy S6 is right now, Qualcomm’s innovative take on it has us looking forward. We can’t wait to see who’ll be the first to take advantage.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Fingerprint Scanner is now as good as the iPhone 6 [VIDEO]

Apple introduced “Touch ID” on the iPhone 5s back in 2013. Not to be outdone by Apple, Samsung also introduced a fingerprint scanner on their next device. The problem with Samsung’s implementation was it didn’t work quite like the iPhone. You had to do a weird swiping motion instead of just holding your finger on the home button. The Samsung Galaxy S6 fixes this problem.

Setting up a new fingerprint on the Galaxy S6 is remarkably similar to how it’s done on the iPhone. You’re asked to press and remove your finger in a variety of orientations so it can learn your entire fingerprint. After successfully scanning your fingerprint it will ask you to set up a backup pin code, and then you’re all set. This is where it get’s much better.

All you have to do is press the home button once to wake up the phone and then leave your finger on the button and the lock screen will fade away. It’s very quick and definitely a lot easier than drawing a pattern or typing in a password or pin code. This is the way a fingerprint scanner should work, and we’re really glad Samsung fixed it. See it in action below.

Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge’s latest maintenance update brings improved fingerprint scanner recognition

Samsung’s supposed memory leak update for the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge have yet to see the light of day in official capacity, but another important maintenance upgrade seems to be headed out to the handsets. Folks in various Asian and European countries are beginning to see verison XXU1AOE3 pop up.

It’s a relatively light download at 159.29MB, and it brings with it the following changes:

• Improved fingerprint recognition process


• New feature in Photo Editor (no word yet on what this new feature is)


• Improved compatibility with accessories


• Enhanced user interface for Email, Music, S Planner and other apps

As always, you can expect this thing to roll out in stages, with unlocked devices likely getting the first swing at the new goods. Carrier variants are subject to testing and certification, so it may be a while yet before you’re able to pull it down.

[via SamMobile]

Alleged OnePlus 2 leak shows phone could have wooden back with fingerprint scanner

The OnePlus 2 is on its way, and the OnePlus team has started their unapologetic hype train leading up to the big July 27th reveal. Sad news for them, though, as PhoneArena seems to have procured shots of the thing ahead of launch.

There are 4 initial takeaways just by taking a quick glimpse at the photos:

1. It does resemble the OnePlus One ever-so-slightly.


2. It seems to have a metal frame, though this could just as easily be a plastic border made to look like metal.


3. The back appears to sport wood, which would be a very nice touch (but could also be a premium wooden cover that won’t come stock with the device).


4. There’s some sort of dimple on the back cover. The OnePlus logo is clearly visible beneath it, so one could surmise that the dimple is the fingerprint scanner rumored to be part of the kit.

And that’s just what we know from this supposed leak (it’s not known how reputable the source of the leak is). OnePlus has already spilled the beans on a couple of device details, such as the fact that it’ll use USB Type-C, as well as confirming the use of a modified Snapdragon 810 chipset that goes easy on the heat.

Other rumors suggest we’ll be getting another large screen in the 5.5-inch to 5.7-inch range which has a strong chance of boasting 2560 x 1440 resolution. The phone will also obviously launch with Lollipop-based OxygenOS. One last tidbit confirmed by the company is that the device will cost more than 2, which doesn’t exactly give us a solid price tag but at least tells us to expect the base storage model to cost higher than its predecessor.

[Updated to note that there’s a chance this could be a fake render.]

Google retrofits Nexus 5 with a fingerprint scanner to show off Android Pay [VIDEO]

One of Android M’s key features is its native support for fingerprint scanning hardware. Given there’s no actual Nexus device with a fingerprint reader for Google to test out their latest software APIs, they had to get creative. What they somehow managed to do was retrofit a Nexus 5 with fingerprint reader to show off some of the new Android M features in their new developer video.

Now we’re not going to go as far as saying this could be some sort of hint that a revamped Nexus 5 with a fingerprint reader will launch later this year… but it might. Okay, it probably wont. Not in its current state anyway. But we have heard rumors that Google could be planning both a 5.2-inch and 5.7-inch Nexus models this year.

Have a look for yourself at Google’s retrofitted Nexus 5 in their latest video down below (fast forward to 2:26) and tell us how excited you’d be for a reasonably compact Nexus smartphone that wouldn’t strain your thumbs. Oh, a fingerprint scanner would be a nice addition too.