By Joanna Stern
Apple in 2017: "Nothing has ever been simpler, more natural,
more effortless. We call this Face ID." This is an actual executive
quote, from back when the company introduced facial recognition on
the iPhone X.
Apple in 2021: "Nothing has ever been...less natural or more
difficult. We call this Face No ID." This is a very made-up quote,
reflecting the breakdown of facial recognition now that masks are
essential apparel.
The global pandemic has thrown a wrench into Apple's
cutting-edge, lickety-split mug scanner: Our faces can't be our
passwords when our faces can't be seen. And typing passcodes in
full view of strangers and co-workers alike can be a security risk,
especially for health-care providers and other frontline workers
who spend hours on end wearing PPE.
Well, mask or no mask, Apple's Face ID works again -- sort
of.
With the iOS 14.5 update -- released Thursday through the
company's public beta software program, and expected to go into
wide release this spring -- you can unlock your iPhone without
typing a passcode, even if your face is obscured. Just one
expensive little catch: You need an Apple Watch -- and it needs to
be unlocked and on your wrist. Talk about a well-engineered Apple
trap. That aside, this synergy is great.
I've followed the developments of this crucial, life-altering
struggle for nearly a year now. Last April, there was an effort to
create Face ID-compatible masks. (Surprise! They didn't catch on.)
Soon after, with iOS 13.5, Apple made the passcode screen come up
faster when the phone can't see your face. (It's still a pain.)
Compared to those, this new watch-dependent solution is almost
as good as the naked-face real thing. It's fast and easy to set up.
I've been testing a pre-release version for the last few days,
unlocking my iPhone while wearing all sorts of masks, in all sorts
of conditions. In anticipation of your questions, I've gathered the
answers:
How Does It Work?
If your watch is unlocked on your wrist and your iPhone can't
read your face, your watch will gently buzz and your iPhone will
unlock. And it does it really fast. Check out the stats:
-- Unlocking with no mask, using Face ID: 0.8 seconds
-- Unlocking with mask, using watch trick: 1.4 seconds
-- Unlocking iPhone SE with Touch ID fingerprint scanner: 0.7
seconds
-- Unlocking with a passcode: A year. Fine, three whole
seconds
Here's what's happening behind the scenes: The array of sensors
in that notch at the top of your iPhone's screen -- what Apple
calls the TrueDepth camera -- tries to identify you as usual. If it
can't see your nose and mouth, it looks for your unlocked watch to
unlock your iPhone.
If it doesn't see any face -- or sees an unmasked face it
doesn't think is yours -- it stays locked.
How Secure Is It?
This solution is only as secure as your passcodes. Remember,
this isn't using any biometrics to authenticate you.
But let's pretend some bad guy stole your Apple Watch and
thought that was his ticket into your iPhone. First, he'd have to
put on your watch and enter your watch passcode. (It locks whenever
you remove it from your wrist.) Then, to get this whole auto-unlock
trick to work, he'd also have to enter your iPhone passcode. At
that point, he'd realize he didn't need your watch in the first
place!
Still, it's a good moment to remember the cardinal rule: Don't
share those codes with people you don't trust with your life. And
choose strong numeric passwords. 123456? Not strong!
A more realistic fear? That a masked person picks up your phone
and is able to unlock it just by being close to the unlocked watch
on your wrist. While the iPhone does check for the presence of a
face, it could be anyone under the mask (and your eyes don't even
have to be open). I tested this with multiple people.
The person would have to be pretty close -- within about 10
feet, according to my tests. The proximity, like much of this
software, isn't final, an Apple spokeswoman told me. Apple also
seems to have anticipated this: You get an alert on your Apple
Watch saying your iPhone has been unlocked. You can tap a button in
the alert to lock the phone again.
Plus, this Apple Watch shortcut is good only for unlocking your
iPhone. If you're wearing a mask while trying to purchase something
via Apple Pay, App Store or iTunes, the phone will still require
your iPhone passcode.
You know what does all that and doesn't require an extra
$200-and-up accessory? A fingerprint sensor. That's obviously a
better option when wearing a mask, but the only current iPhone that
still has Touch ID is the low-priced iPhone SE. According to my
reporting and what others have written, Apple is considering adding
an in-screen fingerprint sensor along with facial recognition to
future iPhones. Samsung's latest Galaxy already has both. Apple
declined to comment on future products.
How Do I Get It?
This feature requires your iPhone to run iOS 14.5 and your Apple
Watch to run Watch OS 7.4. Once you have that software, turn on the
feature by going to Settings > Face ID & Passcode >
Unlock with Apple Watch.
While Apple says the software is coming this spring, you can get
it now if you sign up for Apple's beta program, where you test new
software versions and provide feedback. Anyone can join at
beta.apple.com. After you sign up, you'll need to install a special
profile to your iPhone and follow the steps. You'll have to do the
same for the Apple Watch.
Usually, I guide the uninitiated against this. There can be bugs
and battery drain with unfinished software. That said, I've been
using it for five days, and haven't seen these issues so far. For
those who constantly wear masks, and who own both an iPhone and
Apple Watch, I can understand wanting to get rid of Face No ID
ASAP.
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Write to Joanna Stern at joanna.stern@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 05, 2021 11:16 ET (16:16 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2021 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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