Apples new iPhone, tentatively dubbed the 5S by those awaiting its arrival, may throw a few surprises and take the phone to a whole new level, marking a more significant upgrade over previous models than currently expected.
That is if a newly discovered Apple patent is utilised on the new iPhone. European patent WO 2013 130396A2, revealed by the Apple Insider website, describes a circular fingerprint sensing device that looks suspiciously like the new iPhone home button seen in leaked photographs which, if true, is now circular with a silver surround.That surround matches with another Apple patent regarding how to read a fingerprint using a circular button, which Patently Apple revealed here, the surround is used as part of the sensor itself and is essential to its operation which would explain why the home button would look different on the new iPhone, as it does in credible reports from a wide variety of sources.
The patent revealed by Apple Insider includes NFC and means that the new home button could not only identify users via fingerprints but also be used as a method of making secure cashless transactions via NFC, as many phones can already do, but more securely.
That means the current limit of twenty pounds per transaction could be lifted as only users verified by their fingerprint could make cashless payments, you could not have some swipe the iphone and use it to make many smaller purchases because they would need the owners finger on the home button in order to complete each transaction.
NFC has been around for years on Android phones, not just for contactless payments, but the iPhone has never featured this technology before.
If Apple implement this it offers a unique selling point that will not only encourage purchase of the new phone but could also spearhead a push forward into more secure contactless payment methods with other manufacturers having to implement something similar to keep up with Apple rather than, as has happened in recent years, Apple playing catch up with the opposition.
Will we see this in the new iPhone? Well it is hard to say, Apple has been largely playing catch up with their most recent iPhones opting for features already popular on Android devices such as the improved notification centre and a larger screen size.
This would show they still have the power to surprise with something original, not unique, but certainly a more effective and elegant solution than has been seen before and help quash the mounting gripes that Apple has lost its ability to innovate.
The question is whether Apple will dare to be that little bit different again, and in reality that is something we can only guess at until the new phone is official but yes it is likely Apple will indeed include a fingerprint scanner on their new model.
Whether it will also feature NFC is difficult to say but, sooner or later, Apple will have to jump onto the NFC wagon and doing so in such a way makes a lot more sense than adding it a few phones down the line when perhaps its rivals will be pushing forward with the next generation of it although it's interesting to note that none of the leaked Chinese marketing material, photographs of which are included here, make no mention of NFC.
For those interested in what to expect from tomorrows new iPhone....if indeed that is what Apple annouce, here's a summary of the most credible rumours and leaks based only on those from multiple and reliable sources....
There will be two new iPhones. The 5S will be the mainstream model, featuring the fingerprint sensor and probably also Apples new A7 processor, while the 5C will be essentially a cut down version of the current iPhone 5 in a plastic casing available in multiple colour choices and starting at around £300.
The 5S screen size will remain at four inches but the phone has an improved standby time of 250 hours with an improves eight mega pixel camera that will perform better in low light conditions and follow in the footsteps of Samsungs Galaxy S4 by filming in slow motion at 120 frames per second. The camera will include two seperate flashes to make photographs appear more natural in colour and tone.
The A7 operates, allegedly, 31% faster than the A6 used in the iPhone 5 and while not a huge improvement overall the new iPhone 5S would bring new features and a new USP (unique selling point) that would certainly help Apple shift even more of their new model than usual.
Given their purchase of finger print sensor company AuthenTech, and their newly acquired patents, along with the leaked marketing material and various photographs of the new iPhone, it seems more than likely the new iPhone will indeed be as expected with a fingerprint sensor and quite possibly also NFC.
If, for some reason, it has no such sensor then the new model would be a minor refresh and that would not do well for Apples reputation so expect Apple to come up with something new at tomorrows event.
