The Cupertino giant has been granted a patent for a fingerprint-based panic button that will help authorities find the thief in case the device is stolen. The feature is expected to be implemented on the next generation iPhone 7 in 2016.
It hasn’t been two months since Apple rolled out its two latest additions to the iPhone family -iPhone 6S and 6S Plus- and the rumor mill has been already dominated by intel regarding the tinth iteration of the line-up, the iPhone 7.
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A few days ago KGI Securities analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, reported that it is highly likely to see a 4-inch iPhone 6C – the replacement of the 2013 iPhone 5C- in early 2016. Another scenario that has been developed around this hypothesis is that the purported handset will be an iPhone 7 Mini – a 4-inch iPhone 7 -, so, in that case, it will be unveiled in September next year.
In addition to the above, Kuo also mentioned that it is probable to see a larger RAM on the 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus, 3GB, while the 4.7-inch iPhone 7’s memory will be maintained to 2GB.
Moreover, the new info that has just emerged on the web are facts and not rumors, as Apple has been granted a patent this week, by the US Patent and Trademark Office. The document has been pending for review since 2014.
The patent refers to a panic button that Cupertino will be presumably incorporating to its next iPhone, by making use of the fingerprint scanning home button that has been sitting on the iPhone series since the 5S, launched back in September of 2013.
By activating the panic button, a chain of events will be taking place thus preventing the device from being stolen, or, in the case it is stolen, help the local authorities track it down.
Initially, the device will transmit a warning signal to the emergency services while locking down the iPhone’s data, unless access is being granted by the owner. Simultaneously, both cameras will start video and sound recording – subtly, meaning that the display will not project the actual camera app which could ultimately spook the thief. As soon as the video is done recording, the device will be sending it to the respective authorities as evidence.
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The particular patent confirms the existence of the panic button, though that does not infer that the iPhone 7 will be packing it, as it could be still under further development and planned to be launched with another upcoming generation.
The iPhone 7 is expected to be released in September of 2016 during Apple’s annual early-autumn event, though recent leaks suggest that the company might circle back to the old days, where it unveiled the new iPhone in June.
Source: US Patent and Trademark Office
