The timing of this update resonates differently in France, where wearing a mask is no longer compulsory since Monday except in transport, and in the rest of the world.
Announced a long time ago, the iOS 15.4 update, available today, brings a very practical feature for iPhone owners wearing a mask who were deprived of Face ID facial recognition to authenticate themselves during a payment for example.
Apple explains that the smartphone's algorithms now use the front camera to scan "unique contours for each person around the eyes" to authenticate you despite the mask.
Face ID facial recognition is normally based on unique features and instantly compares the captured face to the photo or 3D model recorded during the initial configuration of the smartphone.
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More power-hungry algorithms
"The software does not need a particular point or a minimum percentage of the face discovered, it just has to have enough reliable and precise details to be confident", assures Xavier Fischer, boss of DatakaLab and former employee of Emotient. , a Californian start-up specializing in facial recognition and… acquired by Apple to integrate the technology into Face ID.
The engineers of the bitten apple brand got around the problem by limiting this comparison to the upper part of the face.
Subtlety that will ruffle a few hairs: this option is limited to the most recent models, that is to say from the iPhone 12 of 2020. The Cupertino company justifies this limitation by the need for greater power of calculations available only on the latest generation devices.
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Other news that calms the enthusiasm: facial recognition with a mask does not work on iPads.
It was already possible for a year to unlock your device provided… to wear an Apple Watch on your wrist.
iPhone 8, X or 11 users will need extra patience.