RBS and NatWest Banks Now Allow Account Access via Touch ID

RBS and NatWest Banks Now Allow Account Access via Touch ID

Reported by NBC on Wednesday, two banks in the United Kingdom will soon allow account access via the iPhone\'s Touch ID fingerprint sensor, a first in the UK. "RBS and NatWest customers must activate the feature with their security information, but would only need to use Apple’s Touch ID thereafter," says NBC. The banks are using Touch ID as well as other safeguards to protect their customers sensitive information. For example, users will need to verify their identity to add the extra protection with Touch ID. After three failed attempts, users will need to enter their security information to re-enable the security feature. The two banks have 880,000 customers who use iOS apps on the iPhone 5S, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, representing an ample base of Touch ID-enabled customers.

Touch ID Coming to Macs

Touch ID Coming to Macs

Apple\'s trackpads found in the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, the next-generation Magic Mouse, and multi-touch enabled Magic Trackpad may soon be equipped with Touch ID, if a rumor from a Taiwanese blog is any indication. The site claims Apple wants to bring it\'s newest service, Apple Pay, to it\'s desktop machines. At first, it sounds a bit odd. Who wants to log around a laptop just to pay for items in a grocery store? But, the mobile payment system is also available in certain apps and on the web. In that regard, it makes some sense. Also, Touch ID on a computer would enable users to login to their computers without entering a password, and approve media purchases through iTunes just like on iOS. Apple Pay is currently available on the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air 2, 3rd generation iPad mini, and the upcoming Apple Watch. Older devices such as the iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, and iPhone 5s will gain support for the mobile payment system by way of the Apple Watch.

iPhone 6S to Featuree More Reliable Touch ID Sensor

iPhone 6S to Featuree More Reliable Touch ID Sensor

Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst with KGI Securities told AppleInsider the next generation -- dubbed \'iPhone 6s\' -- will feature an improved and more reliable Touch ID sensor that will “offer a better and safer Apple Pay user experience by reducing reading errors.” “We think the new iPhone, expected to launch in the third quarter of 2015, will be equipped with an upgraded Touch ID module, with which Apple intends to offer a better and safer Apple Pay user experience with reduced reading errors,” reads the analyst note. “We therefore raise our fiscal 2015 shipments of Touch ID module by 12.4 percent to 262 million sets, boosted by Apple Pay and new iPhone models.” Asymco predicted earlier this morning that Apple will ship as many as 320 million iOS devices throughout 2015, with or without Touch ID. The Touch ID sensor will remain in the home button. Regardless of prior patent filings of an on-screen software Touch ID sensor filed by Apple. “Though Apple has filed patents for the integration of Touch ID and touch panel, this isn’t likely to bear fruit near term as complex algorithms and sapphire cover lens are also required,” he said. “We therefore don’t see any impact on supply chain momentum.”