If you own a Nexus 6, you are likely familiar with the dimple on its backside. We have known since this past January that this dimple was supposed to be a fingerprint reader, according to ex-Motorola CEO Dennis Woodside, and now (in August), we have a few pictures of what might have been, thanks to a leak from Weibo.
As we can see, the dimple would have housed a black or dark gray fingerprint reader, with the Motorola logo still appearing on its exterior. It is said that due to Apple’s purchase of AuthenTec, Motorola did not want to sacrifice user experience with a less-than-stellar fingerprint reader, so they opted to axe the idea altogether.
There is no doubt that fingerprint reading is becoming a big feature for new flagship devices, and it is reported we should see the feature on both of the upcoming Nexus devices later this year. After all, one of Android M’s key new features is native support of fingerprint scanning.
While fingerprint readers can be quite nice, they do need to be implemented correctly for users to actually benefit. For example, requiring a user to slide their finger across a strip is not fun. Instead, like on the Galaxy S6 and OnePlus 2, you should only need to place your finger down for a second, and the device will unlock. That’s the way it should be.
Are you excited for pretty much all new phones to come equipped with a fingerprint reader?
not the one plus two….all the fingerprint reader on that will do is make it so police can compel you to unlock your phone. thy’re like android’s apple. maybe next year guys. lets focus on the camera.
A shame there are no truly compelling >5.7″ Android flagships on the horizon for this year. And I think the rumored 5.2″ LG and 5.7″ Huawei Nexii are too close to each other in size & likely specs. Instead, I would’ve refreshed the N6, brought out a “new” Nexus 5.2, and introduced a small run of a relatively high-end 4.7″ Nexus just to see how the market responds.
N6 refresh: camera borrowed from the X Style, Snapdragon 820 (or even just an 808), beefier battery, fingerprint scanner, and maybe a better quality panel (same resolution, of course) and a slightly lower pricetag would be very nice to see. Same goes for a N9 refresh–put in a Tegra X1 + 3GB RAM, USB Type-C, 64GB storage and a bigger battery and you have a great tablet all of a sudden, especially if coupled with a permanent $100 pricedrop.
shame there aren’t any 6 inch?
i’d say the greater shame is that there aren’t any < 5 " flagships
I see another problem … it’s placed on the back.
The fingerprint readers I’ve used so far (iPhone & Galaxy S6) worked always much better with the bigger thumb than with a smaller index finger. On the S6 for example it works almost every time with my thumb, but with my index finger probably just about 50% of the time.
If they place it in the dimple of the back people will use the index finger to unlock which could be a problem if the technology doesn’t get improved a lot.
Another problem could be that it can’t be used when the phone is on the desk or in a dock/stand. I think the front (Samsung, Apple, OnePlus), or maybe in a round power button on the side (like Sony has) would be a much better placement for it than the back.
I agree fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone seems like a terrible idea. When I am at work I leave my phone on my desk and easily unlock my S6E, it would be really annoying if I had to pick it up just to use the fingerprint sensor and would use it much less often.
I plan to use Trusted Locations so I won’t need to put in any password while at work. I’d mostly only use the fingerprint scanner or password when I’m out and about.
I prefer it, I hold my nexus 6 with a single hand and that’s perfect for a large device to have a sensor that reads the index instead of the thumb
Fingerprint readers are only mildly interesting to me until they just make it a part of the screen (like a special fingerprint sensitive portion in the middle of the bottom of the screen). Then I can have my fingerprint reader without adding bezel or otherwise ruining the look of my phone.
So you mean putting it on the back of the device hidden under a logo that would have been there anyway? Great idea, but I think Motorola thought of it before you.
If only the Moto X Style had a fingerprint scanner, it’s be the perfect device. I guess I have to wait for the Huawei Nexus now, hopefully that has no compromises in my opinion.
Meh. Absolutely no part of me cares about a fingerprint scanner on a phone.
You say that now, but two years from now when OnePlus leaves it off one of their phones, people will be screaming bloody murder.
I happen to like FP scanners. My wife has an iPhone 6 and I’m amazed at how fast and accurate it is, not to mention the added convenience from a security standpoint. This will be the norm in a generation or two, so we might as well get used to it.
Yup, there are alternatives that work just as good but until you actually use it on an iPhone or iPad, I don’t think you can understand just how convenient it is. In addition, imagine all of the cool things that can be done with the flexibility of Android and a fingerprint sensor. Think of your child scanning their fingerprint and automatically going into child mode or using your thumb for regular unlocks and your index finger to get into your work profile.
^ This guy gets it. It’s not always about immediate use, sometimes it’s about potential use. No different from the way NFC was a couple of years ago.
Absolutely. Especially when Qualcomm’s 3D scanning is ready for prime time, no additional hardware will be necessary. Just place your finger on the screen. The fact that people don’t see the potential for innovation with this saddens me.
Me either. With a Moto 360 and a Power Pack Micro- plus trusted locations, my phone is rarely locked- yet protected at the same time.
motorola, take my N6 back and add this. thanks.
I think Bluetooth trusted devices is a lot more useful than fingerprint readers. I don’t want to have my phone unlocked by a cat’s paw.
Well then don’t set your cat’s paw as a finger print able to unlock your phone. Geeeez!
Now off to solve world hunger.
FP Readers are useless to me, as I need them to work after exercise, and if your finger has moisture, no go, at least on s6
That’s true for the current generation but qualcolm has a tech that is supposed to scan through most “surface contaminants”
Exactly. It uses a sound/vibration technique that oddly enough can be more accurate with a wet finger.
Uhmm, wasn’t LG and huwai or whatever the name is, supposed to be next nexus devices?
This is a prototype for the current Nexus 6, not the upcoming ones.
I feel like someone could figure out how to retro fit it to the current Nexus 6
Android L does not have the API for biometrics tho
And yet, somehow, it works on Samsung’s Lollipop devices…
Because Samsung built those customizations in.
My point is that, in theory (though not in practice, cause that’s way too much work), it’s absolutely possible to retrofit an FP reader onto the phone and build in support using other methods, similar to how the Mate 7, S5/S6, etc, have all been able to build support for fingerprint readers into previous versions of Android.
There are two previews of Android M out that do.
Damn the guy that actually got to use that!
god damn apple
Lol. Sometimes It feels like Apple is manipulating the industry like a string puppet from their crystal palace in Cupertino.
On the one hand, it was a really good business move on Apple’s part. On the other hand, I hate Apple for delaying the adoption of fingerprint readers on Android by several years.
lol, at least apple debuted with something good unlike Samsung and the rest of the trash other ones.
Don’t forget Motorola’s debut in January of 2011 with the Atrix 4G! xD
If the DOJ investigated Microsoft, and wanted to break them up over the IE scandal, then Apple should be broken up too.
Lets think about it logically. Every Android OEM competes against the other android OEMs and Apple. Apple competes against NO ONE. The problem is apple could release a turd of a phone and people buy it. More simply put apple innovates when they want to, upgrades specs when they want to, but does not compete against any other phone OEM and thus stagnates. I mean if they really were forced to compete against Samsung phones wouldn’t have had 8mp cameras for the 4th year in a row. They wouldn’t have sold 16gb phones in 2015. When you sheepify your customers to the point the vast majority simply don’t shop around to the other brands that’s about the time the DOJ should start an investigation.
Speaking of hardware, Apple uses sony camera sensors but refuses to buy the 21mp sensor sony makes. They buy LG displays, but buy a 5.5″ 1080p from LG [for the 6+] instead of the 5.5 1440px display LG uses in the G3.
Lets also look at it another way. What other company holds a lead far ahead like Apple in their respective industry? Automotive? nope. Ford, Chevy, Doge, Toyota, Mazda etc. none have a clear lead ahead of the pack. All compete against each other for price, features, safety rating, etc.
Digital Cameras? nope. Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Pentax, Sony, Samsung not one of them is ahead of the pack like Apple is.
TL:DR : Its time apple gets broken up.
Apple competes against other phone manufacturers, period. Android, et al. The remainder of your argument is invalid based on this detail. Think about the rest of the world as well. Apple holds significant sway over the US. However, Android dominates the world.
Ironically, the fact that Android (as it’s shipped by most manufacturers) relies on Google’s APIs makes it more monopolistic than iOS, even though when you look at Android manufacturers themselves, they have to compete like crazy since there are so many. Apple on the other hand doesn’t compete with anyone in terms of iOS, but since it’s a single party and doesn’t have an legal monopoly, there’s no basis for the DOJ or EU to investigate.
Agreed. The fact you have to stipulate to some of Google’s requirements to be authorized to include the google play store does make Google for more like Microsoft’s lawsuit than Apple.
There is no comparison to the Microsoft issue. The case with Microsoft if that they used their position to force computer manufacturers to not include Netscape and make sure IE was the default browser. If they didn’t then Microsoft would license to them. Because Apple produces their own hardware they can do whatever they want basically. They are not requiring other companies to do anything because nobody else is allowed to use Apple software. It’s one of the advantages of such a closed eco-system.
google could have bought the tec and made it open to all android. that would have been cool.
hm I’d rather have it on the front somewhere even if it would be ugly
on the front, under the glass. It can be done, they just aren’t doing it.
under the glass sure, but with tiny bezels, it aint gonna work as well. I would much rather have tiny bezels and a reader on the back.
I think he means behind the glass, using the ultrasonic readers that Qualcomm developed.
Or on the side. Like Sony is about to do for the Z5
the dimple would have been the perfect place.
Why take up space on the front when you can put it in the dimple on the back? Your index finger natural rests there when holding the device.
Mine only rests there when I’m talking in the phone. Aside from that, almost never. At least in Apple’s case, I think having it in the home button is perfect.
On the side
Thanks Apple!