The newly-announced macOS Sierra may have confirmed plans for Apple to launch Macs with the Touch ID fingerprint sensor and a touch-friendly OLED panel
Announced on Monday at WWDC and immediately made available in Beta, the newly-renamed operating system contains subtle references to both rumoured features.
9to5Mac has spotted API changes that contain the code “kHIDUsage_LED_DoNotDisturb,” which may be a reference to a Do Not Disturb feature for the touch panel.
Other references also hint at a Night Mode and media playback options.
Related: macOS Sierra: 7 new features to get excited about
There’s certainly enough evidence to suggest Apple would bring a TouchID sensor to the Mac.
At WWDC it unveiled Apple Pay for Safari, which requires fingerprint authentication through a nearby iOS device. Bringing it in house would make perfect sense.
Apple is also keen for Mac users to have the option to unlock their computers without faffing around with passwords.
macOS Sierra’s Auto Unlock feature makes use of an owner’s Apple Watch to enable instant access. A fingerprint sensor would negate this need to own this niche product.
Last month, artist renders pitched a gorgeous looking Mac featuring both Touch ID and a touch-friendly OLED panel, following rumours it may be in the works.
Today’s news is definitely a sign its about to play out.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
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We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
