HomePod Firmware Reveals That iPhone 8 Can Scan Your Face When Lying Flat

[Maura]

MacRumors reports today that yet more information about the forthcoming iPhone 8 has been discovered by iHelp BR in the leaked HomePod firmware. According to iHelp BR, code in the firmware referring to “Pearl,” which is the Apple codename for the iPhone 8 facial recognition feature, also has various references to “resting” and “unlock.”

These features were listed as an accessibility option, “AXRestingPearlUnlock,” and overall it looks very much like the HomePod firmware is supporting a previous report from Bloomberg in July that mentioned that Apple was working on an “improved” facial recognition system for iPhone 8 instead of Touch ID, and in particular the article noted that the facial recognition system would even work when the iPhone was laying flat on the table.

That same story also said that the iPhone 8 facial recognition system is able to capture more data points than Touch ID, and therefore can be considered more secure.

Image: iHelp BR

Source: HomePod Firmware Suggests iPhone 8 Will Be Able to Scan Your Face While Device is Lying Flat