14 DAY TRIAL // A report from the ever-present DigiTimes, which has more information about Apple’s supply chain than the Bible has on Jesus, indicates that Apple’s Touch ID sensor is coming to the iPad as well.
A fingerprint recognition feature, Touch ID is a new technology embedded in the latest iPhones from Apple, enabling users to unlock their handsets based on their fingerprint model. They can also use the feature to buy apps.
Currently, the only Apple device that employs Touch ID is the iPhone 5S, which doesn’t hit store shelves until September 20.
But that’s not stopping Apple from working on new ways to use the technology it acquired for millions of dollars from AuthenTec. The next step is to put it on iPads.
According to DigiTimes (citing Taiwan-based supply chain sources), “Crystal Applied Technology and Crystalwise Technology have become suppliers of sapphire wafers used to make covers for the iPhone 5s home key which features fingerprint recognition.”
The report then also states, “In addition to iPhone 5s, Apple is likely to adopt sapphire wafers for iPads as well,” citing predictions from the same sources.
It’s a no-brainer really, but it’s likely that only the iPad 5 is getting it. They don’t want cannibalization from the iPad mini this time around.