Lines in iOS 7 beta code hint at fingerprint scanner in next iPhone

Every new rumour for the next-gen iPhone that comes around references a fingerprint scanner in one way or another. The latest one comes from iOS developer Hamza Sood, who has posted a picture on Twitter of some lines of code from the iOS 7 beta. These lines have a lot of references to a possible fingerprint scanner on the next iPhone’s home button, where users can touch their thumbs to execute functions.

To be more specific, the lines mention specifically touching the home button with the left hand’s or right hand’s thumb, and a fingerprint that changes colour during the setup process for the feature. Whether this is strictly a security feature or will also have some other gimmicks to go along with it is currently unknown.

More from News & Analysis

What is the US HIRE Bill and why is India’s $250-billion IT sector worried? Is the internet dead? What's this theory that OpenAI's Sam Altman says might be true?

Recent rumours have been pointing towards a September launch for the next-gen iPhone, alongside a more affordable iPhone with a plastic body. Interestingly though, we are not altogether unfamiliar with the September timeline. A couple of months ago, it had been rumoured that the iPhone 5S would hit stores in September, ahead of the iPad 5 launch.

In May this year, it had been rumoured that the iPhone 5S could come in different colours. At the time, Japanese website Macotakara claimed to have pictures of the iPhone 5S with different-coloured back panels. These back panels in the picture seem to have a very glossy style, which would be uncharacteristic of Apple considering the matte finish that the iPhone 5 had.

The website had also said that the phone will have a dual-LED flash. However, it wouldn’t be that much of a stretch, but as with all rumours and speculations, we’ll simply have to wait and see what the Cupertino-based company does.