Apple is working on bringing its Face ID authentication system to MacBooks, in what could be a major move to boost your Mac’s security. That’s according to a newly granted patent (number 11727718) that describes the benefits of Face ID and how it could be added to Apple’s laptops.
In the patent, Apple explains that computers are capable of a great deal of different tasks, and many of them can involve storing or handing over your sensitive information — information that should not fall into the wrong hands. To stop that from happening, some form of authentication system (like Face ID) could be implemented into laptops to toughen up their security.
However, Apple notes that MacBooks are typically very thin, which means the Face ID solution needs to “be compact … without sacrificing accuracy or user recognition.” To do this, Apple proposes a “light pattern recognition module” that consists of a light projector and a sensor that can detect the light reflected back, for instance off your face.
There will also be a sensor that can judge if the reflected light pattern matches the target pattern — in other words, if you are who you say you are and pass the Face ID check.
All of this would be concealed within the MacBook’s notch. Apple’s recent MacBooks have buried their front-facing cameras inside a notch instead of hiding them under the display, but as another recent Apple patent explained, under-screen tech is complicated. For now, the notch might be the most convenient way to hide a set of Face ID sensors.
Aside from recognizing and authenticating users, Apple also says its system could be used for “capturing face gestures and emotions.” We’ve seen similar ideas before, such as a previous patent that explained how you might one day be able to use gestures to control FaceTime — something that was implemented in macOS Sonoma shortly afterward. But incorporating Face ID into a gesture system might mean the idea has other applications.
Interestingly, Apple’s latest patent is specifically about how a system like Face ID could be integrated into a “portable computing device” like a MacBook, and while one of the illustrations depicts an iMac or monitor, the rest concern Apple’s laptops. We’ve seen Apple discuss bringing Face ID to the Mac in the past, and this latest patent adds to the pile of evidence that Apple is seriously considering it.
However, since it’s only a patent, there’s no guarantee it will ever see the light of day. But it makes a huge amount of sense to bring Face ID to the Mac given its potential to improve your device security, as Apple readily acknowledges in the patent. Now, it feels like it’s just a matter of time before we see it in action.
Apple is less than a day away from launching its highly anticipated OLED MacBook Pro with a touch-sensitive screen. But it appears that the upgrade is going to cost a pretty penny. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly eyeing a starting price of $2,899 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, while the 16-inch version could start at $3,399 in the US.
"At $2,899, the 14-inch model would mark the highest starting price for a new MacBook Pro model, surpassing the $2,799 Apple charged for a 17-inch version introduced in 2006," says the report. The report claims that Apple is targeting a minimum price hike of $400 for its upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
I've spent a good amount of time digging into the spec sheet of the new M6 MacBook Pro (14-inch), and for all intents and purposes, this is a classic Apple "chip and connectivity" refresh. It's not a full redesign. The chassis, Liquid Retina XDR panel, speakers, ports, and battery, all of them carry over unchanged.
However, the M6 brings more cores, stronger on-device AI, higher memory bandwidth on the larger configs, and modern wireless. Here’s the practical rundown of what actually improved, and whether those gains are worth your money.
Two new highly requested iCloud plugins just got added to ChatGPT, giving people who rely on Apple’s Mail and Calendar services a way to search emails, check appointments, and manage their schedules directly through the chatbot.
The integration is rolling out to all ChatGPT plans, including the free tier. You can access it on the web, desktop, and iOS.