Galaxy Nexus: Face Unlock

Galaxy Nexus introduces a new, fun way to unlock your phone— with a smile. State-of-the-art facial recognition technology lets you switch on your phone and look at it to get past the lock screen— no passwords to remember, nothing to type or swipe.

[imaperson]

It's hilarious how that's faster than Apple's Face ID because it doesn't force you to swipe up despite being half a decade older and using an RGB sensor instead of IR.

[Johnone]

Someone should take the X from Nexus, this face unlock idea, and run with it.

[ppdevane]

Cool idea but a) you can use a picture to unlock it (I've tried it with my friend's android) and b) takes longer than quickly typing in the code/pattern.

[Variablez]

To ensure you can get in even with your Halloween mask on!

More like to ensure you can get in when Android fucks up :)

[Jetsgo]

@MattJTV Did you even bother watching the video? 1) it clearly shows an emergency call button on the screen 2) you can setup a backup way to unlock the phone no different that current locks.

[megamastah]

Great way to make you smile more often.

[YoungandFlightless]

White nexus that's 16g is coming out tomorrow and should be priced at $199.99 for people who prefer the color white and can't afford the $300 price range on the current nexus. Not spamming, look it up on google if you don't believe.

[lightofwisdom]

It’s just 2D scanner. The first 3D face scanner phone is iPhone X

[CarlFreeman]

if you dont have the Nexus or ICS, try Visidon from the market, it does the same thing, plus you can enable live detection to make it more secure than stock Face unlock.

[Strand]

@KaiAndrius This isn't a foolproof security measure, but then again, neither are passcodes. This is simply meant to deter strangers who find your phone in a public space, so they can't access your phone, while you remotely-brick it. If someone's going through the effort of getting your face photo, they already know you, and you have far bigger problems

[mynameisOleg]

And not enough explained with that, how stuff works: The phone could, additionally, use certain infrared or heat sensors (Remember: We talk future coming devices here. I have no idea, if they're already build in to Galaxy Nexus, but, whatsoever, might come one day) and, well, if a face is not just detected optically, also scanning its surface and proximity with infrared (paper/blanket: plain VS. real face: arched/curved/hilly) plus, whether skin is near the heat sensor (optionally, for indoor..)

[SuperSeboa]

@DrSparticus
I agree, that the lock systems aren't save enough because everyone can see when you typing in the pin, but when you lost your phone and someone else found it, he has to bypass this lock. And this will cost some time that you can use to locate your mobile.
Patterns are a kind of "fun lock" I think.

[nahiank]

@notSoFormal there's a YouTube video showing the phone being unlocked with a picture, but your right it needs something to distinguish the difference but I love the idea

[MaartenVandenBerghe]

It's not about actual security. It's easy and very cool. You simply don't have to swipe the screen to unlock.

[FourtyParsecs]

A picture _might_ unlock the phone (I'd expect that to improve), but here's the deal: most people (including iPhone users) don't have any lock whatsoever on their phone. They use their finger to "unlock" it. Now, you can use your face, just in case your finger is unavailable (e.g. driving).

GOT IT? Not for security, for convenience.

[FourtyParsecs]

@Chaosgrgrgr You don't necessarily have to be looking at the phone, as far as I know. Your face just has to be within some acceptable distance from the phone, posed roughly the same as when the original unlock picture was taken.
If your picture was taken looking at the phone and you still want to do that, getting a dash mount for the phone is also a good option, as you can see the phone as well as traffic conditions.

[drivewayy]

@FourtyParsecs "now your phone will keep out unwanted intruders, but will let you in with a simple smile" 0:55

I agree with you, but Google's little ad is saying there is a security element with this.

[drakeful]

not really, there is a new added feature called, "liveness check", which checks blinking or eye movement so pictures wont work

[rogerpike_archive]

@rapstreetz Good question. All emergency services are still available even if the phone is locked.

[BrettStott]

I enjoy how people keep saying that you can bypass it with a picture. Who the hell thinks the patterns or pins are any more secure? Phone locks were never meant to be CIA firewalls, they're just hindrances to prying eyes. It's not that hard to watch someone type in a pin number or look at the smudges on the screen to find out the unlock pattern.