The Samsung Galaxy S5 launch is just a week away and the rumors are heating up. A new report claims to have "confirmed" that the Galaxy S5 will feature a fingerprint sensor on the home button, which will allow users to unlock their device with a swiping motion.
Earlier rumors indicated that the fingerprint sensor would take up the entire screen of the Galaxy S5, but this latest report states that the sensor will be isolated to the home button. In order for the sensor to recognize your fingerprint, you must keep your finger flat and slowly swipe it across the sensor. If your finger is wet or covered in lotion, chances are Samsung's sensor won't be able to read your fingerprint. As you swipe your fingerprint, an image of your specific print will appear on the display.
The unnamed sources familiar with Samsung's plans for its upcoming Galaxy S5 smartphone claim that the fingerprint sensor will also have interesting new functionalities in addition to the unlocking feature. Users will be able to save eight different fingerprints on the Galaxy S5. Some fingerprints will be authorized to unlock the device, while others might simply lead the user to a specific application. Samsung has also reportedly added a Personal Folder and Private Mode option, so that the device will be open to multiple users.
So for instance, if you have a young child and you want him to only have access to specific apps and information, you can set boundaries and allow access to only a handful of apps and widgets. Your private information will remain for your eyes only. The sources also say that the fingerprint sensor will give users access to the Samsung app store and can also be used as a substitute for login information on specific websites.
It is unknown exactly how any of this technology will work, but if the report proves true, Samsung's fingerprint sensor is truly an interesting addition to the device. Other device manufacturers like HTC have copied Apple's fingerprint sensor, but have not added valuable features that make the sensor worth using. These fingerprint sensors seem more like marketing gimmicks rather than actual, functional features for the smartphone. The main problem most reviewers have had with the sensor on the HTC One Max was its incredibly limited functionality. At least the fingerprints sensor on Apple's iPhone 5S can be used to purchase apps, movies, music and other items from the iTunes store. HTC's could only unlock the device.
As usual, Samsung is making the most of the technology it has at its disposal. If the new report is accurate, the fingerprint sensor on the Galaxy S5 might end up being more useful and intriguing than the one on the iPhone 5S.
The Galaxy S5 is also expected to feature a 5.2-inch 2K display with a stunning resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. The smartphone will be powered by a 2.5 GHz quad-core processor or the Exynos octa-core processor, depending on the country in which it is released. The S5 will probably have a 20-megapixel back camera, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera onboard as well. Samsung will also include 3 GB of RAM and a large 3000 mAh battery. The Galaxy S5 will be available in 16, 32 and 64 GB versions, so you can decide how much storage you want. Naturally, the flagship will be running Android 4.4 KitKat. There could also be two different versions of the Galaxy S5: a premium and a standard edition.
