Touch ID on the iPhone and iPad is such a handy and convenient security feature that would be a welcome addition to the Mac. But how would you implement it? Add a Touch ID hardware sensor to the keyboard? Seems like an odd fit for Apple design-wise.
According to MacRumors, Apple may have found a way: by allowing Touch ID on an iPhone unlock a Mac. The iPhone would use Bluetooth LE to connect to a Mac, and using Touch ID would work in place of entering a password. (An app called Knock already does something similar, letting you unlock your Mac with your iPhone or even your Apple Watch.) MacRumors also said that the Touch ID implementation would also work with the rumored Apple Pay for web browsers, where you can use Apple Pay for online purchases.
MacRumors also speculates that the unlock feature could work between an Apple Watch and a Mac, with no iPhone required.
Why this matters: Security is an important part of using our digital devices, but even if it takes only a few seconds to enter a password, it can feel like a chore. Touch ID is a much more convenient way to be more secure, and it’s practically seamless for functions like unlocking a device to gain access. MacRumors does say that this implementation of Touch ID is a work in progress and is possible that it won’t be ready for the next major revision of OS X, version 10.12.
Author: Roman Loyola, Senior Editor
Roman has covered technology since the early 1990s. His career started at MacUser, and he's worked for MacAddict, Mac|Life, and TechTV.