Apple is rumored to be improving the iPhone 8 thanks to a new technology spotted in the HomePod firmware called “SmartCam” that will allow the device to automatically detect a specific scene and optimize settings for better shots.
If this feature does indeed get the green light, we will see it after the release of the iPhone 8, likely in future iOS updates, and it will certainly include an improved list of supported scenes.
It should be noted that Apple's shift to object recognition services is nothing new, as the company uses similar features in iOS and macOS to power the Photos app and group photos based on people's facial categories.
If the feature makes it to the iPhone 8, it will allow it to recognize a scene as soon as it focuses on it and recommend certain settings to the user. Of course, the default setting option will be available if the user does not want automatic scene detection.
In other news, the HomePod firmware also includes details about facial recognition functionality for approving payments, which suggests that Touch ID is expected to be removed completely.
Apple, as we know, had a hard time choosing a location for Touch ID given the bezel-less OLED display. Its final decision seems to be to leave Touch ID out of the game.
Although facial recognition systems have raised security concerns in the past, Apple believes its own creation is not likely to be hacked. That's why it plans to use it not only to grant access to a device but also to make payments.
For information, the iPhone 8 is expected to be unveiled in September but will be released in October.
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