Apple’s HomePod Firmware Leaks iPhone 8 Details

Apple has its HomePod to thank for leaks about the upcoming iPhone 8.

That’s according to news from TechCrunch, which reported Apple released the firmware for its HomePod voice-activated speaker last week, and blogger Steve Troughton-Smith dissected it to glean information about the upcoming iPhone edition.

According to the report, Troughton-Smith found a reference to biometrics features like an infrared facial recognition unlock function codenamed Pearl ID. The feature would enable users to unlock the iPhone 8 in the dark, even if they were looking at it from a strange angle with their faces partially obscured.

If it proves true, the technology blog said it would be a good replacement for TouchID, the fingerprint sensor Apple is rumored to be attempting to embed into the display of the new smartphone. The report also noted the blogger gleaned information that the iPhone 8 will boast a taller screen that will fill most of the front real estate on the device.

The latest revelation comes at a time when reports have surfaced that Apple will delay the launch of the iPhone 8 device until November or December. According to a recent DigiTimes report, which cited the Economic Daily News, the two ODMS for the upcoming iPhones — Foxconn Electronics and Pegatron — have not reached production levels that would result in mass production of the organic light-emitting diode (OLED) smartphone. The news came amid other stories indicating production of the new iPhone 8 had already started.

The report noted Foxconn has around 95 percent of orders for the OLED model as well as small-volume orders for the 4.7- and 5.5-inch iPhone models. Meanwhile, Pegatron is producing 65 percent of the 4.7-inch iPhone 7s and a small amount of the OLED smartphone. Taiwan-based design manufacturer Wistron will manufacture the 5.5-inch model. Volume production of the models is expected to be in full swing in August, one to two months past previous mass production schedules on new iPhone devices, noted the report.