Fujitsu has launched the FMV Note A, a 16-inch laptop that includes a built-in optical drive, something rarely seen in new notebooks today. The launch comes at a time when many users in Japan are upgrading their computers as Windows 10 support comes to an end, creating demand for models that still include disc drives.

The FMV Note A is available in several configurations. The top version uses an AMD Ryzen 7 7735U processor with 16GB of dual-channel memory and a 512GB SSD. The base model includes an Intel Core i3-1315U, 8GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD. The higher-end A77-K3 variant comes with a Blu-ray drive, while the lower versions include a DVD drive.

The laptop features a 16-inch IPS display with a 1920×1200 resolution and a 16:10 aspect ratio. Fujitsu says the device is as wide as a typical 15.6-inch model but offers an 11% larger screen area. The high-brightness display is designed to stay clear even in well-lit rooms, making it suitable for browsing or office work.

It includes a 50Wh battery that delivers up to 6.7 hours of video playback. It weighs around 1.9KG, which is on the heavier side compared to modern ultrabooks. However, the added bulk is mostly due to the optical drive.

Connectivity options are broad. There are two USB-C ports (one supports USB 4), two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and an SD card reader. Fujitsu includes a silent wireless mouse with the A77-K3 model and focuses on comfort with a keyboard that has a 2.5mm key travel and an 18.4mm key pitch.

The laptop is offered in multiple color options and includes a webcam shutter for privacy along with facial recognition for easy login.

Price and availability

The Fujitsu FMV Note A is available now in Japan. The base Intel model starts at 124,800 yen ($817), and the top AMD Blu-ray version costs 214,280 yen ($1,403). These laptops are sold only in Japan but can be imported.

In related news, Fujitsu has also launched the FMV UX-K3, a 14-inch laptop weighing just 634g (1.4 lbs), making it the world’s lightest in its class. It is built with carbon and magnesium-lithium alloy, making it just 17.6mm thick.

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Fujitsu has taken the idea of “ultraportable” to a new extreme with its latest laptop, the FMV UX-K3 — a 14-inch notebook that weighs just 634 grams (1.4 lbs). That makes it the world’s lightest laptop in its class.

The FMV UX-K3’s featherweight build comes from a mix of carbon and magnesium-lithium alloy, keeping the chassis both durable and thin at just 17.6mm. It ties last year’s Lifebook WU5/J3 for the lightest 14-inch notebook on record, but Fujitsu says its latest model maintains the strength needed for everyday travel and professional use.

Inside, the UX-K3 runs on Intel’s Core Ultra 7 255U processor, featuring two performance cores and ten efficiency cores that can boost up to 4.8GHz. It’s paired with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, offering smooth performance for productivity, light creative work, and multitasking. Graphics come courtesy of integrated Intel Arc, which keeps power consumption low while handling moderate workloads.

The 14-inch IPS display offers a 1920×1200 resolution with a 16:10 aspect ratio and 400 nits of brightness, striking a balance between sharp visuals and energy efficiency. Connectivity is generous for such a slim device: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C with 65W charging, two USB-A ports, HDMI, Ethernet, a 3.5mm jack, and a microSD reader all make the cut. Fujitsu also includes a 1080p webcam with a privacy shutter — a nice touch for professionals.

The one trade-off for all that lightness is the 31Wh battery, which Fujitsu rates for around seven hours of video playback or up to 18 hours of idle use. It charges via USB-C using a 65W adapter that weighs just 150 grams (0.33 lbs), keeping the total travel weight impressively low. It’s not built for all-day unplugged work, but it’s clearly designed for mobility first.

The FMV UX-K3 is already available for sale through Fujitsu’s FMV Store and select Japanese retailers for about ¥280,280 (roughly $1,860). There’s no word yet on global availability, but imports are expected through third-party sellers, as with past FMV models.

For travelers, and anyone obsessed with trimming every extra gram from their gear, the Fujitsu FMV UX-K3 shows just how far laptop makers can go without cutting into usability.

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(Source)

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Fujitsu has launched a new smartphone, the Arrows Alpha F-51F, in Japan. The phone will be sold through NTT Docomo later this summer. Pricing and exact release dates have not been confirmed yet.

The Arrows Alpha F-51F runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Extreme processor with an octa-core setup (3.35GHz + 3.2GHz + 2.2GHz). It comes with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 2TB using a microSD card. The phone runs Android 15.

It features a 6.4-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2670 x 1200 pixels and a 144Hz refresh rate. The rear camera setup includes a 50.3MP Sony LYTIA LYT-700C (IMX896) main sensor (1/1.5″) and a 49.9MP ultra-wide sensor (1/2.7″). On the front, there is a 49.9MP selfie camera (1/2.7″).

The phone has a 5,000mAh battery and supports 90W wired charging through a USB Type-C (USB 3.1) port. It does not have a headphone jack. The body measures 156 x 72 x 8.8 mm and weighs 188g.

Other features include:

• IP68/IP69 water and dust resistance
• Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos
• DisplayPort 1.4 and Miracast output support
• Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4
• 5G, 4G, 3G, and GSM support across several global bands
• NanoSIM and eSIM support
• Dedicated action key

It will be available in black and white color options. More details can be found on Fujitsu’s official website.

(Source)

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Japanese electronics brand Fujitsu, best known to customers for their rugged and lightweight laptops has just launched the new Fujitsu FMV Note U laptop, which weighs just 848 grams (about 1.87 pounds).

The FMV Note U is powered by Intel’s Lunar Lake processors, with configurations supporting up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (4 x performance cores & 4 x efficiency cores), 32GB of LPDDR5x-8533 RAM, and Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics. The entry-level model includes an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage, with options to upgrade memory and storage at an additional cost. The laptop measures 308.8 x 209 x 17.3mm and features a 64Wh battery.

The display uses an IPS panel that measures 14 inches, offering a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels with a 16:10 aspect ratio. It offers two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, HDMI, Ethernet, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a microSD card reader. Additional features include a backlit keyboard, a 2MP IR camera with Windows Hello, a fingerprint sensor, stereo speakers, WiFi 7, and Bluetooth.

Additional features include a backlit keyboard, a 2MP IR camera with Windows Hello support, a fingerprint sensor in the power button, an ambient light sensor, stereo speakers, and support for WiFi 7 and Bluetooth.

Pricing and Availability

The FMV Note U is available in Japan starting at ¥214,000 (approximately $1,375). Higher-end configurations with additional memory or storage will cost more. Global availability remains uncertain.

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Fujitsu has introduced the FMV Zero Lifebook WU5/J3, the world’s lightest 14-inch laptop, weighing just 634 grams. This device is built for professionals who need to stay productive on the move. With its mix of portability, durability, and AI features, the WU5/J3 aims to meet the growing demand for reliable, high-performing laptops for remote work and travel.

Tough Yet Light

Made with carbon fiber, the WU5/J3 meets military-grade MIL-STD-810H standards, giving it resistance to drops, shocks, and pressure. This makes it well-suited for those frequently on the go, such as traveling professionals or hybrid workers.

As remote work becomes more common, there is a rising need for devices that are easy to carry without compromising the performance or structural integrity of the device.

Smart AI Tools for Productivity

The Lifebook offers configuration options with either an Intel Core Ultra 5 125U or Intel Core Ultra 7 155U processor, both equipped with integrated AI Boost NPUs for enhanced hardware acceleration of AI-driven features like CoPilot in Windows 11 and Office 2024. It also supports RAM options ranging from 8GB to 64GB and SSD storage from 256GB to 2TB.

The WU5/J3 comes with many built-in AI-powered tools. Features like noise cancellation help block out background sounds during video calls, and users can log in quickly with fingerprint or facial recognition. The laptop also comes with integrated AI NPUs, designed to speed up tasks on tools like Windows Copilot and Office 2024, enhancing workflow and productivity.

Full Connectivity in a Compact Package

Despite its lightweight build, the WU5/J3 doesn’t compromise on connectivity. It offers two USB-A and two USB-C ports, a full-sized HDMI port, an Ethernet port, a microSD slot, and a headphone jack.

Battery Life Designed for Busy Schedules

The WU5/J3 provides between 6 to 11 hours of battery life, making it a reliable choice for long meetings and workdays. It also supports mobile charging, giving users the flexibility to power up wherever they are.

Limited Availability, Strong Demand

Currently, the FMV Zero WU5/J3 is only available for pre-order in Japan. It has an MSRP of 197,900 yen ($1,325).

(Source)

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Fujitsu is one of the oldest technology companies in the world. Even though the company is not as prominent as it once was, but it’s still active in many different areas, including consumer electronics like laptops. Recently, the tech giant introduced two new laptop models, the UH-X and UH-X convertible. Now, Fujitsu has unveiled two new business laptops in its popular LifeBook U9 series. The new models, the U94/A and U9313X, are powered by 13th generation Intel processors and feature a range of versatile features. Here are the details…

Fujitsu Upgrades LifeBook U9 Series Business Laptops with 13th Gen Intel Core, Lightweight Design, and Convertible Features

The LifeBook U94/A is a lightweight 14-inch laptop that weighs just 898 grams. It has a sleek narrow bezel design and a 16:10 aspect ratio display with a resolution of 1920×1200. The laptop is equipped with a full-size ethernet port, two USB A ports, a Thunderbolt 4 port, and HDMI 2.0, providing ample connectivity options. It also supports 5G 2 and Wi-Fi 6E for high-speed internet access. The laptop’s redesigned wide-angle front camera includes Windows Hello verification. Additionally, the laptop incorporates a physical switch for a privacy shutter.

The LifeBook U9313X is a convertible laptop featuring a 13.3-inch screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1920×1080. Its design supports 360-degree rotation, offering flexibility between “notebook mode” and “tablet mode.” Like the U94/A, it too offers PalmSecure and Windows Hello. The U9313X comes with two USB A ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a full-size ethernet port. Also includes a stylus.

Make it us dollar: Both models are available now through Fujitsu’s official website and authorized retailers. The LifeBook U94/A starts at 2.290$, while the starting price for the LifeBook U9313X is 2.300$.

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• Fujitsu Arrows We is a compact 5G phone for the Japanese market
• Fujitsu UH-X & UH-X Convertible laptops hit India packing the 11th-gen Intel Core SoCs
• Lenovo Legion Pro 2023 gaming laptops launched in India featuring cutting-edge Intel & AMD…
• XMG APEX 17 & 15 gaming laptops unveiled with revamped design, 144Hz IPS displays…

(source)

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Japanese tech giant Fujitsu has launched a new compact smartphone called Fujitsu Arrows We in the home market, Japan. The smartphone sports a small 5.7-inch screen, Snapdragon 480 SoC, and 5G connectivity.

Fujitsu Arrows We Specifications 

The Fujitsu Arrows We is a compact 5G device that comes with a 5.7-inch water-drop notch panel and an HD+ screen resolution. It is an LCD panel with thin bezels on all sides except for a thicker bottom chin. The screen supports a 60Hz refresh rate.

As for optics, the smartphone has a dual-rear camera system with a 13MP main lens and a 2MP macro sensor. It has a 5MP single camera setup at the front for selfie snaps. The smartphone comes with IP65 dust and water-resistant rating. It has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 SoC paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. Interestingly, Fujitsu has offered a microSD card slot for additional storage up to 1TB.

Inside, the Fujitsu Arrows We packs a 4,000mAh battery with support for 10W charging. It has a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner for added security. The phone runs on Android 11 OS out of the box and has the company’s custom UI on top of it.

Unfortunately, the pricing and availability details of the phone are still under wraps. But, we’ll update once we receive more information on the same.

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• Vivo Y33s arrives in Singapore with Helio G80 SoC and 5,000mAh battery
• Motorola Edge 20 Pro launched in India with 144Hz AMOLED display, Snapdragon 870, 108MP triple…

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International Data Corporation (IDC) has released its report on the Japan Mobile Phone and Smartphone Markets respectively for Q4 2020 as well as the year 2020 as a whole. Unsurprisingly, Apple was the most popular brand. The Cupertino-based tech giant along with four domestic brands and Samsung captured most of the market.

According to the report, the Japan Mobile Phone Market shipped 11.432 million units in the fourth quarter of 2020 with a 10.6% YoY growth. This was mostly due to the release of the 5G-capable iPhone 12 series. Apple’s shipments incremented by 13.8% YoY with 6.015 million units. It had a whopping 52.6% market share.

The iPhone-maker was followed by Sharp with 1.414 million units and 12.4% market share in the second place. Kyocera with a 7.0% market share and 801,000 units in shipments came third, while Samsung obtained fourth position with a 6.8% market share by shipping 781,000 million units. Lastly, Sony was the fifth largest mobile phone brand in Japan in Q4 2020 with 732,000 units in shipments and a 6.4% market share.

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Talking about only smartphones, the brands shipped a total of 11.301 million units in the last quarter of 2020 with a 10.3% YoY increase. As far as ranking is concerned, the only difference is that Kyocera came fourth, while Samsung captured the third place.

As for the year 2020, Apple was Japan’s largest mobile phone brand with a 46.5% market share by shipping 15.637 million units with an 8.3% YoY growth. It was followed by Sharp, Fujitsu, Samsung and Kyocera with 13.3%, 8.3%, 8.1%, and 7.5% market shares respectively. These companies shipped 4.474 million, 2.794 million, 2.711, and 2.5 million units of handsets.

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The report also mentions some of the popular product lineup by these top 5 brands. Such as Sharp AQUOS Sense 3 series, Fujitsu Raku-Raku Smartphone series, 5G-enabled Samsung Galaxy S & Galaxy A series, and Kyocera BASIO series for elders.

Last but not least, the ranking remains the same for only smartphones with some minor differences in the market share, like Apple (47.3%), Sharp (12.7%), Fujitsu (8.5%), Samsung (8.2%), and Kyocera (7.2%).

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• iPhone SE 2020 and other affordable devices help Japan Smartphone sales recover in Q3 2020

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Fujitsu Arrows NX9 F-52A announced in Japan as the latest 5G smartphone from the Japanese IT giant. The handset features modest specs but its design is similar to Galaxy Note10. Above all, it is the first non-Samsung smartphone with a centered punch-hole OLED display.

The Fujitsu Arrows NX9 F-52A is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G just like LG Velvet and OnePlus Nord. This chipset is further paired with 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. Since there’s no info on the microSD card slot, we don’t think that the device has it.

On the front, the phone flaunts a 6.3-inch FHD+ OLED display with a punch-hole at the top center nesting a 16MP selfie camera. There’s also a fingerprint sensor underneath this screen. Whereas, the back of the device houses a vertically aligned triple camera setup consisting of a 48MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide unit, and a 5MP depth sensor.

EDITOR’S PICK: Lenovo Completes Merger With Fujitsu’s PC Arm

As for the build, the handset features a glass sandwich design with a metal frame. It is also IP65-certified for dust and water resistance. Unlike most phones in the market, it also sports a 3.5mm headphone jack and supports Dolby Atmos.

For connectivity, the smartphone comes with dual-band WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, and SA/NSA 5G. It also features GPS and NFC for contactless payments. Last but not least, the device measures 152 x 72 x 8.5mm in dimensions, weighs 162g, runs Android 10, and is backed by a 3,600mAh battery that charges via USB Type-C port.

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The Fujitsu Arrows NX9 F-52A is priced at ¥76,032 ($729) and will be released on January 31, 2021. Interested customers can already pre-order it from Docomo in either White, Navy, or Gold color option.

UP NEXT: Huawei starts placing 4G smartphone and component orders with suppliers: Report

(Via)

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Recently, Qualcomm had confirmed the list of upcoming Snapdragon 865 mobile platform powered smartphones. The list includes names of various phones from mainstream smartphone OEMs. The list also included FCNT (Fujitsu Connected Technologies Limited) arrows 5G phone. The unannounced smartphone had reportedly appeared on the official website of the company with its entire specs and images. The listing has been taken down.

The Fujitsu arrows 5G phone that has a model number of F-51A features a marvelous curved screen with a punch-hole at its top-right corner. The size of its screen is 6.7 inches and it supports full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels. The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 5. The phone features a front camera of 32-megapixel. The AMOLED display is integrated with an ultrasonic fingerprint reader.

The Snapdragon 865 mobile platform is coupled with 8 GB of RAM. The phone offers users with a native storage of 128 GB. The Android 10 OS comes preloaded on the phone.

The back panel of the Fujitsu arrows 5G features a square-shaped camera setup. It includes a 48-megpixel main lens, a 16.3-megapixel secondary shooter, an 8-megapixel third lens and a dual LED flash unit. The rear cameras support 4K video shooting, optical image stabilization and 3x optical zoom. The handset will come with Adobe Photoshop Express for shooting and editing photos at the same time.

Editor’s Pick: Nubia Red Magic 5G brings style, a cooling fan, 16GB RAM and more to gaming phones

The Fujitsu arrows 5G is backed by a 4,070mAh battery with USB-PD fast charging support. The 5G flagship phone sports an IP68 rated chassis. The other features of the smartphone include FM Radio, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, USB-C and NFC. It lacks support for 3.5mm audio jack.

The Fujitsu arrows 5G has 164 x 76 x 7.8mm dimensions and it weighs 180 grams. At present, there is no word on the pricing and release date of the smartphone. The official listing of the phone had revealed that it will be “Coming Soon” in “Spring 2020.”

UP NEXT: Alleged Nubia Z30 (NX651J) seemingly certified by 3C authority

(via)

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Last year China’s Lenovo and Japan’s Fujitsu announced a merger of their PC businesses. The merger has now been finalized.

The merger has resulted in Lenovo owning 51% of the Fujitsu PC arm, the Development Bank of Japan owning 5%, and Fujitsu keeping 44%.

The merger also includes a number of agreements between Lenovo and Fujitsu which includes manufacturing, distribution, brand licensing, and research and development.

Future Fujitsu PCs will still go by the Japanese brand’s name but we won’t be surprised if there is something like “A Lenovo Company” written somewhere on the body or retail box. Fujitsu will also provide after-sales support.

READ MORE: Lenovo HX03F Spectra And HX03 Cardio Fitness Trackers Launched In India

Fujitsu is the second major PC manufacturer that has been acquired by Lenovo. Back in 2005, the Chinese manufacturer acquired the PC arm of IBM.

(Source)

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Japanese PC manufacturer announced today that it has agreed to merge its struggling PC business with that of Chinese giant, Lenovo.

News of a possible merger was first reported last year but Fujitsu didn’t agree to sign a deal with the world’s largest PC maker until today. The merger also includes the Development Bank of Japan.

All three members of the merger will form a joint venture  with a sum of 17.85 billion Yen (~$156 million). Lenovo will hold 51% of Fujitsu’s PC arm while the Development Bank of Japan will control 5%.

The deal will result in a restructuring that will result in up to 3200 job losses and will allow Fujitsu divert more of its resources into its IT services which is doing well.

The announcement also caused Fujitsu’s stock to fall by 2% after initially rising by 7.8% last month following news of a deal with Lenovo.

Fujitsu’s initial plan was to form a merger with other failing Japanese PC manufacturers such as Toshiba and Vaio but sadly, a deal didn’t materialize.

READ MORE: Lenovo K8, K8 Plus And K8 Note To Get Android Oreo Update Next Year

Lenovo currently controls 21.6% of the world’s PC market according to IDC while Fujitsu has 4%. The merger will see Lenovo’s share jump to 25.6%.

(Sources: 1, 2)

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Just like 18:9 displays, facial recognition is one of the features manufacturers are adding to phones this year. While the tech has gained popularity in the past few months, it’s worth mentioning that facial recognition has been found on smartphones for years.

The iPhone X may have made it popular but it has been available on Android debuting with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, though not as advanced and secure as that of the iPhone X.

Facial Recognition on Android

Setting up face unlock on Android back then was fairly simple. After accessing the menu under settings, you will be required to set up your face by positioning it within a dotted circle and the front facing camera would capture your facial details. To increase accuracy, you will be required to try it under different lighting conditions and under different conditions (glasses on/off, hat on etc).

There was a caveat though, Google knew it wasn’t secure enough, so you were asked to set up an alternative security lock. And now, most manufacturers don’t even bother to include the feature anymore, ever since fingerprint scanners have become mainstream.

On my OnePlus 3T, all you have is swipe, pattern, PIN, and password, in addition to fingerprint recognition. The Zoji Z6, which acts as my secondary phone, adds voice unlock along with the above mentioned security features.

Iris Recognition

But that wasn’t the end of face unlock. While it took a break, manufacturers branched into something else – Iris Recognition.
The first phone to come with an iris scanner was the Fujitsu ARROWS NX-F04G. It was released in 2015 and made use of an IR LED for illuminating the pattern of the iris, which according to research doesn’t change after the age of two years; and an IR camera for  capturing the pattern.

The image is then stored in the database and used to compare against that of the person who wants to unlock the phone. At the end of 2015, Microsoft released the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL, joining Fujitsu, as smartphones with Iris scanners.

Nearly a year later, Samsung joined the short list with the ill-fated Galaxy Note7. This year, Samsung launched the Galaxy S8 and S8+ and both of them have iris scanners. Samsung touted them as being airtight and you could even use it for payment, just the way you used the fingerprint scanner.

However, the guys at Chaos Computer Club (CCC), a European hacker association didn’t like the way Samsung bragged about its security and decided to disprove their claim. They were able to fool the scanner.

How they did it was actually pretty simple.

All they had to do was take a picture of the owner’s eye using a 200mm lens from 15 feet away. Then they had it printed out on paper and covered it with wet contact lens to imitate the curvature of real eyes. After pointing the phone towards it, it unlocked the device.

CCC in its official article says it will be even easier to unlock with the tons of high resolution selfies on the internet, so you might not need to even take a picture of the owner of the phone. Their suggestion is to use a PIN as it is more secure than biometric scanners.

Windows Hello Facial Recognition

Back to Facial Recognition. Microsoft announced Windows Hello the same year as the company announced the Lumia 950 and 950 XL, which is a windows 10 biometric technology system that includes the iris scanner on the Lumia 950 and 950 XL, the fingerprint reader on windows 10 laptops, and facial recognition on the Surface Book laptop and the Surface Pro 4.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ3W2YABZzo

Both the surface book and laptop feature a near IR sensor that does the capturing and is more effective under varying light conditions.

So how does Windows Hello face recognition work?

Using an algorithm, the face is detected in the camera stream. Facial landmark points such as the nose, eyes, and mouth are located. The algorithm also ensures that the user is facing the device at an angle of ±15 degrees.

The algorithm then uses the landmarks as anchor points and takes several samples of the face to build a representation. The result is a histogram representing the light and dark differences around specific areas. So, the image of the user is actually never stored.

Microsoft says the representation of the user in front of the PC is then compared to the one enrolled. And before it accepts it as a match, it has to cross a certain machine-learned threshold. This threshold increases if there are multiple users enrolled on the device.

Microsoft measures the accuracy of its facial recognition in three ways:
1. False positive – also called false acception rate (FAR), this is the likelihood of a random person who gains physical access to your PC being recognized as you. This number should be as low as possible and for Windows Hello, it is less than 0.001 or 1/100,000 FAR.

2. True positive – this is the likelihood of you being correctly matched to your enrolled profile. This number should be high and Windows Hello scores 95% for a single enrolled user.

3. False negative – is the likelihood of you being denied access even though your profile is enrolled and Microsoft says it is 5% for a single enrolled user.

Windows Hello works pretty well judging from the tons of videos on the internet. It cant be fooled by a photograph, it won’t unlock if your face is partially covered and it unlocks fast in the dark thanks to the near IR sensor.

Apple Face ID

Apple joined the facial recognition train this year with its iPhone X. The iPhone X doesn’t have Touch ID due to its bezel-less design and Apple didn’t want to put it on the back of the phone like a number of Android manufacturers do. Instead, it came up with Face ID, a facial recognition system it claims is more secure than TouchID.

Face ID captures your face with the aid of light projector and a bunch of sensors — Apple collectively refers to it as the TrueDepth Camera System.

The process the TrueDepth system uses to capture a 3D map of your face is explained below:

1.The proximity sensor and ambient light sensor help to determine the amount of illumination needed for face recognition.
2.The flood illuminator produces IR light to illuminate your face. The IR light is not visible to the human eye and and works effectively in poorly illuminated or even bright areas (outdoors).
3. The dot projector produces tens of thousands dots of IR light to create a 3D map of your face.
4. The infrared camera captures images of the dot pattern and the IR light reflected back by your face.

The recognition process is similar to that of other biometric ones – compare the stored template against the presented pattern (verification image) and see if it is a match. The stored template and verification image won’t be the same since the capture conditions will always be different, so it uses a threshold to grant access.

The threshold score is said to be between 0 and 1. If the score is closer to 1 then it is the same face (or biometric) and if it is closer to 0, then it is not the same person.

Apple explains the step for verification:
1. IR images are sent from the camera to the phone’s neural engine to build a 3D map of the face.
2. The map is compared against the stored template.
3. The processor calculates if the verification and stored templates match based on a comparison score of the similarity between your images.
4. Phone unlocks if the comparison score is higher than a certain threshold value.

So what happens if your facial appearance changes, say you grow a beard, shave your moustache, or apply makeup?
Apple says that FaceID continually updates the stored model by occasionally saving images from successful login maps. So it kind of a continuous enrollment.

READ MORE: GizmoChina Explains: How Does An eSIM Work?

How secure is Face ID?

According to Apple, the probability of a random person unlocking your iPhone X is 1 in 1,000,000 which is way higher than Touch ID’s 1 in 50,000. It however differs for twins and siblings that share the same physical features or even siblings under 13 whose distinct features are not fully developed. Apple suggests using a pass-code for authentication in this case.

Bottom line is that Face ID or any form of facial recognition isn’t foolproof, but unlike the basic model of facial recognition, Windows Hello and Face ID provide a much more secure way of keeping your device protected.

As the technology develops, facial recognition could potentially be our biometric verification standard on smartphones and other gadgets. Apple took the leap skipping TouchID in favour of Face ID, and other manufacturers could follow suit.

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Japanese information technology equipment manufacturer, Fujitsu, is planning to sell its smartphone business unit. News has it that Chinese giants, Lenovo and Huawei are two of the likely buyers.

The smartphone arm of Fujitsu was made a separate company in February, 2016. Competition from foreign brands have caused most of the local companies to collapse. Out of the 11 Japanese companies that were in the market in the early 2000s, Only Sony, Sharp (now owned by Foxconn), and Kyocera remain. NEC, Mitsubishi, Toshiba, and Panasonic are examples of the companies that have exited the Japanese market.

Fujitsu’s decision to sell its mobile phone unit means it will be able to focus its resources on its IT services business. Nikkei reports that Fujitsu plans to retain a minority stake in the business and keep the brand alive.

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Some of the other bidders interested in the purchase are investment companies Polaris Capital Group and CVC Capital Partners, and Taiwanese manufacturing giant, Hon Hai Precision Industry a.k.a Foxconn. First round of bidding is expected to begin in September.

Apple is the leader in the Japanese smartphone market with more than 40% share. Fujitsu currently sits at number five.

(Source, via)

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