Apple’s Latest iOS 7 Beta Hints at Fingerprint-Sensor iPhone

The latest beta of iOS 7 contains a string of code that suggests that Apple is bringing a new and important feature to the forthcoming operating system: A fingerprint sensor. Uncovered by developer Hamza Sood, the code seemingly references a biometric scanner built into a future iPhone’s home button. For what purpose? Biometrically verified identity seems a likely candidate. An intriguing feature that could be used not just for iOS device security, but also for purchase authentication and the like. Caveat: Beta features don’t always find their way into final releases.