Apple has released iOS 7 Beta 4 to developers. The latest beta contains bug fixes and improvements, as well as information that apparently confirms the iPhone 5S' fingerprint scanner.
Apple released the latest version of iOS Beta 7 to developers on Monday, July 29, bringing bug fixes, interface tweaks, and stability enhancements. When Apple showed the redesigned lock screen in iOS 7 it had an arrow at the top of the display and another at the bottom of the display where the previous slide to unlock bar used to be. The arrows were placed there to let the user know that simply dragging the arrow up or down would open Control Center and Notification Center. It appeared confusing because there is no slide to unlock bar in iOS 7. The message appeared above Control Center's arrow, leading many people to mistakenly slide upwards to try to unlock the iOS device. Apple has fixed that design flaw by replacing the arrows with a small bar and a new arrow appears next to slide to unlock. It's little fixes like this that beta 4 is focusing on, but it also contains a folder that pretty much confirms the iPhone 5S will include a fingerprint scanner.
A developer posted a screenshot of a new folder in iOS 7Beta 4 called BiometricKitUI. The contents reveal a description for a touch sensor that will be used on or under the iPhone's home button. There's a reference to the iOS 7 tutorial showing a "photo of a person holding an iPhone with their right hand while touching the Home button with the thumb" and "a fingerprint that changes during the setup process." There is also a reference to "Recognition is X% complete", which will likely be displayed on the iPhone 5S when its verifying the user.
While we can't be certain that this definitely confirms the iPhone 5S and fingerprint scanner, it is the first time we are seeing something more official from Apple that seems to back up the claims that upcoming iPhones will include this new feature.
