New iPhone's screen design & face unlocking feature confirmed by HomePod firmware

While most of Apple's upcoming device features, like the specifications and design, are a well-kept secret. But one of Apple's own device gave away some insides. 

According to a report filed by The Verge, Apple’s HomePod, the Siri-based intelligent speaker, incidentally gave away some information about the next Apple flagship iPhone.

It appears, based on a tweet from developer Steve Troughton-Smith, that at least one of those models will have face unlock. And the high-end model (alternately referred to as the “iPhone Pro,” “iPhone 8,” or even “iPhone X”) will have a bezel-less screen that wraps around the speaker and cameras at the top. Troughton-Smith and other developers have been spending the past day examining the code inside the Apple HomePod, which pretty much contains most of the code base for iPhones inside it. Apple accidentally pushed the firmware for the HomePod out yesterday, and a bunch of developers grabbed it. From that code, we’ve learned a bit about how the LED lights on the top may work, but it also is giving us an opportunity to learn about what might be coming to the next iPhones.

I can confirm reports that HomePod’s firmware reveals the existence of upcoming iPhone’s infra-red face unlock in BiometricKit and elsewhere pic.twitter.com/yLsgCx7OTZ

— Steve T-S (@stroughtonsmith) July 31, 2017

The code lines referred to ‘BKFaceDetect,’ where BK probably refers to Biometric Kit, and where Kit often relates to developer tools. There were also references seen about an infrared camera, which could be used for detecting the face. Additionally, the code also contains this image:

Me too. New bezel-less form factor as well pic.twitter.com/Y0RrSOk2OO

— Guilherme Rambo (@_inside) July 31, 2017

 The developer also states that, there could be a likely edge-to-edge display wrapping around the top speaker and sensors. Rumors have been going around TouchID for the next iPhone: would it appear under the screen, or on the back of the phone, land on the power button on the side, or go away entirely is not known yet.