Apple is regularly assigned patents. If we know one thing, it doesn't mean you should expect all kinds of futuristic products anytime soon. Every invention the company makes, big and small, is patented. The newly assigned patent for a button with Touch ID is therefore not a design patent, but a usage patent. Apple can therefore integrate this concept into other devices instead of making it a separate accessory.
A smart button with Touch ID from Apple
Those who use HomeKit are you may be familiar with HomeKit buttons. With these buttons you can perform commands such as controlling the lamps, switching on the television, setting the thermostat and much more. Apple isn't making its own HomeKit button right now, but it may be thinking about it.
A button with a Touch ID sensor may not be obvious, but it can come in handy in certain situations. This way, parents of small children can ensure that all kinds of smart accessories are not tampered with when the children play with the button. This may also come in handy for those who have a separate room in the house to work quietly. Only pre-selected people can then unlock the smart door lock.
In theory, Apple could also assign multiple actions to a button, depending on who is pressing the button. If you like to listen to Radio 538 and your partner to SkyRadio, you can set the smart Touch ID button to take this into account when it is pressed. As with everything within HomeKit you can get very creative with that and even associate an action with multiple fingers on the same hand.
It could be the first time that Apple releases its own HomeKit accessory. Although we would be in favor of smart accessories from Apple, we are rather waiting for really interesting products. Think of your own HomeKit router with the smartest security techniques.
Touch ID in the Siri Remote: handy for the Apple TV?
A button with Touch ID could also be used for the Apple TV. Is that really helpful or more of a gimmick? That is up for debate. With Touch ID in the Apple TV remote, it would be a lot easier to confirm a purchase. Currently you have to type this in a bit awkwardly with your Siri Remote, but you can also use your iPhone as an Apple TV remote.
For several years now, you can also use multiple accounts on the Apple TV. With Touch ID you no longer have to think about switching accounts. After all, the user's fingerprint says enough and can also help set any age restrictions. Currently, there are no other features on the Apple TV where Touch ID would come in handy, and buying a Siri Remote isn't cheap already. Touch ID could make the remote unnecessarily expensive. With the right features, a higher price may be justified.
Are you waiting for a smart button or Siri Remote with Touch ID? Let us know in the comments!