Oliver Haslam·

New iPhone 8 Tidbits Via HomePod Firmware: Resizable Home Button, 1080p At 240fps, Much More

Apple’s release of the HomePod isn’t scheduled until December, but ever since the version of iOS that runs on the device was released not so long ago we have been literally inundated with information pertaining to the iPhone 8, with developers finding nugget after nugget as they trawl through the software.

As the HomePod runs a full blown version of iOS, code in there pertains to iPhones as well, and that is where the information is coming from. The information itself is pretty juicy, too, with the last 24 hours giving us information about facial recognition, the virtual Home button, camera and much more.

Kicking things off we have the facial recognition that is expected to come to the iPhone 8. Questions had been asked as to whether that system would allow authentication for things like Apple Pay, especially given the lack of Touch ID at least on the front of the device. According to new information found in the HomePod software, we needn’t have pondered.

Developer Guilherme Rambo has discovered a line of code which references a payment authentication error with “Pearl.” For those unfamiliar, Pearl is Apple’s internal code name for face recognition in the iPhone 8, while a string that reads “numberOfAppsUsingPearl” linked to text relating to a payment authentication error.

Another string labeled “ModernHDR”, would suggest HDR support is coming, including 1080p video capture at 240fps. There are also references to biometrics which will likely mean support for multiple faces will be included, something that could be really important on an iPad should Apple ever get around to developing a system to allow user profiles on the tablet.

Moving on, developer Steven Troughton-Smith has found references which make him believe that the virtual Home button employed on the iPhone 8 will be able to resize itself depending on the requirements of apps and the system itself. In fact, the button can disappear completely if the situation calls for it.

We know some facts re iPhone 8 home button area:

• it resizes

• indicator can be hidden

• no API to change color

• tab bars extend under it

Troughton-Smith also tweeted an image which appears to confirm that the iPhone 8 will feature a split Status Bar of sorts, something made necessary by the sensors and front-facing camera at the top of the display and the lack of the large bezels which existing iPhones have.

Image: @charavel

The iPhone 8 is expected to be announced next month, alongside the iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus with release shortly afterwards. Those looking to pick an iPhone 8 up may face a wait though, supply is expected to be severely constrained.

(Source: Twitter [1], [2])

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