A few iPhone Users Having Touch ID Issues With iOS 9.1

The patent, title “Fingerprint activation of a panic mode of operation for a mobile device”, represent an idea that could end up becoming the Batman to the Find My iPhone Robin.

Panic mode would give iPhone users a new range of security settings when forced to unlock their devices using Touch ID.

The patent may also have multiple panic modes for the device, thus activating different alerts based on the finger that is being scanned.

The iPhone continues to be a big focus of rumors and jumping to conclusions, and it’s happening again with a newly-released patent application filed by Apple.

Apple says that when an iPhone is unlocked using a “panic finger”, the iPhone realises that the user is in “distress” and limits access to personal data. Apple introduced the Force Touch technology in its new Magic Trackpad 2 which is the company’s new wireless accessory for the 2015 iMac launched in October.

The Apple patent was filed in 2012, so a strong possibility exists that the company is working on a next-gen MacBook that also has a Force Touch keyboard.

Currently, the latest iPhones, the Apple Watch Force and the new MacBook’s trackpad deploy Force Touch. Through the secret fingerprint, users will be able to initiate an emergency phone call, message and even take picture or make an audio recording.

Flickr has also been updated with iOS 9 Spotlight Search functionality and Universal Links so you can open shared links directly in the Flickr app instead of in Safari.

Users could activate these different modes by placing different fingers on the Touch ID sensor.

Provided by IBT US Apple Panic Button Illustration A flowchart illustrating how an iPhone would enter a “Panic Mode” state.

The introduction of 3D Touch on the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus offers another way to use gestures on the iPhone.

“In a few embodiments, the mobile device 104 may be activated into the panic mode in emergency situations to act as a beacon”. There’s always a chance they could spark ire from users, and in turn push advertisers away, but that just depends on how well they’re implemented and if they become distracting or not.