A new rumor from DigiTimes, they of the iffy track record on Apple rumors, says Apple is looking to develop an iPhone display that includes an integrated Touch ID fingerprint sensor.
Citing sources in Taiwan’s integrated circuit industry, DigiTimes reported on Monday that Apple is developing touch and display driver integration single-chip solutions for future iPhones. The chips are also said to include fingerprint sensors, which would allow for new iPhone designs without a home button, enabling the entire front panel to be the device’s display.
While this is, of course, merely a rumor, and should be treated a such, Apple has shown interest in the technology, reflected in its patent filings and acquisitions of other companies.
DigiTimes says Apple is interested manufacturing “ultra-thin and ultra-narrow” display panels, with integrated an integrated Touch ID sensor, as well as eliminating the Home Button from the device, possibly leading to smaller devices.
It should be noted that rumors about Apple’s supposed plans to drop the Home button from its devices go back as far as 2011. So far, none of the rumors have proven true.
