Apple’s highly-anticipated iPhone X is now known to be packed with a slew of advanced features, from FaceID to ‘the most powerful and smartest chip ever in a smartphone’ – but, it isn’t all that serious.
In a demonstration of the device today, the firm revealed it will come with a feature known as Animoji, which will allow users to communicate as their favourite emojis.
Animoji relies on the iPhone X’s TrueDepth camera, which can capture facial movements and translate those expressions to the animations.
In a comical on-stage demonstration, the Apple execs showed how this means users can now talk as the much-loved poop emoji, among the many others.
‘If you were wondering what humanity would do when given access to the most advanced facial recognition technology, here it is,’ joked Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering, as he demonstrated the technology using the popular poop emoji.
Apple’s new Animoji feature means iPhone X owners will be able to send 3D animated emojis they can control with their face.
According to Apple, the TrueDepth camera captures and analyses over 50 different facial muscle movements.
It will come pre-installed on the iPhone X’s Messenger app, allowing users to record and send Animoji messages that talk with their own voice.
The animated characters will be able to smile, frown, or take on other facial expressions.
According to Apple, the TrueDepth camera captures and analyses over 50 different facial muscle movements. The animated characters will be able to smile, frown, or take on other facial expressions
The iPhone X’s new TrueDepth camera system includes an infrared camera, and other new technology.
Aside from Animoji, its main purpose will be for the Face ID feature.
This will learn your face, so every time you glance at the iPhone, it detects your face – even in the dark.
It works by projecting infrared dots out onto your face, which feeds information back into an AI computer, to create a model of the face and check it against the owner.
‘This happens in real time, and invisibly,’ said Phil Schiller, senior vice president of worldwide marketing at Apple.
The built in chip that controls Face ID is built with a neural engine, allowing it to execute 600 billion operations per second.
The iPhone X also has dual 12MP cameras, with dual optical image stabilisation and quad LED true tone flash.
The front camera is a breakthrough for selfies, and can take photos in Portrait Mode with Portrait Lighting.
Schiller said: ‘People will be blown away by the selfies you can take with the iPhone X.’