A look at what’s happening in the world of gadgets, as Apple plans for an improved anti-fingerprint screen and McAfee launches an anti-theft iOS app.
Apple applies for anti-fingerprint patent
Apple has applied for a patent which aims to prevent fingerprints from messing up an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch screen.
While previous versions of these iOS devices already have an anti-fingerprint technology, it wears off after a short while. This patent details a method that would keep these devices fingerprint free for longer.
CNET reports that Apple plans on coating screens with an oil-resistant material called oleophobic, which is applied using a method called physical vapour desposition.
A thin coating is applied to the screen in liquid form inside a bottle pressurised with inert gas, allowing it to be sprayed on the surface.
It is also rumoured the technology could be included in the iPhone 5.
McAfee launches anti-theft iOS app
Antivirus software firm McAfee has launched an anti-theft app for iOS devices called WaveSecure. The app utilises technology McAfee got when it acquired software company tenCube, according to VentureBeat.
Users can back up their contacts, photos and videos, and can remotely track the location of their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch through an online portal.
They can also restore contacts wirelessly on numerous devices, including an Android phone, letting users retrieve their data when a phone is damaged or stolen.
The McAfee WaveSecure iOS app is available now on iTunes, costing €15.99.
14m US mobile users scanned QR codes
Some 14m mobile users in the US have scanned a QR code, which represents 6pc of the total mobile audience, a study from research firm comScore revealed.
Men were more likely to scan the QR code than women, making up 60.5pc of the code-scanning audience.
More than half of the QR code scanners were aged 18-34 and 36pc of QR code scanners had a household income of US$100k and above.
Users were most likely to scan QR codes from newspapers and magazines or product packaging. They scanned the code either at home or in a shop.
