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The Galaxy S5 is perhaps the first Android phone that seems to have nailed the implementation of the fingerprint scanner. Unlike HTC, Samsung has integrated the scanner right in the home button — just like on the iPhone 5s — that will allow users to unlock the device by swiping their finger across it.
Best of all, Samsung has also released the SDK so that developers can utilise the fingerprint scanner in their apps. This will allow them to add an additional invisible layer of protection and privacy to our data. It is obviously a much better solution than using a pass code to lock apps — that method slows us down by adding an step when we quickly want to access our data.
Below, we list down 5 Android apps that we think should support the fingerprint scanner on the Galaxy S5 for our benefit as users.
Gallery
Let’s face it, we all keep some personal photos in our phones that we don’t want even our friends or family to see. However, we all have that one person in our life who absolutely disregards our privacy, opens the Gallery and starts scrolling through all the pictures. They are even shameful enough to ask for the unlock pass code, if there is any.
If developers would add support for the fingerprint scanner on the Galaxy S5, there is no way anyone can access all the personal photos stored on your device. The app would simply give a permission denied error and exit in the background.
There is no doubt that Whatsapp is among the most popular and biggest chat messaging services in the world right now. After all, there is a reason why Facebook paid a whopping $19 billion for it. Millions of users talk about their personal lives, share important and personal photos and even trade secrets over it.
These reasons alone show the sheer importance of the service and the precious data it holds, which almost makes it a necessity for the developers to add support for the Galaxy S5’s fingerprint scanner to the app.
Google Keep / Evernote / Dropbox
Generally, these three services are used by consumers to save sensitive and personal data. Personally, I use Dropbox for storing some confidential business files and Evernote for all my bank account details. If this data gets into wrong hands, the damage would be catastrophic.
While Google adding fingerprint support to Google Keep might be a long shot, the other two companies can definitely do so without a hitch — especially since they come pre-installed on all recent Samsung devices. This way all our personal data would always remain secure, even if the device gets stolen or lost.
Email is another app that can give anyone access to all the private and sensitive information about our life or business in no time. Using a pass code lock on email apps does not make much sense because of the sheer number of times one has to open it in a day.
That’s why it is almost a necessity for developers of email clients (e.g. CloudMagic) on the Play Store to add support for the fingerprint scanner. Just don’t expect Google to do it in their Gmail app though — until and unless it releases a Nexus device with a fingerprint scanner as well.
Cerebrus & other anti-theft apps
The fingerprint scanner on the Galaxy S5 is not going to be of much use if the device is stolen. While the thief may not be able to access your personal data, he would still have your 700$ phone to himself. A simple hard reset of the device without even accessing the Settings menu and he can wipe the phone clean of all data.
That’s why developers of anti-theft apps like Cerberus should support the fingerprint scanner of the S5 for better security. This way, when the user locks his phone remotely, the only way to unlock, factory reset or even switch it off would require his fingerprint.
Which app do you think should support the fingerprint scanner on the Galaxy S5? Or do you think the feature is a gimmick? Drop in a comment and let us know!
