Resources, references in macOS Sierra API hint at upcoming Touch ID, OLED touch bar for upcoming Apple products

It may be a convoluted mess to dig through, but sometimes source code hints at some interesting new resources that portend upcoming technologies.

Hidden inside Apple’s API differences web site for macOS Sierra are references to several additions that could include an OLED touch bar and Touch ID support.

Last month it was reported that Apple was planning a major MacBook Pro revamp that would bring support for Touch ID as well as a new OLED touch bar in place of the function keys. Now, macOS Sierra API changes further hint at those upcoming features…

A variety of new resources suggest support for the OLED touch bar, including a new “kHIDUsage_LED_DoNotDisturb” reference that seems to hint at a dedicated LED Do Not Disturb button. Currently, Do Not Disturb can be accessed on the Mac from the notifications pane, but with the OLED touch bar would come the ability to have a dedicated touch button for the feature.

Additionally, there are new resources with the “kHIDUsage_LED” title that apply to fast forward, rewind, play, pause, rewind, and power functions, all of which are currently located in the function row of keys, which the touch bar would replace. There’s also an interesting “kHIDUsage_LED_NightMode” resource that could hint at a button that would perhaps enable dark mode, Do Not Disturb, and/or Night Shift on the Mac. In addition to these, there are a lot more new resources that can be seen on Apple’s developer site.

The build also contains references to biometric input taps, which could hint at Apple bringing Touch ID to the Mac. In 2013, an iOS 7 beta contained a hidden biometric resource that hinted at fingerprint recognition coming to the iPhone, and a similar one has now been discovered in Sierra. With Sierra, Apple added a new Auto Unlock functionality that automatically unlocks your Mac if it is in proximity to your iOS device and Apple Watch.

Finally, there is also a new resource in OS X Sierra that hints at support for “USB Super Speed+,” which is USB 3.1.

Granted, these references could be bookmarks towards something else, but they do hint at some interesting changes coming down the line.

Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

Via 9to5Mac and MacGeneration