Following the leak of HomePod's firmware, developers Steve Troughton-Smith and Guilherme Rambo have uncovered new features headed to Apple's next flagship, including facial expression, attention detection, and a tap to wake function.
Many of the features uncovered in the firmware are pretty self-explanatory. Tap to wake, for example, is a commonly used feature found in Android phones, and allows users to wake up the screen by double-tapping, rather than pressing a physical sleep/wake button. Attention detection, meanwhile, could recognize when a user is looking at the iPhone 8 and silence notifications since they're already engaged with the phone.
As for the mention of facial expression, the references could point to Apple's rumored facial recognition technology, which will either replace or supplement a fingerprint sensor. The biometric feature is said to be more advanced than facial recognition features found in competing phones, and possibly take advantage of Apple's new ARKit.
Speaking of biometrics, Troughton-Smith said he's seen nothing in the HomePod's firmware to suggest the iPhone 8 will feature "an ultrasound under-the-display Touch ID," which is hugely disappointing. "Looks like not this year," Troughton-Smith added.
If Apple is indeed unable to release the iPhone 8 with Touch ID under the display, it's unclear where the sensor will go. Some have suggested it'll be moved to the back of the device, while others believe it could be axed altogether for more advanced facial recognition technology.
Troughton-Smith has some other goodies on his Twitter, including the possibility of a more interactive status bar and a virtual home button known as "home indicator."

Disguise your little one with the help of a themed costume
From avocado halves to hoppy bunnies, costumes speak to every child's unique spirit. And we've collected our favorite options.

Add magic to your living space with these string lights
String lights add personality and soft light to your living space. Here are some of the best.

The Galaxy S20 Ultra's Space Zoom camera is amazing and a bit creepy
The Galaxy S20 Ultra supports up to 100X zoom, which Samsung calls Space Zoom, but is it any good? Can a phone really product usable photos at 100x zoom? We've got our Galaxy S20 Ultra already so join us to find out!

Maximize the battery life of your iPhone X with these battery cases
Not only can these cases protect your phone, but they can also keep the battery going and going.