Apple secures fingerprint buy

Expect the next generation of Apple tablets and iPhones to include fingerprint recognition technology. The company last night landed a chunky $356m (£229m) takeover of US fingerprint security firm AuthenTec in a deal that will see it explore ways in which it can improve security for its customers.

It will not be the first time tablets use fingerprint scanning technology. Hewlett Packard already uses AuthenTec's chips for its tablet notebooks, on which customers sign in by swiping their finger over a minute scanner on the computer.

AuthenTec also makes more prosaic security chips which are found in Samsung's smartphones and tablets.