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Apple Reference Image: A New Approach for Verified Photography

539 points · 352 comments · imwally

  1. tristanj · · focus · HN ↗
    Apple doesn't address the modified photo replay situation, where you take a picture of an already edited image.

    Photoshop / AI-gen an image -> display on a high-resolution monitor -> photograph the monitor with iPhone 18 Pro -> valid Apple Reference image.

    To get valid reference photos, you can go to the actual physical location, put the iPhone/monitor in a cardboard box to block external light, then photograph the monitor. Paint the inside of the box using Vantablack (stopping reflections) and cover the LiDAR projector with tape.

    I can't wait to see Apple Verified™ photos of UFOs flying over the Golden Gate Bridge.

    1. pveierland · · focus · HN ↗
      Claim 7 in this patent application describes how depth sensors are used as part of an image authentication process, which would make such a workaround more difficult:

      <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;image-ppubs.uspto.gov&#x2F;dirsearch-public&#x2F;print&#x2F;downloadPdf&#x2F;20260268025" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;image-ppubs.uspto.gov&#x2F;dirsearch-public&#x2F;print&#x2F;downloa...

      The Apple Reference Image feature is here launched on iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max that both have built-in LiDAR sensors that could be used for this process.

      1. BugsJustFindMe · · focus · HN ↗
        iPhone lidar only works up to like 16 feet in the easiest lighting conditions (indoors) and may be functionally ineffective outdoors.
        1. gruez · · focus · HN ↗
          So you need a big enough screen to cover the entire field of view at 16 ft? Sounds expensive
          1. BugsJustFindMe · · focus · HN ↗
            Well, first, that&#x27;s only expensive if you&#x27;re poor. The world is absolutely full of people who can easily piss away your entire annual income throwing a house party.

            But I really mean that if the lidar barely works outdoors anyway then actually you don&#x27;t need to be 16 feet away at all.

            Anyway, one may presume that they&#x27;ve thought about this.

            1. somethinsfishy · · focus · HN ↗
              Put some sugar on it. Please.
              1. BugsJustFindMe · · focus · HN ↗
                Def Leppard, is that you?
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