Google releases New! Android Smart Lock Features!

[beebskadoo]

       

 

 

      A new Nexus 6 (for now) feature was just released, the device can now use the accelerometer to intelligently judge if the phone is in your hand or pocket so you won't have to enter a pin to unlock, it will know if you set your phone on a table for example and it will enable the pin. This is of course configurable and optional, just in case you don't want to give up security for convenience. Other smart lock features such as trusted places/devices which will disable or enable your lock screen based on proximity to a set location or for example a smart watch or other Bluetooth devices, which were released with Lollipop 5.0.
     Google is also rumored to be working on adding native biometric scanning into Android very soon which is a very exciting bit of news and will make phone security better and even more secure on the Android platform. 

Thoughts?

[QueenDemetria]

Neat, if it works. Right now I would rather use the bluetooth proximity lock since I use a Pebble.

[DudeWazap]

I haven't gotten 5.1 on my Nexus 6 but when I do I will try this out. I don't lock my phone with a password or pattern just the regular lock screen so I don't think this will make any difference for me.

[beebskadoo]

Neat, if it works. Right now I would rather use the bluetooth proximity lock since I use a Pebble.

I'm using it currently on my Nexus 6, it seems to work pretty well. Smart Lock features are awesome in Android!

[beebskadoo]

I haven't gotten 5.1 on my Nexus 6 but when I do I will try this out. I don't lock my phone with a password or pattern just the regular lock screen so I don't think this will make any difference for me.

Just flash it manually like I did, it's worth it in every single way imaginable. It's so much smoother on my Nexus 6 than before!

[DudeWazap]

Just flash it manually like I did, it's worth it in every single way imaginable. It's so much smoother on my Nexus 6 than before!

I might do that if I don't get the update rolled out to me soon. I got 5.1 on my Nexus 10 before my Nexus 6... I thought Google said that the Nexus 6 was priority first in line. <_<

[neonfusion]

This is a nice addition but I'm still a little skeptical about it tough.But smart lock was never really about absolute security but more convenience. 

 

What they need to add is a wifi unlock so your device would always be unlocked at home.

[beebskadoo]

I might do that if I don't get the update rolled out to me soon. I got 5.1 on my Nexus 10 before my Nexus 6... I thought Google said that the Nexus 6 was priority first in line. <_<

Keep in mind, the fact that they trickle the release is good, just in case there are a bunch of unknown bugs in the release. The 5.1 release on the Nexus 5 has caused a few issues to many users, a fix should be issued soon for that. 

[beebskadoo]

This is a nice addition but I'm still a little skeptical about it tough.But smart lock was never really about absolute security but more convenience. 

 

What they need to add is a wifi unlock so your device would always be unlocked at home.

Smart location is based on GPS signal, I have it set for my house. It works great.

[neonfusion]

Smart location is based on GPS signal, I have it set for my house. It works great.

The the reason I don't use this is that Google always seems to get my home location wrong. Everywhere else it works great but my house is always placed down the street.

 

And using wifi to unlock may be less demanding than having GPS on all the time, even thought i typically do.

[beebskadoo]

The the reason I don't use this is that Google always seems to get my home location wrong. Everywhere else it works great but my house is always placed down the street.

 

And using wifi to unlock may be less demanding than having GPS on all the time, even thought i typically do.

You can use High accuracy mode which uses Wifi and GPS to determine your location, or power saving mode which uses Wifi and Cellular Data. You might have better luck with that <3

[Thorium19]

Now this is a good feature. If others like sony, htc etc bring it to their devices in their 5.1 update then I'll certainly make use of it, as anything that can make access easier whilst still having safety features is something I'm interested in.

[beebskadoo]

Now this is a good feature. If others like sony, htc etc bring it to their devices in their 5.1 update then I'll certainly make use of it, as anything that can make access easier whilst still having safety features is something I'm interested in.

I hope all non AOSP Android Skins die in a fire. I have a feeling that samsung, HTC and LG will all implement a similar feature but not using Google's own API as they have done with so many things in the past  

[Duncan Donuts]

My Nexus 5 was updated OTA to 5.1 this past week.

I just checked, and I have On-body detection now !

[Sidiox]

I really wonder how well this would preform. I'm very eager to try this out on my OnePlus One. 

[Anult]

If this feature works consistently, this would be something I would have no problem using.

[beebskadoo]

I really wonder how well this would preform. I'm very eager to try this out on my OnePlus One. 

It should be available in nightlies if you are running CM.

[beebskadoo]

If this feature works consistently, this would be something I would have no problem using.

Works fairly well for me actually, I can't wait for other advances.

[Sidiox]

It should be available in nightlies if you are running CM.

The nightlies are still a bit too unstable for my taste, I'd rather wait till it's officially released

[TheSLSAMG]

I'm not sure I see this working out that well, given if it is based upon standard movement, couldn't it be duped by someone else?