Google is rolling out a new feature for Android devices, a new smart lock mode called on-body detection.
It is projected to solve a particular security problem, as your device will automatically lock once it is neither in your hand nor in your pocket by using your accelerometer. Thus preventing would-be thieves to easily access your data once say, you left your phone in a table or forgot it somewhere else.
But this feature does not specifically recognize the owner; it just detects movement and understands whether it is being held, or in pocket or laying still.
How it works: After unlocking your phone, it will remain unlocked while you are holding it or it is in your pocket. But once you set it down, it will automatically lock and will require for manual input of password to access again. Simply put, only you who know the password can open the phone and if ever you left it someplace and someone tried to open it since it got automatically locked, it would require him or her a password.
This feature is not apparently part of the Android 5.1, but users would need Android 5.0 and later to access this feature. The on-body detection appears to be a part of the most recent Google Play Services version and is slowly rolling out to Nexus and non-Nexus devices alike, but the rollout is limited.
Have you got this new feature already? Share your experience in the comments below!
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