Two of the hottest topics right now are security and privacy. Google has just filed a new patent for Android which is pretty interesting to say the least. The patent looks to be able to keep your phone safe depending on where you are. Right now, Motorola has their Skip accessory which unlocks your phone via NFC, but Google is looking to use location instead of NFC.
Sometimes you want your phone to be nice and secured, other times…not so much. Google’s new patent will give your device the ability to detect where it is and change the security accordingly. If you’re out for the night, you might have to use a pattern, but around the house, you’ll be able to just swipe to unlock. It sounds pretty awesome to me. I know when I’m at home, I don’t need to have a pattern or pin code to unlock my device. But when I’m in class or hanging out with my friends, I do.
It sounds dead simple, and it looks like Google is going to add a feature like this into Android in the near future. Maybe it’s a new feature in Key Lime Pie? Who knows, but we know Key Lime Pie is going to have a ton of goodies for us to play with. Who remembers the last major release (1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, etc.)? There were so many new features in Android 4.0 – Ice Cream Sandwich, it was pretty insane. Not to mention the overall UI overhaul. I remember watching Matias demo many of the features, I can’t even remember them all. So we’ve got that too look forward to when Key Lime Pie drops, probably this fall. Along with a new Nexus 4 and new Nexus 10. I’m excited how about the rest of you?
This is a patent that I’m glad Google was able to get. Not just to beat Apple, but because all the Android OEM’s can put the code into their skins and devices. Making it usable on just about every Android device out there. Although, I’d love for this to be pushed through Google Play Services, so we don’t have to wait on OTA’s from our manufacturers.