Google’s already got a couple of methods to keep your smartphone unlocked with Smart Lock, which uses a “trusted” place or device, but apparently there’s another new way that’s in the works.
Screenshots sent to Android Police show a new “On-body Detection” feature that can keep your device unlocked while you’re holding your device or carrying it with you. The screenshots are apparently from a Nexus 4 running Android 5.0.1 and Google Play Services 7.0.97. The owner says that the feature appeared after performing a factory reset on the device.
Features like Trusted Devices and Trusted Places can come in handy in certain situations, like when you’re at home, but then they may not be of much use when you’re out an about (and without a smartwatch). This On-Body Detection feature could be useful when you’re away from home or don’t have a trusted Bluetooth device on you.
Google hasn’t officially announced this feature, so it’s not clear when it might roll out to more people, but you should keep an eye out for it if you’ve got a Nexus device.