Loren Pechtel

Speaking of bluetooth, I got to looking at the Smart Lock some more.

It's trusted location isn't accurate enough for my tastes. At home, bluetooth is short enough ranged to be fine--but there's nothing suitable to pair it with. I'm wondering if there exists a very simple little device you plug in somewhere that's a useless bluetooth--just to provide something to pair with. Unfortunately, it won't use my Wi-Fi as a trusted location sensor.

I also wish it had the concept of a trusted device--always go into file transfer mode when plugged into my computer.

Jimmie76

Yeah someone else told me today that it was an Android thing which strangely I'd never noticed on other Android phones I owned.

nkedel

Yup! Such things exist. If you have a computer you leave on -- home server, desktop, raspberry pi, the easiest and cheapest way would be to just get a USB bluetooth radio for the PC. They're well under $10... or if you have an old laptop you don't mind leaving on, you don't even need to do that much.

Don't want to leave a PC on? Tons of inexpensive Bluetooth speakers which work for that, also let you play music, and work as a speakerphone. Or there are similar gizmos that convert a BT audio signal to RCA cables for use with your stereo... (although these don't generally work as a speakerphone.)

Can also pair to another phone or tablet you leave at home. Or a bluetooth keyboard/mouse.

I am not certain whether it works with Bluetooth-low-energy beacons, but have been meaning to try playing with those for other reasons and may pick one up to try. They're no cheaper than the other options (still $20-ish) and don't actually do anything, but they use very, very little electricity.

There are also some Bluetooth-low energy home automation devices (e.g. Kevo locks) where I wonder if they'd work for proximity for smart lock.

It's got that for ADB (developer) connections. Might be in some third party ROMs for MTP/file transfer.

Loren Pechtel

That's the sort of thing I had in mind.

My phone is in developer mode anyway (I write code for a living and recently decided to start looking at Android programming) although I haven't played with the capabilities much at all yet. It doesn't seem to change the file transfer status.

Loren Pechtel

Beacons use the low energy protocol. Smart Lock doesn't like that. Curses!

nkedel

Interesting. I knew they used the low-energy protocol; I did not know that Smart Lock couldn't. Seems like it's ideal for that (checking for proximity.) Pairing with a USB bluetooth on your desktop, or a bluetooth speakerphone, would still work.

Loren Pechtel

I found a Bluetooth USB adapter around. Smart Lock couldn't see it, either.

nkedel

Did you actually pair the machine it was plugged into with the phone? Smart lock on my Nexus 6 definitely works once paired with my laptop.

Loren Pechtel

It didn't occur to me to try. I'll put it back in and see what happens. That's not a total answer, though, because if I get it to work I'll probably need another one at a location where there's a USB charger but no computer.

nkedel

Raspberry Pi Zero-W? A little pricier than a USB dongle, but not much. Setting it up to pair requires a screen and keyboard (and a bit of Linux) but after that should be able to run anywhere there's USB power.

Loren Pechtel

Followup--it only works so long as there's an active link. Said link breaks when the phone moves away from the computer and when it comes back there's nothing it actually needs the link for so it's not re-established.

nkedel

Ah, bummer. So no autopairing like a headset.

CodeAdam10

When travelling with my family and using the 'Mobile Passport' app, I go one step further and enable Guided Access on my iPhone when going through CBP. This way even if they trick me into handing over my unlocked iPhone - it won't do them much good!

nkedel

The screen pinning feature on Android is also very handy for that (and for loaning your phone to acquaintances or children.)