Dumb turning-on question

[KlondikeGeoff]

So, why do the Fire, iPad and for all i know, all tablets require one to slide the thingie across the screen?

Why don't they just turn on when you hit the On button?

[grvthang]

Lol - that's a great question! I guess it's a confirmation that you really mean to use it (rather than just something inadvertently bumping into the 'on' button). But then, so what if it turned on when accidentally bumped?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by KlondikeGeoff

So, why do the Fire, iPad and for all i know, all tablets require one to slide the thingie across the screen?

Why don't they just turn on when you hit the On button?

To avoid accidental activation. My work mobile is a real pain in that respect - it's constantly turning on or off accidentally when it's in my pocket, and I sit down, or bend down, or bump into something. The iThing's "slide to activate" is much better.

[KlondikeGeoff]

Originally Posted by HarryT

To avoid accidental activation. My work mobile is a real pain in that respect - it's constantly turning on or off accidentally when it's in my pocket, and I sit down, or bend down, or bump into something. The iThing's "slide to activate" is much better.

Yeah, but I seldom put the Fire or iPad in my pocket.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by KlondikeGeoff

Yeah, but I seldom put the Fire or iPad in my pocket.

It's an Android thing. Android was designed for phones first. Believe me if you own a Android phone you know all about pocket dialing. The slide thing is necessary. You can still pocket dial if you put the phone in your pocket before it locks. This is why I use the app Call Confirm on all our phones, It keeps you from pocket dialing someone. My hubby once pocket dial his folks at 3AM and it scared them that something was wrong. After that Call Confirm has saved us from many embarrassing moments.

[KlondikeGeoff]

Thanks, Blossom, that explains it. I had similar trouble with my old Samsung dumb phone, but there is a key that locks all keys other than that same key to turn it back on. It turns it on automatically if there is an incoming call.

You would think smart phones would be smart enough to do something like that without having to install an app, eh?

I guess your hubby was lucky the phone did not call Hong Kong.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by KlondikeGeoff

Thanks, Blossom, that explains it. I had similar trouble with my old Samsung dumb phone, but there is a key that locks all keys other than that same key to turn it back on. It turns it on automatically if there is an incoming call.

You would think smart phones would be smart enough to do something like that without having to install an app, eh?

I guess your hubby was lucky the phone did not call Hong Kong.

I can't tell you how many times I about missed a call due to not being able to unlock my phone. I have anemia so cold fingers doesn't respond well at times to the touch screen. If I am wearing gloves forget trying to answer the phone. So yes technology isn't all the way there yet. I can lock my phone by pushing the button on top but I can't unlock it without swiping.

[Jessica Lares]

I totally agree. My Samsung Galaxy unlocks all the time in my pocket while I don't have that issue with my iPhone.

[geoffwood]

It's not completely ubiquitous.

With the iPad, using the Smart Cover makes the swipe to unlock unnecessary, open the cover and you are good.

On Android, at least on Jelly Bean, one of the options for the Screen Lock under security settings is "None". Hit the button and the phone is on and unlocked

[geekmaster]

Some android devices (Nexus 7 included) have a magnetic sensor under the screen, located so that a magnet in the cover being removed by opening the cover wakes the device up without needing a swipe. For the N7, there is a magnet hack mod for a Kindle Fire cover to make it work on when used on the N7 (described in the XDA forums).

Does a kindle fire have that mag sensor?

Aww... found the video. No button press needed, but still need swipe:

There may be a software hack to detect the magnet and bypass the swipe.

[grvthang]

Originally Posted by Blossom

It's an Android thing. Android was designed for phones first. Believe me if you own a Android phone you know all about pocket dialing. The slide thing is necessary. You can still pocket dial if you put the phone in your pocket before it locks. This is why I use the app Call Confirm on all our phones, It keeps you from pocket dialing someone. My hubby once pocket dial his folks at 3AM and it scared them that something was wrong. After that Call Confirm has saved us from many embarrassing moments.

Not to split hairs, Blossom, and believe me, I'm no Apple fanboy, but I think it was an "iphone thing" before it was "an Android thing". The iphone came out over a year before the first Android phone.

[RainingLemur]

It's to prevent the new-age version of "butt dialing".

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by grvthang

Not to split hairs, Blossom, and believe me, I'm no Apple fanboy, but I think it was an "iphone thing" before it was "an Android thing". The iphone came out over a year before the first Android phone.

So you have to swipe too on a Iphone to unlock it? I've never seen one so I have no idea.

As for it's Android thing, I was explaining why the Kindle Fire has a swipe to unlock. It's part of the Android o/s which was originally design for phones not tablets not that Android was the first to come up with the idea. It isn't something Amazon put it there but it's something all Android users have to deal with.

[wyndslash]

slide, swipe...

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Blossom

So you have to swipe too on a Iphone to unlock it? I've never seen one so I have no idea.

Yes, you do. One interesting enhancement to it on Android, which I like, is that you can make the swipe a pattern on a "join the dots" grid, and use that as the "password" to unlock the device. That works very well, I think.