Android devices running the latest version of the operating system will be able to unlock automatically in specific locations, via a security option slowly rolling out on Google Play Services. Available on hardware running
Android Lollipop, the Trusted Places feature will keep a smartphone or tablet unlocked while within a predefined geographic area.
The update to Smart Lock is said
by Android Police to be similar to an existing "trusted devices" option, which bypasses any existing set security measures if a nominated Bluetooth-equipped item is within range, though in this case it is within yards of a specific GPS position. With Trusted Places, home and work locations defined in Google Maps can be set as safe zones, along with additional custom areas which can be manually set.
While it is rolling out to Android Lollipop devices now, the more impatient can download and install the -438 build of Google Play Services 6.5 from
APKMirror.
Google has previously talked about Trusted Places for security, with the feature formally introduced alongside other Lollipop functions
in June. Patents
filed by Google for the function were filed in September 2014, and though it largely describes what has been built into Android Lollipop, the filing suggested it could also be used to make a smartphone even more secure in hazardous locations, as well as a learning component which determines the overall safety of a region by monitoring nearby successful and unsuccessful passcode entry attempts.
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