Google says it's working on a fix, but as usual, manufacturers will need to update.
  • slartibartfast42@beehaw.orgEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I own an Android, and I was not aware of this feature. I checked my settings, and it appears that the countdown was turned off by default. Does that mean the SOS feature was disabled, or that it would activate instantly with no countdown? Because the latter would definitely increase the risk of false alarms.

  • copium@kbin.social
    1·
    1 year ago

    Google told the BBC it’s up to manufacturers to decide how and when the emergency SOS feature works, even though Google is the one that developed it.

    Corporate bullshit 101
    No surprise from a company that announce to their employee they are fired by disabling their pass.

    • deadcade@lemmy.deadca.de
      1·
      1 year ago

      It is up to the device manufacturer. Google develops Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and the Google apps and services (Google Play Store for example). This feature (afaik) is in AOSP.

      Google developed the version in AOSP, which is open source. Device manufacturers are then able to change the code as needed. If a device manufacturer uses base AOSP with (nearly) no changes, the fix Google made will be applied when the AOSP update goes through the manufacturers build pipeline and to the device (on Google Pixel phones for example). For manufacturers that have a lot of changes compared to AOSP (Xiaomi, Samsung, and many more), they might have to create their own fix that works on their own version of Android, which takes a lot longer.

      One of the reasons people run “Custom ROMs” on their Android phone is to be responsible themselves for updates and fixes instead of the device manufacturer.

  • Drusas@kbin.social
    1·
    1 year ago

    I used to work 911, and butt dials have been a big problem for a long time. When you get a ton of them, it’s easy to close the call and ignore it, but you have to take into consideration that sometimes it could be a real emergency and the caller is not able to safely speak. On the other hand, you realistically cannot try to investigate every single one and waste limited, valuable resources. It is a real problem.

  • DuffmanOfTheCosmos@beehaw.orgEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I accidentally activated this in the grocery store like 2 weeks ago and had no idea how I’d done it until just now seeing this thread. My phone started beeping loudly and counting down on the screen and it freaked me the hell out because I had no idea what was going on. People were looking at me like I was about to detonate a bomb or something! As soon as it finished and starred to dial 911 automatically I hung it up before a ring, but goddamn it was concerning to me and those around me. What the hell, Android?

  • Rentlar@beehaw.orgEnglish
    0·
    1 year ago

    The pattern should be _ _ _ ••• _ _ _ (with a prompt if you mash the power button in the current shortcut format)