▲ 309 ▼ Android 15 will run Bluetooth with your phone still turned off. (security.googleblog.com) submitted 2 years ago by trippingonthewire@lemmy.ml to c/privacy@lemmy.ml 98 comments fedilink hide all child comments I saw this on infinity for Reddit earlier, I don't know if there's a workaround for this or not.
[–] LaggyKar@programming.dev 36 points 2 years ago (3 children) Where is that mentioned? I can't find that in the article permalink fedilink source hideshow 6 child comments replies: [–] Decade4116@awful.systems 23 points 2 years ago (1 child) I also couldn't find a mention, and it definitely does not make sense (and likely isn't even possible) to run Bluetooth without Android itself running ...which uses a crowdsourced device-locating network to help you find your lost or misplaced devices and belongings quickly – even when they’re offline. Maybe this line is being misinterpreted? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] ForgotAboutDre@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago It's definitely possible. It may be using specific hardware to do the powered off tasks. Or it never be truly off, a small os running to managing these powered off tasks. The second is more likely, it's cheaper and easier. It can also be applied to older devices and requires less integrated design. permalink fedilink source parent [–] fredrik@lemmy.world 15 points 2 years ago (1 child) It's mentioned in the linked article about Find My Device. This is what it says 1. Locate offline devices Locate your compatible Android phone and tablet by ringing them or viewing their location on a map in the app — even when they’re offline. And thanks to specialized Pixel hardware, Pixel 8 and 8 Pro owners will also be able to find their devices if they’re powered off or the battery is dead. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Decade4116@awful.systems 13 points 2 years ago I don't know that means Bluetooth will be running when the device is off. "Specialized hardware" could mean a full Bluetooth modem on backup power, but more likely it's means there's a low power beacon. Would be interesting if anyone does a teardown of the Pixel 8. For non-Pixel 8 devices, definitely not. I assume "Offline" refers to the case where your device doesn't have WiFi/LTE, but can still use Bluetooth to communicate with devices that do. permalink fedilink source parent [–] drwho@beehaw.org 3 points 2 years ago (1 child) That is why we took our time when designing the new Find My Device, which uses a crowdsourced device-locating network to help you find your lost or misplaced devices and belongings quickly – even when they’re offline. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] LaggyKar@programming.dev 9 points 2 years ago (1 child) That doesn't say that. Although the article linked from there does, for Pixels. And thanks to specialized Pixel hardware, Pixel 8 and 8 Pro owners will also be able to find their devices if they’re powered off or the battery is dead. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] ErwinLottemann@feddit.de 3 points 2 years ago (2 children) even with a dead battery? how? there must be something 'turned on' to send bluetooth signals or is this magic? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] YerbaYerba@lemm.ee 8 points 2 years ago I suspect it still draws battery power, but extremely small amounts. Few mah left in the battery could power a BLE beacon for weeks. There would be some limit to this as draining the lithium battery too deeply will damage it. permalink fedilink source parent [–] lemmyvore@feddit.nl 5 points 2 years ago Not necessarily, there are lots of completely passive beacon technologies. I seem to remember reading a few years ago about beacons powered by Wifi signals. Obviously you also need other phones to be able to pick up those signals so it might take until phones with Android 15 become commonplace which might take a while. But it's definitely doable. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Decade4116@awful.systems 23 points 2 years ago (1 child) I also couldn't find a mention, and it definitely does not make sense (and likely isn't even possible) to run Bluetooth without Android itself running ...which uses a crowdsourced device-locating network to help you find your lost or misplaced devices and belongings quickly – even when they’re offline. Maybe this line is being misinterpreted? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] ForgotAboutDre@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago It's definitely possible. It may be using specific hardware to do the powered off tasks. Or it never be truly off, a small os running to managing these powered off tasks. The second is more likely, it's cheaper and easier. It can also be applied to older devices and requires less integrated design. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] ForgotAboutDre@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago It's definitely possible. It may be using specific hardware to do the powered off tasks. Or it never be truly off, a small os running to managing these powered off tasks. The second is more likely, it's cheaper and easier. It can also be applied to older devices and requires less integrated design. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] fredrik@lemmy.world 15 points 2 years ago (1 child) It's mentioned in the linked article about Find My Device. This is what it says 1. Locate offline devices Locate your compatible Android phone and tablet by ringing them or viewing their location on a map in the app — even when they’re offline. And thanks to specialized Pixel hardware, Pixel 8 and 8 Pro owners will also be able to find their devices if they’re powered off or the battery is dead. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Decade4116@awful.systems 13 points 2 years ago I don't know that means Bluetooth will be running when the device is off. "Specialized hardware" could mean a full Bluetooth modem on backup power, but more likely it's means there's a low power beacon. Would be interesting if anyone does a teardown of the Pixel 8. For non-Pixel 8 devices, definitely not. I assume "Offline" refers to the case where your device doesn't have WiFi/LTE, but can still use Bluetooth to communicate with devices that do. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Decade4116@awful.systems 13 points 2 years ago I don't know that means Bluetooth will be running when the device is off. "Specialized hardware" could mean a full Bluetooth modem on backup power, but more likely it's means there's a low power beacon. Would be interesting if anyone does a teardown of the Pixel 8. For non-Pixel 8 devices, definitely not. I assume "Offline" refers to the case where your device doesn't have WiFi/LTE, but can still use Bluetooth to communicate with devices that do. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] drwho@beehaw.org 3 points 2 years ago (1 child) That is why we took our time when designing the new Find My Device, which uses a crowdsourced device-locating network to help you find your lost or misplaced devices and belongings quickly – even when they’re offline. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] LaggyKar@programming.dev 9 points 2 years ago (1 child) That doesn't say that. Although the article linked from there does, for Pixels. And thanks to specialized Pixel hardware, Pixel 8 and 8 Pro owners will also be able to find their devices if they’re powered off or the battery is dead. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] ErwinLottemann@feddit.de 3 points 2 years ago (2 children) even with a dead battery? how? there must be something 'turned on' to send bluetooth signals or is this magic? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] YerbaYerba@lemm.ee 8 points 2 years ago I suspect it still draws battery power, but extremely small amounts. Few mah left in the battery could power a BLE beacon for weeks. There would be some limit to this as draining the lithium battery too deeply will damage it. permalink fedilink source parent [–] lemmyvore@feddit.nl 5 points 2 years ago Not necessarily, there are lots of completely passive beacon technologies. I seem to remember reading a few years ago about beacons powered by Wifi signals. Obviously you also need other phones to be able to pick up those signals so it might take until phones with Android 15 become commonplace which might take a while. But it's definitely doable. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] LaggyKar@programming.dev 9 points 2 years ago (1 child) That doesn't say that. Although the article linked from there does, for Pixels. And thanks to specialized Pixel hardware, Pixel 8 and 8 Pro owners will also be able to find their devices if they’re powered off or the battery is dead. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] ErwinLottemann@feddit.de 3 points 2 years ago (2 children) even with a dead battery? how? there must be something 'turned on' to send bluetooth signals or is this magic? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] YerbaYerba@lemm.ee 8 points 2 years ago I suspect it still draws battery power, but extremely small amounts. Few mah left in the battery could power a BLE beacon for weeks. There would be some limit to this as draining the lithium battery too deeply will damage it. permalink fedilink source parent [–] lemmyvore@feddit.nl 5 points 2 years ago Not necessarily, there are lots of completely passive beacon technologies. I seem to remember reading a few years ago about beacons powered by Wifi signals. Obviously you also need other phones to be able to pick up those signals so it might take until phones with Android 15 become commonplace which might take a while. But it's definitely doable. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] ErwinLottemann@feddit.de 3 points 2 years ago (2 children) even with a dead battery? how? there must be something 'turned on' to send bluetooth signals or is this magic? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] YerbaYerba@lemm.ee 8 points 2 years ago I suspect it still draws battery power, but extremely small amounts. Few mah left in the battery could power a BLE beacon for weeks. There would be some limit to this as draining the lithium battery too deeply will damage it. permalink fedilink source parent [–] lemmyvore@feddit.nl 5 points 2 years ago Not necessarily, there are lots of completely passive beacon technologies. I seem to remember reading a few years ago about beacons powered by Wifi signals. Obviously you also need other phones to be able to pick up those signals so it might take until phones with Android 15 become commonplace which might take a while. But it's definitely doable. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] YerbaYerba@lemm.ee 8 points 2 years ago I suspect it still draws battery power, but extremely small amounts. Few mah left in the battery could power a BLE beacon for weeks. There would be some limit to this as draining the lithium battery too deeply will damage it. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] lemmyvore@feddit.nl 5 points 2 years ago Not necessarily, there are lots of completely passive beacon technologies. I seem to remember reading a few years ago about beacons powered by Wifi signals. Obviously you also need other phones to be able to pick up those signals so it might take until phones with Android 15 become commonplace which might take a while. But it's definitely doable. permalink fedilink source parent