I'm aware of the "location" function, but I keep it turned off unless I'm using GPS for something.

The reason I ask is that I have a weather app that pops up notifications. I've noticed that the updates seem to occur when I pick up the phone and walk off with it. If it sits on my computer desk all day (which happens more often than not) I get zero alerts. As soon as I pick it up and walk off with it at any random time of the day, an update will pop up within a minute or two.

Could be just coincidence, but strikes me as a bit odd.

Many modern phones have accelerometers which can sense when the phone moves.

They even count the number of your steps daily as well as the total time spent doing so. It even measures and shows your Step Length, and more.

Some kinda weird black magic.

Click the HEALTH app if an iPhone.
.

Depends upon the phone. My iPhone has several accelerometers in it.

Yep. Your smartphone contains a three-axis accelerometer. It's what lets your smartphone do stuff like:

-Automatically switch from portrait to landscape when you turn it on its side (and back)
-Act as a bubble level
-Act as a pedometer
-Play various games by tilting the screen left/right/up/down
Etc.

And yes, they're also used so the phone knows when it has been picked up or manipulated.

That's separate from the location/GPS stuff.

Whether or not you turn off 'location', the phone is constantly tracking you and selling the data to brokers, who in turn sell it to retailers and others. The data knows where you live (device spends the night), work, shop, etc... They know how long you spend in each area of a store, the home income level, demographic, and more.

Yes, they have accelerometers, but if you are getting weather alerts, those are coming for a location based system, not just movement. If you’re getting weather alerts, you either don’t have GPS turned off, or else the alerts are coming based on your location from the cell towers. Cell towers can track your location, not as accurately as GPS, but close enough for area alerts like weather service warnings.

quote:

Originally posted by Dwill104:
if you are getting weather alerts, those are coming for a location based system, not just movement. If you’re getting weather alerts, you either don’t have GPS turned off, or else the alerts are coming based on your location from the cell towers.

Weather apps let you program in a location (city or zip code), and receive current weather, forecasts, and alerts based on that static programmed location.

It doesn't necessarily have to be using cell/GPS location systems to know your current actual location.


The situation the OP is asking about here is that the phone is triggering notification when the accelerometer recognizes that the phone is being carried/manipulated and is now "in use", versus laying motionless on a table for hours.

Weather apps are notorious for selling location data. It’s one of the most accurate measures available on the Internet for this purpose. Use at your own risk.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Weather apps let you program in a location, and receive current weather, forecasts, and alerts based on that static programmed location.

It doesn't necessarily have to be using cell/GPS location systems to know your current actual location.


The situation the OP is asking about here is that the phone is triggering notification when the accelerometer recognizes that the phone is now "in use", versus laying motionless on a table for hours.

Precisely. I have a weather app set for "Gouldsboro" which is the 100-ish square mile area I live in.

And don't forge the cameras, they can certainly be used to detect motion of the phone itself, and anyone/anything in the vicinity.

My iphone 12 has a 'require attention' feature that detects when I am looking at the phone and lights it up. It also has a 'raise to wake' setting which alerts the phone when I pick it up.

Both can be switched off in settings if it's making your tinfoil hat too tight.

Perhaps of interest...

iPhone 14 keeps alerting police to roller coasters instead of car crashes

A new feature on the iPhone 14 has been alerting police to potential car crashes — but some of the users are just enjoying a roller coaster ride.

Police in Ohio were called to the Kings Island amusement park six times last month when the new safety feature automatically alerted authorities mistaking the quick and jerky movements of the thrill ride for a car accident.

The iPhone 14’s new crash detection feature senses high-G-force acceleration to intentionally detect when the user has been in a car crash.

It is made to be on alert for signs of a crash including rapid deceleration or a sudden stop.

If those warning signs are detected, the phone will display an alert for 10 seconds before starting a 10-second countdown and alarm sound. The iPhone will then automatically dial 911 and share the location of the device if the user does not shut off the alarm during the 10-second warning.

android, settings, motions/gestures, i select lift to wake.

quote:

Originally posted by airbubba:
android, settings, motions/gestures, i select lift to wake.

Thank you!
I have had this phone for 2 years and did not it had this feature.

quote:

Originally posted by airbubba:
android, settings, motions/gestures, i select lift to wake.

Note: On my Androids, it's Settings > Advanced Features > Motions and Gestures