This functionality is supported by the software supplied with the broadcom driver for any bluetooth enabled phone (on Windows). No need for an app on the phone. Such functionality is also on linux in the bluez package. Don't know about Macs. It is really sad that previously ubiquitous software is now being made into "apps".

A lot of ubiquitous software requires fiddling to get it installed since somebody made a proof of concept but stopped there. The value of prepackaged apps is the polish and the user support around that - that's worth a couple of bucks for people like me that don't want to spend time for the polish.

I've seen things similar to this before, but they tended to be unreliable. Has anyone actually used this yet? Does it work reliably?

Also, how does the authentication work exactly? What's to stop someone from blasting out the same signal that your phone emits, preventing it from sleeping as you walk away?

This is EXTREMELY unreliable, not only is it's distance measurement way off (to be expected, BT wasn't designed as sonnar) but the app "forgets" your computer after being away for ~5 minutes. YES, I paid for pro and YES, I allowed it to run in the background. When I come back to my computer not only does it not unlock but the phone apps wants to walk me through pairing again.

Do not waste your time/money on this app. It may have a nice UI but it simply doesn't work!

You are right for the distance, it uses bluetooth signal strength for the distance estimation with an optimization algorithm and it can not provide the exact value, only an estimation. The app should NOT forget your computer at all. We have experienced that before but managed to fix it in the last release. Please send an email to support@nearlock.me with your exact configuration (iPhone, software, Mac, software) and we'll try to reproduce the bug.

How does this compare with Knock?http://www.knocktounlock.com/

What are the others?

I've used Knock before and while ultimately I settled on using Alfred (app launcher+) to lock my computer it worked leaps and bounds over this app.

If I understand MacID correctly, the unlock process is interacting with a lockscreen notification, then TouchID?

If my phone is in my pocket (it will be) this takes longer and involves much more juggling than typing in the computer's password directly.

If your phone not in the pocket, then anyone has access to your mac. It's big security hole.

I have a password on my lock screen, and a hotspot set up in the bottom left corner to engage the lock screen.

After a couple weeks, it became automatic to always move the mouse to the hotspot before I stand up.

Similar experience here, but I guess the main selling point is to save the effort of typing your password when you return.

I'd rather be forced to type my password than just be in proximity to unlock.

Similar to how using a fingerprint for access is a bad idea.

Exactly!

Shift-Control-Eject/Power. Very quick to just hit those keys as you get up from your desk, and your mac is locked.

And Command-Option-Eject/Power will pout your Mac to sleep.

Win+L in windows, which can be difficult with an ergonomic keyboard with only a left Win key, because you have to use two hands (or be very lanky and limber).

Does anyone know of an easier way?

Don't you generally type with two hands? How often are you locking that this is a problem?

Everytime I get up from my desk, so once or twice per hour. Usually, I already have something in one hand, like a pad or cup of coffee.

My first thought would be to re-map Win+L with AutoHotKey or similar. Or, just press start, and arrow up and over to lock (lots more keypresses though).

I'm no good with macros, but the start+arrow idea is great. For me it's only one more keypress, but I can do it all with one hand. Funny thing is, I use that combo at home to put my home computer to sleep, because I don't leave that running in between sessions. Thanks for the tip that I should have known already!

You ought to retrain yourself, using the off hand modifier key is the correct way to type anyway.

Even if you don't type "correctly", it still doesn't seem like a big deal. I can't imagine anything easier than Meta-L.

> using the off hand modifier key is the correct way to type anyway

Please elaborate.

> I can't imagine anything easier than Meta-L

It's very easy when you don't already have a cup of coffee in your hand on the way to a meeting.

Don't know if this is different in 10.10.1 (Just switched to OSX a month ago so I have no prior experience with OSX)but this key-combo doesn't lock the screen, it starts the screen-saver.

If you want it to lock the screen you need to change your preferences in security and change the screen lockout time to "immediately" for it to act as a lock.

Checkout OSX hot corners to start your screensaver, it's easy to just toss your mouse to a corner and your screen is locked.

This is what I do. I just jump the cursor to the corner when I get up. Super easy.

I run Linux but use the iMac keyboard and have also mapped locking to shift-eject. I didn't know it was so close to the OSX bindings. Very easy to hit, yet hard to hit accidentally.

And if you have a MacBook, you can just shut the lid.

In my experience this is one of the things Apple still has yet to perfect. I frequently have a problem of my mid-2012 MBP not wanting to wake up when I open the lid no matter how many times I close/open it. Often I have to do a hard reboot.

To Apple's credit, this is also still a problem with PC laptops from what I hear.

Useful advice, but the MacBook Air and Retina MacBook Pro don't have an eject key (⏏).

Edit: Ah, I see now. Eject or Power depending on the model. Thanks.

Ctrl-Shift-Power on MacBook Pro (which is what he meant by Eject/Power).

Doesn't work for me on MacBook Air.

I found that I had to use Fn-Ctrl-Shift-Power on my Retina.

I set up hot corners so moving the mouse to the bottom right corner locks the computer.

But you still need to type in your password every time you wake up your mac, with this app you don't have to

Had something that worked like this a few years ago, it had the problem that it forced the blue-tooth to suck the battery clean very quickly.

It seamed like a use-full thing, but when i used it it was actually more of a annoyance than i helpful thing. Leaving the phone next to the computer becomes a no no.

Was coming in here to chime in on it not really being new with the same complaint. On an ancient phone (my first smart phone however long ago that was these days) this was one of the features the bluetooth dongle's driver came with.

Every time I got an SMS it must have knocked the bluetooth off for a moment because my computer would lock. Really annoying after the first few times, didn't last long!

Just installed/upgraded. My thoughts are that it has a very generous idea of what 1.0m is I was easily 2-3 meters away for ~20 seconds before it locked. Im using a MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014) and iPhone 6+.

Additionally, while typing this, it locked and unlocked my computer while the phone was in my pocket. Looks like the distance finder needs to be dialed in somewhat. With my phone literally 3" away on the same desk, it says between .5 and .7 meters. I get that this is all a big tight rope and you have to balance battery, distance, time, and sensitivity. I have set up my upper left hot corner to lock my computer so that is a pretty strong habit right now. This, however seems to be a pretty good option in the cases that I miss or forget to do so.

Nice. Looking forward for someone that does the same thing working on android :/

Android already does this. It's called Smart Lock. Just set your computer as a trusted device:

https://support.google.com/nexus/answer/6093922?hl=en-CA

No it doesn't. You can't unlock your Mac with your Android whereas there are plenty of apps that can do that from your iPhone:

http://macid.co/

http://www.knocktounlock.com/

http://www.fingerkeyapp.com/

http://www.appuous.com/products/mac/keycard.html

It looks like the Lollipop Smart Lock can unlock your phone when it's in proximity to your PC, whereas nearlock will unlock your PC when it's in proximity to your phone.

This feature is only available within Android 5.0, however, and the pool of devices running Lollipop at the moment is pretty much limited to the Nexus line.

Although it is only available on Lollipop, I find it pretty neat that these features have native support. The caveat about setting a trusted place to unlock is straight out of Tomorrow Never Dies[0]:

"Be aware that location signals can be replicated or manipulated — someone with access to specialised equipment could unlock your device."

[0]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomorrow_Never_Dies

What's sad is that you could do this with iSync and any phone with bluetooth back in 2003. The feature disappeared along with iSync.

I just installed this and it seems to work great. My only complaint is that, like many UIs, there is a switch to enable it and it isn't clear which way is "on" and which is "off".

Not new - I implemented this for a bank's trading floor in 1999, using the Java Ring http://www.javaworld.com/article/2076641/learn-java/an-intro... - we also did a few other interesting things with this device, but one of them was "walk away from your desk and your machine locks"

Downloaded it, set it up, paid for backgrounding, tested walking away and coming back and it all worked perfectly. Went to go get lunch came back and wouldn't unlock, had to enter password manually. I then had to unpair my phone (from the desktop app) and re-pair to get it to work again. Hopefully the second time is a charm... Also the app asked me to pay again for "Pro" though didn't charge me...

I can't edit my above message so I will reply.

DO NOT BUY THIS APP. I have a MBPr (late 2013) and an iPhone 6+, I might understand if I was using older hardware but I'm not. EVERY time I walk away for more than 5 minutes or so the app "forgets" the computer and will not unlock it. If you open the app it wants to walk you through pairing again. I am very disappointed as I paid for pro as well and this does not work as advertised.

Sorry that you think so. You can ask apple for your money back if you dont like the app. The scenario that you say was fixed and tested in the last update. The app should NOT forget the Mac. Might be that somehow it doesnt work for a certain setup. What system do you have on your Mac? We can try to fix it.

The asking for the pro mode will definitely be fixed in the next release. Let us know if the app doesn't work when you come closer after a longer period of time. This was fixed and tested in the last update. Might be some minor glitches left for certain devices..

Is that website made from a template? I'm looking to put up a landing page for my new app and would be very interested in using that layout.

Doesn't look like it, but it's very simple to recreate.

If it's in fact an original design, then the word you are looking for is "rip", not "recreate".

(edit) Ethics, not everyone's cup o'tea. Got it.

It's not a template ;)

One thing about these "daemon" type apps that only need to respond to background Bluetooth events (e.g., Automatic, the UniKey app), is that, at least on iOS, they clutter up the multitasking view and it's not obvious if they will work if killed. This is something that needs to evolve in iOS as we get more background agents like this.

Isn't this similar to KnockToUnlock?

http://www.knocktounlock.com/

I just purchased Knock to Unlock. Comments so far;

Locking the Mac requires me to go to the Knock menu bar and clicking "Lock" with my mouse. I suppose this can be remedied by setting up an applescript shortcut and running it quickly via Spotlight Search.

Secondly, when it locks it - the screen goes black. I don't necessarily want this, as I don't want to "wake up" the computer when I return first using my keyboard. It takes a split second or so before I get to the password prompt (I have to tap a key on the keyboard or move the mouse) at which point I can knock on the phone twice to get in.

Thirdly, this is not the fault of the app - but I can type my 8 character long password faster than I'm able to (on average) locate my phone and tap it twice.

Interesting - but I am not sure if I'll end up using this app.

I also tried Near Lock - seems it's a much better option for me.

There are also a couple of cool features. With Near Lock you can use the iPhone settings to set that your Mac only locks when you walk away, or that it only unlocks your Mac when you approach it, or both of those things. If you guys have any suggestions or bug reports, just shoot us an email.

What about pairing more than one computer? I have a couple macs at my desk.

The feature to add multiple devices is definitely on our list and should be in one of the next updates.

For the Mac & Non iPhone crowd there is also HandyLock (http://www.netputing.com/applications/handylock/) which is Donationware. Works great with my MBP and Nexus 5.

Handylock is really cool and free but does not use the bluetooth LE. It will cost your battery..

Nice, although not nearly as polished.

I already use proximity to do this ... it's little less user firendly ... but it works well :)

Why all these apps assume that MacBook users all have iPhones?!

Can't wait to buy a new MBP so that I can use this app!

Interface is very slick.

Congrats!

Is anyone concerned that you are providing your admin/filevault/etc password to an app that knows when you are away from the screen?

I have seen similar script for Linux 8 years ago.

Possibly this one: http://www.gentoo-wiki.info/TIP_Bluetooth_Proximity_Monitor

I remember using it at The Party in Sweden, circa 2006. A bit newer then :)

Seems like you are getting a minor convenience in exchange for risk of major annoyance (when it breaks).