[pkill17]

Not the most secure thing, but a cool idea. Compared to the traditional password/pattern unlock, there's a big security flaw; all I have to do is shake the watch next to the phone to unlock it. I don't even have to be the rightful owner or know the password/pattern, I just have to shake at the same time.

[weavejester]

Unless you've encrypted your phone, passwords and pattern unlocks only protect from casual attempts to break in. I see this in the same vein - sure, it's not going to protect you if someone steals both your watch and phone, but nor would pattern unlock, and nor would password unlock without the phone being encrypted.

[bbosh]

What's the chance of somebody losing their phone and their watch at the same time?

[pkill17]

When have you heard of someone getting strong-arm robbed and the robber NOT taking their phone and their watch?

[pkill17]

The overarching point is that having your watch unlock your phone doesn't include any personal security barrier; I don't need to know some privileged information to unlock your device. All I have to do is shake your wrist and your phone at the same time.

[weland]

> What's the chance of somebody losing their phone and their watch at the same time?

This question is loaded with the assumption that somebody has to lose them. No, it's enough for them to place them unsupervised in the same place, at the same time, regardless of how that's done. Examples:

* Four dudes rob you in a shady alley * Someone breaks into your home while you're sleeping * Someone goes through your things while you're changing at the gym, or even at the doctor's. * Someone grabs your phone while you're sleeping in a train * Someone steals your phone and spoofs the Pebble

The "what's the chance" route is ok for small-scale, low-sensibility deployment. If there's one chance in a million per year and there are 5,000 units deployed, 99% of which contain nothing but boring contacts lists, it's a reasonable route. Not ok from an engineering perspective, but ok from the point of view of a company that sells consumer devices, for whom product quality is nice to have, but not important.

[Zikes]

Losing, or placing them both in the same location while showering/changing at the gym?