'Knock' Aims to Let You Unlock Your Mac With Your Apple Watch

MacRumors · Apr 22, 2015

Knock, the iOS app that lets you unlock your Mac with Bluetooth instead of a password, is today being updated with Apple Watch support, bringing the same unlocking capabilities to Apple's upcoming wrist worn device.

Knock for iOS lets an iPhone pair to a Mac to bypass the need to enter a password, and Knock for Apple Watch will work in the same way. It will no longer be necessary to dig an iPhone out of a bag or a purse, because the Apple Watch with Knock Glance will also let users log into their Macs.

When we saw Apple Watch, we knew immediately that we had to make Knock one of the first apps available for it. Knock and Apple Watch are a match made in heaven. With Knock 2.0, leaving your iPhone in your bag or the other room isn't a problem. Whenever you open your Mac, Knock is right there at your wrist, ready to go. And with the Knock Glance, you can even unlock your Mac while you walk over to it -- or lock it as you walk away.

Today's Knock update also includes Touch to Unlock, which aims to introduce an extra layer of security for those who need it. With Touch to Unlock, unlocking a Mac with an iPhone also requires a finger to be placed on Touch ID, so it's no longer possible to unlock the Mac with just the iPhone in the event of a theft.

The new Touch to Unlock feature works in conjunction with the Apple Watch in a unique way that's similar to how Apple Pay works. When the Apple Watch is placed on the wrist, users are prompted to use Touch ID or a PIN code to unlock a Mac, and that enables the Apple Watch to continue to unlock the Mac as long as it remains in contact with skin on the wrist.

Knock can be downloaded from the App Store for $3.99. [Direct Link]

Article Link: 'Knock' Aims to Let You Unlock Your Mac With Your Apple Watch

DeanL · Apr 22, 2015

Knock sucks...

In my opinion, MacID (http://macid.co) works way much better than Knock and has more features. I hope they make a similar app too!

ninjadex · Apr 22, 2015

Worst app promo video ever. Gives me all sorts of bad feelings.

hlfway2anywhere · Apr 22, 2015

DeanLubaki said:
In my opinion, MacID (http://macid.co) works way much better than Knock and has more features. I hope they make a similar app too!

I didn't really like Knock either. MacID is alright although i'm hit or miss with it too. Can't wait to try this stuff out on the watch though.

MarcoCapa · Apr 22, 2015

I suppose that apple would probably integrate this kind of thing in iOS 9... If you watch from a certain point of view is similar to continuity

nagromme · Apr 22, 2015

I want a Watch app that uses the accelerometer to let me awaken my Mac by slapping it with a glove.

solipsism · Apr 22, 2015

1) That's a start but I wish that Apple had included this as a default feature of Watch.

2) Does this (or any other) allow for auto-locking when your Watch gets too far away from your Mac? Can this be used to auto-lock an iPhone or iPad. Are there safe zones? For instance, I want this to work when my Mac/iPhone is connected to my home network, but not when I'm sitting in a coffee shop using their public network. Can it use BT sensitivity (as found in iBeacons) so that it will un/lock at various distances away from the Mac based on the signal strength.

nutmac · Apr 22, 2015

DeanLubaki said:
In my opinion, MacID (http://macid.co) works way much better than Knock and has more features. I hope they make a similar app too!

I have both Knock and MacID and I prefer MacID as well (although IMO, it would be better if the feature gets baked into iOS 9). In any case, according to MacIDHelp twitter account, Apple Watch support is in testing phase.

AlphaTeam · Apr 22, 2015

Does either support locking?

acctman · Apr 22, 2015

already a bunch of App's for IOS that will unlock and lock you Mac if your iPhone is not near. App called Tether does the exact same thing... nothing ground breaking. just one has better marketing i guess.

0815 · Apr 22, 2015

DeanLubaki said:
In my opinion, MacID (http://macid.co) works way much better than Knock and has more features. I hope they make a similar app too!

Thanks - that one looks better than Know - I just downloaded it and will give it a try.

I have tried Knock and it is fun to show off, but nothing I want to always enable. Everyone can just knock on my phone (if it is sitting on my desk while I went to get some water or use the toilet) - never felt very secure because of that.

I like using the touch-ID for unlocking the desktop (still waiting for the MacBooks and iMacs with integrated touchID).

ArtOfWarfare · Apr 22, 2015

nagromme said:
I want a Watch app that uses the accelerometer to let me awaken my Mac by slapping it with a glove.

Only if it hears me announcing my intent to challenge it in a duel.

WordsmithMR · Apr 22, 2015

I remember this app not even working when it came out. Tons of negative reviews. I wonder if they ever fixed it.

Robert M. · Apr 22, 2015

It takes, what 5 seconds to type in a password? Seems kinda pointless to me

Apple_Robert · Apr 22, 2015

DeanLubaki said:
In my opinion, MacID (http://macid.co) works way much better than Knock and has more features. I hope they make a similar app too!

MacID will be Apple Watch compatible. The developer released beta 1.2, which has many new features, ( using the beta as we speak) which will include those for the Apple Watch.

I really like MacID. It has a lot more going for it than "Knock," in my opinion.

----------

AlphaTeam said:
Does either support locking?

MacID supports locking. It will also enter your admin password for you when need be, which I really like.

scwinsett · Apr 22, 2015

Robert M. said:
It takes, what 5 seconds to type in a password? Seems kinda pointless to me

By that logic the  watch itself should be pointless in your opinion

Apple_Robert · Apr 22, 2015

solipsism said:
1) That's a start but I wish that Apple had included this as a default feature of Watch.

2) Does this (or any other) allow for auto-locking when your Watch gets too far away from your Mac? Can this be used to auto-lock an iPhone or iPad. Are there safe zones? For instance, I want this to work when my Mac/iPhone is connected to my home network, but not when I'm sitting in a coffee shop using their public network. Can it use BT sensitivity (as found in iBeacons) so that it will un/lock at various distances away from the Mac based on the signal strength.

MacID already has the auto locking feature when away. Such features are slated to be included in a new version of MacID (for the Apple watch).

Robert M. · Apr 22, 2015

scwinsett said:
By that logic the  watch itself should be pointless in your opinion

Not sure if we can go through post history, but I've said that before. But I still ordered one! Because I have a problem with self-control

VirtualRain · Apr 22, 2015

DeanLubaki said:
In my opinion, MacID (http://macid.co) works way much better than Knock and has more features. I hope they make a similar app too!

+1... tried both, MacID is vastly superior to Knock... I use MacID all the time. Knock was a gimmick that didn't even last a day.

sshambles · Apr 22, 2015

There's another app FingerScan I think..(?) that uses TouchID to do this, but doesn't do it from the initial startup, so is rendered useless imo.

Unless this works from startup and makes it faster... then it's useless as an alternative.

thisisdallas · Apr 22, 2015

All of the Bluetooth LE convenience apps I've tried seem to be really buggy to me. Continuity works just fine, but when you toss in a bluetooth mouse, the apps seem to fall apart. Pushbullet rarely worked and I spent more time configuring and fixing it than actually receiving notifications. Knock worked 10% of the time, and when it did, it took a good 40 seconds, to which I usually just entered my password anyways. The rest that I've tried require unlocking the phone and stuff, which is more effort than entering the password in.

If MacID works out, that'd be amazing.

Knock on the other hand... Meh

VirtualRain · Apr 22, 2015

'Knock' Aims to Let You Unlock Your Mac With Your Apple Watch

The best part about MacID is the feature to unlock you Mac by tapping a pattern on your touch pad or Magic Mouse. It's the best and easiest and only requires your phone be in range.... You don't need to interact with the phone at all.

Bigsk8r · Apr 22, 2015

File this is the category of unnecessary, but fun to dink around with.

WilliamG · Apr 22, 2015

Robert M. said:
It takes, what 5 seconds to type in a password? Seems kinda pointless to me

Yep pointless. Agreed.

Just like TouchID on an iPhone, or anything else like this.

Robert M. · Apr 22, 2015

Touch ID is completely different (really because it doesn't require another device and two apps). Actually, Apple should start putting it in Macs.

'Knock' Aims to Let You Unlock Your Mac With Your Apple Watch

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