Face Detection.

Most cases will not cover the sensor. I think the sensors in the 3G are all next to the earpiece so instead of just having a small opening for the earpiece, most cases have a longer opening which allows the sensors to be used too I think.

ltcol266845 said:

Hey, it is my understanding that the face detection sensors detect if the phone is at the users face and locks the screen from a button being accidentally pressed. Would this not also lock the screen if one where to put it in a case or holster of some kind? That is a feature I love in my CrackBerry, that it has a magnetic sensor that locks out the keyboard if slipped into a case. Keeps me from having to worry about locking the key pad.

Thanks!

I've got 8 days to convince myself to buy the iPhone 3G..

Click to expand...

why not just lock it before you put it in the leather case. I know what you mean about BB having this ability but BB utilizes magnet as a sensor.

the iphone doesn't have a keyboard that you can accidental press when the screen is off

touch the button on the top and it turns off the screen and all buttons except the home key, and if that is pressed the phone must then be unlocked

or just put it into the case
because the screen only responds to touches with skin (I'm assuming it reacts to a certain temperature) putting it in a case with the screen on will still not hit any buttons on accident, as the case wont b able to make the screen react to its touch. and the screen will turn itself off after a certain amount of time, which can be set by the user

so having it lock the keypad when put into a holster would be kinda useless

ltcol266845 said:

Hey, it is my understanding that the face detection sensors detect if the phone is at the users face and locks the screen from a button being accidentally pressed. Would this not also lock the screen if one where to put it in a case or holster of some kind? That is a feature I love in my CrackBerry, that it has a magnetic sensor that locks out the keyboard if slipped into a case. Keeps me from having to worry about locking the key pad.

Thanks!

I've got 8 days to convince myself to buy the iPhone 3G..

Click to expand...

The sensors you are talking about are called proximity sensors and are only activated when a call is in progress or you are in the visual voicemail section of the phone app. Basically when these sensors are active, if an object gets within a certain distance the screen turns off to prevent accidental presses. It does not lock the phone in anyway, just turns the screen off. Then when you take the phone away from the object, e.g. ear/face, the screen turns back on to the point where you were at.

Should you accidentally bring the iPhone out of sleep state by pressing the home button or sleep/wake button on the top then it would not unlock unless you slide to unlock with your finger.

The touchscreen on the iPhone won't actually work unless you physically use your finger. If you are wearing gloves then it does not work either unless they are really thin gloves from what I have found. There is no chance that you can accidentally use the touchscreen if the phone was in your pocket unless you were actually using your finger and just pressing randomly.

The iPhone has a light sensor and a proximity sensor, both of which could tell whether or not the iPhone is in a case, but let's have the camera turned on and processing video detecting for faces. That makes sense.

ltcol266845 said:

it is my understanding that the face detection sensors detect if the phone is at the users face

Click to expand...

I've had a really crappy day at work and that has just cheered me right up.... priceless.