Help pocket dialing

[bobdrad]

I've had many Android phones and my S3 is the first one where I've ever had problems with pocket dialing (or app selection from my home screen). I don't know why.

I thought that the proximity sensor was supposed to tell when the phone is in a pocket and lock the screen, but apparently not.

Are others having this problem? It's driving me crazy.

Yesterday my pocket was getting super hot and I discovered that as I'd pushed the phone into my pocket it had somehow selected the Flashlight app and turned on my camera LED

-Bob

 

[Bearcats]

I've had many Android phones and my S3 is the first one where I've ever had problems with pocket dialing (or app selection from my home screen). I don't know why.

I thought that the proximity sensor was supposed to tell when the phone is in a pocket and lock the screen, but apparently not.

Are others having this problem? It's driving me crazy.

Yesterday my pocket was getting super hot and I discovered that as I'd pushed the phone into my pocket it had somehow selected the Flashlight app and turned on my camera LED

-Bob

Do you lock the homescreen prior to putting it into your pocket?

On my Dinc, I have it case out, screen to my leg and have to make sure its screen locked or get the above scenario. I was not aware that the S3 automatically locked the screen on sensor input. I know you can timeout at 30 60 or 90 seconds and it will lock the screen provided you haven't started to dial or start an app.

 

[Mostly Harmless]

Do you have a screen lock on? I have never had this issue and I make sure the phone is locked before going into my pocket (when I say locked I mean I just have to swipe to unlock, not as a password, etc....)

 

[Stuntman]

It sounds like you accidentally pressed the power button when you were sliding the phone into your pocket. I have mine set up so that my lock screen does not come on until after 5 minutes. If I finish using the phone and push the power button to lock it, an accidental push of the power button again will unlock it. If you are having this issue, I would suggest you do not set up to lock the phone once you push the power button.

Regarding the proximity sensor, it is only used when you are on a call. The reason is that talking on the phone is usually the only time your skin is in contact with the phone. At other times, the proximity sensor is not used to reject touch input.

 

[bobdrad]

It sounds like you accidentally pressed the power button when you were sliding the phone into your pocket. I have mine set up so that my lock screen does not come on until after 5 minutes. If I finish using the phone and push the power button to lock it, an accidental push of the power button again will unlock it. If you are having this issue, I would suggest you do not set up to lock the phone once you push the power button.

Regarding the proximity sensor, it is only used when you are on a call. The reason is that talking on the phone is usually the only time your skin is in contact with the phone. At other times, the proximity sensor is not used to reject touch input.

I thought the proximity detector (on all Android phones - not just S3) was originally designed to be useful so the phone doesn't do something stupid when in a pocket. Obviously when up against your face we don't want it locking but it seems rejecting touch input would be helpful then as well. See for example:
http://thecodeartist.blogspot.com/2011/01/proximity-sensor-on-android-gingerbread.html

Would the proximity detector detect skin but not clothing?

In my case, I use a pattern for unlock. I think I must not be pressing firmly enough to lock the phone before dropping it into my pocket. I doubt very much I'm managing to pocket-trace the unlock pattern .

This has never happened to me on any other phone before. I've owned about 5 other Android phones before this one including the original Samsung Galaxy Nexus. I've set them all up this way - lock on power button, unlock on pattern trace. So there's something different about the S3. Maybe the power button is touchier.

 

[sdtag]

Uninstall any task killers and reboot the phone.
Killing the wrong tasks wakes up the phone.
The voice of experience.

 

[nicka3200]

Try this https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.nanabit.callconfirm&hl=en