Technology enthusiasts are always interested in experiencing new and innovative solutions that make daily life that little bit easier. The majority of us usually carry our phones around with us and the growing popularity of OS X means that more and more people are interacting with Macs on a daily basis. Security is generally high on everyone’s agenda when using our static and mobile devices, but where is it written that a secure computer has to be a tedious one? The new Knock app is aiming to put an end to that tedium by letting users unlock their Macs by simply ‘knocking’ on their iPhone.
Knock Software Inc. has introduced their Knock app that offers a native download for OS X running Macs as well as an accompanying iPhone app that is available through the iOS App Store. The software capitalizes on the fact that users generally carry their mobile device around with them on a permanent basis and allows us all to use our iPhone as a secure password to interact with the Mac.
The idea and execution behind the app is extremely simple. Download and install the OS X application directly from the Knock website. Purchase and install the accompanying iOS app from the iOS App Store. Knock on the iPhone screen twice to securely unlock your Mac without needing to enter a password. The app doesn’t need to be actively running on the iPhone. It can even be sitting on standby in your pocket. As long as it’s installed on a Bluetooth LE compatible iPhone and the Bluetooth is activated, the tedium of password typing is removed altogether.
The two apps communicate with one another using the power of Bluetooth LE (4.0). The connection between the two is extremely secure and can be used all day every day with minimal battery drain due to the efficient power performance of Bluetooth 4.0. The requirement of Bluetooth LE means that the software is only compatible with newer hardware. On the Mac it can be ran on a 2011 MacBook Air or newer, a 2012 MacBook Pro or newer, a 2012 iMac or newer, a 2011 Mac mini or newer and a 2013 Mac Pro. The iOS app currently only supports the iPhone 4s, 5, 5c and 5s.
Bluetooth LE is definitely the new buzz technology of the moment. Any development or product team that embraces the technology stands a pretty good chance of getting immediate recognition but it will be entirely up to the user to determine whether or not Knock is something that will stand the test of time.
You can download the Mac app by pointing your browser to: knocktounlock.com/download and the accompanying iPhone app can be downloaded from the link we’ve embedded below.
(Download: Knock for iPhone on the App Store)
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