Google is reportedly working on a new Android feature that will help users automatically turn on Airplane Mode while in flight. This technology is also said to provide better functionality for Airplane Mode. The company has filed a patent for its upcoming connected flight mode through the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Currently, users are required to manually turn on Airplane Mode during flight. Also, the existing Airplane Mode feature turns off all connections on most devices.
According to a report by Parkifly in collaboration with David Kowalski (Twitter @xleaks7), Google has filed a patent for Connected Flight Mode. The feature is said to automatically switch the mobile device into connected flight mode while in flight. According to the patent filing, it will detect pressure drop, acceleration/velocity, cabin sound, ultrasonic signals, GPS signals, cellular ID and Wi-Fi signals to disable automatic backups, background application refreshes and updates.
Additionally, Google will also gain access to travel booking activity, check-in status to automatically enable this feature. Not only this, the feature will also enable select network connectivity options like in-flight Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
With this new technology, passengers will no longer need to manually activate flight mode when boarding an aircraft. This feature will return devices to normal mode by reactivating the cellular connection and restoring standard settings after landing. Current flight mode disables all wireless connections, including cellular networks, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth on most devices when turned on. However, you can turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth after enabling Airplane Mode.
Recently, Google was seen working on a new ‘Undo’ button for its Android keyboard GBoard, which enables users to undo deleted text. According to a report, Google will add a new Undo option in its GBoard. This feature is currently being tested and is available in the latest GBoard beta version.
