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vexorg

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 4, 2009
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I've found since one or two versions ago that I need to unlock my phone if I want to charge it off a PC or car usb port. Is there any way to set the iphone to allow charging while locked automatically, and only charging?
 
I'm sure I read that USB accessories on means that the PC can access it without unlocking. I'm happier with a PC not gaining access and the phone just charges.

I've had to do trust or allow access each time I want to charge it. Every time at work I plug in I get the do you want to trust this device.

There is a legal reason in the UK for wanting this. It's illegal to operate a mobile phone while driving, meaning if I was to unlock and allow the car access then I would be in trouble from the police. Plugging in the USB cable wouldn't be illegal.
 
I'm sure I read that USB accessories on means that the PC can access it without unlocking. I'm happier with a PC not gaining access and the phone just charges.

I've had to do trust or allow access each time I want to charge it. Every time at work I plug in I get the do you want to trust this device.

There is a legal reason in the UK for wanting this. It's illegal to operate a mobile phone while driving, meaning if I was to unlock and allow the car access then I would be in trouble from the police. Plugging in the USB cable wouldn't be illegal.

Are the police really going to check whether your phone was locked or unlocked?
 
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There is a legal reason in the UK for wanting this. It's illegal to operate a mobile phone while driving, meaning if I was to unlock and allow the car access then I would be in trouble from the police. Plugging in the USB cable wouldn't be illegal.

Your interpretation of the law is completely wrong, it's only illegal to use the phone handheld, nothing more.
 
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There's a hardware solution: you could use a USB data blocker such as this one. It'll allow charging from both trusted and untrusted hosts without unlocking. I often use this when traveling.
 
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There is a legal reason in the UK for wanting this. It's illegal to operate a mobile phone while driving, meaning if I was to unlock and allow the car access then I would be in trouble from the police. Plugging in the USB cable wouldn't be illegal.
I highly doubt you’d get in trouble for plugging your phone in when in the car. If you were using it, that’s another story. But plugging it in should be fine.
 
I highly doubt you’d get in trouble for plugging your phone in when in the car. If you were using it, that’s another story. But plugging it in should be fine.

You can use a phone in the car, the law specifically references handheld use, so use while in a holder or via CarPlay or similar is not an offence by the driver, a passenger (other than when supervising a learner) can use a handheld phone in a car without any restrictions.

“Mobile telephones
110.—(1) No person shall drive a motor vehicle on a road if he is using—

(a)a hand-held mobile telephone; or

(b)a hand-held device of a kind specified in paragraph (4).

(6) For the purposes of this regulation—

(a)a mobile telephone or other device is to be treated as hand-held if it is, or must be, held at some point during the course of making or receiving a call or performing any other interactive communication function;


My bold.
 
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I'm sure I read that USB accessories on means that the PC can access it without unlocking. I'm happier with a PC not gaining access and the phone just charges.

I've had to do trust or allow access each time I want to charge it. Every time at work I plug in I get the do you want to trust this device.

There is a legal reason in the UK for wanting this. It's illegal to operate a mobile phone while driving, meaning if I was to unlock and allow the car access then I would be in trouble from the police. Plugging in the USB cable wouldn't be illegal.
Why not just plug it in and unlock it before you set off?
 
Your interpretation of the law is completely wrong, it's only illegal to use the phone handheld, nothing more.

And I'm sure the police wont worry about the subtly between "unlocking" and "using" when they pull me over. I only ever use my phone over Bluetooth in the car, usually always connected to the car, and if the battery goes to low on the car display then I'd want to plug it in. Plugging in your phone is one thing, and typing on the screen to unlock it would probably be seen as "using" the phone.

I highly doubt you’d get in trouble for plugging your phone in when in the car. If you were using it, that’s another story. But plugging it in should be fine.
That's the problem, it wont charge if I simply plug it in.

Regardless to all the workarounds i could do, the point is that I shouldn't have to if I only want the phone to charge. I dont get when not trusting a PC or not being unlock for the car means it cant charge itself because the battery is low (or even if the battery isn't low - just charge yourself when power is there!!!)
 
Now in Maine - you can't even touch the screen (more than once) or you have broken the new law
 
And I'm sure the police wont worry about the subtly between "unlocking" and "using" when they pull me over. I only ever use my phone over Bluetooth in the car, usually always connected to the car, and if the battery goes to low on the car display then I'd want to plug it in. Plugging in your phone is one thing, and typing on the screen to unlock it would probably be seen as "using" the phone.

The law is quite specific, "using the phone" is not an offence, using a handheld phone is, I worked traffic for 7 years and would definitely worry about not understanding the law (as is apparent you don't), so would most of my colleagues.

You can prattle on all you like, but the law (which I posted) is quite clear and it's what the police enforce. If you hold your phone while driving or supervising a learner you can expect to be pulled and given 6 points, if you use your phone in a holder you don't commit an offence in terms of reg 110, if your driving standard drops while doing so you could well commit an alternative offence but it's not an offence to use a phone while driving if it's in a holder.
 
I do not believe your comment is accurate. If the phone is mounted or affixed, you are allowed to tap/touch/swipe to answer a call, etc. Perhaps that is what you meant when you said 'more than once'?

Now in Maine - you can't even touch the screen (more than once) or you have broken the new law
 
I do not believe your comment is accurate. If the phone is mounted or affixed, you are allowed to tap/touch/swipe to answer a call, etc. Perhaps that is what you meant when you said 'more than once'?

*when driving* ?? You are taking your eyes OFF the road, even for a slight second to tap.. People here in Australia, are getting a huge fine that's coming in, thanks to the wealth and popularity of texting while driving.. causing accidents.

Thank god.. That may help, but you can't prevent people not knowing the rood rules. I'd like to see them tackle THAT one.
 
You can prattle on all you like, but the law (which I posted) is quite clear

Clearly it's not, even after your description, you it's not clear at all if it's legal or not to plug in a phone while driving, not use it, not touch the screen, or any button, just simply plug it in. And if I needed to use it then it would be bluetooth handfree from steering wheel controls - as that's all I ever use when on the phone in the car (I assume that's still legal!)
 
Clearly it's not, even after your description, you it's not clear at all if it's legal or not to plug in a phone while driving, not use it, not touch the screen, or any button, just simply plug it in. And if I needed to use it then it would be bluetooth handfree from steering wheel controls - as that's all I ever use when on the phone in the car (I assume that's still legal!)

Jesus mate, it's actually in clear plain English (which can't be said for many laws).

No person shall drive a motor vehicle on a road if he is using a hand-held mobile telephone.

a mobile telephone is to be treated as hand-held if it is, or must be, held at some point during the course of making or receiving a call or performing any other interactive communication function

You can touch a phone all you like, even plug a lead in, just so long as it's in a holder and you don't hold it yourself and it doesn't cause your driving to fall below the standard of a competent driver while doing so (eg veering over the centreline of the road while doing so), just like if you did that while eating an apple or putting makeup on.
 
I'm sure I read that USB accessories on means that the PC can access it without unlocking. I'm happier with a PC not gaining access and the phone just charges.

I've had to do trust or allow access each time I want to charge it. Every time at work I plug in I get the do you want to trust this device.

"Trust this computer" is a one-time thing if you do grant permission. I guess you are trying to charge when connecting to whatever PC happens to be nearby?

Yes, it's certainly prudent to not trust every computer you come across. However, I think Apple is taking the right approach here. They're making the user take responsibility for trusting/not trusting. If they were to have the feature you desire, "Allow charging-only when connected to USB" there is still potential for a security breach - either due to a security flaw or a hack.

iPhones/iPads can detect when they are connected only to a wall charger - there's no "trust this charger." However, if they detect they're connected to a device/accessory with data transfer capability, they're going to ask you to "trust this device" or by changing a setting, to trust everything. That puts you in control.
 
You can touch a phone all you like, even plug a lead in, just so long as it's in a holder and you don't hold it yourself and it doesn't cause your driving to fall below the standard of a competent driver while doing so (eg veering over the centreline of the road while doing so), just like if you did that while eating an apple or putting makeup on.

So, it's in my pocket, the battery is low, I'm in the middle of a long drive or wherever, I've always got the charge cable plugged into the usb socket in the middle of the car. I "legally" plug it in - getting back to the question you have NOT answered, is it legal to unlock it using the screen???

If not then it wont charge, and "legally" plugging it in will do no good whatsoever.

It's a car, there's no trust options or setting for that, if it detects a usb then it tries to play music, I have no options at all for how the usb behaves, like most cars.
 
So, it's in my pocket, the battery is low, I'm in the middle of a long drive or wherever, I've always got the charge cable plugged into the usb socket in the middle of the car. I "legally" plug it in - getting back to the question you have NOT answered, is it legal to unlock it using the screen???

If not then it wont charge, and "legally" plugging it in will do no good whatsoever.

It's a car, there's no trust options or setting for that, if it detects a usb then it tries to play music, I have no options at all for how the usb behaves, like most cars.
Seems like legal technicalities being discussed in an online forum with effectively random people won't really result in anything that's truly meaningful one way or another.
 
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So, it's in my pocket, the battery is low, I'm in the middle of a long drive or wherever, I've always got the charge cable plugged into the usb socket in the middle of the car. I "legally" plug it in - getting back to the question you have NOT answered, is it legal to unlock it using the screen???

If not then it wont charge, and "legally" plugging it in will do no good whatsoever.

“You can touch a phone all you like, even plug a lead in, just so long as it's in a holder and you don't hold it yourself and it doesn't cause your driving to fall below the standard of a competent driver while doing so (eg veering over the centreline of the road while doing so), just like if you did that while eating an apple or putting makeup on.”
 
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I could legally hold an apple, stick the charge lead in that, though I dont think it'll help my phone charge - I think you are getting apples and apple mixed up.


Seems like legal technicalities being discussed in an online forum with effectively random people won't really result in anything that's truly meaningful one way or another.

i only wanted to know if I could charge my phone in the car without having to unlock it. According to Mr plod I'm not even allow to plug it in even if the case is not open since that's not on one of the tacky windscreen holders.
 
I could legally hold an apple, stick the charge lead in that, though I dont think it'll help my phone charge - I think you are getting apples and apple mixed up.


i only wanted to know if I could charge my phone in the car without having to unlock it. According to Mr plod I'm not even allow to plug it in even if the case is not open since that's not on one of the tacky windscreen holders.

Its pretty simple, you can't handhold your phone so if it's in your pocket and you're driving you need to leave it there until you stop driving.

You need to be a little more proactive and place your phone in a holder (or in the boot if you don't have a holder and can't resist the temptation to handhold while driving) before you start driving. Not all holders are "tacky", you could buy a decent holder like a Brodit.

By the way, holding an apple while driving and sticking a charge lead into it could well be committing an offence, people have been convicted for holding/eating an apple while driving because their driving dropped below the standard of a competent driver while they were doing so.
 
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