Front infrared flash continually flashing

[donchurch]

Considering that the PinePhone is manufactured in Shenzhen by a Hong-Kong-based company, I believe that if anybody were to install spy equipment on it, it would not be the US DoD.

Yeah I agree.  I was just stating another example of corruption and implying that we're on our own.  An off topic comment

[donchurch]

The plot thickens...

Maybe everyone know this.  The pine64 wiki lists the proximity sensor but the PostMarketOS wiki shows it as "unavailable". (see attacheed) It's not like I've been doing Sherlock Holmes on the the subject but I DID notice the details when browsing.  I wonder if it's the OS or an independent chip that is the culprit.

  My idea of developing the phone OS is to get the fundamental functions working smooth and the expand on the functionality but the PMOS is doing stuff like the screen coming on to warn me that it's going to suspend every 5 minutes when it's set to actually suspend in 5 minutes plus I've turned off notifications.  I want to try another OS but review I read say PMOS is best.  I know I've gotten off the subject but maybe someone has good advice.

[GaryM]

There is a bug on this. A workaround that I've done is disabling automatic suspend in the tweaks-->power menu. Note even using it saves more battery than those pesky notifications.

[donchurch]

There is a bug on this. A workaround that I've done is disabling automatic suspend in the tweaks-->power menu. Note even using it saves more battery than those pesky notifications.

Thanks, I tried the disable option but I guess my battery (my supposed backup battery) didn't last overnight so I'm poking around for another OS.

[JhonSmith]

Interesting points - definitely makes you think about phone privacy and how sensors are used. For anyone looking to relax after digging into tech issues like this, I often pair it with streaming movies or shows, and you can even check out free options at Freecine to unwind while reading up on this stuff.

[biketool]

A proximity sensor works like this on almost all touch screen phones ever made.
An IR LED flashes out of a small window next to your notification LED, if that flash hits the side of your face and reflects back to the sensor separated by the black rubber boot inside the phone and blanks the screen and disables the touchscreen interface.
If there were no proximity detector and the touchscreen was not disabled you would be bumping all kinds of buttons and hanging up calls with your face which is just like your fingers for the purposes of interacting with a capacitive touch screen.
Could that IR LED and receiver be hacked to send out and maybe even receive a useful signal like the old IrDa infrared serial devices, maybe depending on how much the hardware is hard wired returning 0 or 1 signal vs having software and driver; but who other than a hacky user would want a micro-niche very directional communication method with a useful range measured in cm?