Weird thing happening when touching a Nexus 5 and a MacBook

https://medium.com/@zsedbal/weird-thing-happens-with-my-nexus-5-do-you-have-any-idea-what-s-going-on-86d8019dd04d

by andraskindler • 11 years ago

31 27 11 years ago

de_dave• 11 years ago

The Nexus 5 has a magnetic sensor to detect when the case cover is closed shut. I suspect this is being triggered by a speaker or some other magnetic element of the MacBook.

micheljansen• 11 years ago

MacBooks use magnets to keep the lid closed (it's not a mechanical lock).

simmons• 11 years ago

Maybe it's just me, but isn't it a bit scary there are so many hidden magnets around? I'll have to add the edge of my MacBook to the list of things to keep credit cards away from...

coldpie• 11 years ago

Yeah, some sort of magnet sensor. They're also used for detecting when you insert your phone into a docking station. And for Google Cardboard's button.

jfoster• 11 years ago

That's what I was thinking. There's also the MacBook electricity thing: http://www.mactalk.com.au/24/113595-static-electricity-vibra...

k-mcgrady2• 11 years ago

Thanks for posting this. Good to know I'm not going crazy and my Macbook AND iPhone vibrate from time to time when plugged in.

tobik• 11 years ago

So that problem carried over to newer models?

This has been an issue with the PowerBook G4 models in the past as well. The iBook G4 models also had this problem but only on the lid button.

mavdi• 11 years ago

Exactly. Same thing happens when you stack two macbook on top of each other. The magnet on one triggers the other one to sleep.

hoopism• 11 years ago

The Insane Clown Posse are equally baffled by this phenomenon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvmvxAcT_Yc

tomswartz07• 11 years ago

"F*n Hall Effect Sensors, how do they work?"

mijoharas• 11 years ago

They are commonly called Hall Effect sensors [0]

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hall_effect_sensor

k-mcgrady2• 11 years ago

It happens with my iPad occasionally too. Putting the iPad next to the trackpad will occasionally put the Macbook to sleep.

RossM• 11 years ago

I've seen the opposite happen - the MacBook screen turning off - when placing an open macbook on top of a closed one. I'm guessing that case is to do with magnets activating the closed-sensor.

I've replicated this with a Nexus 6 by placing it over the speakers of an MBP (it locks the screen, rather than turning it off) which also suggests magnetic? I'm thinking Motorola planned a Nexus 6 case similar to the Galaxy Note flip cover.

lechatleon• 11 years ago

Had the same problem with an Acer Chromebook and a Nexus 4, the Chromebook goes in sleep mode when the phone is placed over the keyboard in a particular position.

castratikron• 11 years ago

Is this really HN worthy?

mattdotc• 11 years ago

Furthermore, I thought Medium was supposed to be a place for quality story-telling. Guess it's jumped the shark, too.

grubles• 11 years ago

Write an article on medium.com and ask!

jordwest• 11 years ago

I had a similar issue, except it was my MacBook going to sleep - when I used it on the Tokyo subway.

http://west.io/post/2015/05/01-the-case-of-the-sleeping-macb...

danuker• 11 years ago

Y U NO comments on your blog?

davelnewton• 11 years ago

http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/fucking-magnets-how-do-they-wo...

This is just my own biased opinion, but if you're reading HN, shouldn't this one have been just about as obvious as it gets?!?!

Weird thing happening when touching a Nexus 5 and a MacBook

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