To prevent the misuse of the temperature sensor belonging to the Pixel 8 Pro, Google has locked it down so only specific apps can take advantage of it
The temperature sensor is exclusive to the more expensive Pixel 8 Pro this year, and there are several creative uses for it, which app developers will likely be aware of. However, Google has locked the sensor down so that only trusted apps can take data from it, keeping the possibility of misuse and further ramifications down to a minimum.Only pre-installed or Google-signed apps can retrieve data from the Pixel 8 Pro’s temperature sensor
For those that do not know, the temperature sensor of the Pixel 8 Pro is not FDA approved, likely due to the propensity of the sensor to deliver inaccurate readings when it is in close contact with human skin. On X, Mishaal Rahman has put out a long post, mentioning that apps that have permission to get data from the temperature sensor have to ‘hold the permission com.google.sensor.permission.FAR_INFRARED_TEMPERATURE.’
Unfortunately, this permission is only available to pre-installed or Google-signed apps. Mika, or @mikagetsangry, decompiled the Thermometer app in an attempt to forcefully obtain permission.
