Smartphone 'kill-switch' bill now awaits governor's approval in California

California’s state Senate has passed a bill designed to require manufacturers to enable a “kill-switch” feature for smartphones. Now, the bill requires approval from Jerry Brown, California’s governor, before it becomes law in the U.S. state. The news comes from The Wall Street Journal (via AppleInsider), which explains that Gov. Brown has over 10 days to take action on the bill. Originally introduced by Mark Leno, “a state senator and Democrat from San Francisco,” the bill has been publicly backed by the likes of Apple, Google, Samsung, and HTC. Of course, Apple’s Find My iPhone application allows users to access a remote locking feature; the service uses iCloud in order to provide tracking and remote wiping functionality for users, too. Activation Lock, which launched with iOS 7 last year, also makes it more difficult for thieves to make off with stolen iPhone handsets. Not all manufacturers follow suit, however. The aforementioned bill would not only require that a kill-switch option is available on smartphones, but also that users are prompted to enable the feature when the device is first activated. We should hear more concerning California’s bill in the near future. In the meantime, see: AppAdvice Exclusive: Clean up Snapchat screenshots with Snappp for iOS, Threadless now lets you fund your favorite designs to have them printed on T-shirts, and Feel the rush and take the new Speedrush TV challenge in Electronic Arts’ Real Racing 3.