[Q] Power saving through Tasker - Eee Pad Transformer Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I consider our Tablet to be different than a phone, in the sense that when we turn off the screen, we dont need all the background functions still running. Currently I see TF101 deep sleep battery drain caused by many different functions running in the backend...for example the location services api.
I was thinking of creating a Tasker script that turns off as many different things as possible a few minutes after the screen is turned off.....And turns them back on when the device is unlocked.
I didn't want to spend time reinventing the wheel if this has already been done....
Anyone already try this? Results?
thanks.

I decided I was over-thinking it...and went with tasker scripts to
a) Auto Turn on Airplane mode when the screen goes off
b) Auto Turn off Airplane mode when the device is unlocked.
(This involved using the "Secure Settings" plugin app to allow Airplane mode via tasker on 4.2 JB)
So far the results have been good. i don't see those map api's being called during deep sleep.

Related

[GUIDE] Tasker

So as some of you may know there is an app for android called Tasker and it is by far the most powerful app out to date.
"Tasker is an application for Android which performs Tasks (sets of Actions) based on Contexts (application, time, date, location, event, gesture) in user-defined Profiles, or in clickable or timer home screen widgets.
This simple concept profoundly extends your control of your Android device and it's capabilities, without the need for 'root' or a special home screen"
As powerful and amazing as this app is, it's pretty hard to use unless your very tech savvy and I have been searching the Net for some how-to guides but their doesn't seem to be much out there. So I wanted to create this thread and have people post their own little tips/mods that they have set-up with Tasker so that newbies such as my-self can have a place to go if they need help getting Tasker to perform certain functions.
I just download the app last night and haven't had much time to mess with it yet, but once I get the hang of it I will start posting what I'm doing.
Anybody that uses Tasker please feel free to add on to the thread and lets make this the ultimate "How-to" guide for people trying to unlock the full potential of this amazing app.
How long did it take you to develop this app?
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
firemedic1343 said:
How long did it take you to develop this app?
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@OP, one that I made that I find useful scans the SD card for new media whenever it's mounted.
PROFILE:
Event - Card Mounted (Priority: Normal, Card Title: <blank>, Frequency: 1)
Task - Media -> Scan Card
Task - Alert -> Flash (Text: Scanning for new media..., Long: <unchecked>, If: <unchecked>)
This one turns off the lockscreen when using Music or Pandora (you have to make two separate profiles!)
PROFILE:
Application - Music/Pandora
Task - Display -> Keyguard (Set: Off, If: <unchecked>)
I also spent a lot of time developing a task that would turn airplane mode on for 45 minutes, turn it off for 15 minutes, then turn it back on and repeat until stopped. Everything works except Tasker stops all timers when the phone sleeps, so unless I want to put a partial wake-lock on it (which would defeat the whole battery-saving purpose of the profile in the first place), it doesn't work
Gregalous said:
@OP, one that I made that I find useful scans the SD card for new media whenever it's mounted.
PROFILE:
Event - Card Mounted (Priority: Normal, Card Title: <blank>, Frequency: 1)
Task - Media -> Scan Card
Task - Alert -> Flash (Text: Scanning for new media..., Long: <unchecked>, If: <unchecked>)
This one turns off the lockscreen when using Music or Pandora (you have to make two separate profiles!)
PROFILE:
Application - Music/Pandora
Task - Display -> Keyguard (Set: Off, If: <unchecked>)
I also spent a lot of time developing a task that would turn airplane mode on for 45 minutes, turn it off for 15 minutes, then turn it back on and repeat until stopped. Everything works except Tasker stops all timers when the phone sleeps, so unless I want to put a partial wake-lock on it (which would defeat the whole battery-saving purpose of the profile in the first place), it doesn't work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both setups seem very useful, ima check them out. Thanks for the input!
About the one you can't get to work. I'm pretty sure I actually saw something similar to it the other day on another website, not 100% sure though. I think it was a profile that allowed you to basically turn off all of you're data and have it come back on for a short period of time to gather texts and stuff...
Ima going to look for it for you to see if i can find it...
In the mean time I found a few useful profiles here http://lifehacker.com/5606284/three-handy-tasker-profiles-from-our-readers
I would post them but theres actually quite a bit if you look in the comments and the post itself.
Once I think of something "original" i'll post it
You also might want to check the official Tasker pages. There is also a Wiki with step-throughs (link on left side of main page).
http://tasker.dinglisch.net/
This is the only app I have been able to find that will let you remotely turn the GPS on. IMO that alone was worth the money, now I don't have to waste time writing an app for it.
I've been working on something to activate the GPS and send the phone's location, available wifi networks, etc, over a text message. Haven't figure out how to make it update the GPS location or turn on 3G yet though. Anyone know anything about android bridge scripts and if they would be able to do this?
Vegasden said:
You also might want to check the official Tasker pages. There is also a Wiki with step-throughs (link on left side of main page).
http://tasker.dinglisch.net/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow. thanks a lot for the link. i have been looking for some sort of wiki or help for tasker for a while now but apparently I wasn't looking in rite places.
Thanks again.
Also, Mobile Defense, if installed in system apps allows you to remotely turn on gps and track your phone, however, they have temporarily closed down the beta. I've always had it on my android phones and it's pretty amazing. Much better than lookout for tracking your device.
tasker is a great app. i use it on a dialy basis. save so much battery life
SiL3nTKiLL said:
tasker is a great app. i use it on a dialy basis. save so much battery life
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What works for you? Some example scripts please please. thanks.
Here is more info on tasker setup.
I tried some of these and they worked great.
http://lifehacker.com/5601133/push-...d-to-awesome-heights-with-these-tasker-setups
http://lifehacker.com/5599116/how-to-turn-your-android-phone-into-a-fully+automated-superphone
maps to start gps and gps logger
hi everyone,
i'd like to start maps, and have:
- Gps turned on
and
-an app called GpsLogger to start.
The problem i get is that, once Gps is turned on and GpsLogger is opened, if i get back to Maps by long-pressing the home button the whole automation starts again, leading me to GpsLogger again..
Could anyone help please?
Thanks!
I downloaded Tasker the other day to accomplish one thing only. I wanted my wife to be able to get through to me whenever she called me. I work shift work so my phone is set to Silent at odd times when I am resting, so the various dings and rings don't interrupt my sleep. Fearful of her not being able to get a hold of me in an emergency, I set this up:
Profile: Priority Call (named by me)
Context: Incoming Call - Very simply, I used the magnifying glass to select her contact from my phone, and it input her name in the box.
Task: Silent Mode - Mode set to OFF
This profile checks all incoming calls and then turns Silent Mode OFF and allows the call to ring through. When the call is done, the phone returns to Silent Mode. NOTE: I also had to set up a separate task to turn the phone to silent in the first place. For some reason, Tasker would not recognize the phone as being in "Silent Mode" if I used the volume down button to put it in silent mode. So I just added a shortcut to the Tasker task of putting the phone to silent on my homescreen. Now when I go to bed, I hit the shortcut and I am able to be undisturbed until I wake again, unless my wife calls. I could see this being very useful for people with teenagers that are out or babysitters with children.
This task can also be useful if you sleep at defined hours, because you can set the phone to automatically turn to silent at X hour, and turn silent mode off at X hour. Just some ideas.
I am now searching for ways to completely automate the phone by making it turn on my GPS and Bluetooth when I am away from home, as well as turn these off and turn my wifi on when I am at home. Several attempts with no knowledge of this app have been unsuccessful so far. More to follow.
Robert
OnDutyTactical said:
I downloaded Tasker the other day to accomplish one thing only. I wanted my wife to be able to get through to me whenever she called me. I work shift work so my phone is set to Silent at odd times when I am resting, so the various dings and rings don't interrupt my sleep. Fearful of her not being able to get a hold of me in an emergency, I set this up:
Profile: Priority Call (named by me)
Context: Incoming Call - Very simply, I used the magnifying glass to select her contact from my phone, and it input her name in the box.
Task: Silent Mode - Mode set to OFF
This profile checks all incoming calls and then turns Silent Mode OFF and allows the call to ring through. When the call is done, the phone returns to Silent Mode. NOTE: I also had to set up a separate task to turn the phone to silent in the first place. For some reason, Tasker would not recognize the phone as being in "Silent Mode" if I used the volume down button to put it in silent mode. So I just added a shortcut to the Tasker task of putting the phone to silent on my homescreen. Now when I go to bed, I hit the shortcut and I am able to be undisturbed until I wake again, unless my wife calls. I could see this being very useful for people with teenagers that are out or babysitters with children.
This task can also be useful if you sleep at defined hours, because you can set the phone to automatically turn to silent at X hour, and turn silent mode off at X hour. Just some ideas.
I am now searching for ways to completely automate the phone by making it turn on my GPS and Bluetooth when I am away from home, as well as turn these off and turn my wifi on when I am at home. Several attempts with no knowledge of this app have been unsuccessful so far. More to follow.
Robert
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here you go...
These two pages on the Tasker Wiki will show you how to do a lot of what you want, and even find stuff you didn't know you needed.
http://tasker.wikidot.com/profile-index
http://tasker.wikidot.com/step-throughs

turning wifi automatically off

I have tried a few auto turn off apps on my transformer while screen is off but WIFI still stays on. These Apps work well on My Samsung galaxy.
Another thing I noticed is that everytime I set the WIFI disconnect policy to turn off wifi when screen is off. The setting goes back to "never". Not sure how it gets reset, and maybe thats why these apps do not work.
Any ideas?
revolver parts wit revolver rom, the revolver parts app let you turn of wifi automatic
I am on stock rom for now, until I read thru all of the forum and get comfortable with switching rom. I am rooted atleast and have CWM installed.
So is there any other app?
Auto airplane mode from the market. It turned off for me.
Try with Tasker
will try auto airplane mode but I need something that turns off wifi when screen goes off.
Also, afraid to buy tasker before I know it works.
evrionis said:
will try auto airplane mode but I need something that turns off wifi when screen goes off.
Also, afraid to buy tasker before I know it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Auto Airplane Mode will turn WiFi off when screen shut off.
I use it, work great. The one I use for some reason is not in the market any more
but there are others.
TRIED auto airplane and did not work.
I think the issue is that something always changes the setting to never turn wifi off . Instead of what I keep on setting it to disable wifi when screen is off.
Is there a app that is changing the wifi policy settings>?
green power app fixed my problem. found this out in another thread.
I'm using tasker with a profile to turn airplane mode on 5 minutes after display goes down. It doesn't sleep if there are certain apps which require internet connection (tunein radio for example) and turns off airplane mode for 1 minute every 30 minutes.
I'd never used tasker before, i own an Android phone too, but i found it simply amazing!
Seems like you have an app that wants to keep wifi on. If I were you, I'd try to get to the bottom of this and figure out which app is causing this issue to occur. In fact, the culprit sounds fishy.

Battery dies over night.

I use awesome off to turn my pad on and off so I don't have to use the power switch all the time. I always do this so I don't have to go through the whole boot up process when I want to use it. I noticed that when I wake up in the morning the pad is dead or almost dead. Is there a better way to put this to sleep at night? There is always so much stuff running that kills the battery. I read on here somewhere that someone was not even losing 1% by putting it in some deep sleep. Is there a mode for long time sleep that does not use battery or run any processes? But without shutting it down all the way.
Sent from my Toasted Marshmallow using xda app-developers app
Toasted Marshmellow?
Can't you just set the tablet to sleep in 5 or so minutes after being inactive?
You can have the tab cut wifi off in sleep also.
I don't do the wifi off in sleep tho...sometimes it doesn't reconnect after a wake up.
I don't know what awesome off is...I'll have to check that out.
My tab just goes into sleep after 10 minutes when I set it down.
The problem is awesome off. It won't let the pad sleep and is constantly checking for movement, light levels etc. Dump it and use the power button to turn it off and on.
Battery dies
dpshptl said:
I use awesome off to turn my pad on and off so I don't have to use the power switch all the time. I always do this so I don't have to go through the whole boot up process when I want to use it. I noticed that when I wake up in the morning the pad is dead or almost dead. Is there a better way to put this to sleep at night? There is always so much stuff running that kills the battery. I read on here somewhere that someone was not even losing 1% by putting it in some deep sleep. Is there a mode for long time sleep that does not use battery or run any processes? But without shutting it down all the way.
Sent from my Toasted Marshmallow using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have Nook color power button donate that I got when I had my old rooted Nook color with flaky on off switch. It was in my google apps when I was loading apps on my infinity so I figured try it and see what happens lol It works remarkably well on my tab and does put it into deep sleep . See attached. I have not used my tablet much in last day but you can see that it does put it to sleep and turns wifi on and off and also reboots. Also BTW I then tried it on my rooted ICS leak Bionic and it gives reboot function instead of the long drawn out shut down then turn on process. It does not speed up any of these functions as far as rebooting.
Could be the "wifi location drain"-bug with google maps. From reading the forums it seems quite a few people have it without knowing it. You can of course disable wifi while sleeping, but this will not cure the main issue.
Turn the location settings on in google maps, then make sure that unneeded check boxes are disabled under location settings menu and you should be fine after that. The interesting part here is that google maps will drain the wifi even when the settings are not enabled, perhaps because you can't access the underlying menu without first enabling it. So only after you first enable this setting in maps will it work correctly.
Hopefully this helps, it did for me ..
Yoop,
I watched the awesome off YT video and it didn't look as though the tablet was being sent into full sleep.
I guess with it just grinding away essentially not shut down into a battery save mode it would die.
Doesn't the Tegra3 have a 5th core for minimum power processing or fast wake up?

[Q] what is sleep state?

As the title asks, what is it? I know that turning off the screen with power button is not sleeping. I believe it is the state when it takes more than a second (lag) to unlock the screen. This means that the phone was in sleep state and I woke it up. But the question remains, that what is it? How and when is it activated? What happens when the phone is sleeping? Effect on battery (I believe it's positive)? The notifications like sms and call? Is only the screen asleep or are the other functions sleeping as well? Final question, Can I activate the sleep mode with the help of an application if it helps save the battery?
Note that I don't want to use battery saver apps because I don't want anything on my phone to stop. I paid for the whole phone, "including" gps, wifi and things like that. Smartphones are for us, we are not for smartphones.
usman farhat said:
As the title asks, what is it? I know that turning off the screen with power button is not sleeping. I believe it is the state when it takes more than a second (lag) to unlock the screen. This means that the phone was in sleep state and I woke it up. But the question remains, that what is it? How and when is it activated? What happens when the phone is sleeping? Effect on battery (I believe it's positive)? The notifications like sms and call? Is only the screen asleep or are the other functions sleeping as well? Final question, Can I activate the sleep mode with the help of an application if it helps save the battery?
Note that I don't want to use battery saver apps because I don't want anything on my phone to stop. I paid for the whole phone, "including" gps, wifi and things like that. Smartphones are for us, we are not for smartphones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Technically; sleep mode starts the moment the screen is switched off. With the exception of applications which can prevent the phone from fully 'sleeping'. A good and obvious example is the music application which keeps the phone awake in order to play music.
There's really nothing special about sleep mode except that the phone will execute a lot more tasks together but less frequently in order to save power, so you're still able to receive all messages, emails, calls and all notifications (from apps). Applications can also be informed about the change in power state (awake to sleep and sleep to awake) and therefore change the way they behave.
The amount of sleep time the phone gets is dependent on the apps you have installed and the amount of emails, calls and other notifications you get. There isn't a way to enable 'sleep mode' with an application as it would make little difference if your display is on. Your display is the main cause of power consumption, as is true with all smartphones.
Battery Saver apps are dangerous, by killing apps they have a negative impact on the phone. If the application is needed, the phone will restart it and add to the CPU cycles. The same goes with memory freeing apps. GPS/Bluetooth/WiFi are there for when you need them. Keeping them on when they're not needed is a waste of the phone's resources. As the more CPU cycles they use, the more power they consume.
DennisBold said:
Technically; sleep mode starts the moment the screen is switched off. With the exception of applications which can prevent the phone from fully 'sleeping'. A good and obvious example is the music application which keeps the phone awake in order to play music.
There's really nothing special about sleep mode except that the phone will execute a lot more tasks together but less frequently in order to save power, so you're still able to receive all messages, emails, calls and all notifications (from apps). Applications can also be informed about the change in power state (awake to sleep and sleep to awake) and therefore change the way they behave.
The amount of sleep time the phone gets is dependent on the apps you have installed and the amount of emails, calls and other notifications you get. There isn't a way to enable 'sleep mode' with an application as it would make little difference if your display is on. Your display is the main cause of power consumption, as is true with all smartphones.
Battery Saver apps are dangerous, by killing apps they have a negative impact on the phone. If the application is needed, the phone will restart it and add to the CPU cycles. The same goes with memory freeing apps. GPS/Bluetooth/WiFi are there for when you need them. Keeping them on when they're not needed is a waste of the phone's resources. As the more CPU cycles they use, the more power they consume.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a good explanation
I have read about term "deep sleep" while searching for this, but the explanations on the internet are not clear to me. I have understood a part of it, that this state comes when phone is at rest for too long. The phone pauses apps and their processes, except those who are downloading e.g games and only does basic tasks such as incoming communications (message, call etc.) and sync. Again, I could not find answer to when it state/mode starts.
About GPS/Bluetooth/WiFi: I said this because I had seen people talking about how they have to force otherwise unnecessary restrictions on them and thus have to worry too much to save their batteries. This is what I don't like. Technology is made to facilitate people and to make their lives easy, that's what I believe. On the other hand, I always keep bluetooth off because I need it very rarely. Well, you may have other preferences but I have to keep gps on in order to geo tag photos and to make it ready whenever I open maps etc. Wifi according to me is life blood of smartphones. So I can't live without it either.
When I had Nokia 5800 I had to turn off auto rotate because its menu took time to refresh if I turned the phone by mistake. That was the time when I came to know how bad it feels to go through the settings to turn it on when I need it urgently.

[Q] In need of app for keeping CPU active despite sleep

hi, guys.
"wake my android pro" is an app that turns on the screen for 500ms every T period, where T is user defined. Problem is i am worried about screen wearing too soon, with all those fire ups.
Next choice is never turning the screen off. That's another component spending its life. I would rather avoid it.
"Regpon" is another app. It keeps wifi working with a wifi wakelock, less than a partial wakelock it seems. Then, anything not concerning wifi is beyond it. I have tried it but it doesn't satisfy my need [EDIT: keeps cpu active and wifi active while WLAN is connected, only. Despite its "link to wifi status" option, it always ends when wlan disconnects]
There is another app, whose name isn't coming to me right now. wakelockcontrol, maybe [EDIT: the correct name is "Wake Lock - PowerManager"]. It supposedly employs a wake lock. The user would be able to pick the depth of the wakelock. Unfotunately, it achieves even less than regpon in my device.
Finally, if you can point me to a standalone screen on switch, I'll work with that. In other words, a simple app that I can execute programatically with llama or automateit and which only turns the screen on with one tap [EDIT: Llama has this feature built in. It would be nice to get a stand alone app, though]
ty.
I found another [incomplete] solution: Settings>Developer options>Stay awake
If you think that serves the sole purpose of keeping the screen on, you are misinformed. "Stay awake" has a wakelock, probably less than partial too. I have found it as effective as Regpon, only more stable.
I am still seeking for help.
PS: It amazes me I can`t find any simple "turn device on" application. Heck, I wouldn`t know how to do it in tasker without locale, either. Llama does it pretty well, tough.
PARTIAL SOLUTION reached
I arrived at a partial solution:
0) WiFi module is always on (as in turned on, not active)
1) keepconnonapp keeps llamaapp active
2) Llama is able to detect wlan connection and turn screen on accordingly
3) Whenever wifi is connected, regponapp keeps CPU active for Skype and Csipsimple
4) If kept active both Skype and Csipsimple are able to reconnect automatically.
I consider this solution as partial because it requires interaction between many applications, which might deem it unstable.
DESCRIPTION:
keepconnon: app. Sends "packets" /) to a user defined server. Keeps wifi on when screen is off, but CPU can't be kept alive for neither Skype nor Csipsimple. CPU stays active enough for Llama to run.
regpon: app. Keeps the wifi and cpu ON (as in active, cpu is active) even when the screen is off. Details are unknown. Its wakelock is only effective when there is an active connection, as in: [if left alone] after you disconnect from wlan the device can't reconnect automatically.
Llama: app. Automation application with built in screen turn on (otherwise you should use tasker with a locale plugin)
PURPOSE
To use a tablet as a base phone. Must handle incoming calls even if screen is off. Must be able to recover from modem resets. Having in mind that screen will remain turned off most of the time. Must work in a non-rooted device.
EXPECTED SOLUTION
Run a service that keeps CPU and WiFi active under all circumstances.
I expected this to have been a lot easier, eh he. Still waiting for opinions, haha.

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