NFC use - General Questions and Answers

Hi guys, hope this is in the right place...
I am thinking of getting myself some NFC tags to put in my car dock so that when phone goes in, it automatically launches Waze. Got some questions though:
1. Does having NFC on constantly use much power?
2. Is there anything to look out for when buying NFC tags?
3. When I remove the phone from cradle (and away from NFC tag) will it (out can it) switch off waze automatically?
Cheers guys
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app

gk141054 said:
Hi guys, hope this is in the right place...
I am thinking of getting myself some NFC tags to put in my car dock so that when phone goes in, it automatically launches Waze. Got some questions though:
1. Does having NFC on constantly use much power?
2. Is there anything to look out for when buying NFC tags?
3. When I remove the phone from cradle (and away from NFC tag) will it (out can it) switch off waze automatically?
Cheers guys
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same question about 1.
I've found on my xperia S that battery usage is negligible. So I keep it on.
3. I think not.. I think you need to "pair it" again and trigger the toggle. (At least that's how it works for me: get near the nfc, trigger, and then i need to pull away and close again to get a second trigger (tag is programmed to toggle previous state on any nfc event)

Thanks proposicion47, anyone else got any thoughts? Cheers

Related

[Q] Dock Reaction Question

Wasn't sure what to title this thread. But its a pretty simple question.
Can the Xoom be programmed to react to being put in either dock?
I don't mean necessarily when charging begins because I can probably use Tasker for that. But specifically if the device is put into either dock, go into a bed side mode or something?
First off, your thread title was completely accurate and descriptive. Thank you for that.
Regarding your actual issue, THEORETICALLY this should work. However, I have been unable to get Tasker to recognize my Motorola Standard Dock on my WiFi-only XOOM. I am trying to make mine set the media volume to maximum when docked, roughly half-way when undocked, and a third of the way up when on headphones.
Has Tasker's dock detection worked for anyone else?
Sadly tasker doesn't seem to get me where I want to be with it. Is it too much to ask for the clock to come up when I drop it on? Meh guess so, only one of 2 complaints about the device in a month ain't bad I guess
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

[Q] Bought Andida 2250mah for skyrocket...did i give up nfc?

Bought this battery from a reseller around here and I wanted to know whether i just gave up nfc for an increase in battery life? Also please explain why does nfc require a special battery? Why can't it just be a microchip emitting signal integrated in the phone?
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/270899338893?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
I would assume so, but if you did, that seems like a pretty good trade. NFC is a dumb gimmick anyway, and I don't really trust the tech with my credit card/banking info given that mere proximity is enough to read it. I would never use NFC.
Frogacuda said:
I would assume so, but if you did, that seems like a pretty good trade. NFC is a dumb gimmick anyway, and I don't really trust the tech with my credit card/banking info given that mere proximity is enough to read it. I would never use NFC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very short sighted it is as much as gimmick as Interac is.
I can not remember the last time I used cash, and why bother when all I need in my bank card and PIN.
Me I live in the 21th Century and I rather take advantage of it than wear my tin foil hat..... worry about everybody out to rip me off.
Who said anything about cash? My cards work fine.
But people can put an NFC reader in a bag and bump into your pocket on the subway. It's really not a particularly secure bit of tech, and it's also not a significantly more convenient thing than swiping a credit card.
Who cares what you think or dont think about NFC, please stick to the subject. Why do we need a special battery for NFC? Is it because the chip is in the battery?
Yes, basically it's a small, flat chip embedded under the sticker label on the skyrocket's battery. I think it works kind of like those security tags they put on books and DVDs.
Someone more knowledgeable than I might be able to tell you if it'd be possible to move that to the new battery.
Soon as NFC catches fire..IF it does.. Then you will be able to purchase mirochip stickies that you can cement on anything you can imagine.
From what I have read on many online searches the battery does not have the NFC circuitry. The battery only houses the NFC short distance antenna, which accounts for the 4th contact on the battery.
gdmuscle said:
From what I have read on many online searches the battery does not have the NFC circuitry. The battery only houses the NFC short distance antenna, which accounts for the 4th contact on the battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Surely the Chinese battery manufacturers will catch on and we will see cheapo batteries with NFC antennae soon enough. But I agree with others here, NFC sounds like a gimmick and a security risk to me at this point. How strong is the crypto on this technology? It better be pretty damned secure or I will deliberately purchase one of these NON-NFC batteries for my next phone, lol.
gdmuscle said:
From what I have read on many online searches the battery does not have the NFC circuitry. The battery only houses the NFC short distance antenna, which accounts for the 4th contact on the battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That information is incorrect. Read around people here on the forums have NFC working. **Edit, I misunderstood you. Yes the battery houses the antenna, and the phone has the other parts of the circuity, but without the antenna NFC is useless.
And for those of you who think its a gimmick take a look at what one user here is doing with it:
cdshepherd said:
A quick example. I have a nfc tag sitting on my nightstand. At night when I go to bed I set my phone on the tag. It automatically turns my wifi off, turns my alarm on, and turns the night mode clock on. Its really neat stuff. Paying with NFC (which we can't do yet) is only scratching the surface when it comes to this technology. If your interested more Google search it. There is tons of stuff.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
polish_pat said:
Bought this battery from a reseller around here and I wanted to know whether i just gave up nfc for an increase in battery life? Also please explain why does nfc require a special battery? Why can't it just be a microchip emitting signal integrated in the phone?
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/270899338893?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The reason why it isn't in the phone is because NFC has an operating range of 4 cm, your phone is already almost 1 cm thick, some people put those horrible otterbox cases on which another 1 cm thick, throw in interference and having that antenna inside the phone rather than the edge of the phone makes it almost useless. This is why the antenna is on the battery, will they move it to inside phone? Probably, but they would have to increase the throughput of the signal which would increase range but that would decrease security.
Frogacuda said:
Who said anything about cash? My cards work fine.
But people can put an NFC reader in a bag and bump into your pocket on the subway. It's really not a particularly secure bit of tech, and it's also not a significantly more convenient thing than swiping a credit card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That wouldnt really work. Google Wallet has a PIN, so even if someone had some kind of NFC device in their bag, they wouldnt be able to extract money because you'd have to manually enter your PIN before the transfer would go through.
On top of that, you need to be really close for NFC to work. Like the phone has to be basically touching the reader. IIRC, for mobile phones, 4 centimeters is the distance the phone can be from the reader. On top of that, the phone has to be unlocked for NFC to work. So unless you walk around with your phone screen awake at all times, it's a total non-issue.
A normal wallet full of cash and cards is much more insecure that Google Wallet and NFC.
NFC is great though. I use it at 7/11, rite-aid, cvs, and mcdonalds all the time.
Frogacuda said:
Who said anything about cash? My cards work fine.
But people can put an NFC reader in a bag and bump into your pocket on the subway. It's really not a particularly secure bit of tech, and it's also not a significantly more convenient thing than swiping a credit card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Virtually all modern credit and debit cards issued by the major banks have some kind of contactless chip embedded in them.
AMEX has ExpressPay, Master Card has PayPass, Discover has Zip, Visa has PayWave. Different banks have it under their own branding, too. Chase, for example, puts them all under their "Blink" term.
The chip itself is like 5mm x 5mm, thinner than the credit card itself, and only really produces a slight variation in the surface of the credit card. You'll only really see it if you're explicitly looking for it.
polish_pat said:
Bought this battery from a reseller around here and I wanted to know whether i just gave up nfc for an increase in battery life? Also please explain why does nfc require a special battery? Why can't it just be a microchip emitting signal integrated in the phone?
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/270899338893?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just ordered mine. I never like to buy from china but for 17 dollars even if i got scammed i thought it was worth the chance. Have you noticed an increase in battery life?
i got an extra 1.5-2 hours
ok kool im glad too here
polish_pat said:
Bought this battery from a reseller around here and I wanted to know whether i just gave up nfc for an increase in battery life? Also please explain why does nfc require a special battery? Why can't it just be a microchip emitting signal integrated in the phone?
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/270899338893?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That looks like a good battery that will fit under the current cover. I too want an extended battery like this but I don't want to lose NFC...
eagercrow said:
That information is incorrect. Read around people here on the forums have NFC working. **Edit, I misunderstood you. Yes the battery houses the antenna, and the phone has the other parts of the circuity, but without the antenna NFC is useless.
And for those of you who think its a gimmick take a look at what one user here is doing with it:
cdshepherd said:
A quick example. I have a nfc tag sitting on my nightstand. At night when I go to bed I set my phone on the tag. It automatically turns my wifi off, turns my alarm on, and turns the night mode clock on. Its really neat stuff. Paying with NFC (which we can't do yet) is only scratching the surface when it comes to this technology. If your interested more Google search it. There is tons of stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just ordered 5 NFC tags. I'm going to place 1 on my nightstand, 1 in the car and 1 at work. Each one will be programmed to to different things. For example the nightstand tag will turn off wifi, put phone on silent. The car tag will turn up all the sounds, increase brightness to full, turn on bluetooth and GPS and launch the music player. The one at work will turn off all sounds, turn brightness down to minimum and turn off bluetooth and GPS.
Once mobile payments come to my area I will use it NFC for that as well.
i guess when you get the new battery and NFC is grayed out in the settings menu you will have your definitive answer. i'd like to know fo sho.
I just got this battery and nfc is not greyed out in the settings. But I have no way to test it otherwise.
marvin02 said:
I just got this battery and nfc is not greyed out in the settings. But I have no way to test it otherwise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stock UCLD2 has NFC test that can be accessed via *#6328378#
Custom rom's might have removed NfcTest.apk as bloat, so it might not work on all.

Wallet - Won't actually pay.

I've got Google Wallet installed, and cards activated, but I can't seem to make it actually pay...
A couple of trips to the local McDonalds - waking up my phone and waving it over the red sensor part of their card reader does nothing... unlocking or having wallet open at the time doesn't help either.
What am I doing wrong?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Does your phone beep to let you know the nfc receiver has picked up an rfid signal?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Did you have the NFC box check under settings more settings. It allows information to be sent between NFC device which is necessary.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
No response at all from my phone or the terminal. Might as well have been waving my hand over it.
Does the phone need a physical "bump" instead of a wave to do its thing? I would expect this to work much the same as my proximity company ID badge.
NFC is turned on. SBeam is off (does that matter?)
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
I always touch my phone back to the spot on the card reader. Do you have a case on your phone? There is only like a half inch of play before the phone is too far away. Try it again by tapping the phone.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
yeah. i get embarrass too if wallet doesnt work. how embarrassing!
but they have nfc soda vending machines in Atlantis hotel casino in reno! i tried it there with wallet on my nexus without the embarrassment and it works!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEwHMk4qFTs
"waving it over the red sensor part"
You dont know what your doing if you "waved" it. You must hold it up to the scanner for it to recognize. Also, if you have a case, it takes longer to pick up because the case adds thickness which reduces the bandwidth NFC can utilize due to a weaker signal.
Experiences: 8 successful payments. 1 failed (Walgreens isnt there yet)
There is no red sensor where I used it. 7-11 and cumbys. It's the grey part above the debit/credit card scanner that has the nfc symbol....Walgreen's failed for me also the manager said they just recently installed.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
I've had the same exact problem as the OP. I tried mine at a local gas station where a friend works so I didn't look like a complete dunderhead and I tried it on 6 separate occasions and tried installing it several different times/ways and could never get it to work. They have the EZ Pay NFC reader above the credit card machine and every time I tried it it would not work no matter if I tapped it, took it out of the TPU case, got the cashier to hit credit, opened and unlocked the app. Nothing. It just simply refused to work. Maybe I'm just an idiot though, I just assume the EZ Pay NFC card reader would read my NFC chip in my phone. Maybe it won't. I am just at a loss. I just reset the app and went to my backup nandroid and left it along after all the attempts because I was so embarrassed.
i've only used it once thus far, i was worried it wouldn't work right since i never used NFC payments before so i had no idea how to do it......it took about 15 secs for GW to open up from a locked status on my phone then about another 20 secs for it to recognize the nfc scanner and to process a payment to mcdonalds, not bad, i had my card out in preparation though lol
Try without a case.I had no comm using NFC due to my case blocking the signal somehow. took it off and now it works every time.
Sent from my galaxy nexus using xda app-developers app
digitalsynner85 said:
i've only used it once thus far, i was worried it wouldn't work right since i never used NFC payments before so i had no idea how to do it......it took about 15 secs for GW to open up from a locked status on my phone then about another 20 secs for it to recognize the nfc scanner and to process a payment to mcdonalds, not bad, i had my card out in preparation though lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had thought that maybe it would take a bit for GW to notice the NFC reader but i left it there for a full 5 minutes at one point, I was running my mouth, and it never pulled up GW nor recognized the NFC reader. Also this was with the phone off. Another thing I found funny about it was that it the app would not pull up as Ready to Use until I had let it set up my Play Store credit card they have on file. I dont know if the OP is having the same exact problem as I am but it sounds exactly the same. I have also tested my NFC with my girlfriends GS3 to see if maybe I recieved a bad battery or maybe my phone was somehow faulty but it pulled the fileshare using S-Beam off without a hitch so.....
shangrila500 said:
I had thought that maybe it would take a bit for GW to notice the NFC reader but i left it there for a full 5 minutes at one point, I was running my mouth, and it never pulled up GW nor recognized the NFC reader. Also this was with the phone off. Another thing I found funny about it was that it the app would not pull up as Ready to Use until I had let it set up my Play Store credit card they have on file. I dont know if the OP is having the same exact problem as I am but it sounds exactly the same. I have also tested my NFC with my girlfriends GS3 to see if maybe I recieved a bad battery or maybe my phone was somehow faulty but it pulled the fileshare using S-Beam off without a hitch so.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My phone wasn't off, just locked. If the phone's off then the nfc reader is supposed to be off too. I found that just quickly opening GW right before touching it to the reader makes it happen almost instantly. At least for me already.
Beamed via NFC through the local store to the internet from my SGS3.
digitalsynner85 said:
My phone wasn't off, just locked. If the phone's off then the nfc reader is supposed to be off too. I found that just quickly opening GW right before touching it to the reader makes it happen almost instantly. At least for me already.
Beamed via NFC through the local store to the internet from my SGS3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry about the misunderstanding. When I said off o meant my screen was locked. My phone just edited that part out. I have tried it like you did also, by opening the app right before touching it to the reader. Still doesn't work. It may just be an issue with my phone. No matter how I try to use it to pay it won't work...
i've had no issues having my nfc chip being scanned but i have yet to complete a purchase successfully. i'm going to chalk it up to the terminals not being configured correctly... my other nfc functions work fine.
Some dont work for some odd reasons because the storemanager/higher ups dont know what it is so they might have disabled it for what ever reason.
I know Walgreens has scanners but does not work JUST yet, they are partners of the whole NFC movement thing.
Stores that have worked for me are.
Chevron, 7-11 ( had to tilt there scanner up), McDonalds, BJ's (like walmart), Vending Machines.
Doesnt work: Walgreens, Some Random gas station out of town
I find that if you see a LED blinking or on thats connected to the scanner, the scanner works, but if it doesnt scan right away its the case's fault or not placing it.
Source: I like to consider myself a Wallet expert haha, my thread is over in Developer Section to get wallet as well. Also all my purchases have been used using a Otterbox Defender, and take about 3-5 seconds to complete the transaction.
mine failed as well at a jack in the box drive thru. looked like a fool. haha
i took my case off, opened the app, clicked the lock in the corner, entered my pin, and held it up against the reader for a good few seconds but nothing happened. nfc was on. their reader had like 4 spots for lights and the first one was on with a solid green light so not sure, hopefully it was their reader. will try again at a 7-11 if I can get over the embarassment
LOL at you guys thinking your case is giving you a problem, most likely you are not putting the battery (where the NFC is) up to the correct part of the terminal (your phone should chime or make a noise when its recognized, just like when Android Beam comes up),
or just plain out the terminal doesn't work (not your phone), a mcdonalds and wendys in my area they have them but nothing happens and one mcd across town works perfectly fine. Just depends on the vendor.
I have the Otterbox Defender on both my S3 and Galaxy Nexus, and haven't had a problem or delay yet as long as their terminal is working correctly, and they are pretty thick cases. As long as you line it up right and they work shouldn't be a problem
NeoMagus said:
LOL at you guys thinking your case is giving you a problem, most likely you are not putting the battery (where the NFC is) up to the correct part of the terminal (your phone should chime or make a noise when its recognized, just like when Android Beam comes up),
or just plain out the terminal doesn't work (not your phone), a mcdonalds and wendys in my area they have them but nothing happens and one mcd across town works perfectly fine. Just depends on the vendor.
I have the Otterbox Defender on both my S3 and Galaxy Nexus, and haven't had a problem or delay yet as long as their terminal is working correctly, and they are pretty thick cases. As long as you line it up right and they work shouldn't be a problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well said and 100% accurate. I bet the problems people are facing are user error or the terminal just doesnt work.
I've used mine on about three different occasions and it worked perfectly. But what's funny, I was in a local vzw store buying something. They have what looks like the press pass set up, tried to use it and it wouldn't go through. The girl checking me out was surprised and had no idea that you could even do that. Anyway, my point is that even though the card reader looks like it will work, if they don't have it set up it won't. Vzw's looks just like the ones at McDonald's.

NFC resets?

I have an odd question. I currently have an NFC tag installed in my ibolt cradle in the car, set up to turn on GPS, turn off wi-fi, and enable bluetooth. Now, my phone rests on the tag itself when placed in the cradle. Every once in a while, not certain why, I hear the NFC bleep sound, which overrides my music playing thru the speakers, shutting the music off for a second. Is it not a good idea to have the phone resting on the tag itself?
Thanks, in advance.
Are you working with a custom rom or the stock rom? If stock, do you have the latest OTA release?
Also, if you have access to a second cradle, I'd test your phone on that one to see if you get the same result.
Bugsquirt said:
Are you working with a custom rom or the stock rom? If stock, do you have the latest OTA release?
Also, if you have access to a second cradle, I'd test your phone on that one to see if you get the same result.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stock rom.
This is an issue with the NFC tag, not the cradle. It's an NFC sticker I installed later.
Since we are talking about centimeters worth of range for the tag to be read - think the bumps in the road are causing your ghost reads?
Blue6IX said:
Since we are talking about centimeters worth of range for the tag to be read - think the bumps in the road are causing your ghost reads?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya, it could be. Moving the NFC tag worked.

[Q] Charging & NFC Sounds

Hello,
I have looked around but can't find an answer to a little setting I'm looking for.
Is there a way to enable a sound when I plug in to charge (or place on wireless charger)? I'd like to know that I have put my phone in the right spot on the charger. Edit: Found an app for this. Seems to work fine, but it's not native.
Also, I have a case that has a flip that goes around the back. I have my mastercard in the wallet part of the case, but when it's near the back of the phone, the phone makes the NFC noise. I tried disabling android beam but it still makes the noise as it is reading the card. Is there a way to turn off this sound without disabling NFC?
I apologise if I didn't look hard enough for the answers! I tried, I swear!
Thanks
brezzo said:
Hello,
I have looked around but can't find an answer to a little setting I'm looking for.
Is there a way to enable a sound when I plug in to charge (or place on wireless charger)? I'd like to know that I have put my phone in the right spot on the charger. Edit: Found an app for this. Seems to work fine, but it's not native.
Also, I have a case that has a flip that goes around the back. I have my mastercard in the wallet part of the case, but when it's near the back of the phone, the phone makes the NFC noise. I tried disabling android beam but it still makes the noise as it is reading the card. Is there a way to turn off this sound without disabling NFC?
I apologise if I didn't look hard enough for the answers! I tried, I swear!
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My Nexus 5 and 4 both make a noise when i plug them in or place them on a wireless charger... always loved that fact tbh. Nexus 7 does it too it think.
They switch the screen on for a quick second too

Categories

Resources