Hi,
I hadnt seen this mentioned elsehwhere (apologies if I have missed it). The new location icon in 4.4 seems to only appear if I choose 'high acuracy' or 'device only' in locatin settings It does not appear if I choose 'battery saving'. To me this makes it look like its an indication of GPS being active even though google have said it does not mean this. Can anyone confirm they agree with me?
My second point is that there is now no way to know from a status bar icon if GPS is locked on or not. Having the 4.3 GPS icon flashing when obtaining a lock and solid once locked on was much better. That way I know for sure that GPS is being used and I know for sure when its locked on.
This is required for mapping and navigation apps to know if your location is accurate.
With 4.4 you see a location icon but for all you know the GPS may NOT be locked and your locatoin could be using less accurate wifi/mobile location.
Its another example (like the data upload/download arrows) of google dumbing down the interface and making it less usable. And lets face it, most people understand thet GPS needs a lock, who drives along using a SatNav without waiting for it to lock on!!
Lets hope a CM ROM can give us back something useful.
Scott
No one else find this a problem?
Scott
Sorry, I don't have a solution.
I just wanted to mention that I'm having the same problem.
How am I supposed to know that I got an accurate GPS lock if the icon stays the same all the time?
I think google messed up on this part.
The location icon next to the time and such is a GPS icon as it only shows up when GPS is active. If you are doing WIFI or 3G location it doesn't show up and isn't active so if it's there then it's because GPS is being used.
shotta35 said:
The location icon next to the time and such is a GPS icon as it only shows up when GPS is active. If you are doing WIFI or 3G location it doesn't show up and isn't active so if it's there then it's because GPS is being used.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google documentation says the location icon means your location is being used and it is NOT an indication of just GPS (ie could be gps or wifi/mobile location) however that is clearly wrong as you say. It only seems to appear when GPS wants to be used.
My point is that the icon does seem to only appear when GPS is in use however it does NOT indicate if GPS is locked or not. That is the real problem. we now cannot see when we have a GPS lock.
Please see
http://code.google.com/p/android/is...ps&colspec=ID Type Status Owner Summary Stars
Scott
There're apps that will show you gps lock
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eclipsim.gpsstatus2&hl=es
bloot said:
There're apps that will show you gps lock
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eclipsim.gpsstatus2&hl=es
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course there are. But that's no use, we need a GPS locked icon in the status bar. An app is no use because as soon as I switch from the app to Google maps then I still can't see if GPS is locked.
At the moment each individual app would now have to implement some way of showing us in GPS is locked when we used to just rely on the status bar icon.
I would gather it wouldn't be to hard to port over the icon handling from JB. Edits to android.policy, framework-res and systemUI would be needed.
At first I cared about the topic, but the gps on the n5 smokes my previous devices. I obsessed over the gps for about a week after getting the n5. With gps status app I get 13of21 locked in 6 seconds or less all the time. First device I've had where I don't have to coax the gps into working with an app or some conf edit. Took me a couple weeks to learn about being able to long press location quick settings tile to toggle on/off.
good day.
With xposed and gravity mod the GPS lock/nolock icon can be seen when pulling down the tiles so that's pretty good.
I'll look out for an exposed mod that sticks the icon back in the status bar.
Annoying that Google removed it though.
I also don't understand why so much fuss was made by google and the reviewers about the kitkat location settings. They are just the same as JB but named differently, ie WiFi/mobile location is now named something like 'battery saving location'. The end result is still the same options, namely GPS only, WiFi/mobile only, or both GPS and WiFi/mobile.
scott_doyland said:
Of course there are. But that's no use, we need a GPS locked icon in the status bar. An app is no use because as soon as I switch from the app to Google maps then I still can't see if GPS is locked.
At the moment each individual app would now have to implement some way of showing us in GPS is locked when we used to just rely on the status bar icon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In fact you can, install the app I pointed and when opening Maps it will show you a gps lock notification.
bloot said:
In fact you can, install the app I pointed and when opening Maps it will show you a gps lock notification.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi. I think we are both 50% right. A gps icon is displayed as you say, I wasn't aware of this, however it doesn't seem to alter between a locked/unlocked icon.
You can pull down the status bar to see if its locked though just as you can with the exposed gravity mod.
scott_doyland said:
Hi. I think we are both 50% right. A gps icon is displayed as you say, I wasn't aware of this, however it doesn't seem to alter between a locked/unlocked icon.
You can pull down the status bar to see if its locked though just as you can with the exposed gravity mod.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes its kinda different but that's enough for me at least.
scott_doyland said:
Hi. I think we are both 50% right. A gps icon is displayed as you say, I wasn't aware of this, however it doesn't seem to alter between a locked/unlocked icon.
You can pull down the status bar to see if its locked though just as you can with the exposed gravity mod.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi - I'm also annoyed by this - the best solution I have found so far is to use GPS monitor - it has a statusbar icon which tells you how many sats you are fixed to, and more importantly the icon is red when you don't have a lock and goes green when you do.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.illyrium.tools.gpsmonitor&hl=en
Related
Hello-
I have noticed that the GPS icon randomly appears in the status bar when using non-GPS related apps. I cannot find an exact pattern, but I've seen the icon appear when answering a phone call, accessing gmail, unlocking the phone, etc. The GPS icon appears for 2-3 seconds and then disappears (never really locks on).
Under location services, I have:
- Google's location service [not checked]
- GPS satellites [checked]
- Location & Google search [not checked]
Anyone else see similar behavior on ICS?
btappan
You would be surprised how many apps can use GPS for location. If you don't want it to show up disable GPS and use cell towers for rough location. It won't lock if you don't have good GPS signal or if you're indoors.
Anyway this is normal behaviour.
This could be a dumb post, but a couple days ago this circular symbol appeared in the top left-hand corner, in the notifications bar. It looks like an indicator that GPS is running, but why did it appear and not go away for 2 days now? Also, disabling GPS and Google location doesn't make it go away. WTH? Lol
I am on the newest update, 77.8.14.
yogi2010 said:
This could be a dumb post, but a couple days ago this circular symbol appeared in the top left-hand corner, in the notifications bar. It looks like an indicator that GPS is running, but why did it appear and not go away for 2 days now? Also, disabling GPS and Google location doesn't make it go away. WTH? Lol
I am on the newest update, 77.8.14.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not GPS...
GPS looks like a target. The icon you are questioning about looks like a wrench...
You don't see anything when you pull down the notification bar...? Did you install any new apps recently? That is odd for sure.
arrrghhh said:
That's not GPS...
GPS looks like a target. The icon you are questioning about looks like a wrench...
You don't see anything when you pull down the notification bar...? Did you install any new apps recently? That is odd for sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah ok, there is no indication of it when i pull down the notification bar, and when i clear all notifications, the symbol does not go away.
I was in an area the other day that had lousy service, and i've noticed this device does not seem to handle that situation well, in terms of reconnecting when there is service, etc. Not sure if it is related to that or not.
Definitely odd, this is my first time seeing that symbol. I'm trying to think of any new apps i might have installed... i did update about 16 apps the other day, it must be one of those...
yogi2010 said:
Ah ok, there is no indication of it when i pull down the notification bar, and when i clear all notifications, the symbol does not go away.
I was in an area the other day that had lousy service, and i've noticed this device does not seem to handle that situation well, in terms of reconnecting when there is service, etc. Not sure if it is related to that or not.
Definitely odd, this is my first time seeing that symbol. I'm trying to think of any new apps i might have installed... i did update about 16 apps the other day, it must be one of those...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried restarting the phone?
I haven't seen that symbol before, but I can call tell ya that's not GPS
arrrghhh said:
Have you tried restarting the phone?
I haven't seen that symbol before, but I can call tell ya that's not GPS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually figured out what it was! You got me thinking about apps, and 1 of the 16 i updated the other day was Notification Toggle. For some reason this time it put that symbol up there by default after the update. I always had it turned off so i had never seen it before
Its the sprInt zone update notification
It's definitely the Notification Toggle app.. when i freeze that app the symbol goes away. And i don't even have Sprint Zone installed
Yup, That is notification toggle. One of the more recent updates changed the notification bar behavior options, and reset the icon. Under settings for the app you can change the icon style, there is a transparent option if you don't want it to show at all, otherwise there's various battery icon styles that will tell you exact battery %.
Sent from my XT897 using xda app-developers app
Sorry if this has been asked before, but where is the gps settings/toggle? For the life of me I can't find it. I just wanted to turn off the gps, to see if my battery life would get any better.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Settings->location->mode.
I choose battery saver unless I'm navigating.
Sent from my Nexus 5
phositadc said:
Settings->location->mode.
I choose battery saver unless I'm navigating.
Sent from my Nexus 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So there's no separate gps toggle then?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
pardoned said:
So there's no separate gps toggle then?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty sure that's the only one.
Sent from my Nexus 5
pardoned said:
Sorry if this has been asked before, but where is the gps settings/toggle? For the life of me I can't find it. I just wanted to turn off the gps, to see if my battery life would get any better.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
go to your quick settings (notification center, icon to the right (where wifi, settings and battery are located) and there you see a location icon. pres it once to go to the location settings, long press for activate/deactivate. (it sure as hell switches location and therefore gps off, but if you are connected to wifi it gets the location from there)
danielvc said:
go to your quick settings (notification center, icon to the right (where wifi, settings and battery are located) and there you see a location icon. pres it once to go to the location settings, long press for activate/deactivate. (it sure as hell switches location and therefore gps off, but if you are connected to wifi it gets the location from there)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THANK YOU, Daniel! I had wondering the same thing ...
Bob V
no gps toggle in nexus 5 ((
Hello guys,
Wow, this is a bit of a pain.
In the past you could still have some location accessing when your gps was off, and one quick tap in notifications would toggle it. Now it seems you have to go to a menu. The notification toggle widgets Ive tried do not toggle the "Location Mode", which is what I would like... the way it used to turn GPS off was to change location mode from High Accuracy to Battery Saving.
Odd how on occasion features like this are changed for the worse... almost like some engineer thought it a good idea, but isnt someone whe wants to goggle gps quickly and easily, like when driving!!
danielvc said:
go to your quick settings (notification center, icon to the right (where wifi, settings and battery are located) and there you see a location icon. pres it once to go to the location settings, long press for activate/deactivate. (it sure as hell switches location and therefore gps off, but if you are connected to wifi it gets the location from there)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are rooted you can use gravity box to add the old gps icon in the quick settings panel.
Scyke said:
If you are rooted you can use gravity box to add the old gps icon in the quick settings panel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi
Thanks for the reply.
I am rooted, and I do have a notification widget which has the old icon, but it either does nothing, or takes me to the setting where I still have to choose which mode of location detecting i want to use...
What is gravity box, it seems to be a game
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.GravityBox&hl=en
cheers
Mark.
Solution found!
Hello guys,
Ok, so if you are rooted:
1/ Install Notification Toggle (and customise it to have the toggles you want, including GPS)
2/ install /system/app mover
3/ run system app mover and choose to convert Notification Toggle to a system app.
you reboot your phone and now you can toggle the gps between High Accuracy and Battery Saving... EXACTLY as it was in the past.
Whew.
Mark.
fredphoesh said:
Hi
Thanks for the reply.
I am rooted, and I do have a notification widget which has the old icon, but it either does nothing, or takes me to the setting where I still have to choose which mode of location detecting i want to use...
What is gravity box, it seems to be a game
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.GravityBox&hl=en
cheers
Mark.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gravity box is a module that works with the xposed framework.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2316070
On a rooted phone power toggles will give you a direct gps toggle without any faffing about, other than granting it root access.
If you are not rooted you can use the stock android "power control" widget. It changes the mode from high accuracy to battery saving with one click. I'm waiting for power toggles to update!
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Building an app that requires full kiosk mode on a nexus 5. No access to or notifications from other applications, as well as hiding any system nag, tool bars.
I know kitkat now supports 'immersive mode' , but this isn't sufficient since the user still has access to other apps and the system menus.
Does anyone know of any application or system 'hack' that will allow kiosk mode on a Nexus5 device?
If you had no access to system bars then you would have no way of exiting the app.
prshosting.org
prsterero said:
If you had no access to system bars then you would have no way of exiting the app.
prshosting.org
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that is the point of having a "kiosk" device. One where its accessible to the public and they cant do anything but use the app that's opened. Much like the PC's at BestBuy / other retailers where they have the adverts / "check out these cool features" demo programs that you cant close out of.
You might be able to pull off something like that with a custom launcher but I don''t think there is way for a standard application to do that.
yes it IS possible
The only thing I haven't been able to do is hide the top icon bar with the wifi, battery level , clock icons viewable on a swipe down from top
Xposed mods
People have been modding away the Nav par all together and switching to pie controls etc. It's certainly possible.
bblzd said:
People have been modding away the Nav par all together and switching to pie controls etc. It's certainly possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you been able to remove the status bar? (My only remaining hurdle)
Did you ever resolve hiding the status/notification bar?
We have a thread already about Textra's send button not working properly because the app thinks you're tapping about a centimeter below it, but I've found similar glitches in other apps - FX File Explorer, for instance, has a menu at the top-right that pops up under the status bar. It seems to me these problems are being caused by apps somehow confusing the tap location by counting from the top of the screen instead of the bottom of the status bar. I'm guessing this has something to do with the fact that the phone *tries* as much as possible to get apps to draw to the top of the screen, under the status bar, and things go wrong when they won't. The most obvious fix, short of getting every developer to look into this or waiting for Essential to do something about it, would be to find a way to make the status bar work more traditionally, with apps not allowed to draw past the bottom of it. The question is, can we achieve that? I've had a look through the system/global/secure settings lists and nothing status bar related pops out at me there, so I'm thinking the next place to look is in the framework code, which I'll do this evening...but I thought I'd toss a thread up and see if anyone had other ideas.