Preventing distractions when using navigator - General Topics

I use my Android phone as navigator (with OsmAnd, Navfree, or Google Maps apps usually). While free navigator apps turn Android phone into a decent Navigating device, there is an annoying feature. Other apps (such as WhatsApp) open popup windows above navigation window while I'm driving. Getting back to navigation screen really distracts my driving. Have any of you figured out a solution to staying on navigation window uniterrupted? Ideas appreciated.

I know it is terribly relevant to right now, but Google is developing Android Auto (search for it, I can't put links here yet ) which will have this feature I believe. They will stop any other app from interfering whilst in driving mode. Until then I think you will just have to disable notifications app by app.

Have you tried Blocking Mode? (It's a stock option)

Related

[APP] [UPDATED] KeepAwake v1.1 - make apps prevent standby

Here is an application to make specific programs(like ebook reader,SatNav etc) prevent standby when they are running. It will watch them even when they are in background, so be careful, if you just forget them running in the background, your phone will not go into standby. (v1.1 change: now you can disable background watch by checking "monitor active window only")
Installation:
1- Just install the latest cab file onto Device Memory and NOT Storage Memory.
2- You need .NETCF 3.5, if you don't have it, install it.
Usage:
1- If you will use background watching, find the executable name from Task Manager/Processes, drop .exe part, type it into textbox and click add. (AdobeReaderLE.exe -> AdobeReaderLE)
1a- If you want to watch only the active window (so that your battery doesn't drain if you minimize the whitelist app) Find the window title of the application (Either task manager/applications or just look at the title if it is not hidden) and insert it as above. (Adobe Reader LE this time) you can have both versions live together. There is one limitation to active application watching though, if the application doesn't report a window title in task manager, you can only background watch it. (e.g. htcreader)
2- if you want to remove a certain app, select its name and click remove button.
3- if you want to have KeepAwake open but still not active (to force into standby) click stop.
4- this app autostarts with each boot, if you don't like it, delete the shortcut under \Windows\Startup\KeepAwake.lnk
5- this app starts minimized. if you want to configure settings, select the icon one more time or switch to it using a task manager.
6- if you click quit, obviously the software quits and no more monitoring is done, so click X after configuring if you want it to monitor your apps.
7- if you want to turn off screen and lock keys (for listening to music maybe) you can click the lock button. If your app is running, the phone will still stay awake.
Tips:
1- You can map KeepAwake to a hardware button for easy access and screen locking.
Credits:
Thanks goes to Frank T. van de Ven for ProcessCE library.
Thanks a lot to DaveShaw for letting me use xdaShutdown application.
I'm pretty excited about this... I've been looking for something exactly like this to prevent specific standby times.
I hope it works with most of the applications I have in mind.
Any bugs? Would you guys find it useful to have a lock button so that it turns off the screen and locks keys but still keeps the device awake? I have implemented this for the latest version I'm using (to have my GPS logger going but preventing accidental touch on screen and keys.) Or is it better to keep it simple?
Will this also prevent Windows MSN not to idle which will cause lost connection too?
Sorry, I'm new to the WinMo scene, just saw this on Pocketnews. Let me get this straight, will this work for apps that run in the bg that don't close out IE:
Facebook
Google Maps
Email
Albums
etc.?
because they slow down my phone, I want to close them out completely, not run them in the background so they can take up valuable resources.
espaleena said:
Will this also prevent Windows MSN not to idle which will cause lost connection too?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't specifically tried MSN app, but I see no reason it shouldn't work.
Raadius said:
Sorry, I'm new to the WinMo scene, just saw this on Pocketnews. Let me get this straight, will this work for apps that run in the bg that don't close out IE:
Facebook
Google Maps
Email
Albums
etc.?
because they slow down my phone, I want to close them out completely, not run them in the background so they can take up valuable resources.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you need a task manager so that you can close apps. This one is for making certain apps prevent the phone go standby.
ozkaya said:
Any bugs? Would you guys find it useful to have a lock button so that it turns off the screen and locks keys but still keeps the device awake? I have implemented this for the latest version I'm using (to have my GPS logger going but preventing accidental touch on screen and keys.) Or is it better to keep it simple?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't given this a try yet, but any more additions are welcomed! This is something I've been looking for. I think it might be nice to give a way to put settings per application for standby perhaps (like some applications don't let the device go to stand by for 3 minutes, others are like 30 miuntes, etc). I think having't the screen off is a good addition, but keeping the device working is good, so things like voice recorder can work without having the screen on.
Seems to work well for IM services.
I haven't tested it completely for Opera and internet-browsing programs.
Nevertheless, this is a great idea.
new version is up..
What about on option... KEEP IT ON ? (Like LOCK)
This option would simply keep the phone ON, if the application is running in background even if we haven't listed anything
Is it possible? Maybe it's already included?
Thank you
Great app !
It doesn't work on my HD2. Youtube is running and my device locks and stops YT...
Any ideas??
Zepiii said:
What about on option... KEEP IT ON ? (Like LOCK)
This option would simply keep the phone ON, if the application is running in background even if we haven't listed anything
Is it possible? Maybe it's already included?
Thank you
Great app !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought about that but later decided that not many people would find it useful. if enough request comes, I will add it. In the meantime, you might just add an always running app like device or cprog into list manually when you want to keep it on always. or just minimize an app in the whitelist
Quider said:
It doesn't work on my HD2. Youtube is running and my device locks and stops YT...
Any ideas??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's odd. I just tried and Youtube keeps itself open while playing a video for me even without this app. (Locks on the search screen) But still, KeepAwake seems to detect it when it is running. After installing have you clicked on the icon to run KeepAwake? Then minimized it by clicking on X? Have you tried another app, like Adobe Reader for instance? Is youtube minimized or active?
Hi,
Will this application disable lock option on device while using some application - eg. iGO Navigation?
Thanks
mdzepinajr said:
Hi,
Will this application disable lock option on device while using some application - eg. iGO Navigation?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
as long as you don't lock it yourself, yes, it won't be locked.
Very nice app...much thanks!
The app works for eReader on my Omni II running 6.3 One word of caution I have the x= app closed option turned on so the x shuts down keepAwake. It took me some time to figure out I was closing the app not minimizing it.
How would I go about disabling the standby while in a call? What's the name of the application I need to put in there? I'd like to use it so the sleep during call doesn't stop the call recording utility from working, but I still would like the screen turning off when keeping the phone at the ear.
Doesn't work on touch pro2
The software breaks error when we try to add software to the list, only with the program in background it goes to sleep anyways. It's a good idea, but not there yet...

Questions

Just picked up a Radar, moving from two years of Android. Hoping I could get some help on the following questions:
1) Does WiFi turn off when the phone sleeps? If so, is this a changeable setting?
2) I'm having trouble getting GoVoice to notify me. I've gone through all the setup numerous times. I leave myself a voicemail and I don't get notified. If I click the app, it refreshes, vibrates and gives me the new message.
3) Is there a way to bypass the initial lockscreen when using password lock?
4) Is there a way to have the Maps app voice direct me automatically, or I have to touch the screen?
5) Can the maps app navigate if it isn't in the foreground?
6) How do I truly close an app? Like when I run Slacker and stop using it, it still displays on the lock screen.
7) Is there really a difference in the find my phone functionality turning off push vs sms?
THANKS
bump..........
1) Does WiFi turn off when the phone sleeps? If so, is this a changeable setting?
Yes it turns off. Not changeable.
2) I'm having trouble getting GoVoice to notify me. I've gone through all the setup numerous times. I leave myself a voicemail and I don't get notified. If I click the app, it refreshes, vibrates and gives me the new message.
Dont use it, but did you contact the app developer?
3) Is there a way to bypass the initial lockscreen when using password lock?
No, it's more secure than Android bypasses.
4) Is there a way to have the Maps app voice direct me automatically, or I have to touch the screen?
Not bing maps. There are alternatives.
5) Can the maps app navigate if it isn't in the foreground?
Not sure it can. It will refresh to your current position when you go back to it.
6) How do I truly close an app? Like when I run Slacker and stop using it, it still displays on the lock screen.
Back, back, back, back till you go to home screen.
7) Is there really a difference in the find my phone functionality turning off push vs sms?
I would leave all of those settings as 'on' as that maximizes my chances of finding my phone.
hah2110 said:
Just picked up a Radar, moving from two years of Android. Hoping I could get some help on the following questions:
1) Does WiFi turn off when the phone sleeps? If so, is this a changeable setting?
2) I'm having trouble getting GoVoice to notify me. I've gone through all the setup numerous times. I leave myself a voicemail and I don't get notified. If I click the app, it refreshes, vibrates and gives me the new message.
3) Is there a way to bypass the initial lockscreen when using password lock?
4) Is there a way to have the Maps app voice direct me automatically, or I have to touch the screen?
5) Can the maps app navigate if it isn't in the foreground?
6) How do I truly close an app? Like when I run Slacker and stop using it, it still displays on the lock screen.
7) Is there really a difference in the find my phone functionality turning off push vs sms?
THANKS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For WiFi, if you are streaming music with one of the Pandora apps (MetroRadio or RemoteConrolled), it will continue to play using WiFi.
Try pinning the GoVoice app. Not sure if it will help or if you already did this. If you are in an area with no coverage when the notification is sent, you might miss it. Then you will need to launch the app and refresh. GoVoice could be modified to check this with a background process that would run every 30 minutes. It may already do that.
As far as closing apps. For music, I usually just pause it. It will eventually be inactive. Unlike Android, apps are actually suspended when put in the background. If music is paused it isn't streaming, so it isn't doing any work.
If you really want the processes cleaned up. Back, Back, Back, ...
Maps don't update in the background. In fact GPS can't be accessed in the background. But, the GPS works fast in the foreground.
Faster way to close the app out it hold the back button, select the window that has the app like slacker, when app comes up, hit back.
Not to say you can't do it, but I wouldn't worry about closing apps. On Android you needed to as they would suck your phone dry with unruly processes and poor management. With windows phone its a suspended action unless streaming something. So in the case of slacker, or any other music player, once you hit "pause" its a stopped process. It isn't using resources, and will eventually be kicked out.
The WP system will manage it on its own and boot out old processes to make room for things if its finding that it needs to.
Bump........
hah2110 said:
Bump........
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It looks like all of your questions have been answered.
Is there a specific question that still needs answering?
If not, there is no point in bumping.
If so, please state the specific question / questions that you still need answered.

Problems/Questions with the Here App

Hey guys,
I tried to navigate with the Here app on my s3 classic a few times now. However, it only works when the GPS on my phone is turned on. Is there any way to navigate with the built-in GPS of the watch?
Besides, I have a second problem with the Here App. When I start a navigation on the Smartphone with here, the app also starts on the watch. But instead of starting the navigation, it just shows me my current location. Is this usual?
Yep, would love a single thing;
1. I start navigation on the phone ( A pity that Here does not use my contacts)
2. show the left, right, etc arrow on my gear.
3. Speak te direction.
Thats all
HUIB

Question; app running in foreground but screen locked

Guys,
I am using Waze app to navigate around town, but since I have installed android 7.0 on my S7, the app closes after a while when I lock the screen. I use this for when I ride my motorcycle. I use earphones to listen to the instructions that the app gives me, I do not however want my screen to be turned on and unlocked when the phone is in my pocket. Do you guys have any idea how to prevent Waze from closing whenever I lock the screen?
Thanks in advance
You could try adding Waze to the "Unmonitored apps" in Settings > Device Maintenance > Battery > (Scroll to the bottom) > Unmonitored Apps > Add Apps
See if that prevents Nougat from automatically killing it
This sadly didn't work for me, appreciate your time though
This could be a Nougat specific thing, I know people have complained that leaving multiple apps in the background as recent apps results in Nougat closing all but 6 of them, with no way to prevent it, might be worth giving Samsung a shout on Twitter, or contact Waze devs to see if they have a workaround
Good luck
I am going to contact waze about this. If anyone in the meantime strumbles up on a solution or possible workaround, please keep me posted!

Question Problem with maps+android drive app

Having a problem that while navigating with Google maps on Note 20 phone, watch 4 displays turn-by-turn. When I try to navigate away from the turn-by-turn on the watch 4 (because I'm using maps on the phone while driving with phone in a dock) maps stops navigation on the phone as well. Only thing I can think of is to unpair the watch while navigating but that defeats the purpose of having all the other notifs that I like on the watch and typically forget to re-pair the watch after stopping navigation.
Go to Google Maps on your watch, go to setting, auto-launch and deactivate driving.
fsvancim said:
Go to Google Maps on your watch, go to setting, auto-launch and deactivate driving.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much. I kept looking through the Maps app on the phone thinking it was something in the phone app since the phone app was the one disconnecting. Also took me forever to even find the settings in the watch app since it's hidden in the "search" menu.

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