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I used to like keeping gps on even if I'm not using it, so that in case my phone gets lost or stolen, I can track it down. But sometimes I check my home screen and see that gps is active (the icon in the notification bar) although I'm not running any apps (even in the background) that would require a gps fix.
So my question is, is there an app out there (or is it possible to develop such an app) that would keep logs of what apps or services are using the gps, so that I can track down the app using it?
It would also be useful to find out if there are any apps 'calling home' without my knowledge, and draining my battery in the process.
So..any suggestions???
Just a shameless bump...come on, no one has heard of such an app or thinks it would be useful??
I use Tasker for automating a lot of redundant tasks on my phone. I figured I would post a couple I'm using with hope that others will share with me some stuff they use it for.
action: Docked.
Tasks done when docked: Bluetooth on, wifi off, gps on, auto brightness set off [if time < 1800, Display Brightness set to 255 if time < 1800, pandora set on.
exit tasks: Bluetooth off, auto brightness on if TIME < 1800, pandora set off, gps off.
Action open Application Maps/Nav or any gps app.
Tasks done: GPS on
exit tasks done: GPS off.
action: phone face down
Tasks done: airplane mode on if time < 2200, all sounds off except for alarm
exit tasks: airplane mode off, all sounds revert to previous settings.
these 3 i use, if you have any others let me know. If you need help with the program let me know too.
here is where you can grab tasker.
http://tasker.dinglisch.net/
Sounds something that I would definitly use. I beleive its a paid app, but still worth it. I'll look into it. Does it have settings for wifi e.g.- 1 touch WIFI on, because i'm using the stock wifi on/of toggle but I then have to go into wifi settings and actually see my phone connecting to my network in order for i to work and turn on.... ??????
Yeah there are settings for connecting to wifi. Mine does it automatically when I get home based on the gps. Works most of the time, had to turn it on manually a couple times because the gps wasn't on.
generic.imitation said:
Action open Application Maps/Nav or any gps app.
Tasks done: GPS on
exit tasks done: GPS off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you set up an OR for the app launch context? I'm trying to get it to turn on GPS when I open Maps, Foursquare, Yelp, or Places, but it doesn't let me multi-select apps and if I add a context, Application isn't there.
Make it separate tasks.
make 1 for each app.
Foursquare - turn on gps. Turn off gps when exit.
Ect.
also, I guess there is a wiki with a bunch of samples I guess. I'm out at a remote beach on northern oahu right now, but if someone doesn't post it before me I'll post the link when I get home.
generic.imitation said:
Make it separate tasks.
make 1 for each app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, that's what I've been doing. It'd just be nice if you could have conditionals in the context. IF Yelp OR Foursquare OR Maps OR Places then ...
Post over there and make a feature request, they should put that in I agree .
Just bought Tasker and so far I like it. Can't seem to figure out how to do the following task though.
I need to set to static IP when on a certain wifi connection. I already have the IP set and the only thing that will need to be done is to toggle the static IP checkbox in the advanced setting of wifi. I know how to specify the wifi network but how can I make it toggle that checkbox/setting?
Thanks for any info.
i made a simple widget to toggle the screen brightness to two preset brightens for inside and direct sunlight.
i could not find an app that let me choose the brightness, they either made it full dark/bright.
i can't work out however to toggle a different widget icon to indicate on/off...
i've tried set icon but with no luck
its not really needed but would be good to have/know for future apps
also, can anyone explain how the HTTP (get info from net) works?
i want to try a few things but not really sure how it works
This app is the best app on the market... hands down. #Win
generic.imitation said:
Yeah there are settings for connecting to wifi. Mine does it automatically when I get home based on the gps. Works most of the time, had to turn it on manually a couple times because the gps wasn't on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should use "wifi near" as a condition instead of "gps". That way it just toggles you wifi on and off periodically and if it is near... it will connect.
Gps is so demanding on the battery... and not always accurate... as you see
I set mine up so whenever I plug in my headphones my music app opens
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
ichigopow said:
I set mine up so whenever I plug in my headphones my music app opens
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I set my heaphones the same.. but at the same time, it cuts my media volume up (in case it was down) and when I unplug them... it returns my media volume back to it's previous value
MrDanger said:
I set my heaphones the same.. but at the same time, it cuts my media volume up (in case it was down) and when I unplug them... it returns my media volume back to it's previous value
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do the same except my volume goes down when I plug them in so I don't have music blaring in my ears.
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
I also have a profile that texts my gf a random message at a random time that is between 7:30 am and 7:40 am (so she don't think it's automated lol) every morning. I got that idea from LexusBrian
Again.. great app!
Here was I have got going on with tasker.
Car dock: gps on, bluetooth on, display always on, notification volume off. On exit they all do the opposite.
When home: wifi on. Exit wifi goes off.
At work: phone goes to vibrate for everything.
10pm to 545am: phone goes quiet.
I second it a best app ever. Wifi, gps, and bluetooth are never on when I don't need em. Come on you can't beat that. What a battery saver.
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
Tasker is an incredibly handy utility.
Here's the profiles I use:
GPSonForLocationApps - I think this one has already been covered by this thread.
WifiOnAtHome - I use the wifi near option... although I think it's causing issues with my 3G signal... it will occasionally turn on wifi to check if I'm at home which seems to turn off 3G. Still playing with this one.
LowVolumeDuringWorkHours - sets various volumes appropriately so I can still hear stuff but doesn't annoy folks working near by. I turn this on/off based on day of week and time of day. Upon exiting this profile it returns my volumes back to normal.
NoficationsOffAtNight - I turn off notifications at night and if my phone is plugged into AC.
SilentForMeetings - if I have a calendar entry where I'm marked as busy it turns my phone to silent mode.
Openwatch?
Hello
I am new to Tasker, and I'm starting to understand exactly how much you can do. Uses open watch a lot and have done a lot of settings to make my clock better. But I wonder if I can get messages from one app to my watch. The app is an ice hockey results service. And each time it becomes a goal, I get it as income message in the status bar. But can I get the message in the clock at the same time? Right now I just get a message in the watch which I've written, but would like it says in the status bar so you do not I pick up the phone to look at the result. Is there perhaps a few codes to enter, instead of my message is? Hope you understand me?
I have mine set to enable WiFi when I connect to a certain cell tower. Keeps the drain on my batter to nothing more than it was already at, and GPS is only enabled for about 5 minutes to and from the house. I'm sure the drain for that combined 10 minutes is much less than periodically checking the GPS or if a network is near.
I am turning off gps when I get to my home cell tower and turning on my wifi at the same time.
For my multimedia apps like pandora, I have my screen stay on when plugged to a power source.
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
After a week or so with the Captivate, one thing that bugs me is that when putting google maps in the background by pressing the home key-in other words, trying to multitask...it stops the gps. When going back to maps it has to regain a lock again..no small task for the captivate. Is there any way to "force" the app not to hibernate when in the background? This also happens if the backlight goes out. Very poor rendition of multitasking, unless I'm missing something
It is done so to conserv battery power. It is by design of GMaps. Keep a satellite lock consumes a lot of juice. Since you're not even look at the map when it is in the background or screen turns off, why waste your battery juice?
Some apps, like Google's My Track app will keep satellite lock on when it is recording your track even if you put the app to background or turn the screen off. That makes sense.
If the GPS on Captivate works properly, it should take no more than 10 seconds to re-accquire the lock. No big deal for other normal working Android phones.
Also, if you use the Navigation feature of Google Maps, it'll continue tracking you with the screen off.
I usually only use Maps to look for things, then I'll use Navigation if I'm actually using it for directions.
If you have the get position test app in LBSTestMode running in the background first before you run maps, it will keep the GPS locked on. I have a shortcut to open LBSTestMode.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
copilot live is only $5 through the market, it will keep the GPS running in the background, also allows you to download maps per region, so no churning through dataplans... its nice, a little buggy getting it setup... but tracks perfectly on my froyo captivate
Tracker Booster keeps the gps running in the background, as does mytracks and LBStestmode, as was mentioned
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897
Thanks for the quick replies guys. Makes sense I suppose..what is the "get position test app in LBStestmode"? Sorry for the newb question
Gingerbread doesn't allow apps to turn on/off GPS anymore (CM still does but it's missing some features for my device that I can't live without). Only system apps can do this these days.
As I use Tasker to automate a lot of stuff this quite sucks. I tried making Tasker a system app but the latest version still refuses to toggle GPS.
Thus my request: Could someone please create 2 tiny apps that just turn GPS on/off that can be moved to system and used by other apps to toggle that setting?
Why do you need to do that?
Just keep gps on, it doesn't do anything while it's not in use by some app. In particular, it doesn't contribute to battery drain while inactive.
some apps use GPS while in background, e.g. Google Maps. So having GPS enabled does drain the battery
XlAfbk said:
some apps use GPS while in background, e.g. Google Maps. So having GPS enabled does drain the battery
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Strange, I don't think I've ever seen that happen. The only time I see the GPS in use indicator on my notification bar is when an app like maps, my tracks etc is in the foreground. Just checked that as soon as I switch away from maps by hitting the home button, the GPS indicator vanishes.
Sent from my COS-DS using XDA App
XlAfbk said:
some apps use GPS while in background, e.g. Google Maps. So having GPS enabled does drain the battery
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
drbobb is right. Having GPS enabled does not mean that the actual hardware is on all the time. It merely means that android will allow apps to use it, at which point the GPS hardware will become active. So having it "ON" is just a permission thing.
If you are worried about GPS background apps (really Maps does that? I will surely test this), then I would highly recommend LBE Privacy Guard. Set the app up in such a way that Maps will need to ask you for permission to switch on GPS hardware. I tried this with the android browser because it uses GPS when you start it at google.com. Works like a charm!
well, it is as it is. this thread is not intended as a discussion thread about whether someone thinks disabling GPS is unneccessary. it's a request for an app that just turns on GPS and quits.
I would like to disable the ability to disable the GPS in the phones for use with an "invisible fence" app.
I don't care if the toggle in the notification area goes off or on, but I would like the phone to enable GPS on bootup, and just keep it on regardless.
Any ideas?
Why would you want it to stay on? It is a huge battery hog.
voldomart13 said:
Why would you want it to stay on? It is a huge battery hog.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mrcpu said:
I would like to disable the ability to disable the GPS in the phones for use with an "invisible fence" app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think I was pretty clear in the original post.
WTF is an invisible fence app??
and any app that requires GPS, will use GPS as needed. OLD Facebook app version for example, as long as it was on your screen, GPS was constantly locking. But it would kill the battery in less than 2 hours from full charge. so the facebook app changed the gps to lock once every so often, while the app is open on screen.
Other apps run a background service to access GPS at a set or random interval. Google Latitude for example. Not on screen, but will check-in or update location when-ever.
As you see the APP needs to have the set permissions, and options selected.
and in the end. your battery is dead in 2 hours with what you *think* you want
TRusselo said:
WTF is an invisible fence app??
and any app that requires GPS, will use GPS as needed. OLD Facebook app version for example, as long as it was on your screen, GPS was constantly locking. But it would kill the battery in less than 2 hours from full charge. so the facebook app changed the gps to lock once every so often, while the app is open on screen.
Other apps run a background service to access GPS at a set or random interval. Google Latitude for example. Not on screen, but will check-in or update location when-ever.
As you see the APP needs to have the set permissions, and options selected.
and in the end. your battery is dead in 2 hours with what you *think* you want
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is not correct. (at least on the apex rom I'm running).
If you turn off the GPS in settings (not using the toggle on the notification bar), then fire up google maps, the first thing it does is tell you that not all the options for locating the user are turned on, and to go to settings and turn on GPS.
I recall reading somewhere that Google disabled the ability for apps to turn the GPS on and off. They could query it if it was enabled, but couldn't turn it on if it was off.
If the user can turn it off in settings, then that defeats the purpose. I want the GPS on all the time, regardless of settings.
I don't care about battery life, I have 4 captivates in this house, I am well aware of their capabilities and limitations. And I don't really care if you think it's a good idea or not, all I'm asking is if anybody knows of a way.
there is a difference between switching GPS "on" and having GPS activated or locking signal.
in the android settings or with any toogle app, you can turn GPS on or off.
I have it ON 24/7, I bet you do too.
you turn GPS "on", so apps CAN use/activate it if they try to.
you turn GPS "off" to prevent apps from using it, thus reducing battery drain and increasing security.
having GPS on 24/7 doesn't do crap to battery, it depends on the apps, and how they are programmed to use GPS, and if they were programmed to work like you want, they would work like I SAID.
there have been apps that used GPS like you suggested. THEY GOT FIXED. you really dont understand how fast it drains the battery.
and i dont mean to offend, but you also dont understand how the apps interact with the GPS.
Originally Posted by mrcpu
I would like to disable the ability to disable the GPS in the phones for use with an "invisible fence" app.
I think I was pretty clear in the original post.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. You weren't, WHAT THE FRICK an invisible fence app? and how does using the LARGE font help?
house full of captivates? did your dad get a family plan?