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[Q] NFC on this phone?

So under settings I spot that I can enable NFC although when I try to install Google Wallet, it installs and upon opening I get told the app isn't approved for my country/carrier. I'm curious if there's any way to get Google Wallet to work (mind you, I have it installed but can't open. All solutions I've seen have been to get it installed). If Google Wallet doesn't work then what good is the NFC in the phone? What other uses can I find for it?

You can buy tags online, program them, and stick them all over the place. You can use an app like NFC Task Launcher to program them and assign tasks to different tags. For example, if you put one on your desk at top you can tap your phone to it and it will enable wifi, bluetooth, and turn your ringer on. If you put one in your car you can have it set the phone to silent, turn off wifi, etc etc

stnguyen09 said:
You can buy tags online, program them, and stick them all over the place. You can use an app like NFC Task Launcher to program them and assign tasks to different tags. For example, if you put one on your desk at top you can tap your phone to it and it will enable wifi, bluetooth, and turn your ringer on. If you put one in your car you can have it set the phone to silent, turn off wifi, etc etc
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Interesting. Thanks for the info. Kinda boring I can't use the Google Wallet though! Oh well. Now to try figuring why AT&T won't let me install a visual voicemail app.

Also (although I haven't tested,) Android Beam should work. I don't know too much about it, but you should be able to tap your phone to someone else's NFC-enabled Android phone and send them files.
I have no idea if this actually works though.

only Sprint has access to Google Wallet right now. AT&T, TMo and VZW are launching ISIS which is a competing service with a lot more options than one bank and one carrier...

craig0r said:
Also (although I haven't tested,) Android Beam should work. I don't know too much about it, but you should be able to tap your phone to someone else's NFC-enabled Android phone and send them files.
I have no idea if this actually works though.
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Yep, Android Beam works as well. Me and my friend with his Verizon Gnex did it and it worked beautifully.

Tasker to enable WiFi hotspot.

Hey, All.
Just trying to set up my Nexus 7 in my car and would like to have my phone enable the WiFi hotspot when it connects to the car's bluetooth. I can't seem to find a tasker plugin that is applicable, nor do I know how to write one from scratch.
Any suggestions on how to accomplish this?
Also, while I am at it, I am looking to have the Nexus enable car mode when it connects to my phone's WiFi. Assuming another tasker item, but again, not sure how to accomplish.
Thanks ahead of time for everyone's input.

JiantJon said:
Hey, All.
Just trying to set up my Nexus 7 in my car and would like to have my phone enable the WiFi hotspot when it connects to the car's bluetooth. I can't seem to find a tasker plugin that is applicable, nor do I know how to write one from scratch.
Any suggestions on how to accomplish this?
Also, while I am at it, I am looking to have the Nexus enable car mode when it connects to my phone's WiFi. Assuming another tasker item, but again, not sure how to accomplish.
Thanks ahead of time for everyone's input.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One heard about this IFTTT that enables android services in special conditions, are you looking for something like this?
Ciuffy's SM-G900F CM 12.1 spirit hath marked this way.

Ciuffy said:
One heard about this IFTTT that enables android services in special conditions, are you looking for something like this?
Ciuffy's SM-G900F CM 12.1 spirit hath marked this way.
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Click to collapse
I'll give that a shot. I remember trying that for something else in the past, it may be what I am looking for. (had forgotten about it). There is an app called AutoTether, but apparently it stopped working with 5.0.

JiantJon said:
I'll give that a shot. I remember trying that for something else in the past, it may be what I am looking for. (had forgotten about it). There is an app called AutoTether, but apparently it stopped working with 5.0.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No luck with IFTTT; it will only allow specific actions based on connecting, I can't make the phone change a setting, only do something like change my thermostat, or post to pintrest, etc.
Looks like I am still looking for Tasker help.

I have this in my car, have had it for a while now. Here's what I've done, choose which one that works for you:
In Tasker without any other app required, set your Car Mode profile to trigger a new task and you can group whatever else you want into it, but you're looking for Net ==> WiFi Tether ==> On
In Tasker with Secure Settings, do the same thing above but instead of Net, choose Plugins ==> Secure Settings ==> Configuration Edit Pencil ==> Actions ==>Wifi Hotspot ==> On
With each of those, set an exit task to do the opposites. Interestingly enough, all my Samsung devices worked just fine with either of those commands, but my Moto X Pure Edition did not like Secure Settings trying to get the hotspot activated and sent toast error messages. You can find one of those that will work, even if it doesn't work the first time - for example, neither worked with my MXPE at first, but with a reboot or some other magic going on, I got the first one with Tasker only to work and not give any error messages.
Now for the real fun, I've got it where my N7 turns on the screen, unlocks, and then goes into Car Home Ultra without touching it at all, just based on the connection to my phone's wifi hotspot! My phone knows to start the wifi hotspot when connected to my car's Bluetooth, and also starts playing Google Play Music without any interaction on my part as well. That's a little more advanced though, so start with this and let me know if you'd like me to keep helping with that, just let me know. Some people won't need the N7 to turn on the screen and unlock when connected to the hotspot, they would just have it run screen on while charging, but my N7 is semi-permanently mounted in my car, has been through my last 3 cars, and I keep it plugged in all the time to a hot cable, always charging the device, not just when the car is in the on position....
Good luck, hope I've helped!

GS3 as standalone, do you NEED to pair with a phone?

I was looking to get an S3. What I wanted to know is can the watch be connected to the app store and download faces/apps without a phone either over wifi or if an LTE version over the network? Such as if you get a tablet, you can use it fine with just a wifi connection, you don't need to pair those to a phone. I ask because for one I don't have the latest phone of the month (Sammy seems to snub those with phone models older than a year - slight exaggeration but not much). The other thing is that I want to be able to leave the phone home at times and still be able to browse for watch faces etc over wifi.
I really don't care about notifications or email (I don't get that many) nor to I want to pay for things with the watch. When I really need to do those things I don't find using the phone that much work. I just want the watch to use as a watch, and have some helpful apps to use when not carrying my phone, is it possible?

Out the box, the Gear S3 can be setup and used by itself, without ever connecting to a smartphone. I call this independent mode. It can make and receive phone calls and messages, tell time, date, and weather, be an alarm clock, set reminders, and monitor fitness (i.e. sleep, HR, steps). I operated this way for a couple of weeks after getting the watch.
Additional functionality is gained if you have a phone (tablets won't work) that is capable of running Gear Manager. This is necessary if you want to install and apps including watchfaces. The watch doesn't need to be constantly connected to the phone. There are two ways additional ways to leave the phone behind. In standalone mode, the watch is disconnected from the phone, but downloaded apps remain available. In remote connect mode, the phone communicates with the watch via cellular network, allowing notifications to pass through.
I use the S3 as my primary phone. I have a cheap Samsung phone that's used exclusively for the setup and management of the watch. I use a tablet for tasks (ie. content creation, computing, media consumption) that require a larger screen.

afblangley said:
Out the box, the Gear S3 can be setup and used by itself, without ever connecting to a smartphone. I call this independent mode. It can make and receive phone calls and messages, tell time, date, and weather, be an alarm clock, set reminders, and monitor fitness (i.e. sleep, HR, steps). I operated this way for a couple of weeks after getting the watch.
Additional functionality is gained if you have a phone (tablets won't work) that is capable of running Gear Manager. This is necessary if you want to install and apps including watchfaces. The watch doesn't need to be constantly connected to the phone. There are two ways additional ways to leave the phone behind. In standalone mode, the watch is disconnected from the phone, but downloaded apps remain available. In remote connect mode, the phone communicates with the watch via cellular network, allowing notifications to pass through.
I use the S3 as my primary phone. I have a cheap Samsung phone that's used exclusively for the setup and management of the watch. I use a tablet for tasks (ie. content creation, computing, media consumption) that require a larger screen.
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So unlike a tablet Samsung locks you out of the app store on the actual watch even if LTE if you don't have a phone connected? That seems kind of dumb and limiting especially since the supported phone list is so small. Is it just because browsing apps on the watch is too difficult maybe?
I wonder if this will change, I can get apps on a tablet through wifi I don't see why not with the watch. This watch seems like a mini tablet that tells time.

afblangley said:
Out the box, the Gear S3 can be setup and used by itself, without ever connecting to a smartphone. I call this independent mode. It can make and receive phone calls and messages, tell time, date, and weather, be an alarm clock, set reminders, and monitor fitness (i.e. sleep, HR, steps). I operated this way for a couple of weeks after getting the watch.
Additional functionality is gained if you have a phone (tablets won't work) that is capable of running Gear Manager. This is necessary if you want to install and apps including watchfaces. The watch doesn't need to be constantly connected to the phone. There are two ways additional ways to leave the phone behind. In standalone mode, the watch is disconnected from the phone, but downloaded apps remain available. In remote connect mode, the phone communicates with the watch via cellular network, allowing notifications to pass through.
I use the S3 as my primary phone. I have a cheap Samsung phone that's used exclusively for the setup and management of the watch. I use a tablet for tasks (ie. content creation, computing, media consumption) that require a larger screen.
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Are you sure my friend that it can make and receive calls and send messages without it being connected to the phone via bluetooth??i got mine s3 a week ago...i love it really, but it doesn't do these things when not connected ro the phone (s6 edge plus)...
Just saw, i have the bluetooth s3 frontier version and not the LTE version...so i guess that's why it has to be connected to the phone via bluetooth...
My only problem is that i can not connect to my phone via wi-fi...whenever i activate this option on my phone, it crashes with the message gear S pluggin has stopped working...any clues ?
Sent from my SM-G928F using Tapatalk

afblangley said:
Out the box, the Gear S3 can be setup and used by itself, without ever connecting to a smartphone. I call this independent mode. It can make and receive phone calls and messages, tell time, date, and weather, be an alarm clock, set reminders, and monitor fitness (i.e. sleep, HR, steps). I operated this way for a couple of weeks after getting the watch.
Additional functionality is gained if you have a phone (tablets won't work) that is capable of running Gear Manager. This is necessary if you want to install and apps including watchfaces. The watch doesn't need to be constantly connected to the phone. There are two ways additional ways to leave the phone behind. In standalone mode, the watch is disconnected from the phone, but downloaded apps remain available. In remote connect mode, the phone communicates with the watch via cellular network, allowing notifications to pass through.
I use the S3 as my primary phone. I have a cheap Samsung phone that's used exclusively for the setup and management of the watch. I use a tablet for tasks (ie. content creation, computing, media consumption) that require a larger screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are these stand alone functions also available if you have the wifi version and no LTE?

I don't have any experience with the S3 BT model. I can only speak to the capability of the Frontier LTE. This watch is a phone. It has functionality that's probably comparable to a basic flip phone. It comes preloaded with apps for phone, messaging, contacts, S Health, weather, reminders, and a few others. When the eSIM is activated, it can perform tasks associated with these apps immediately upon startup. No phone is required.
When the watch is setup via Gear Manager, it installs software that enables additional apps to be installed and gains greater functionality. Most of which remains even when the watch is disconnected from the phone.
Gear Manger compatibility isn't limited to Samsung phones, it can be installed many Android phones, but not tablets. Not even Samsung tablets.

afblangley said:
I don't have any experience with the S3 BT model. I can only speak to the capability of the Frontier LTE. This watch is a phone. It has functionality that's probably comparable to a basic flip phone. It comes preloaded with apps for phone, messaging, contacts, S Health, weather, reminders, and a few others. When the eSIM is activated, it can perform tasks associated with these apps immediately upon startup. No phone is required.
When the watch is setup via Gear Manager, it installs software that enables additional apps to be installed and gains greater functionality. Most of which remains even when the watch is disconnected from the phone.
Gear Manger compatibility isn't limited to Samsung phones, it can be installed many Android phones, but not tablets. Not even Samsung tablets.
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If the watch is basically a phone then why couldn't I directly install apps/faces etc from the watch? It doesn't make much sense to me. If I install apps on a phone I do't need another phone to install things on the first one. It seems like Samsung is just too lazy to make an app on the watch to do it, or they want everyone to have to buy a new phone to use the watch (and hopefully a big percentage will buy a Samsung phone wink wink).
I wonder what the free space on the watch memory/storage is between the BT and LTE versons? If the LTE has more stuff installed I wonder if user memory is less?

I'm one of the few who use an S3 as my primary phone. I too wish that the S3 was a more independent device. But as it stands right now, it's the most capable smartwatch available (excluding watches running full Android made by a few small manufacturers). I hope that it paves the way for more standalone offerings by Apple and Android Wear watch makers.

I have a gear s3 lte Att e-sim unlocked. How can I activated with ATT GO PHONE or any other carrier Cricket,Tmobile? I am not an att customer. Thank you!

handrade773 said:
I have a gear s3 lte Att e-sim unlocked. How can I activated with ATT GO PHONE or any other carrier Cricket,Tmobile? I am not an att customer. Thank you!
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Since the eSIM is provisioned via programming, Cricket and MVNOs don't have the system to do it. So that's a no go.
Theoretically, T-Mobile should be able to do it because they also sell the watch. The difficulty is finding an employee who knows how to do it, since the IMEI won't be in their database. Getting it on a wearable line instead of a smartphone (more expensive) or tablet (no talk) plan will be an additional obstacle.
Putting the watch on GoPhone is also technically doable, someone on this forum or Android Central said they did it. I think they called CS with the IMEI and ICCID. Perhaps they will chime in on exactly how they were able to get it done.

I called ATT CS and I was able to activated on $30 plan ($25 Auto).

AFBLANGLEY, does the phone that you use to set up and manage the watch with, does that phone need to have a service plan?
Thanks, Dan

Dudical said:
AFBLANGLEY, does the phone that you use to set up and manage the watch with, does that phone need to have a service plan?
Thanks, Dan
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Click to collapse
No, it doesn't need a SIM. As long as the phone is connected to a WiFi network, the watch can remotely connect to it. My phone sits docked permanently, right next to the router.

afblangley said:
No, it doesn't need a SIM. As long as the phone is connected to a WiFi network, the watch can remotely connect to it. My phone sits docked permanently, right next to the router.
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Are you able to utilize apps like spotify and audible from the phone that is connected back home? I am going to attempt to use the same set up as you and keep my Iphone as primary phone. I just would like to get all notifications and be able to respond with the GS3 as well.

jmr5x said:
Are you able to utilize apps like spotify and audible from the phone that is connected back home? I am going to attempt to use the same set up as you and keep my Iphone as primary phone. I just would like to get all notifications and be able to respond with the GS3 as well.
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It's my understanding that if you have a Spotify premium account, you can stream directly to the watch, but I'm not a Spotify user. I don't believe that there is an Audible app for Tizen.
In terms of messages, email and notifications, yes they will be passed through as long as the watch is remotely connected to the "host" phone.
What you're wanting to do will work fine. The reason I have the setup is because I use a tablet and it is incompatible with the S3.

afblangley said:
It's my understanding that if you have a Spotify premium account, you can stream directly to the watch, but I'm not a Spotify user. I don't believe that there is an Audible app for Tizen.
In terms of messages, email and notifications, yes they will be passed through as long as the watch is remotely connected to the "host" phone.
What you're wanting to do will work fine. The reason I have the setup is because I use a tablet and it is incompatible with the S3.
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This is exciting news. Do you happen to have a link that describers your experience using the setup with additional phone? I would be interested to know some details but hate to pick your brain if its already out on the interwebs.
Im guessing that the tablet has no connection and never has to the GS3?
Are you using the tablet with google voice number for calls and messaging? I was contemplating on how I could link my Verizon number on the iPhone to the android at home near the router.

Does your gear s3 still count the steps without connection with the phone? Mine stops with bt and wifi turned off.

S9+ Wireless charging problem, PLEASE HELP!

Hello,
My S9+ has a problem when using wireless charging, the phone will auto unlock.
Does anyone know the reason for this or it's just me having this issue?

I know in some cases the phone can use certain things as a "safe location" ... I forget what the feature is actually called, but for example when I connect to my Echo Dot or anything else via bluetooth it asks me if I want to set it as a trusted device and unlock automatically when connected. It does the same with locations too. You do have to tell it yes or not, though, it doesn't just automatically do it. I don't know if it would do it with wireless charging (never tried, doubt I will), so my guess is maybe it might have something to do with that?
Just googled it, and its called Smart Lock, and the things that unlock the phone are "trusted devices" and "trusted locations/places" ... maybe have a search in the settings for Smart Lock? See if its enabled and if anything is triggering it?

silegeek said:
I know in some cases the phone can use certain things as a "safe location" ... I forget what the feature is actually called, but for example when I connect to my Echo Dot or anything else via bluetooth it asks me if I want to set it as a trusted device and unlock automatically when connected. It does the same with locations too. You do have to tell it yes or not, though, it doesn't just automatically do it. I don't know if it would do it with wireless charging (never tried, doubt I will), so my guess is maybe it might have something to do with that?
Just googled it, and its called Smart Lock, and the things that unlock the phone are "trusted devices" and "trusted locations/places" ... maybe have a search in the settings for Smart Lock? See if its enabled and if anything is triggering it?
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Thank you for your kind response,
But the wireless charger does not require to make any bluetooth connection with the cell phone, and it won't pop the window to ask you if you trust the device or not. I'll look up the Smart Lock to see if is that triggering it.
Ty

Chad Paul said:
Thank you for your kind response,
But the wireless charger does not require to make any bluetooth connection with the cell phone, and it won't pop the window to ask you if you trust the device or not. I'll look up the Smart Lock to see if is that triggering it.
Ty
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I know, but maybe something else, like location is triggering it or there is a setting that prevents it from being locked whilst on the charger. About the only thing I know of that automatically unlocks the phone is the Smart Lock though.

Are you using the Routines app from Good Lock? Perhaps you have a routine set up for "Charging" that is unlocking the phone (check the "While at Home" profile, for instance).
Sent from my SM-G965W using Tapatalk

When putting my phone on the charger, it wakes up the phone. You still have to swipe to get off the lock screen. Even with smart lock with my smart Watch, I still have to swipe to get off the lock screen.
Good Lock has a setting that will bypass that. I have it as part of my Car Mode for convience. When I connect to my car kit, it loads waze, restarts music, turns off wifi, "unlocks" phone, and makes text huge.
Good Lock is the only thing I've seen to disable the lock screen fully.

What happened to the mapping that the Gear S use to show for my walks, hikes, etc

Both my Gear S3 watch and the S-health app on my Android phone use to show a map of my route. I was able to share/send it via email from my phone and use it with some other computer mapping programs. I know its been gone a while but don't recall when it might have disappeared. Or maybe I've done something to kill that feature or its been moved to some sub-menu? I've just finally got around to asking what happened to it. Anyone know what's what?
Thanks in advance.

You must enable GPS on Watch.

dersie said:
You must enable GPS on Watch.
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Thanks. Just looked around on the watch.
Is it on the watch or one of the Gear settings done in the phone app?
I don't see a specific GPS setting in the phone. I see some location/map stuff?

fred2546 said:
Thanks. Just looked around on the watch.
Is it on the watch or one of the Gear settings done in the phone app?
I don't see a specific GPS setting in the phone. I see some location/map stuff?
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Click to collapse
There are a setting in the watch setting : Location to enable or disable the watch GPS (like on phone), and other setting for each exercice in the SHealth app on the watch. When you launch a "Walk" exercice for exemple on the watch, there are some settings on watch screen and you can disable/enable the GPS for this exercice.

I have been looking around and tweaking various settings on both the watch and in S-health on my android phone. Location is ON. I have not been able to get back the map or track of my route. S-health on the phone use to be able to export or share a gpx route that I could view using Garmin software and I can't get that working either. I might be missing something obvious???? Thanks for any additional help.

Here's the type of maps that I had but are now gone:

I had the same issue, no map on watch after a training, and position switch was on.
But today I started manually a walk session and a pop-up appeared, on the watch, asking me to give permission for position.
So I confirmed the permission tapping on the check symbol and now it works again!
I think that this happened after I paired another phone which made an hard reset of the S3. It seems not enough to set position on, you should also confirm the position permission by manually starting a training session (if the session start in automatic detect, the popup does not appear).