I use an app named “Weather”. Just a simple widget to provide location and temperature. The last month or so I have noticed the location to be very precise. Instead of providing location to the city or town level, it now provides location to the neighborhood level, even fairly small neighborhoods. I am curious if this change came from the app, Google location services, or my provider (AT&T) . I asked the same question to the app developer, but he never responded. So who made the change? Any ideas?
purplepizza said:
I use an app named “Weather”. Just a simple widget to provide location and temperature. The last month or so I have noticed the location to be very precise. Instead of providing location to the city or town level, it now provides location to the neighborhood level, even fairly small neighborhoods. I am curious if this change came from the app, Google location services, or my provider (AT&T) . I asked the same question to the app developer, but he never responded. So who made the change? Any ideas?
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Click to collapse
Android has always been able to provide location by GPS coordinates... Your app, or quite likely the actual weather service provider the app is using, has made a change to provide weather at a more localized level. Android itself does not provide neighborhood names, etc., only GPS coordinates and approximate accuracy of them to the app, what it does with them is it's own thing.
acejavelin said:
Android has always been able to provide location by GPS coordinates... Your app, or quite likely the actual weather service provider the app is using, has made a change to provide weather at a more localized level. Android itself does not provide neighborhood names, etc., only GPS coordinates and approximate accuracy of them to the app, what it does with them is it's own thing.
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Click to collapse
So does the cell tower provide any location name or info (besides GPS) to the OS?
I don't use GPS, only the Battery Saving location setting. The app "Weather" uses Weather Underground for its data services. But it makes sense that maybe Weather Underground is providing the location name.
purplepizza said:
So does the cell tower provide any location name or info (besides GPS) to the OS?
I don't use GPS, only the Battery Saving location setting. The app "Weather" uses Weather Underground for its data services. But it makes sense that maybe Weather Underground is providing the location name.
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Click to collapse
Cell tower location and/or Google Location Services (WiFi based) creates psuedo GPS coordinates that are approximations of location, the names are being provided by the Weather service provider... Go to wunderground.com in a browser and put in your ZIP code, then click "Change station" and I bet you will find a correlation to the neighborhood names you are seeing.
acejavelin said:
Cell tower location and/or Google Location Services (WiFi based) creates psuedo GPS coordinates that are approximations of location, the names are being provided by the Weather service provider... Go to wunderground.com in a browser and put in your ZIP code, then click "Change station" and I bet you will find a correlation to the neighborhood names you are seeing.
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Click to collapse
It makes most sense that location comes from wunderground as my Google News app still shows location at the town/city level. But I am still confused as the neighborhoods listed are not listed in wunderground wunder map. Looking at Network Info map, cell towers seem to be located in these neighborhoods. I will be in a location a few hundred miles away this week. I will observe and see if I experience the same location detail and see how it lines up with wundermap and cell location.
@acejavelin
So do you think with WiFi enabled, the location is derived from WiFi hotspots even though a connection is not established?
This week I am in a location with very few wunderground locations. I am still getting precise location down to the neighborhood area. I don't even recognize the names, but when googling, I come across the street name or neighborhood name in my location that is nowhere near a wunderground station.
purplepizza said:
@acejavelin
So do you think with WiFi enabled, the location is derived from WiFi hotspots even though a connection is not established?
This week I am in a location with very few wunderground locations. I am still getting precise location down to the neighborhood area. I don't even recognize the names, but when googling, I come across the street name or neighborhood name in my location that is nowhere near a wunderground station.
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Click to collapse
It can definitely come from WiFi, even if you turn it "off" it can see WiFi networks... that is how Google Location Services works, it uses the visible SSID's to approximate location from it's database (which comes from every Android user's device with Gapps), it uses the WiFi Positioning System.
How it's resolved to names is a mystery to me though... it appears my initial assumption was incorrect. Do the neighborhoods match up with http://wikimapia.com (like I know if you look at NYC you can see areas like Midwood, Flatlands, Mapleton, Flatbush, etc)?
acejavelin said:
Do the neighborhoods match up with http://wikimapia.com (like I know if you look at NYC you can see areas like Midwood, Flatlands, Mapleton, Flatbush, etc)?
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I could not find some of the locations the phone identified. So far they all show up on Google Maps. I usually keep Bluetooth and WiFi on. I will experiment some with both off. I always keep scanning off.
Related
Anyone know of any free software that allows you to enter a destination gps coordinates. The software will then give the direction to that point and distance and log the gps points along the route taken (like a cookie crumb trail). I don't need it to be overlaid on a map but better if it was. I was thinking something like a hiking app would be ideal but I need this to work anywhere in the world without a data connection (therefore no maps or maps stored on the phone).
Hoping to use it when I go on holiday abroad. I would configure all the points of interest from home before I leave and use the software to get to my destination whether I travel by taxi or by other means.
My searching in the market has been unsuccessful so far.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
With out data its pretty hard to find.I'm using my track but this one needs data connection. Good luck
Update : try wisepilot (save maps on sdcard)
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
Can't check at the moment, but Ulysse Gizmo may help. It's more a GPS/Compass app, but you can add way points via a map. Possibly you could add way points at home with a connection, then just use the compass offline for navigation to the points?
As I said I can't check, wife's gone out with my phone. Might be worth a look though.
So destination by coordinate and offline maps..
Hm..
jimmod said:
So destination by coordinate and offline maps..
Hm..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. Once coordinates have been added. There shouldn't be any need to have a data connection as it will only use gps and compass to navigate to those coordinates. Perfect for when abroad as roaming data charger are a rip off.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
google maps 5 can cache data, so you just cache the places you want to go, then you're good. you can also add your own waypoints right?
Hello,
We're the developers behind Clarus Battery and Clarus Signal
What is it?
Clarus Places is an app to quickly save location information to the default android address book.
We're releasing a beta version to XDA before we release to the Android Market. While this is almost feature and code complete and we have tested extensively, we'd appreciate information on any bugs and / or suggestions ([email protected]).
What is incomplete?
The Help button is disabled.
Permissions:
- Coarse Location - For location
- Fine Location - For location
- Internet Access - For maps and Flurry
- System Tools - For start at boot for notification bar icon
Flurry:
We use Flurry to track downloads and exceptions. We only use the Internet Access permission to determine coarse location (Country). Also Flurry provides information on phone make/ model/ firmware.
Finally, we do not have access to the actual data. We only see aggregated data that Flurry makes available.
Others:
Clarus Places always will be free and with no ads.
Update
We just released the final version of the app in the market.
Link
Android Market - https://market.android.com/details?id=Clarus.Places.rr
Thank you.
Clarus Widgets
www.konsentia.com
works fine via wifi. will try it on 3G tomorrow.
Nice idea
First test was fine - using first network only and then GPS.
But the icon in the notification bar looks far too redmondish for my taste
Will give this a try on 3G today.
I have been wondering for some time now, and I'm hoping the people who view this thread would probably have experience in this field and know the answer. I have probably 8 or 10 different apps that in someway incorporate the use of Google maps (satellite view). They all have the option the cache map data, so I don't keep re-downloading often viewed map areas. Do Google map caches, go to a single cache area, to be used by all programs...or am I saving the same data 10 times over on my phone, separately for each app? It seems like my memory is filling up faster than it should be, and I'm thinking this is the culprit??
thanks
Anyone know of an android app that can be used when flying in a airline that tells me exactly where we are i.e like GPS location,
I flew with Virgin Airlines from UK to New York and they had location on their screens. Not really sure if its even possible to use this due to commercial airline regulations.
There are apps that will do what you want, but they need an active internet connection to function. I have Flightradar24 and that didn't function on the airplane.
the_chang said:
Anyone know of an android app that can be used when flying in a airline that tells me exactly where we are i.e like GPS location,
I flew with Virgin Airlines from UK to New York and they had location on their screens. Not really sure if its even possible to use this due to commercial airline regulations.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Besides a basic GPS app with cached maps, like Locus? Not even sure what you're asking for here. You need no data if you have maps cached.
the_chang said:
Anyone know of an android app that can be used when flying in a airline that tells me exactly where we are i.e like GPS location,
I flew with Virgin Airlines from UK to New York and they had location on their screens. Not really sure if its even possible to use this due to commercial airline regulations.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Open Google Maps before your flight and try to cache the desired areas between the two continents by just displaying it (scroll and browse maps over the imagined route). Google Maps then automatically downloads the data, albeit not in full resolution. While in plane you just enable GPS and open Gmaps, without an active connection it takes the cached data.
Download offline maps for the areas around airports on your trip if possible.
I know GNow kills battery due to the constant GPS use, but I was willing to give it a try if it "help" me with my life activities. However, the result has been less than impressive:
1). Weather
Always off by 5-10 degrees (California)
2). Public Transportation
Always informed me of the "nearest" train station, which I do NOT use and I use the other one (BART in California)
3). Package tracking
Never worked for me, especially now Amazon stop including the tracking number in their email.
So what else is GNow used for? How does that working out for you?
I find the delays on the motorway useful for my commute. Mine doesn't use GPS constantly.
Sent from my Nexus 5
lanwarrior said:
I know GNow kills battery due to the constant GPS use, but I was willing to give it a try if it "help" me with my life activities. However, the result has been less than impressive:
1). Weather
Always off by 5-10 degrees (California)
2). Public Transportation
Always informed me of the "nearest" train station, which I do NOT use and I use the other one (BART in California)
3). Package tracking
Never worked for me, especially now Amazon stop including the tracking number in their email.
So what else is GNow used for? How does that working out for you?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Weather is usually right...same area as you. It does the same thing as searching "weather in san francisco" in google.
2. Yeah that doesn't work.
3. That only worked when I ordered my N5. Amazon used to work, now it doesn't.
I just turned it off. I can still use all the voice commands, so it isn't a big deal.
I don't mind it. Tracks similar articles referencing search strings, tracks sports teams. Liked the Olympic tracking although you could not specify what country you are tracking. Also like the tourists locations when out of town. I don't really notice a battery difference except after a day or 2 without rebooting (doesn't allow device to sleep. Reboot and it's all good again.)
Has a fair bit of potential and looking forward to future updates.
Sent from my HammerHead
pepdavies said:
I find the delays on the motorway useful for my commute. Mine doesn't use GPS constantly.
Sent from my Nexus 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't do that in the US. At least not where I am.
for me its useful for the following:
weather
traffic congestion
sports scores and match reminders
flight reminders
package tracking
Sc0rp10 said:
for me its useful for the following:
flight reminders
package tracking
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does these tracking only works with the Gmail account which you activated Google Now with?
Example:
1). I use 2 Gmail accounts --> A and B
2). A is activated for GNow
3). B is used for online shopping (package tracking, flight confirmation, etc.)
If I forward package / flight email confirmation from B, will GNow tracks it too even though it is only associated with A?
lanwarrior said:
Does these tracking only works with the Gmail account which you activated Google Now with?
Example:
1). I use 2 Gmail accounts --> A and B
2). A is activated for GNow
3). B is used for online shopping (package tracking, flight confirmation, etc.)
If I forward package / flight email confirmation from B, will GNow tracks it too even though it is only associated with A?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have 2 gmail accounts too but i can only get notifications/reminders from the primary account. in the google now settings under accounts & privacy you can switch accounts so i guess it only works for one account at a time.
Sc0rp10 said:
i have 2 gmail accounts too but i can only get notifications/reminders from the primary account. in the google now settings under accounts & privacy you can switch accounts so i guess it only works for one account at a time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Forwarding the email to the primary account doesn't work?
lanwarrior said:
Forwarding the email to the primary account doesn't work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It works for me for flight tickets. Haven't tried it for anything else.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Strange, like everyone else, amazon tracking stopped worked a while back. However, I ordered a cable from amazon yesterday, and google now offered me a tracking option. I click it, and it takes me to the UPS site and offers tracking info. I'm looking at the shipping email in my gmail (desktop), I can't see any tracking number.
Viewing the source, I see it now. Amazon includes the ups tracking number in the link, and google now is scraping it.
I have Google Now enabled. I like the traffic times (and accident warnings), the sports updates/reminders and the package tracking.
Google Now will also pop up a card if I search a destination on my PC. Convenient if I actually needed directions on my phone, but unless the place was in the city, I probably don't need directions.
I was under the impression that Google Now only uses WiFi and Cell towers to provide you location data. However, Google Play Services will have GPS data Google Now might use as well (Play Services collects GPS data at times under the Location Reporting feature). That's how I understand it and based on the Location window, Google Search/Now never uses GPS only Google Play Services.
Again, this is what I believe from my understanding of how Google Now works.
lanwarrior said:
I know GNow kills battery due to the constant GPS use, but I was willing to give it a try if it "help" me with my life activities. However, the result has been less than impressive:
1). Weather
Always off by 5-10 degrees (California)
2). Public Transportation
Always informed me of the "nearest" train station, which I do NOT use and I use the other one (BART in California)
3). Package tracking
Never worked for me, especially now Amazon stop including the tracking number in their email.
So what else is GNow used for? How does that working out for you?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. weather has been off by 1-3 degrees, but who's to say which weather service is truly correct (i trust google over yahoo for instance)
2. i don't use public transit (horrible system set up in socal), but it gives me great directions and info on travelling to my destinations. i always check it before leaving work to see how traffic is so i can plan my way home for that day.
3. package tracking works perfectly for me
i also use it for sports scores, and track my stock portfolio.
i use it all the time, and i haven't seen any issues with battery drain at all to say that it "kills" the battery.
weather - yes
traffic congestion- no
sports scores and match reminders - yes
flight reminders - yes
package tracking - yes
Always listen feature is pretty heavy on battery and is never useful to me for most part of my day
However i use a Zerolemon extended battery so i only switch off when i am out for very extended periods of time
in short yes! google now is very useful to me and i love the new KITKAT integration with the experience launcher
I stopped using Google Now because it became kind of annoying. It kept recommending time to travel to these places that i frequented but it wanted me to label them and everytime I would swipe it away it would be there again the next day. I also turned it off for battery consumption. I just didn't find it that useful since my work place is constantly moving.
Also the weather seems inaccurate a lot of the time and I will just use the weather channel, or just briefly look at minarch which has the weather, current conditions and forcast right there on my homescreen.
I order from amazon a lot and it shows in Google now. UPS, FedEx, USPS. All there. I had about 6 in there earlier. All links worked.
Sent from the jaws of my Hammerhead!
I use it for weather (home & work cities), traffic/commute (mine shows for home & 2 jobs), sports scores & games/matches, packages as well...
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
I only use it for reminders, search references and sports updates. Otherwise its blank and seems minimal on battery.
The weather update was waking my phone consistently to update, where as dash clock does it only when the screen comes on so I use that instead.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Fairly useless battery drain for me. Weather? Off, location? It's annoying but i'm fairly sure I know how to get home.
Greetings.
I'm trying to spoof Google Maps location sharing into showing a fake GPS position to the other party. I tried several fake GPS apps, and while they are running Google Maps shows the spoofed location, however - Location Sharing stops sharing and is frozen on the last (real) location that was shared before the spoofing started.
I'm open to any ideas how to achieve this.
Thanks.
ThrowFarAway39 said:
I'm open to any ideas how to achieve this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know if there is a better answer but maybe you can try a mock gps location app that constantly changes its location (with concomitant altitude changes) every few seconds?
The free gsf free google free ad free highly rated mock gps location app I use that has a setting for random motion (for example every 3 seconds it moves 30 feet from a given starting point) is Lexa (but I'm sure others exist that also will fake motion and altitude over time).
[Lexa] Fake GPS location
All you do is enable Developer Options and then set the "Default Mock Location App" to Lexa (or to whatever fake GPS location app you chose).
Here's what Google Play says about the Lexa fake-GPS location app.
Teleport your phone to any place in the world with two clicks! This app sets up fake GPS location so every other app in your phone belives you are there!Has Tasker support and can be started/stopped from command line (See FAQ for details)+++IMPORTANT+++Be aware that after using FakeGPS you may find your location LOCKED TO THE LAST MOCKED LOCATION EVENT AFTER UNINSTALL FakeGPS!It's not a bug and your GPS sensor isn't broken. There are two ways to fix this issue:1. Install "GPS Status" from the Play, launch and get a fresh GPS fix. You may need to repeat it several times with 30 min interval.2. Start FakeGPS, set your real location and leave it so for several hours.You may combine these steps. The issue will disappear in one or two days - be patient.For ROOTED devices you can mock locations without enabling "Allow mock locations" option. To do so please use Root Explorer or other similar app and move /data/app/ru.lexa.fakegps~1.apk to /system/priv-app or to /system/app (for Android 4.3 and older). Then change apk permissions to rw-r-r and reboot your device. If you find apk in /syste/priv-app disappears after reboot it means that your devices has S-ON mode enabled and so restores /system folder aftear each reboot. Please google how to switch your device to S-OFF mode.If you can't find ru.lexa.fakegps.apk in /data/app you may find it at /mnt/asec/ru.lexa.fakegps/1.apk. In this case you should copy and rename it to /system/priv-app/ru.lexa.fakegps.apk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even though I'm normally set up with my Location radios off, I like trhat this app can startup at boot and run constantly (whether my Android Location is on or off).
If any app asks for Location (such as Wi-Fi debuggers), then I let them get the fake location. But if I need the real location, I just open up the fake location app and press the "Pause" button.
When I'm done needing my real location, I just open up the fake location app and press the "Play" button to start it up again. (Of course, that jumps to the fake location, and randomly moves from there, so it's not perfect.)
There's also the FOSS ad free app named "Private Location" which seems to have a bit less functionality (but perhaps more privacy?)
F-Droid Private Location
GitHub Private Location
GalaxyA325G said:
I don't know the answer but maybe you can try a mock gps location app that constantly changes its location every few seconds?
The one I use does that I think (you can set the update period if 3 seconds and 30 feet is too fast or too slow for you, I think).
[Lexa] Fake GPS location
Here's what it says about the app.
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Click to collapse
U just replied to a inactive thread that's been inactive for over 2 years
And op been inactive since February 3 2019
Austinredstoner said:
U just replied to a inactive thread that's been inactive for over 2 years
And op been inactive since February 3 2019
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Click to collapse
The others are looking for similar problems and will be able to find hints
I can suggest to use XPrivacyLua and define of fake lacation for Maps or define correct location but with predefined (meters) inaccuracy.
Just use GPS Emulator. I use it all the time.
The application icon is green with a black hat on it.
Tomek0000 said:
The others are looking for similar problems and will be able to find hints
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. I feel it's better to add to an existing question than it is to create the exact same question as a separate thread. It's easier for people who search to find the answers and for others to add better or more detailed solutions.
Tomek0000 said:
I suggest XPrivacyLua
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dedq said:
Just use GPS Emulator.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also, sometimes an app name isn't unique, or, it has multiple locations, so I always strive to add a link to the app so that the person searching has an easier time finding the suggested solutions.
To that end, here are the three fake-gps apps with spoofing of location movement (with concomitant altitude changes) that were suggested (in the order they were suggested).
Fake GPS Location, by Lexa (free, no ads, no gsf, rating 4.6)
XPrivacyLua, by Marcel Bokhorst (free, no ads, no gsf, no rating, needs rooting)
GPS Emulator, by RosTeam (free, has ads, requires gsf, rating 4.6)
I'm not sure if I found the correct links, particularly for XPrivacyLua which seems to need rooting and which also has a lot of links that point to different aspects of the program.
XPrivacyLua on Google Play
XPrivacyLua on GitHub
XPrivacyLua on xda
XPrivacyLua on Xposed
XPrivacyLua on FairCode
If others can confirm or correct the links above, everyone else will instantly benefit who search for and find this answer.