Database Develop

GPSInit: See if this helps you with GPS initialization problem!

I just slapped a small program to initialize the GPS port. Just wondering if this program helps people with GPS initialization problem. Please let me know. I cannot test it out 'cause I am deep inside a building!
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}

Interesting Sherpa. I will try this later, I'm hoping that it will (by using your "Exit" button) kill GPS. Some GPS apps have a habit of leaving GPS open when they exit. So not so much to start GPS for me but to kill it!!!
Thanks for sharing.
Mike

mikechannon said:
Interesting Sherpa. I will try this later, I'm hoping that it will (by using your "Exit" button) kill GPS. Some GPS apps have a habit of leaving GPS open when they exit. So not so much to start GPS for me but to kill it!!!
Thanks for sharing.
Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the Exit button set to kill the GPS connection.

sherpa said:
I have the Exit button set to kill the GPS connection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great!
Mike

First of all, good work.
I'm not trying to knock your work, and I do plan on utilizing it. I haven't tried this yet as I just got my device on Friday and haven't really had time to molest it. However, I was hoping someone would make something more along the lines of a Google Maps launcher that would activate GPS then load gMaps; or a program similar to the VJUtils that can activate and deactivate GPS with a button press.
Those are my thoughts....

Problem is, Google Maps activates the GPS just fine. It just doesn't wait long enough to get a fix. I suppose an app that started GPS, got a fix (delayed for some length of time) then launched Google would work, but it's probably not worth it when retry or two is all that's needed normally at worst.

GiODi said:
; or a program similar to the VJUtils that can activate and deactivate GPS with a button press.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What VJUtils are you talking about in this context? Searched this forum and VJ's website, but could not find a tool by his hand that starts and kills GPS . I am trying to find out wether or not my GPS is automatically stopped by an app when I quit the app, or stays on in the background, consuming power. I see that when I kill TomTom, the red LED stops blinking, but does that mean that the GPS is truely off?

GiODi said:
First of all, good work.
I'm not trying to knock your work, and I do plan on utilizing it. I haven't tried this yet as I just got my device on Friday and haven't really had time to molest it. However, I was hoping someone would make something more along the lines of a Google Maps launcher that would activate GPS then load gMaps; or a program similar to the VJUtils that can activate and deactivate GPS with a button press.
Those are my thoughts....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was actually thinking a 'GPS' entry in the htc comm manager would have been sweet. In original style icons of course.
Still, this app's pretty cool, good work sherpa.

GiODi said:
First of all, good work.
I'm not trying to knock your work, and I do plan on utilizing it. I haven't tried this yet as I just got my device on Friday and haven't really had time to molest it. However, I was hoping someone would make something more along the lines of a Google Maps launcher that would activate GPS then load gMaps; or a program similar to the VJUtils that can activate and deactivate GPS with a button press.
Those are my thoughts....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Re-reading my post, it is a little unclear. The VJ Utils i was referring to are the ones for the radios (bluetooth, wifi...). There is not one for GPS, but there should be.
Another thing I was thinking was maybe to have this program have an auto off by timer. Or maybe have it automatically close itself after certain programs that use gps close. Just throwing idea's out there.

I'm researching more regarding GPS functionality. My goal is to create something more functional. I hope time allows me to accomplish my goals. Thank you all for your feedbacks.

I was actually thinking a 'GPS' entry in the htc comm manager would have been sweet. In original style icons of course.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I personally think adding a button to the Comm Manager would be great! I could press the GPS icon there, and then start my GPS programs. This would add a small amount of buffer time to lock on to some GPS signals and get a fix.

sherpa,
Thanks for your great work.
Could you give us more information about what you do internally?
Do you just connect to COM4 or you need to send some data to this port in order to be initialized?
Thanks

As far as I can tell, the right hand LED blinks amber when GPS is active. Every GPS app that I've tried so far, lights it up and works with the GPS. Upon exiting the amber light always stops blinking, so I'm saying that in the several weeks of use so far, no app has left the GPS in an ON state.

GiODi said:
Re-reading my post, it is a little unclear. The VJ Utils i was referring to are the ones for the radios (bluetooth, wifi...). There is not one for GPS, but there should be.
Another thing I was thinking was maybe to have this program have an auto off by timer. Or maybe have it automatically close itself after certain programs that use gps close. Just throwing idea's out there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aha, you mean VJVolubilis. I am using that for my GPRS and BT, great app, should indeed be a likewise solution for GPS as well. I don't know if the GPS stays on after quiting TomTom or Google Maps, the LED goes off, but does that mean the GPS is off? Does anyone know how to check that?
I am totally in favour of adding this to the CommManager, like I am totally in favour of adding a 3G/GPRS switch in there too, but it only has so many spaces to use unfortunately and I have only 1 left..

staryon said:
sherpa,
Thanks for your great work.
Could you give us more information about what you do internally?
Do you just connect to COM4 or you need to send some data to this port in order to be initialized?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is pretty much all this program is doing right now. It is connecting to COM4 at 4800 baud rate and opening the port. When you exit, it closes the port.

Free Weather Bug App

Found this while browsing, as usual enjoy
http://windowsmobile.weatherbug.com/downloads/
Review is here
http://www.wmexperts.com/reviews/software_reviews/new_app_weatherbug_direct_revi.html

This is a cool app. I like the ability to have the temp in your top bar.

Cool. Thanks for the link.
Unfortunately, it keeps locking up my Tilt....

I'm suspicious of Weather Bug. I remember a few years back, this app would sneak in on my desktop and was a pain to remove it. Seems like it was part of some spy/ad ware.

Very nice...thank you. I loved weatherbug back in the day before subscription, I hope it stays free this time.

GWelker62 said:
I'm suspicious of Weather Bug. I remember a few years back, this app would sneak in on my desktop and was a pain to remove it. Seems like it was part of some spy/ad ware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
QFT
I have to agree with you on that... LOL I wouldn't even install weather bug on your device if I didn't like you. It's spyware and you should avoid it. Why not try weather to go or weather watcher mobile?

After testing for a few days I ended up uninstalling it. For some reason it seemed to drain my battery faster.
I'll just settle for my Throttlelauncher weather now, after flashing Throttle Diamond.

Weatherbug is draining your battery because it is known to constantly connect not only to get weather updates but to also perform its adware\spyware functions. I would stay away from it. Once installed it is very hard to get rid of.

WeatherBug pwns you all..
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
I love weatherbug

Such FUD.
Weatherbug for the PC desktop, the free version, certainly does contain adware.
But this is a Today Screen Plugin folks. What adware is going to run on a today screen plugin on a mobile phone? Spyware? Spying what for crying out loud?
And to remove it, go to remove programs, and poof, it's gone, as gone as any other today plugin.
And if it's draining the batter, try going into options and changing the update frequency so it's not banging away at your data connection all the time. Any weather app will drain the battery if it's updating frequently enough.

gwnorth pwnz you all now too.
sorry I just had to use that pic. Just look at that cat, omg I can't stop laughing.

gwnorth said:
But this is a Today Screen Plugin folks. What adware is going to run on a today screen plugin on a mobile phone? Spyware? Spying what for crying out loud?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree 100%
And to remove it, go to remove programs, and poof, it's gone, as gone as any other today plugin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
gwnorth is correct, no problems whatsoever uninstalling the program. Yes, the pc version was a little difficult to uninstall back in the day.
And if it's draining the batter, try going into options and changing the update frequency so it's not banging away at your data connection all the time. Any weather app will drain the battery if it's updating frequently enough.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The program was connecting to the internet each time I woke the phone from sleep mode. It wasn't a phenomenal amount of battery drain but it was noticeable to me.

We obviously have a difference of opinion about the PPC version. The one thing we all do seem to agree on is the PC version was somewhat nefarious. Based on the history you should be skeptical of the newest PPC version. Weatherbug is not to be trusted, in my opinion. But you are free to add whatever you want to your PPC. I am not as confident as you are that it is completely removed.

kimtyson said:
I am not as confident as you are that it is completely removed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I flash my ROM to something new at least once a week...believe me, even if I didn't completely remove it I won't ever see it again on my Tilt.

there's always weather watcher mobile. It's free and his desktop software is really good (and ad free)
http://www.singerscreations.com/Weather-Watcher-Mobile.asp
Never used it as I'm OK with HTC's version...
-Mc

Anyone know how weatherbug gets the temp to display on the taskbar ?

I like the severe weather alerts (too many damn tornadoes in Kentucky), and I'm not aware of any other weather apps that will sound an alarm if severe weather is inbound. If others can be made to do this I would like to try them out. Its not that I dislike weatherbug, I've just been using it for years.

•Only U.S. cities
Well as they are only spying on the yanks who cares Lol
•Only U.S. cities so don't even bother to download guys

thefatboy said:
Well as they are only spying on the yanks who cares Lol
•Only U.S. cities so don't even bother to download guys
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is not US only.
You simply enter: City, Country
It works for me for Canada.

Nice app. Remember to change the settings or its gonna drain your battery quickly

App to toggle GPS on/off

I would love to have an app that would allow me to switch GPS On/Off. It appears that applications sometimes do not turn GPS off upon exit.

Are you referring to GPS or GPRS? As they are 2 completely different things.

fraudulent said:
I would love to have an app that would allow me to switch GPS On/Off. It appears that applications sometimes do not turn GPS off upon exit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How can you confirm this to be true other than guessing by thinking that your battery is wearing too quickly?
Maybe it is the app that did not exit correctly. TomTom 7 definitely does not have this problem. Which GPS app are you using?

salada2k said:
How can you confirm this to be true other than guessing by thinking that your battery is wearing too quickly?
Maybe it is the app that did not exit correctly. TomTom 7 definitely does not have this problem. Which GPS app are you using?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Neither does Garmin Mobile XT
I assume he is talking about GPRS (since he used the word applicationS. I mean.. don't see any reason for anyone to have multiple GPS Applications installed on their phone. Unless you are testing them out)

L o r d R a j said:
Neither does Garmin Mobile XT
I assume he is talking about GPRS (since he used the word applicationS. I mean.. don't see any reason for anyone to have multiple GPS Applications installed on their phone. Unless you are testing them out)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got multiple installed. TT7, Google Maps, real time GPS Tracking, GPS Tag for photos. That's 4 already

akito said:
I've got multiple installed. TT7, Google Maps, real time GPS Tracking, GPS Tag for photos. That's 4 already
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmmm...
interesting.

two app for me
I am using garmin XT and GPS utilities
The second one is great for just watching speed/elevation, coordinates, or covered distance.
It's much smaller than Garmin
Includes stop/start GPS...

Abs. said:
Are you referring to GPS or GPRS? As they are 2 completely different things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am talking about the Global Positioning System, GPS.
I am a Geocacher so I use three different apps to utilize the GPS system. First I have mostly used BeelineGPS, and Google Maps. I have recently begun evaluating Geoscout which shows real promise as a geocaching app.
The problem is that I have drained my battery a couple of times and have recently begun resetting my device to avoid my battery running flat. I strongly suspect that GPS is the problem.
I would love to have an app to toggle GPS on/off.
I will do a search for GPS Utilities, thanks for the tip bertrand13

Use BAF GPS Toggle
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}

hendrixus,
GPS toggle is cool, but doesnt work properly on the diamond... cos of diamond's VGA screen...
Any other thoughts?

uccoffee said:
hendrixus,
GPS toggle is cool, but doesnt work properly on the diamond... cos of diamond's VGA screen...
Any other thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. Or yes Ask the programmer to make it VGA aware.
I basically posted in the wrong forum. Though it was the few threads about gps on/off. I have a MC IV never use it, thought. I neither works on WM5. It gives me an error on WM6. Programmer is looking at it.

I am also interested in toggling G-P-S on and off. I currently have an HTC HD2. I would like to turn GSM and GPRS off in favor of keeping GPS on. Anyone tips?

Google Maps adds Download Map Area

This is a feature that some of us have been requesting for a longgggg time, and it is finally here.
It is especially helpful for Nooks, since they don't have cell phone.
In Google Maps 5.7 - just released - go to Labs, and enable Download Map Area, and then, when you have Wifi access, you can download maps onto your Nook for places you are going to.
Then later, when you don't have Wifi access (because you are not home, nor in a hotel, coffee store or library), you can still use the downloaded maps to find your way ... to somewhere with Wifi access.
Thanks to Ole, the dev at Google for this feature.

Very cool. Will have to try it out.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using XDA App

Except the d/l maps only cover 10 square miles. It's hardly effective at doing anything except routing you over to your neighbors.

skylar.sutton said:
Except the d/l maps only cover 10 square miles. It's hardly effective at doing anything except routing you over to your neighbors.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it is a 10 mile square = 100 square miles. And you can download more than one area if you want. But you cannot do routing on downloaded maps, so this is probably more interesting for pedestrians than for drivers.

Just tried this, and it's actually 10 miles in each direction from the point you select, which means 20x20 miles = 400 sq. miles.
Only problem, where does it download the map to? I've got 7.0.3 running from my SD card. And yes, I'm new, or I'd probably know the answer.

Found the download location. Open the maps app (even though you're offline), menu/More/Cache Settings/Downloaded map areas.
Totally cool feature, OP is right. I prefer not to use a GPS, this'll come in handy.

Hell yes! Now I can download maps for all of the areas I may frequent and have them ready to go, no need to tether (painfully, mind you) with my GhettroPCS data...
Tested by downloading a map area that I hadn't cached before, turned off my wifi, and then zoomed into the square. Voila, all the street names appeared and the correct zoom-level map tiles loaded.
It takes only seconds to download map areas on WiFi.

Nice feature!

Nice feature, but still fairly worthless as it limits the downloads to 10. Perhaps the next update will allow you to cache a reasonable amount of maps.....

It's only 10sq miles at a time, you can just keep adding on more and more, I've cached the whole of greater Phoenix, Tempe and Sun City Arizona. This will definitely come in handy for me... if they add offline routing all the better...

joenathane said:
It's only 10sq miles at a time, you can just keep adding on more and more, I've cached the whole of greater Phoenix, Tempe and Sun City Arizona. This will definitely come in handy for me... if they add offline routing all the better...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I mean you can only have 10 squares cached at any one time. And in a state like NM, you need all the squares you can get.

Divine_Madcat said:
I mean you can only have 10 squares cached at any one time. And in a state like NM, you need all the squares you can get.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the best way to explain what I've done is with a picture
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
I have quite a few 10sq mi areas cached, and let me tell you, the ladies love it!

"What we have here is.... failure... to communicate."
The squares for the city look good, but MY complaint is that basically, i would like to cache my entire state (I love being outdoors and on the road, and having a variety of maps available is always a good thing). But because you can only have 10 squares at any one time, the caching is still worthless to me (cached city data is not what i need. I need data on the boonies).

Divine_Madcat said:
"What we have here is.... failure... to communicate."
The squares for the city look good, but MY complaint is that basically, i would like to cache my entire state (I love being outdoors and on the road, and having a variety of maps available is always a good thing). But because you can only have 10 squares at any one time, the caching is still worthless to me (cached city data is not what i need. I need data on the boonies).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, so you can only have ten, 10 sq mile areas at any one time? LOL, that is indeed hard to communicate

How to disable "NetworkLocationService"

It should be simple as disabling network location and Google locations service on settings, but I was almost crazy trying to figure out how to disable this NetworkLocationService. It was appearing every time I started gmaps, and it makes wifi wakelock incredibly frequent, draining the battery as hell with phone sleeping and wifi sets as "only when charging" on wifi sleep policy. The only solution was remember to kill that process every time of opening gmaps.
That's the process:
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
So I realise that on my gmaps settings, there were options to report my location and save my location history. And this was working even with locations disabled! Then I just disabled all that and voilà! The process went away!
That's the options on gmaps. Sorry for the Portuguese on the screenshots, but I suppose that it's understandable.
Now my wakelocks by wifi went away, so you can imagine the battery life after that.
Just sharing this because I didn't found a solution; there is only topics here on xda (on other device's forum) telling that you should downgrade gmaps to solve this.
If I'd helped you, just press "thanks". It's free!

Nice guide although,disabling all of that would lead that i can't have fast gps lock and you need to turn all of that if you want to use igo but you can leave with that

aigaming said:
Nice guide although,disabling all of that would lead that i can't have fast gps lock and you need to turn all of that if you want to use igo but you can leave with that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think so; the agps feature is independent from this network location. I tested mine right now, and it locks in less than 10s close to my room's window and it's raining. Not bad at all.
Sent from my LG-P990 using xda app-developers app

louiscypherbr said:
I don't think so; the agps feature is independent from this network location. I tested mine right now, and it locks in less than 10s close to my room's window and it's raining. Not bad at all.
Sent from my LG-P990 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope,its mendatory for fast fix
Try restarting phone and then try gps fix
Without it, took some time 2 get a lock,with it turned on i lock in 10sec's:good:

Thanks for sharing louiscypherbr.
It looks to work for me.

aigaming said:
Nope,its mendatory for fast fix
Try restarting phone and then try gps fix
Without it, took some time 2 get a lock,with it turned on i lock in 10sec's:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can try for yourself.
I freshly installed dmx 1.5, disabled NetworkLocationService and started gmaps: exactly 22s to get a lock. Not bad considering it's the first fix on device.
Then I rebooted, waited all startup programs to load, certified that NetworkLocationService was not working in background and opened gmaps: 6s to fix! If agps was disabled it would be impossible to fix fast as that. I could make a movie, but I think there's no reason to do not believe.
Sent from my LG-P990 using xda app-developers app

It's independent from A-GPS, it's just some google service which tracks all routers and network antenna's and reports your location based on that. A-GPS uses data to track satelites quicker, correct me if I am wrong, but A-GPS just tells your phone something like: the satelites are over there. Google tells you: you are now on blabla street no 31, because they scan the whole world.

x_justin said:
It's independent from A-GPS, it's just some google service which tracks all routers and network antenna's and reports your location based on that. A-GPS uses data to track satelites quicker, correct me if I am wrong, but A-GPS just tells your phone something like: the satelites are over there. Google tells you: you are now on blabla street no 31, because they scan the whole world.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A-GPS doesn't mean "Assisted GPS"? A Standardized service wich help GPS software (Navigon, NDrive,....) to assist finding the best way depending on the trafic?

True,but you know when you cant find fix you first clear network location service...
Why then didnt you just freeze that service?It's easy couse we are rooted
Agps means assisted gps and it uses sotware(google servers defined in gps.conf) to pinpoint your location faster

aigaming said:
True,but you know when you cant find fix you first clear network location service...
Why then didnt you just freeze that service?It's easy couse we are rooted
Agps means assisted gps and it uses sotware(google servers defined in gps.conf) to pinpoint your location faster
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because I want an easy way to enable it when I need it, just holding the "gps" icon on notification and ticking "Google location service". But this resource uses a huge amount of battery, so i don't want it enabled at background while I'm not using it. Simple as that. :thumbup:
Sent from my LG-P990 using xda app-developers app

So I realise that on my gmaps settings, there were options to report my location and save my location history. And this was working even with locations disabled! Then I just disabled all that and voilà! The process went away!
That's the options on gmaps. Sorry for the Portuguese on the screenshots, but I suppose that it's understandable.
Hello,
I found your post very interesting and wanted to check my settings but somehow I can not find in GMaps settings options from your last screenshot?
Please, can you point me to this menu precicely if this in not problem for you?
GMaps -> Settings -> Location settings ?
Thank you in advance!
Cheers