which is more private, use wireless networks or gps satellites? also considering battery life. im the type that thinks if they want to find me via my wireless device, they can do so without either of these options enabled on my device.
a few poorly developed apps require gps, for some reason, to view places that are around me instead of using 3g...
What do you mean private?
About battery life, GPS does drain your battery more, so use it only when you need to navigate or find places around you.
andythegreenguy said:
What do you mean private?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The more pertinent questions are...What have you done, and who is the "they" that might find you?
I do think most cell phones can be traced to a physical location by nearby towers anytime a call is placed or received (Bourne Identity style, cuz all movies are totally real), regardless of whether or not you have those location options checked on the phone. But you will need to have at least GPS or wireless networks location enabled if you are searching for things near you on like Maps or Footprints.
Or if you're worried about location information being stored in your phone, I think you could delete cache/data from Maps, Footprints, Places, etc. on a regular basis and that would keep the history from showing up, right?
chromiumleaf said:
The more pertinent questions are...What have you done, and who is the "they" that might find you?
I do think most cell phones can be traced to a physical location by nearby towers anytime a call is placed or received (Bourne Identity style, cuz all movies are totally real), regardless of whether or not you have those location options checked on the phone. But you will need to have at least GPS or wireless networks location enabled if you are searching for things near you on like Maps or Footprints.
Or if you're worried about location information being stored in your phone, I think you could delete cache/data from Maps, Footprints, Places, etc. on a regular basis and that would keep the history from showing up, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i like that response.
As long as your phone is on they pretty much know where you are
Case in point.... I live in chicago, use the phone before I start a trip. 8 hours later I'm in nebraska you call me and I answer one the 1st ring. How does the system know where I'm at
Does "use wireless networks" have much of an impact on battery life? There are some programs like HTC clock widget with weather that seems to require it on. When turning on "use wireless networks" there's a message saying "Collection will occur even when no applications are running", what exactly does this mean? I'm mainly concerned about idle battery life.
shilent said:
Does "use wireless networks" have much of an impact on battery life? There are some programs like HTC clock widget with weather that seems to require it on. When turning on "use wireless networks" there's a message saying "Collection will occur even when no applications are running", what exactly does this mean? I'm mainly concerned about idle battery life.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Battery life really won't improve all that much if it's off, and if it's off you'll lose a ton of features, like the market and such.
theimpaler747 said:
Battery life really won't improve all that much if it's off, and if it's off you'll lose a ton of features, like the market and such.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You shouldn't need to have 'Use Wireless Networks' checked to use Market. I know I don't and it works fine..
stayclean said:
You shouldn't need to have 'Use Wireless Networks' checked to use Market. I know I don't and it works fine..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe I'm thinking of that old "backgroud data" feature in sense roms
theimpaler747 said:
Maybe I'm thinking of that old "backgroud data" feature in sense roms
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Background Data needs to be on to access the Market regardless of being on 2.2, 2.1, and below. Use Wireless Networks just finds your location based on IP address over wifi, doesn't use quite as much battery as GPS, but not super accurate either.
stayclean said:
Background Data needs to be on to access the Market regardless of being on 2.2, 2.1, and below. Use Wireless Networks just finds your location based on IP address over wifi, doesn't use quite as much battery as GPS, but not super accurate either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I was thinking of, my bad
Sent from my hero running froyo... take that Sprint!
Related
What is the deal with the weather plugin?
each time i click on it is says "attempting to download data" i have the weather options setting "download weather data automatically" checked but it does not appear to be updating automatically. Does anyone know of a reg setting that you can use to change the frequency of this download?
bradwcamp said:
What is the deal with the weather plugin?
each time i click on it is says "attempting to download data" i have the weather options setting "download weather data automatically" checked but it does not appear to be updating automatically. Does anyone know of a reg setting that you can use to change the frequency of this download?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry to hijack this thread but......
Where did you find the download weather data automatically setting? I went thru the whole machine and still couldn't find it! And obviously, it doesn't auto update........
Many thanks.
mlai said:
Sorry to hijack this thread but......
Where did you find the download weather data automatically setting? I went thru the whole machine and still couldn't find it! And obviously, it doesn't auto update........
Many thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you click on the city name to select another city, there will be an settings option under the rigth softkey when you have the list of cities in front of you
Moaske said:
When you click on the city name to select another city, there will be an settings option under the rigth softkey when you have the list of cities in front of you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! Actually found it right after I posted....
Yep...
bradwcamp said:
What is the deal with the weather plugin? each time i click on it is says "attempting to download data" i have the weather options setting "download weather data automatically" checked but it does not appear to be updating automatically. Does anyone know of a reg setting that you can use to change the frequency of this download?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what the "download weather data automatically" setting will do...it will attempt to get an internet connection and update the weather when (and IF) you click on the Weather Plugin. The thing is, it will want to do this every hour from the previous weather update.
TEC
And what about disconnect? Is it possible to auto-disconnect after the weather foreground is downloaded?
It's very annoying if you don't have a data plan or if you want to save battery to have to do a manual disconnect.
I want that too...
Yea...I've been looking for a way to AUTO DISCONNECT as well.
Anyone have any ideas??
AH…
I guess I was looking for more finite control over this. Ideally I don’t want to see “attempting to download data” when I click the plug-in. I would rather it just download automatically in the background instead of the plug-in having to check the web at the moment I hit the icon.
Maybe I need to hack the reg to leave GPRS always on?
Hi
By design the data connection remains connected for most Windows Mobile 6 devices, it doesn't mean data is being passed or power consumption is increased.
An article here explains about data connections remaining "On".
http://blogs.msdn.com/windowsmobile/archive/2006/07/14/666203.aspx
Regards
Phil
PhilipL said:
Hi
By design the data connection remains connected for most Windows Mobile 6 devices, it doesn't mean data is being passed or power consumption is increased.
An article here explains about data connections remaining "On".
http://blogs.msdn.com/windowsmobile/archive/2006/07/14/666203.aspx
Regards
Phil
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting
Also, Mobile Operators requested it. It was more expensive for them to be constantly creating and tearing down connections than to just do it once. Finally, staying connected enabled us to develop a fast "push email" client that relied on the device holding an IP address.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What about my battery life?
Just having a data connection shouldn't affect your battery life. Most of the time, the device isn't doing anything with that connection. It just sits there idle. If you're sending a lot of data over the connection, though, that will definitely impact your battery life. Unfortunately, the arrows don't really tell you whether you're sending data or not (though I've seen devices that animate the arrows while data is being transferred).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And a interesting quote from a user
In GSM, when you are constantly attached to GPRS, your battery does not spend more energy because there is absolutely no communication between the network and device if there is no data transfer (however there is still periodical normal GSM communication). Only difference is if you are in motion and changing cells in time. Network keeps track of your GPRS connection via "routing area" which consists of one or group of cells. When you switch to cell that belongs to adjacent routing area, there is a, very short, "routing area update" exchange of information between phone and network, regarding GPRS only. But that is very small power consumption.
The same thing is with UMTS. The whole goal of any network is to bring communication traffic to minimum. But, with UMTS, channel coding and transmitting technique is much more complex than with GSM. You are attached to multiple cells at the same time and there is very, very, very strict phone transmit power control. That means that phone must do a lot more signal measurements from group of cells (much more frequent than GSM). It could possibly happen, if you reserved more channels for packet data transfer, that a lot of signalling happens. However, there is a inactivity timeout here which puts you in standby mode as in GSM and then you do not spend battery for packet data at all. But this is all complicated, it depend of many factors: signal strength, network settings, number of users in your location area, etc. .. If the network signal is weak, than any phone in any type of network will eat up your battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm going to try this theory out for a couple of days
if you were to read the manual that came with the phone it states that this is exactly how the weather tab works. If auto update is enabled it will automatically update the forecast every time you touch the weather tab.
Honestly it seems a little silly to me. I have auto update turned off and just tape the last updated time at the top to manually update it.
bradwcamp said:
AH…
I guess I was looking for more finite control over this. Ideally I don’t want to see “attempting to download data” when I click the plug-in. I would rather it just download automatically in the background instead of the plug-in having to check the web at the moment I hit the icon.
Maybe I need to hack the reg to leave GPRS always on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Back to your point. I am looking for the same thing you are. my data connection is always on because i am using push email but i still see the attempting to download after a certain period of time.
flexte said:
Back to your point. I am looking for the same thing you are. my data connection is always on because i am using push email but i still see the attempting to download after a certain period of time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We are on the same page flexte, but it would appear that as of yet no one has figured out just exactly how to tweak the plugin to do what we want. As Jason Lee mentioned it is working like the Manual says it should. Hopefully this will eventually get tweaked!
has anyone figured how to get rid of the "attempting to downlad data" message yet?
So the internal GPS is one of the primary reasons I wanted the Kaiser, but when it comes down to it, it's the rare occasion that I actually use the GPS for much, especially stuff outside of basic "where am I" and "how do I get there" with gmaps...
Even when using quickgps, sometimes when I need to know where I am in relation to somewhere I'm going, quickly, it can still take way too long to pick up sat signals. I was in the car with a friend the other night (this is a guy that I constantly harass for having an iPhone (and he harasses me for the opposite)) and when we both pulled out our phones with gmaps, he knew right where we were, instantly, while all I could do was sit there and try my hardest to not make excuses about why I wasn't picking up a sat signal quickly.
Unless I'm using other GPS software, for my uses with gmaps, I'd really rather just be able to use the triangulation that non-GPS phones use. I tried turning off the GPS (GPS program port: None) in settings, but gmaps just searches anyway, not finding any hardware and/or sats.
Is what I want to do possible? I'm sure I'll get several responses on how I can speed up my sat signal pickup, which is NOT what I'm looking for. I just want to be able to use gmaps "My Location" without using the internal GPS, thus saving battery as well as getting a quicker pickup on where I am...
TIA
Geo
Yes, what your asking for is just using "My Location" without GPS. I use "My Location" all the time it does not activate my GPS. Here is an article that confirms "My Location" does not use GPS.
http://gigaom.com/2007/11/28/google-my-location/
-McMex
mcmexican said:
Yes, what your asking for is just using "My Location" without GPS. I use "My Location" all the time it does not activate my GPS. Here is an article that confirms "My Location" does not use GPS.
http://gigaom.com/2007/11/28/google-my-location/
-McMex
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know that My Location can be used without GPS, I'm just wondering if it's possible on a Kaiser. Assuming you have a Kaiser device, what and how do you have it set up so that gmaps doesn't activate/use GPS, but instead uses the cell towers?
On my device using GoogleMaps 2.0.0.11 the option for My Location works separately from Use GPS. The location (within 1.7KM) is picked up within seconds, GPS does take longer but is accurate to individual rooms within my home. The Cell based locator is obviously dependent on your Carriers Cell towers and I know in the past I have been unable to get a location over HSDPA or 3G but GPRS worked. Now though on TMobile UK at home I can get my cell based location using any non Wifi data connection.
Smack! Smack!
wizzzard said:
On my device using GoogleMaps 2.0.0.11 the option for My Location works separately from Use GPS. The location (within 1.7KM) is picked up within seconds, GPS does take longer but is accurate to individual rooms within my home. The Cell based locator is obviously dependent on your Carriers Cell towers and I know in the past I have been unable to get a location over HSDPA or 3G but GPRS worked. Now though on TMobile UK at home I can get my cell based location using any non Wifi data connection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, my apologies. Turns out I was not using the latest version. I've installed v2 with separate GPS/My Location, and My Location without GPS works great!
Thanks to all.
bananachunks said:
I know that My Location can be used without GPS, I'm just wondering if it's possible on a Kaiser. Assuming you have a Kaiser device, what and how do you have it set up so that gmaps doesn't activate/use GPS, but instead uses the cell towers?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By default My Location DOES NOT use GPS. You have to enable GPS from the menu.
Yes I have a Kaiser (actually 2at&t Tilts) and use Google Maps (v2.0.0.12)
kyphur said:
By default My Location DOES NOT use GPS. You have to enable GPS from the menu.
Yes I have a Kaiser (actually 2at&t Tilts) and use Google Maps (v2.0.0.12)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I found this out by installing the latest Google Maps (after my last ROM flash, I installed gmaps from a cab I already had on sd, which was apparently not a recent version).
Thank you - I love the fact that I can use gmaps without GPS now for the quick "where am I" without having to wait, but can still use GPS when I feel like it, and also still have it enabled in Settings for use in other GPS programs.
Thanks again
Goal: Automatically switch to Use only 2G networks without opening Mobile Networks Settings dialog and checking the box manually
I know that this is not possible on stock, but is there any way to accomplish this for root users or with any of the mentioned apps or otherwise:
I do not want to disable APN, and I've already used APNdroid to much dismay. There is a bug for Nexus One users when restoring APN settings that leaves mobile data disabled.
I've used the apps mentioned in the thread title to automate my phones settings (ringer volume, GPS on/off, bluetooth on when phone ringing, data syncing, etc.), and now I simply want to disable 3G radio connection whenever certain conditions are met and have my network type as "GSM only"
I've searched through different forums here and sorted through a litany of Google search results, so please no lmgtfy because "2G only" returns no results in this section and no relevant results elsewhere; "2g only auto" nothing; "2g only automatic" nothing, but you can flame if you post a solution
fourinthoughts said:
...I simply want to disable 3G radio connection and have my network type as "GSM only" whenever I'm connected to WiFi, and I want to automate this so that I don't forget to do it manually at night when I'm not using my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you don't mind me asking - what is the reason for it? When you switch WiFi on, the data is turned off anyway. So why?
Jack_R1 said:
If you don't mind me asking - what is the reason for it? When you switch WiFi on, the data is turned off anyway. So why?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, when your device is connected to WiFi the GPRS service for data is disabled. However, the 3G band radio in your phone is still being used which consumes more power than the global GSM band radio that is used when connected to the EDGE network type. This is always true whether you are connected to WiFi or not. (correct me if I'm wrong)
Regardless, the answer to this would help a lot of android users. This is not specifically tailored for me, because the entire OP relates to battery performance which should be an important issue for all Nexus One users. If this task could be automated it would dramatically improve battery performance during off-peak use (nighttime, work, meetings, etc.) by improving execution and eliminating forgetfulness. Automating this adds to the user experience and would just make your phone that much more enjoyable, period.
I'm simply amazed that I can't find a resolution to accomplishing this.
fourinthoughts said:
Yes, when your device is connected to WiFi the GPRS service for data is disabled. However, the 3G band radio in your phone is still being used which consumes more power than the global GSM band radio that is used when connected to the EDGE network type. This is always true whether you are connected to WiFi or not. (correct me if I'm wrong)
Regardless, the answer to this would help a lot of android users. This is not specifically tailored for me, because the entire OP relates to battery performance which should be an important issue for all Nexus One users. If this task could be automated it would dramatically improve battery performance during off-peak use (nighttime, work, meetings, etc.) by improving execution and eliminating forgetfulness. Automating this adds to the user experience and would just make your phone that much more enjoyable, period.
I'm simply amazed that I can't find a resolution to accomplishing this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The cellular standby / talk time power doesn't vary much between GSM and UMTS, the difference is less than ~20% in both modes in case of Nexus, judging by official specs. I'll check your assumption that UMTS connectivity isn't dropped to GSM when WiFi connects (most probably correct), but the power gain isn't significant in places that have proper UMTS connectivity (which is not the case for the whole world, I know).
The easiest way I can think of would be to use SwitchPro widget, for example (or any other free widget that has the same functionality), and instead of pressing only "WiFi On" button, press 2 buttons - "WiFi On" and "2G/3G connection" (the same as pressing the "Use 2G networks only" checkbox).
I would suppose that such a plug-in or setting might be available for Locale/Profiles/etc.
2 things that I've found:
1) The connection indeed stays UMTS.
2) Android system prevents the programs from toggling 2G/3G mode, it's only allowed manually. The widgets I've seen only take you to the correct Settings submenu, but you have to click the checkbox yourself.
Thank you Jack_R1,
I appreciate the replies and the confirmation. That is the conlussion that I have been stuck with for a while. I had assumed that there may be a way to control this with superuser permissions.
I guess I'm going to have to dust off my Java, contact some app developers, and start exploring how to come up with a solution myself.
I apreciate your feedback.
You're welcome.
I suppose that this thread might be useful:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=736095
What you're looking for might also be one of the lower level system functions, requiring system permissions, not only root.
Might be worth contacting Cyanogen's team or Enomther, to make an option for it on ROM level and incorporate in the next AOSP-based ROMs.
Jack_R1 said:
You're welcome.
I suppose that this thread might be useful:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=736095
What you're looking for might also be one of the lower level system functions, requiring system permissions, not only root.
Might be worth contacting Cyanogen's team or Enomther, to make an option for it on ROM level and incorporate in the next AOSP-based ROMs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks again. That post helped. The settings are not accessible in the current framework. When I get enough time this week I think I can start on getting this fixed for root users. I will take your advice and will contact some of the masters here who would know the libraries well.
in addition, one scenario could be:
At home, I do have pretty poor 3G connection with my service provider, so I would like to switch when I am near my WiFi to 2G mode
PseudoReal said:
in addition, one scenario could be:
At home, I do have pretty poor 3G connection with my service provider, so I would like to switch when I am near my WiFi to 2G mode
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ditto for me.
Surprised that it is so difficult to toggle 2g/3g with tasker...
dew.man said:
ditto for me.
Surprised that it is so difficult to toggle 2g/3g with tasker...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And ditto again.
I have the same desire as the op. It must be possible to do since one can easily toggle 2G/3G from the power control widget in cm6. Maybe if there was an intent that was published tasker should be able to launch an app with that intent to accomplish this.
on a recent trip overseas, I was presented with a very weird situation. I bought a local sim and got a 3g data plan which was 3gb of 3g data and 200mb of 2g data (dont ask i have no idea why they are different). When I plugged it in i could do 3g data no problem but if 3g was turned on i could not make or receive calls. so like the op I wanted an automated way of switching between 2g only and 3g
I was able to do it on my nexus one and tasker with
Toggle 2G/3G
hope this helps you
-208
^ +1 best toggle I've seen and used.
Search for Toggle 2G in the main android forum.
Hi everyone,
I remembered this from my Nokia E71 days. Everytime I would launch an application that required data, the phone would ask me which network to use of the available ones. Of course I had the choice to disable this, and restrict access to only one network such as wifi always or a wifi-first policy.
I am wondering if any of the droid apps/ROMs/mods offer this capability.
This is specifically to maintain a user controlled wifi/3g/nodata equilibrium to manage battery and costs better.
Any help would be much useful.
Thanks!
The firewall droidwall allows you to restrict apps to either wifi, 3g, or none. But it has to be configured in advance, no pop up functionality exists as far as I know.
Not really what I am looking for... But thanks.
Anyone else who can help?
BenKranged said:
The firewall droidwall allows you to restrict apps to either wifi, 3g, or none. But it has to be configured in advance, no pop up functionality exists as far as I know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use beautiful widget toggles to quickly turn on or off either wifi or network data. So, when I won't be using either one for a while, they can both be off.
wbcollins said:
I use beautiful widget toggles to quickly turn on or off either wifi or network data. So, when I won't be using either one for a while, they can both be off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also, as a follow up, I have also used Juice defender to sort of manage this, though whether or not it actually saves more battery than it uses is quite debated. I just use the toggles on my home screen to do to manage this manually, though very quickly.
I'm running stock 5.1.1 on the LMY48M build and when I have high accuracy enabled in location settings, it shows that I'm in Houston, TX. I'm on the other end of the country in Michigan though. If I go to Google Maps, it shows my correct location. It also shows the correct location if I switch to Device Only in location settings. But in Google Now and Chronus, with high accuracy enabled it shows Texas. Has anyone experienced this before? I've searched all over and couldn't find any information.
E: Also, I'm on Verizon.
GreatDayChap said:
I'm running stock 5.1.1 on the LMY48M build and when I have high accuracy enabled in location settings, it shows that I'm in Houston, TX. I'm on the other end of the country in Michigan though. If I go to Google Maps, it shows my correct location. It also shows the correct location if I switch to Device Only in location settings. But in Google Now and Chronus, with high accuracy enabled it shows Texas. Has anyone experienced this before? I've searched all over and couldn't find any information.
E: Also, I'm on Verizon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have seen this before, but not nearly to this extreme. the wifi location is being preferred over the gps, and the wifi is wrong, so you get whats happening to you.
we never did actually fix it. you could try clearing cache's and see if that helps.
ist not a solution, but keeping device only on is really the best option if you dont need the wifi. gps is going to be far more accurate alone, the majority of the time, unless you are in a building or somewhere gps has trouble seeing the sat's.
bweN diorD said:
i have seen this before, but not nearly to this extreme. the wifi location is being preferred over the gps, and the wifi is wrong, so you get whats happening to you.
we never did actually fix it. you could try clearing cache's and see if that helps.
ist not a solution, but keeping device only on is really the best option if you dont need the wifi. gps is going to be far more accurate alone, the majority of the time, unless you are in a building or somewhere gps has trouble seeing the sat's.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That makes sense. I just tried with WiFi disabled and it still showed Texas, so I'd guess it's Verizon's network causing the issue. I like keeping High Accuracy on for navigation purposes, but if there's no real solution I'll just switch to Device Only. What apps should I try clearing cache for?
GreatDayChap said:
That makes sense. I just tried with WiFi disabled and it still showed Texas, so I'd guess it's Verizon's network causing the issue. I like keeping High Accuracy on for navigation purposes, but if there's no real solution I'll just switch to Device Only. What apps should I try clearing cache for?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i would clear them all through recovery.
the inherent problem with wifi location, that is unfixable, is wifi has a range. usually between 100 and 500 feet in any direction, depending on the power of the router. so any time its relying on wifi, you will always have that range of possible error. where as gps is directly between your device and multiple sat's simultaneously.
also while wifi location is on, google is constantly causing a nlpcollector wakelock, as it records connected wifi to its servers in an effort to build its database, at the expense of your battery and data.