Android Auto Development: App focus based on geofence? - Android Auto General

I'm not sure if this forum gets that technical, I guess we will see.
I'm developing some Android Auto specific apps that I would like to be launched or focused when in a geofenced area. Is there a way to launch apps or give them focus with the API's for Android Auto based on outside influences? I'm thinking this could be against driver distraction guidelines but would certainly be handy in my use cases (think not advertising, marketing focused at all but useful and helpful!)

Sounds interesting.
What kind of Android Auto apps are you developing?

I can't say what I am developing, but here is another idea. Think of a "pay for parking" app that just brings up the payment authorization on the screen as you are driving into the lot. Just press "yes I accept" and you are allowed in. Based on geofence, so it just pops up when you are in "range".

hummbug said:
I'm not sure if this forum gets that technical, I guess we will see.
I'm developing some Android Auto specific apps that I would like to be launched or focused when in a geofenced area. Is there a way to launch apps or give them focus with the API's for Android Auto based on outside influences? I'm thinking this could be against driver distraction guidelines but would certainly be handy in my use cases (think not advertising, marketing focused at all but useful and helpful!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I know, apps in Android Auto mode cannot request "foreground" or take control over what is displaying in the headunit's screen. The user must launch the app manually from the AA's homescreen or the bottom bar.
You could try sending a notification to the user when it enters or exits the geofence, so he knows that he can use your app there (you may need to ask the user to allow bypassing do-not disturb mode)

Related

Antivirus for N1 Necessary?

I know in this day and age there is always a possibility of getting a virus or spam on any device that accesses the internet. So I am wondering is it necessary to have an Antivirus on the N1? What is the best one to have either free or paid (preferably free lol) that doesn't hog up speed or memory on the N1?
I encourage you to use a high-tech and cutting edge function of these forums called search. It is located in the upper-right corner of your browser.
Alternatively, you can follow this link. I'll even make it easy: click on the third result.
rcxquake said:
I encourage you to use a high-tech and cutting edge function of these forums called search. It is located in the upper-right corner of your browser.
Alternatively, you can follow this link. I'll even make it easy: click on the third result.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thnx I have tried that but sometimes comes back as 0 results found or a different search with some similar words that's why I chose to create a thread
DrJB said:
Thnx I have tried that but sometimes comes back as 0 results found or a different search with some similar words that's why I chose to create a thread
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Click the link he offered, click the third result he offered, and there ye shall find your answer.
There is NO SUCH THING as an antivirus for android!
It is a technical impossibility.
All those things in the android market that are called antivirus are FRAUD.
IF there was actually a functioning antivirus, then because of the security scheme used, that antivirus would therefore qualify AS A VIRUS.
Android is designed around a totally different and infinitely superior security model compared to that windoze trash you are familiar with. At the center you have a properly designed secure multiuser network operating system -- linux, and to further the strength of the security, each application runs as its own USER, thus limiting the damaging effects of a malevolent application to ITSELF. Windoze, in contrast, has at its core, a very poorly designed SINGLE USER NON-NETWORKABLE kernel. On top of this, they add the APPEARANCE of a multiuser network operating system, but it is just blinds over the window.
Do you remember the old "cancel" button that MS used to have on their "login" prompt? That cancel button effectively granted EVERYONE ROOT ACCESS. The newer versions simply removed the button -- the underlying garbage remains the same. And to make matters worse, the more garbage they throw on top of that dysfunctional garbage, the more chances there are to find your way through it.
It is BECAUSE of this terrible security that windoze is inundated by virii. Other platforms are more-or-less IMMUNE to those kind of attacks as a result of INTELLIGENT DESIGN.
The ONLY security consideration you should take in android regarding virii is to INSPECT THE PERMISSION REQUESTS that any new application asks for upon installation. If you don't know the publisher, don't give it access to anything sensitive.
I'm not sure how efficiently Google removes reported malicious applications from android market....

Intent Evolution Idea: Sentence

Hey guys, random thoughts/rant for a software idea.
I was thinking of the next evolution of the Intent system on Android. I always thought OSs seemed to spend almost no effort on integrating softwares on it. It was almost like an afterthought every time. Android was a huge step in the right direction. The next step would have to be very definitive, and backwards comparable of course. It would have to be something users want, and make it easier on the developers as well.
This system would be called something along the lines of 'Sentence'. It evolves with developer and end-user choices and, if I'm right (here's the big pitch, would have the potential to make software measurably more stable, secure, efficient, and user-oriented without really changing any behavior on the developer's side. Of course it has the same potential to be stagnant, but I think the users would punish (unwittingly) developers who lagged behind or didn't put in the effort.
The sentence system allows a user to build a sentence to discover not only the correct application, but an infinitely specific task before ever encountering UI. It is reminiscent of auto-completing sentences in Google Search. An example is the quickest way of demonstrating. The [] specify user interaction and ** specify user choice (probably a button press):
I would like to
[*send*] [search] [open][...
[a][*multiple*][...
[2][*3*][4][5][CUSTOM][UNTIL...
[files][emails][smss][*pictures*][...
[*to*][GO][...
[emily][drake][*george*][...
[*and*][GO][with message][...
[emily][*drake*][george][...
[and][GO][*with message*][...
[CUSTOM][*check this out*][...
[*GO*][and]
this immediately opens the camera app for exactly 3 pictures. Once the 3rd picture is taken, the UI informs the user that the next action is about to take place. After a short time out, the 3 pictures are sent to George and Drake. After the first shot, the user can shut off the screen or pocket the device knowing the timeout will occur and then the task will continue. Being an OS-level function, the user can trust it regardless of the app.
Unless the app task fails. If Apps that use this system can't provide tasks that don't fail, they will become unpopular far quicker than the tasks that do fail that users just deal with anyway.
Furthermore, many apps can be published virtually without any UI at all, significantly cutting down on development time and allowing the dev to focus on the task and functionality.
This could turn around voice activation as well, since the user quickly understands the routine task format to get the best results, and would be more confident to provide far more complex long-winded sentences that the OS could understand perfectly to the detail.
While some sentence lines will be defined by the OS, the developers and users alike will be able to define the evolution of the sentence tree. Developers will make the smart decisions, while the users will crowd-source the popularity of each possible route. The most logical and/or common sentences would quickly be the norm. If the OS prioritizes specific routes over general ones, then developers will be incentivised to make their apps as task-specific as possible as well as as task-plentiful as possible.
The losers in this quickly become apps that use ads, apps that rely on 'convincing' the user of something with UI, and of course utility apps. Of course, this brings back the main reason for 'pro' apps: functionality. The pro version will have these features. The free version will only have these.
There wouldn't be a way to exploit the system or flood it. If the functionality doesn't work, the app becomes not only intrusive and annoying, but offensive to the user as it promised a specific task and performed something else entirely. Those apps simply wouldn't survive.
Of course, application for this kind of thing would have to be imposed by Google et all for it to exist, but there is another way. It can be implemented as a shared library that provides the necessary interfaces and cache all the necessary information for other compatible apps. That would work for a full implementation, and I can't see any features that would be missing. Backwards compatibility would still work just fine, as the app would simply fit existing intents into this sentence tree as well as it can. The sentences would simply end up being smaller. The best part is that with the right effort, this sentence tree could act as an 'Intent builder' for existing android apps. I bet I could build a handler for the tree that would get me through the above demonstration with the standard Gmail app using known intents. See where I'm going with that?
I would build it myself if I had more time, but I'm def interested in helping (or instructing) anyone who would like to take a crack at it. I think if someone got this idea into Cyanogenmod, we'd have a pretty huge win, and Cyanogenmod would have an incredibly unique UI gem to show off to stock users.
Honestly, I see no way that a system similar to this won't be built and become the standard within a decade. It would be trivially easy to build as well although some of the decisions to be made might not be so easy. So yeah, that's it. Rant over.

[VIDEO PRODUCERS NEEDED!] What Is Your Perfect Teleprompter?

As a filmmaker, I shoot several different types of videos. One thing I have been trying to do is find a cost efficient teleprompter. With so many inexpensive tablets on the market, using an Android app seems like the most logical solution to this problem. I have tried several apps so far but none of them seem to fit my needs 100%.
I am not a developer, I am a filmmaker. I do however, have spoke to a developer interested in helping me solve my problem by creating a app from the ground up that is design exactly how I want it to be with the functionality that it needs. Before embarking on this task I would like to get some feedback from other video professionals and app developers alike on things ranging from currently available apps, things that are wrong with currently available apps & features that would be included in The Perfect Teleprompter App.
I expect that there will be a lot of responses that say there are options currently available and that the need for yet another teleprompter app does not exist. That being said, unless I find an app that has an interface that I like, the functionality that I need and the peripherals to make it even better, I will probably continue to pursue this project. THE PURPOSE OF THIS THREAD is to allow other filmmakers to provide their input and thoughts about what the perfect teleprompter app would be.
Features I currently have in mind (This list will change as I receive feedback. ):
Clean, Usable Interface
Dropbox and Google Drive Access
In App Editing
Speed Control during prompting
Text Size Options
Light & Dark themes
Movable Location Arrow (An arrow on the side of the screen that allows you to move it vertically to show the target location of the line being read.)
Bluetooth connection so your phone could be used as a remote.
Wired remote option
Mirror Mode
Scroll to any part of the script and start it rolling from that location
Free, fully functional version (No Ads)
Custom app branding (change splash screen to display your companies logo)
I want this thread to be a way for all of us to collaborate and make an app that we all enjoy using. It is a big project for me to take on and because of that, I feel it would be silly to keep it all to myself. Please post any suggestions, questions, idea or concerns. My goal for this project is to finally provide a teleprompter that does exactly what we need it to do as a producers. Thank you for the help and feedback and hopefully together we can get this app launched for everyone to use.
Thank you so much,
zpeverman

Configure privacy settings equivalent to IOS?

Assuming I was an expert user who knew every single Note 9 device option, samsung account setting, and google account setting.... If I were to configure EVERY single one of them to limit the data it collects, set every app permission to be in its most restricted state, disable every usage access setting, and configured my google and samsung accounts to be the most limited data collection accounts as possible, .... it is even possible to get to IOS level privacy on my Note 9? Is Android just sending everything it can back to google's servers as possible, such as when i turn the phone on, when i walk, move, open an app, browse the web, or whatever? I know some have already setup network analyzers to see the traffic going out, but I can never tell what configuration they do that with. I want to know if getting the privacy to IOS levels is impossible, or is it just a matter of very careful configuration....?
It's impossible. I'm not a fan of Apple devices, but I applaud them from a business perspective and that trickles down from the fundamental ideals of Steve Jobs.
Numerous studies show that Google sucks up information 10x as much as Apple which relies in differential data that doesn't exactly pinpoint the person, but more so the general interests of the person. Google identifies the person and their location. Unless you're walking around with your phone off or granting no permissions to every app, you can't match the security of an Apple device. The doesn't only include Google. Remember we have to deal with our specific manufacturers that are collecting data on us as well since Android is open source. So we just have to hope Googles intentions are good or move to an Apple device.
brainysmurf said:
Assuming I was an expert user who knew every single Note 9 device option, samsung account setting, and google account setting.... If I were to configure EVERY single one of them to limit the data it collects, set every app permission to be in its most restricted state, disable every usage access setting, and configured my google and samsung accounts to be the most limited data collection accounts as possible, .... it is even possible to get to IOS level privacy on my Note 9? Is Android just sending everything it can back to google's servers as possible, such as when i turn the phone on, when i walk, move, open an app, browse the web, or whatever? I know some have already setup network analyzers to see the traffic going out, but I can never tell what configuration they do that with. I want to know if getting the privacy to IOS levels is impossible, or is it just a matter of very careful configuration....?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No fanboi of any company/mfg/OS,but,they all do virtually the same thing with your personal information/usage habits.
The differences are mere semantics & they collect/sell user information.
The following is a 2yr old article,but,I'm guessing the points they make still hold true:
https://decentralize.today/apple-vs...company-handles-your-data-better-a7022bd452b1
Arguably,Android users can control their sharing of personal data usage,but,that has its caveats,such as limited functionality on some apps/etc...
Best advice I can give is the following:
1) Carefully comb through every setting on the phone,most are self-explanatory.
2) Go to every apps internal settings & the phone's setting under SETTINGS > APPLICATIONS & fine tune as best as possible.
Even after all of that,Google/Samsung (or most other mfgs) have settings that are inaccessible or cannot change (greyed-out),so,you're still not in the clear as far as total control/privacy.
This is one of the major attractions to rooting/ROMs for your Android device.
A rooted &/or ROM'd Samsung device is the ideal for gaining control of privacy/permission control,but,it breaks KNOX & Samsung Pay,no going back once rooted,even if restored to a stock state.
You gain more granular control of such permissions & if you want to go all-in on privacy, a ROM such as Lineage gives you the best you can hope for in personal security/privacy. A brief summary,but,that's the gist.
Outside of root/ROMs,If privacy/security is of utmost importance,I'd dare say a Blackberry would be a decent choice. I myself only briefly owned a Blackberry (Android device),so,I can't attest to how private/secure you personal usage/data is,but,I've rarely,if ever,heard of any major concerns in the matter w/Blackberry.
@brainysmurf
Another step you can take to regain some control of your Samsung device is using a package disabler app & the nice thing about these is no root access is required (AppFreeze/Package Disabler Pro/Adhell3).
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wakasoftware.appfreezer&hl=en_US
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.powermanager.batteryaddon&hl=en
https://amp.reddit.com/r/GalaxyS8/comments/8nmrfq/how_to_install_adhell_3_a_video_guide/
Use the XDA site search feature or Google for more info on the above mentioned disabler apps.
You can also use ADB Commands to disable apps as well,but,please read the following link carefully before proceeding:
https://www.xda-developers.com/uninstall-carrier-oem-bloatware-without-root-access/
I have never had an apple device, But I would like to say that android as a system is opensource and the google apps that are put on top are non opensource and are probably where you lose your privacy but as a system it is transparent which attracts devs and rooting (i.e. getting access to the system partitions) is what makes android so customizable. Versus apple which you have to blind trust ios and trust that these options are 100% do what they say..
Yes it is more secure because it is closed source but at the same time For actual privacy you never know. Saying that how do you get your privacy with android needs some setup which koliosis did good explaining. But the difference between the two OSs I believe is because of (opensource)ness of android the amout of customizablity with android is really deep. To which I believe if you invest good time researching, you can get a way better state than iOS. Again not an expert but putting my opinion
For the rest
Koliosis said it all.
that_same_guy said:
Yes it is more secure because it is closed source.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have to correct that one. That is a myth spread by some big companies in order try to gain some customers over from the cheaper/free competition. In reality, open vs. closed source has no other effect on how secure the result is than with open source there can be more eyes looking at the code (for both good and bad intentions). As an example, simply compare a decent linux distro (from which only similar applications are installed that would come with corresponding Windows installation) to M$ Windows. Open source (and free at that) wins many times over in overall security (while neither is free from issues).
The biggest effect on the code quality (thus often also how secure it is) is on how many (real) experts work on it, and this in turn depends on popularity (open source) and/or money (company's/organization's income and policies/ideals). For the last part 'policies/ideals' just compare M$ and Apple, both have the money to throw at development if they choose to do so; former makes mostly insecure crap, latter makes half-decent stuff. (And note, I'm not a fanboy of either, or pretty much of any company, except one little local camera shop, so do read the previous with some weight on that "half-" before the "decent".)
As for small input on the privacy squeezing on Samsung devices:
I have so far managed to avoid to use a samsung-account, and that might help a tiny bit, although some features of the phone are then not working, but mostly useless features. Though there are some seemingly useful features that require Samsung-account for some weird reason, but I've manage to live without them. Like the "protected folder" (or whatever it is in English), why on earth would that need an account or anything external for that matter?!?
(Well, technically, I do have a Samsung-account, as that was required to get the phone cheaper, but after that order, I've not used that account anywhere.)
ErebusRaze said:
It's impossible. I'm not a fan of Apple devices, but I applaud them from a business perspective and that trickles down from the fundamental ideals of Steve Jobs.
Numerous studies show that Google sucks up information 10x as much as Apple which relies in differential data that doesn't exactly pinpoint the person, but more so the general interests of the person. Google identifies the person and their location. Unless you're walking around with your phone off or granting no permissions to every app, you can't match the security of an Apple device. The doesn't only include Google. Remember we have to deal with our specific manufacturers that are collecting data on us as well since Android is open source. So we just have to hope Googles intentions are good or move to an Apple device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This actually goes to my point... If indeed I did remove all permissions from all apps, does this mean Android tracking would be completely disabled? Or if I removed google play services, or disabled it, or removed all permissions from it? Technically, would that give it an IOS level of privacy? I'm just wondering if the OS itself is prone to just phoning home and letting it know everything I'm doing, or if it's possible at all to tame it....
Thanks for your repsonse.
ErebusRaze said:
It's impossible. I'm not a fan of Apple devices, but I applaud them from a business perspective and that trickles down from the fundamental ideals of Steve Jobs.
Numerous studies show that Google sucks up information 10x as much as Apple which relies in differential data that doesn't exactly pinpoint the person, but more so the general interests of the person. Google identifies the person and their location. Unless you're walking around with your phone off or granting no permissions to every app, you can't match the security of an Apple device. The doesn't only include Google. Remember we have to deal with our specific manufacturers that are collecting data on us as well since Android is open source. So we just have to hope Googles intentions are good or move to an Apple device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I saw those same studies. And they never seem to provide specific configuration data. For instance, the study showing that android gathers as much as 10x more data specifically mentioned that Chrome was constantly phoning home sending data. However, what if the user didn't log into their chrome account? I think it's much more limited in that case... Or what if the user disabled chrome, and perhaps all google apps? Is it android doing the privacy damage, or google apps/play services? If I disabled those, or removed all permissions from those, would it be equivalent to IOS? I'm an engineer in the business working at a major silicon valley company, and even with high expertise in the design of these things I'm finding it impossible to get basic understanding of what it actually going on. It is either trying to read through legalize of privacy agreements, or reading blogs and studies with claims such as 10x more data, while not providing specifics...

[CLOSED](delete)

(delete)
Kodijack said:
I took a good search and haven't found a single app that is just like a screensaver, desktop or a clock. 99% of apps are music and navigation.
Hard to believe no one thought of a generic "desktop"-app with widgets or whatever. Especially with coolwalk it could be really nice.
But maybe you guys know something like this and my searching just sucked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm... I can't understand what you wrote and what you are looking for, although I've been using android for 12 years. Even if it involves AA.
Please could you expand your description?
Now I understand your message as a regret that there is no revolution in the field of development of Head Units.
I don't think that will happen soon. Development will evolve.
The priority when driving is the safety of all users of the road and its surroundings.
I think that the plan for the development of the head unit is written out in stages, which require the achievement of so much development of protection measures while driving that the driver's inattention and distraction cannot be the cause of anyone's danger.
Currently, head units are deliberately poor in functions so that they can be simple to use and not distract the driver from his primary task: safe driving.
I think fiddling with the phone and projecting an image onto the head unit screen or vice versa, and focusing attention on widgets and other bits and pieces that phones have, can only be safe if passengers do it.
Google only allows certain apps on Android Auto.
Normally navigation, communication and music apps.
It's just a question if Google allows a clock app. I'm pretty sure that there were already people with this idea.

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