GPS Settings Change Option
I'd like to request a GPS on or off depending on condition option. I have a car charger, and would like to say "turn GPS on when plugged in" so it's activated when I'm in the car. Would be easy to schedule overnight as an exception using start and end time conditions. I have Android v2.2 (Froyo). Thanks for the consideration...
zanth
shared this idea
It is not possible for apps like Locale change GPS settings on Android, due to Android security restrictions.
In general, turning GPS on/off has no real benefit. When GPS is enabled in the Android settings, the GPS receiver is not actually turned on. Instead, the enabling GPS is merely a permission to allow apps to use GPS. GPS is only actually on and using battery power when the blinking GPS icon appears in the status bar at the top of the screen.
This setting would only save battery power if there is an app misbehaving and using GPS when it shouldn’t be.
8 comments
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AdminCarter
(Admin, two forty four a.m.)
commented
GPS doesn't use any battery if it is turned on in the Android settings. That is a permission to allow GPS, not a power switch for the GPS chip. GPS only uses power if the icon is blinking at the top of the screen, which means some app is actively using GPS.
Normally, you should see zero difference in battery life with the GPS option enabled or disabled. It only uses power when you open Google Maps or another app that actually requests GPS location. So basically, Android already does what you're looking to accomplish.
No, there is no plug-in for this because Android won't allow it. At one time, we had a plug-in that worked for Android 1.6 through Android 2.2, but it only worked through a security flaw in Android that allowed the plug-in to do things it shouldn't have been able to do. Google fixed that flaw in Android 2.3.
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Greg S.
commented
Still can't get a plug-in for it? When I plug in my phone the GPS comes on so all I have to do is open navigation. And if it doesn't run all the time how come it destroys everyone's batteries?
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AdminCarter
(Admin, two forty four a.m.)
commented
No. It requires Android 1.6 though.
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Darren Goos
commented
Has the GPS plug-in been removed from the Market Place? I don't see this listed and have done several manual searches outside of the "Get Plug-ins" menu.
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jimdibb
commented
Excellent. Didn't realize the power of the plugins menu. Thanks
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jimdibb
commented
I'm surprised GPS is not already under networks. But maybe it's because the droid is so new. still haven't figured out if any other android phones have an actual GPS.
Thanks -
AdminCarter
(Admin, two forty four a.m.)
commented
They make the phone, therefore they can do whatever they want.
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Fogcat
commented
Just a curiosity, I know 1.5 has security restrictions on enabling GPS but on my HTC Hero there is a widget that toggles GPS with a simple touch - no settings screen involved. Now every other toggle in the market seems to use the settings screen. Does HTC have some access that other developers don't?
