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Android with the Locale app does this (lets you toggle features as a function of battery state), but I've heard that Google is actually removing the API calls f

by joeyo 17y ago

Android with the Locale app does this (lets you toggle features as a function of battery state), but I've heard that Google is actually removing the API calls for toggling GPS in Cupcake (Android v1.5). I'm not entirely sure why this is supposed to be a good thing

jodrellblank 17y ago
So apps can't spy on you, I hope.
thwarted 17y ago
Supposedly, there was confusion about what exactly "turning off GPS" meant, because on the G1, you "enable" GPS, but it doesn't actually do anything unless an app queries for geolocation data -- it doesn't drain the battery just because GPS is enabled. So you'd disable it and wouldn't have to worry that there was some app running that would drain your battery because it is using GPS. But there is a UI problem, somewhat exposed with the Maps app, with when you have it disabled, the app detects that and tells you that you'll need to enable it. Except the wording isn't straightforward, and the app doesn't handle turning it on itself (which may be a good or bad thing, if you've got it disabled in the preferences). G1's GPS setting does need some work, but it's good that it's getting some attention now that location based apps are increasing in popularity.
- joeyo 17y ago
  Thanks for the clarification. I suspect that my G1 has a bad GPS module because I find that when I have it disabled, I can get a somewhat accurate measurement of my current location via cell towers or whatever, however if I have it enabled, it can't figure out where I am at all (at least not within the amount of time that I am willing to wait for it-- 1 minute or so). So I leave it disabled pretty much all the time in an attempt to keep the battery life long. If it were up to me (and I must admit I have not looked at how the location API works), I would have location services return an imprecise value quickly (via cell towers or wifi or whatever) and refine it as the GPS came online. Sensor fusion is still an active research topic, but there are at least some simple heuristics that could be used if it was inefficient to make a full Bayesian inference.
  - thwarted 17y ago
    I seemed to have a similar problem a few months ago. I think there is also confusion as to the "location" settings -- there doesn't seem to be one setting that turns off all location querying ability, so you can have "use wireless networks" on, and "enable GPS satellites" off, and it still works, but the application calls it GPS (and the icon looks like a satellite). I think it cleared up for me when I turned on both location settings (use wireless networks and enable GPS satellites). I have not noticed a significant drain on the battery due to having both on, but I rarely use location based apps anyway.
nuclear_eclipse 17y ago
It seems to still work correctly in 1.5 with Locale on my phone, but I honestly haven't paid too close attention to it. Perhaps they're planning this change for after 1.5?

by joeyo 17y ago

jodrellblank 17y ago

So apps can't spy on you, I hope.

thwarted 17y ago

Supposedly, there was confusion about what exactly "turning off GPS" meant, because on the G1, you "enable" GPS, but it doesn't actually do anything unless an app queries for geolocation data -- it doesn't drain the battery just because GPS is enabled. So you'd disable it and wouldn't have to worry that there was some app running that would drain your battery because it is using GPS. But there is a UI problem, somewhat exposed with the Maps app, with when you have it disabled, the app detects that and tells you that you'll need to enable it. Except the wording isn't straightforward, and the app doesn't handle turning it on itself (which may be a good or bad thing, if you've got it disabled in the preferences). G1's GPS setting does need some work, but it's good that it's getting some attention now that location based apps are increasing in popularity.

joeyo 17y ago
Thanks for the clarification. I suspect that my G1 has a bad GPS module because I find that when I have it disabled, I can get a somewhat accurate measurement of my current location via cell towers or whatever, however if I have it enabled, it can't figure out where I am at all (at least not within the amount of time that I am willing to wait for it-- 1 minute or so). So I leave it disabled pretty much all the time in an attempt to keep the battery life long. If it were up to me (and I must admit I have not looked at how the location API works), I would have location services return an imprecise value quickly (via cell towers or wifi or whatever) and refine it as the GPS came online. Sensor fusion is still an active research topic, but there are at least some simple heuristics that could be used if it was inefficient to make a full Bayesian inference.
- thwarted 17y ago
  I seemed to have a similar problem a few months ago. I think there is also confusion as to the "location" settings -- there doesn't seem to be one setting that turns off all location querying ability, so you can have "use wireless networks" on, and "enable GPS satellites" off, and it still works, but the application calls it GPS (and the icon looks like a satellite). I think it cleared up for me when I turned on both location settings (use wireless networks and enable GPS satellites). I have not noticed a significant drain on the battery due to having both on, but I rarely use location based apps anyway.

nuclear_eclipse 17y ago

It seems to still work correctly in 1.5 with Locale on my phone, but I honestly haven't paid too close attention to it. Perhaps they're planning this change for after 1.5?