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Hello,
I'm a s740 proud new owner. I've been playing with this gadget for the past few days and I must say I'm very satisfied. Apart from some problems (battery, small call buttons) the phone is really great. However I have some questions that I'd like to know.
1) Are there any power management tweaks you use. Apart from the options in the phone do you do anything else in order to save battery?
2) How customizable is the home screen? What can I change from it? For example the Internet Explorer bar or adding other menus.
3) Is there any way to have "shortcuts" for apps ? Example "new sms" or for any other app. Going through the programs menu is tiresome.
4) Is there any option to restart the phone? No reset, just restart, without having to turn it off and on again manually.
5) Do you use the in-built calendar or did you add other apps for dates etc.
6) Can I "lock" the data connection? I usually use Wi-Fi or Internet throught the USB. Some programs (e.g. Messenger or browser) turn on the data connection without me knowing. Is there any way I can avoid this?
7) Do you use voice tags for apps and contacts? Is it satisfactory?
And last (but very important for me):
8) Which app do you use for mp3 and audio? The Audio Manager, WMP or any other app? Which do you think is the best. The wired headset has only "volume up and down" function? Not anything else? Are there other headsets that are compatible and if so can you control the audio apps without having to use the phone?
I know it's much, but any answer(s) would be appreciated.
Thanks a lot
Corduroy-21 said:
Hello,
I'm a s740 proud new owner. I've been playing with this gadget for the past few days and I must say I'm very satisfied. Apart from some problems (battery, small call buttons) the phone is really great. However I have some questions that I'd like to know.
1) Are there any power management tweaks you use. Apart from the options in the phone do you do anything else in order to save battery?
2) How customizable is the home screen? What can I change from it? For example the Internet Explorer bar or adding other menus.
3) Is there any way to have "shortcuts" for apps ? Example "new sms" or for any other app. Going through the programs menu is tiresome.
4) Is there any option to restart the phone? No reset, just restart, without having to turn it off and on again manually.
5) Do you use the in-built calendar or did you add other apps for dates etc.
6) Can I "lock" the data connection? I usually use Wi-Fi or Internet throught the USB. Some programs (e.g. Messenger or browser) turn on the data connection without me knowing. Is there any way I can avoid this?
7) Do you use voice tags for apps and contacts? Is it satisfactory?
And last (but very important for me):
8) Which app do you use for mp3 and audio? The Audio Manager, WMP or any other app? Which do you think is the best. The wired headset has only "volume up and down" function? Not anything else? Are there other headsets that are compatible and if so can you control the audio apps without having to use the phone?
I know it's much, but any answer(s) would be appreciated.
Thanks a lot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) Try turning off 3G/HSDPA (unless you need it)
2) Search for CHomeConfigurator
3) Yes there are. You can even put them on the home screen (again, CHomeConfigurator is the easiest method)
4) There is, but I forgot how to do that.
5) I use the inbuilt one because it can switch the phone to silent automatically during meetings
6) Yes you can. Try searching Modaco NoData
7) Nope, don't use it. I find the automatic search for contacts efficient enough (e.g. you want to call dad, just punch in 3-2-3 and it should be right there. Even works if you are looking for the phone number, etc.)
8) I use PocketPlayer together with an AD2P bluetooth headset (Jabra BT3030). Works quite well; skip, back, play, pause, pick up call and vol up/down work with this.
Hope that helps,
.-ombre-.
ombre33 said:
1) Try turning off 3G/HSDPA (unless you need it)
2) Search for CHomeConfigurator
3) Yes there are. You can even put them on the home screen (again, CHomeConfigurator is the easiest method)
4) There is, but I forgot how to do that.
5) I use the inbuilt one because it can switch the phone to silent automatically during meetings
6) Yes you can. Try searching Modaco NoData
7) Nope, don't use it. I find the automatic search for contacts efficient enough (e.g. you want to call dad, just punch in 3-2-3 and it should be right there. Even works if you are looking for the phone number, etc.)
8) I use PocketPlayer together with an AD2P bluetooth headset (Jabra BT3030). Works quite well; skip, back, play, pause, pick up call and vol up/down work with this.
Hope that helps,
.-ombre-.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) I find 3G is fine for stand-by but uses more battery for talking, so it depends how you use your phone. However, its best to select the right bands for your country/region. this is in settings->phone->band select. Also make sure the key-lock is on. Settings -> key lock
2) yeah, chrome. Not full control as no HardSPL unfortunately
3) ..
4) you can try a free app that can reset, look on freewareppc for something like this:
http://www.freewareppc.com/utilities/schedulereset.shtml
5) have a look at handango. agenda one and pocket informant are good examples:
http://www.handango.com/catalog/Pro...&merch=L1_Bestsellers_Organization & Wellness
6) not sure if this still works:
http://www.modaco.com/content/pocket-pc-software/246171/new-free-utility-nodata/
7) nope
8) loads. free ones:
http://www.freewareppc.com/multimedia/mplayer_by_ajeetv.shtml
http://www.freewareppc.com/multimedia/gsplayer.shtml
or pay:
http://www.handango.com/catalog/Sof...eId=2056&platformId=110&categoryId=7638&nop=1
have fun
Thanks guys, you are really great.
Chrome seems a bit difficult for me, but I see there is a lot of feedback for it in this forum, so I'll give it a try.
Modaco NoData works fine until now. Although I had to disable "GPRS" "Internet" and "MMS" because if I let MMS enabled then Skyfire would open a data connection. That means I won't be receiving any MMS at all?
I'll check the players. Are there any "wired" headsets that also have buttons for "play, next, etc"?
Is there a compatibility issue with bluetooth stereo headsets or I can buy anything I want? (Although bluetooth consumes a lot of battery and I think I'd prefer a wired set).
Thanks again for your feedback
Corduroy-21 said:
Thanks guys, you are really great.
Chrome seems a bit difficult for me, but I see there is a lot of feedback for it in this forum, so I'll give it a try.
Modaco NoData works fine until now. Although I had to disable "GPRS" "Internet" and "MMS" because if I let MMS enabled then Skyfire would open a data connection. That means I won't be receiving any MMS at all?
I'll check the players. Are there any "wired" headsets that also have buttons for "play, next, etc"?
Is there a compatibility issue with bluetooth stereo headsets or I can buy anything I want? (Although bluetooth consumes a lot of battery and I think I'd prefer a wired set).
Thanks again for your feedback
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MMS uses normal data, so is effected by anything that effects data
Wired play, next and volume (you can use your own headphones)
http://www.htcaccessorystore.com/uk/p_htc_item.aspx?i=172192
"Bluetooth® 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate and A2DP for stereo wireless headsets"
That's what I'm talking about, thanks a lot
Any experience with CHome Configurator? I've added a panel but I the icons appear only when in Landscape mode.
Corduroy-21 said:
That's what I'm talking about, thanks a lot
Any experience with CHome Configurator? I've added a panel but I the icons appear only when in Landscape mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nah
i like the std menu
its a question of remembering the numbers on wm sp
for example, lock keyboard is top button->2
just as fast as, say, nokia, left smart->*
my 2 cents
colonel said:
for example, lock keyboard is top button->2
just as fast as, say, nokia, left smart->*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Numbers are great - nevertheless, it this case hold End Call button is much faster and convenient, IMHO...
Yeah, I use the hold end key too.
The power key is way to up and I'm lazy.
Standard menu is good, however I needed shortcuts to some applications and I made them (for example MP3 player, FM Radio, Resco etc) in a new panel. But there are some problems with the icons. I saw other s740 users complaining about that in the CHome topics and I was curious if someone has made it work.
Corduroy-21 said:
Yeah, I use the hold end key too.
The power key is way to up and I'm lazy.
Standard menu is good, however I needed shortcuts to some applications and I made them (for example MP3 player, FM Radio, Resco etc) in a new panel. But there are some problems with the icons. I saw other s740 users complaining about that in the CHome topics and I was curious if someone has made it work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, one possibility is to extract the icon from the corresponding exe (use xn resource editor for example). Me for one, I just use the speed dial function. e.g. press and hold 5 on home screen brings up resco explorer. yes, you'd have to remember a couple of numbers, but i find it faster than flicking through a dozen links in a panel to find the prog i need.
I mostly use the speed dials for contacts.
However I found a solution for the problem (not a full solution) with CHome. To whoever might be interested:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=3945973&postcount=28
Solution for the Icon Panels and semi-solution for pictures.
I have a couple of other questions.
First of all in the "Call History" I only see the numbers or the contacts of my phone calls. However there is neither the time, nor the date, something I find annoying. Is there a solution ?
Second, I will buy another stereo headset for listening to music. I noticed that when I have bluetooth turned on the battery lasts less. Would a bluetooth stereo headset be very power consuming? Has anyone used one? Should I buy a regular headset like the one from colonel's link above?
And also, are the HTC headsets good or should I check out other brands too?
In Call History, select a contact and click the centre navigational button to bring up a list of calls for that contact.
Regarding the locking of S740 keypad via invoking the power button and pressing 2, the quicklist process is actually running as a result. Not much of a problem, but you may wanna reduce the no. of processes running on the phone.
Thanks, not the best thing but surely something of a solution.
I discovered a problem the past few days. The clock has changed time twice. Any idea ?
It changed both time zone and time (showing a random,wrong time even for the new time zone). Has anyone experienced something like that ?
Corduroy-21 said:
...The clock has changed time twice. Any idea ?
It changed both time zone and time (showing a random,wrong time even for the new time zone). Has anyone experienced something like that ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've experienced this once, but with a Nokia.
My phone clock was set on automatic and it changed several times during a few days. I expect the cause was the phonecompany.
AVE...
I'm using stereo headset from Samsung, and I have Bluetooth active all the time. Didn't made a big difference for me. But whatever I tried I still wasn't able to make Pocket Player compatible with control buttons on my headset...
CHome Configurator didn't worked well for me. In fact it didn't worked at all...
For now I'm playing around with voice commands...These are great for launching apps...
BTW, I had to disable HDSPA, since it turned on to transfer data without asking me for permission, and my operator has a lot bigger fees for HDSPA, than for GPRS...
Any idea about the MMS receiving size? Although there is an option for changing the MMS size for the ones you send (from 100k to 300k), I didnt find anything for incoming MMS. I already have some MMS which I cannot use because it tells me that the exceed the receiving size I have set. Any idea about that?
Is there any way that when I use Windows Live Messenger the stupid thing doesnt transfer all my MSN contacts to my contacts? I don't need that. The sync options in Windows Live are greyed out and I can't change them
Edit: I found the solution for Messenger here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=513643
However in the process I lost all my Messenger contacts from my PC, which I saved by the trick mentioned in the topic above
MMS: It's simple - limits are set by operator. Check settings as declared by definitions of your tariff/custom settings.
Will do, although as I said I changed my limit to 300k for sending while it seems I cannot accept larger than 100k files.
I'll check it out and see.
These are logically two diferent variables. What want to send is your choice per case. What your phone will receive directly, you have to pay for amount of data. And you have no other control as the limit. Therefore default settings for reception are rather conservative.
Something else, is there any way to change the "low battery" notification? It is on 20% and I would like to lower that because I think 20% is way too high.
I really want to improve the battery life of my Hero as at the moment it only lasts about a day.
What would you say are the best 'battery life saving tips'
Thanks!
I don't have 10 saving tips, but turning off wifi and roaming internet will probably save some battery power and only use them when needed. lock screen after a 1 minute is probably another tip that will go along way.
ddind to what tweedie suggested: Turn GPS off when not using.
All those tips might make battery last 5 minutes longer or thereabout!
Personally I have found that the following settings suit me:
Internet- always on (for calendar and email updates)
Phone set to 2G (GSM)- I switch to 3G manually when actively using internet
Bluetooth off unless I'm actively using it
Wi-Fi off unless I'm actively using it
GPS off unless I'm actively using it
Just to let you know - turning GPS off or on is reliant on the application you use.
ie, if you turn GPS on and dont use a program which requires GPS, then GPS wont be activated.
But for my two cents which i've read around:
- Turn off automatic weather updates
- Turn most schedule feeds to be at least 1 hour (twitter, email, facebook etc). The more the longer your battery will last
- Turn off 3G if not actively using internet (as mentioned above)
- Install "Spare Parts" to check which program is eating your battery the most and consider if its worth it or not
- Turn off contact sync after your initial setup on your phone. No need to keep syncing contacts when it doesn't change too often
Advanced Task Killer - Download and properly close apps down after using them. Shortcut on home for quick access
APNDroid - Disable data services (3G/GPRS/EDGE). Home screen widget for quick access
Battery Widget - Handy home screen widget showing battery life and also gives options for enabling/disabling WIFI, GPS and Bluetooth. Also display settings.
Disable auto synchronization on things like people (facebook integration), mail etc.
Screen timeout - 1 minute is normally adequate, but I suppose there's no harm in turning it down to as low as 15 seconds, just depends on how you use it.
Turning off animations? - Don't know about this but surely it won't use as much memory so can't be a bad thing. (Spare parts)
Basically everything is off unless I need it, then I switch it on.
Adam
Wifi. With wifi on all day and barely any usage of 2G, I'm down to the red zone. Without wifi and 2G all day with text, emails, web browsing, etc, I'm only down to about 80%.
Hey guys! I recently purchased my galaxy from Telus and I must say it's a lovely device. Just a few cons for me is that it's a bit big and the volume rocker button is pretty loose. Other than that everything is just perfect
I just have a few questions if people could take their spare time to help out
1) How do you disable data usage? I tried pulling down the notification bar but there is no data off/on switch, only wifi.
2) If say I have data and wifi simultaneity on, what will exactly happen? Will wifi take over and automatically shut off the data?
3) Is there a way to automatically stop the use of data by having a restriction set up so for example once I hit 980mb, I won't be able to use the data unless I override and make it possible to continue using it. (Is watchdog a perfect app for this?)
4) The wifi/data icon on the status bar, what does the orange arrow going down mean and the other arrow facing up? The arrow facing downwards for my wifi keeps blinking orange/hang and goes back to grey. (Does it mean there something downloading in the background?)
5) What are some ways to improve the battery life of the phone?
6) Is there a way to remove "ME" on the contact list?
7) When I charge the phone through my laptop, it doesn't heat up but through the wall, the charging brick is rather hot. Is this safe?
8) To open the back cover, do you just put your nail/finger tip through the back hole and just use brute force to rip it off or is there something else? I feel like I'm gonna break the cover or the little edge/dimples on the sides of the cover where it fits into the back :l
9) Is there any way to change the brightness through maybe the status bar (moving fingers from right to left increases brightness and vise versa for left to right?) or maybe through notification bar?
10) Also should I have the sync icon on at all times in the notification bar?
11) Also is samsung kies needed? Whats the benefit of having it?
12) I really appreciate the help guys, and last not but least, what are some useful/"needed/essential" apps to help or make life easier for the phone?
This is my first smartphone as I've been using my old lg chocolate for some time now and it just incredible how diverse the android os is but at the same time confusing and stressful to add what and such. I have so many things I want to do with the phone atm but stressful to figure out what to do in order lol.
I'm planning on rooting the phone after I save the contacts to my google.
Thanks everyone!
Read, Read, Read and Search some more
Make sure you read what I wrote at the bottom too...
1) Disable by going into settings>mobile networks>data enabled (check or uncheck)
2) Disable data usage for a set limit under settings>more>set data limit. This will turn off mobile data when the limit you set is reached.
3) Answered in 2.
4) Wifi turned on and connected means your data is only going across wifi network, cell data no being used.
5) Improved battery life is really achieved through a new rom and kernel. Anything else is really a gimmick, except screen brightness.
6) Not that I'm aware of.
7) The wall charger charges at a higher rate/higher rating so that will always make sense. It's fine.
8) Yes
9) Not on stock unless you have a custom theme or locker app. Just root and use a different rom (Task650's is always the best IMO).
10) You probably have a sync error. Go to settings>Accounts and Sync and look through your account to see what is going on. THere may be one item checked that needs to be unchecked and rechecked.
11) Kies will install the proper drivers but depending on what you need now, it's not really a necessity. More info.
12) Swype Beta
YOU ARE REALLY NEW TO ALL THIS SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO READ FOR A MONTH BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT TO ROOT ANYTHING. THE QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ASKED ARE SO BASIC I'M WORRIED YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO BRICK YOUR DEVICE. YOU NEED TO SPEND A LOT MORE TIME READING. USE THE SEARCH BUTTON... ALL THE ANSWERS I GAVE YOU ARE EXPLAINED BUT YOU HAVE TO READ AND FIND THEM. These guys will chew you up Noob if you're not careful. Read read read.
With time you'll get to root and flash all day, but until you have the basics down, spend your time on here reading. That's what I did and ever day I learn something new.
tstern0112 said:
Make sure you read what I wrote at the bottom too...
1) Disable by going into settings>mobile networks>data enabled (check or uncheck)
2) Disable data usage for a set limit under settings>more>set data limit. This will turn off mobile data when the limit you set is reached.
3) Answered in 2.
4) Wifi turned on and connected means your data is only going across wifi network, cell data no being used.
5) Improved battery life is really achieved through a new rom and kernel. Anything else is really a gimmick, except screen brightness.
6) Not that I'm aware of.
7) The wall charger charges at a higher rate/higher rating so that will always make sense. It's fine.
8) Yes
9) Not on stock unless you have a custom theme or locker app. Just root and use a different rom (Task650's is always the best IMO).
10) You probably have a sync error. Go to settings>Accounts and Sync and look through your account to see what is going on. THere may be one item checked that needs to be unchecked and rechecked.
11) Kies will install the proper drivers but depending on what you need now, it's not really a necessity. More info.
12) Swype Beta
YOU ARE REALLY NEW TO ALL THIS SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO READ FOR A MONTH BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT TO ROOT ANYTHING. THE QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ASKED ARE SO BASIC I'M WORRIED YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO BRICK YOUR DEVICE. YOU NEED TO SPEND A LOT MORE TIME READING. USE THE SEARCH BUTTON... ALL THE ANSWERS I GAVE YOU ARE EXPLAINED BUT YOU HAVE TO READ AND FIND THEM. These guys will chew you up Noob if you're not careful. Read read read.
With time you'll get to root and flash all day, but until you have the basics down, spend your time on here reading. That's what I did and ever day I learn something new.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well for better battery life try turning off the motion activated actions within the settings. I found that I can easily add about another hour of total usage once disabling these. Turn off smart stay as well. Also if your going to use google chrome, going into the settings and turn off enable tilt scrolling
what is the best way to save
battery?
If you don't get urgent calls or no calls at all (like me) then while using you phone put it in flight mode
Also install a task killer you like from the market and kill all the processes you don't need (maps,play service) or go to settings and force stop them
And if you are addicted to your mobile (like me) then plug the charger with extention wire or give up your addiction
Sent from my A11 using xda app-developers app
Put this together a long time ago and it was for the Motorola Droid Bionic. Hopefully some of the items will help you:
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If you are having short battery life here’s a list of things that can help. Just read through the list and select the items that fit with the way you want to use your phone. Not all items will work for everyone and this list was written for the Droid Bionic but most should work for your phone too:
- Don't use an automatic task killer--not even the one that comes with the phone. Reboot your phone and look at what's running. If anything that you've installed is running and there's no reason for it, then uninstall it and find an alternative that behaves. Ignore any stock apps that run on boot as I've found them to be more or less benign.
- Weather widgets, live wallpapers, news/social feeds, any app or service that you use that runs--do without it if you can. If you can’t do without it, lengthen it’s refresh time.
- Don't use antivirus
- Set your WIFI sleep policy to never. The default is "turn off when screen turns off". This will cause the wifi to reconnect every time you open the phone. From any Home Screen select Menu/Settings/Wireless & Networks/ and then use the Menu button to see some new options - select Advanced. Then select Wifi Sleep Policy and set it to Never. Home key to return to Home Screen.
- If you have access to wifi, leave it toggled on as it is more efficient than 3G. Wifi consumes less battery power than 3G.
- I leave GPS toggled on too by the way. Apps use it as needed. When I'm done with Maps or an app that uses it, I'm sure to return to the home screen so GPS can stop. Under wireless settings turn on "Google location services" so that an app is able to use network resources to get your location instead of GPS. I have "VZW location services" turned off--don't know why that option is even there. By the way, I increase the speed of voice output > text to speech > speech rate because I like the directions to get spit out faster. That saves a bit of battery. Turning off the display and just listening for directions help. Also, often I just get the directions and then exit back to the home screen: GPS uses so much battery I try to get it over with ASAP.
- I have my battery set to "Performance Mode" and data is on all the time because I am on call 24x7. If you don't mind, try out a more conservative battery profile to save more gobs of energy.
- Set screen brightness to "Automatic"
- Under Accounts, click on any account listed and turn off sync for any items that you're not interested in syncing. For example, Google Books if you don't use it.
- Don't use Backup Assistant--I prefer syncing my contacts with Google. You don't need both. Also go into your contacts > menu > display options > backup assistant > UNCHECK. Also do contacts > menu > more > settings > contact storage > and select your Google account and "remember this choice"
- Turn on Bluetooth only when you are going to use it.
- Consider turning off voice privacy. This may not be a big deal but it will save some processing (and therefore battery). It may also improve call quality.
-Turn off haptic feedback, animations, and any un-needed sounds in Android settings and in your apps
- Set your screen timeout to as low a time as you can stand (I use 1 minute) and manually turn the screen off when you’ve finished using the phone.
- Turn off in-pocket detection. In-Pocket Detection has been the source of many issues already.
- Keyboard: turn off vibrate on key press and sounds for any keyboards you use
- Use a red or black screen background. On the original Droid screen--not sure about this Bionic screen--red was the most efficient color that could be displayed. To save maximum battery, in regards to wallpaper, install app “No Wallpaper”. It will allow you to select No Wallpaper as your wallpaper. The screen background will be totally black.
- Camera app: I like keeping location on and flash on auto. Consider turning location off or at least returning to the home screen ASAP when using camera if location for camera is on.
- In stock browser the default home page is Google and it uses your location. This is a bad idea as it can waste your battery for no reason. Make something else your home page and make sure to close any web page that uses your location when you're done viewing it.
- Charge your phone via the wall charger instead of computer USB as it is faster. Also, don't use long USB cords -- use regular power extension cords instead. I stick with the charger that came with the phone. Put the phone on charger when you go to bed every night.
- Consider installing the Home Replacement app Zeam. It is basic app that uses very few resources and will help with battery power.
- Emails: I don't know what email app you use, but try this. It saves battery power and in some cases emails arrive quicker. This scheme will have you using only the Gmail app on the phone for all email accounts whether they are pop3 accounts or Gmail. Using Gmail as your own personal push mail server
- If you are using Live Wall Papers, stop!
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This is a link to some very good videos about saving battery power on the Bionic (there are 4 parts and the other parts will show up as available videos when part 1 finishes):
Battery Saving Video
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cvWg7SbUgsI
If battery life is still bad: Consider doing a factory reset (Galaxy Nexus users beware!! A Factory Reset will wipe your sdcard of everything – backup accordingly): These have gotten pretty painless lately by following these simple steps: 1. Make sure Backup and Restore are checked in the Privacy setting. 2. When going through the setup after the reset, turn on wifi as soon as you can (assuming it is available). 3. After you have entered your Gmail account info, you will be presented with a screen that has two check boxes. Basically they are "Do you want Google to backup and restore this phone”. Make sure you check both of those. Your apps will then automatically reinstall (paid and free). Set the phone aside for a minute or two and let the apps download and install. 4. If rooted, use an app such as titanium backup to restore data only to select apps such as Tapatalk and you will not have to re-enter all your login information. I do this for 3-4 apps (Tapatalk, SPB Shell, etc.).
I've been flashing new roms/updates about once per day lately and I can be up and running with all my apps and settings back in place in less than 15 minutes. It's pretty painless now.
I have a somewhat complex question, and I am hoping that someone knows a good approach or apps that I can use.
I have Android devices in multiple rooms around my house, primarily set up as clocks, all on the home wi-fi network, of course. I have a primary phone, a couple of retired phones with wi-fi only, a couple of tablets with wi-fi only. (My eventual goal is to have them all connected together for several purposes, including an intercom system; this current project is a stepping stone.)
I have reminder alarms that go off all day long. Due to physical problems, the ability to control an alarm remotely is very handy.
I used to have the reminder alarms on my chumby, and I could ssh into that and control the alarm. I could change the alarm time, snooze, turn alarms on or off, etc. I used to just ssh into the chumby, then leave that konsole open on a virtual desktop on the linux machine, and switch to it when I needed to access the chumby. I also had an android remote control for it, very spiffy.
Sometimes, though, I was in another room and I didn't hear it. Problematic.
Yes, my obvious solution is to put all the alarms on my phone and carry it with me all the time. Except if I were the sort of person who has a mind like a steel trap, I wouldn't _need_ the reminder alarms in the first place It doesn't help much if the phone alarm is going off and it's three rooms away. Either I won't hear it, or I'll have to get up to shut it off, and I might not be able to.
So here's what I'd like to do:
* For each alarm, ALL the android devices sound off.
* Snoozing or dismissing the alarm from one device snoozes or dismisses the entire alarm (they all stop making noise, and they all start again when the snooze is up).
* Snooze or dismiss the alarms from my linux box with the same effects as from the android devices.
* Have some way to direct the alarms to just my phone until further notice--when I am going to be out of the house, I'll still need those reminder alarms, and the poor dogs don't need to deal with alarms sounding for hours until I get home.
1) It seems like the easiest way to manage this would be to set up something like a streaming media server on the linux box, and have it play on each of the android devices at times set up in a crontab. I *think* it was possible to stream media through multiple chumbies at the same time, so surely it's possible to do it through multiple android devices? Yes?
But I don't know how to use one to snooze a program set off by a crontab. I also don't know how to divert all the alarms to my phone [for use when leaving the house] if the alarms are primarily controlled by a linux server at home. I don't think my wi-fi reaches that far.
2) It seems like the next-most easy way to do this would be some kind of script that remotely controls the various android devices, but I have no idea where to start. I do know that you can access the terminal on an android phone, you can write shell scripts, and that you can ssh into phones if you have the right apps. What I don't know is how to control the android alarms from the command line or how to synchronize media on multiple devices.
Again, I'd want to snooze/dismiss alarms from any of the android devices on the wi-fi network, or from my linux computer.
I'd want to be able to turn off all alarms except the primary phone occasionally. It'd be awesome if the other devices could automatically detect if the phone were on the network, and only sound if it were present.
3) Other options? Are there apps or programs or scripts or methods that I don't know about, that would make this easy-peasy? Am I fretting when there is already a solution?
Thank you.
Bump? Please? Anyone? Anything?
Well, I'm just throwing my thoughts out there. This definitely sounds like a difficult task.
I assume that you are not able to write your own android apps, neither am I. So we just can't build our own solution.
I don't have an idea that solves all your questions, but I have some ideas for some of them.
Regarding your need to change the behavior if you leave your perimeter:
There are apps that can trigger predetermined tasks based on your location (wifi, GPS, etc), so you could use that.
You definitely need some kind of Webserver, connecting your phone to the other devices when you're on UMTS.
There are apps like "Android lost" that enable you to remotely control your devices, for example triggering alarms, etc. Maybe you could put that into some use.
Regarding your idea with the streaming server:
Could you set up all the devices so they start playing as soon as the server starts streaming? Maybe let vlc constantly run listening to your server on all the devices. Or a Internet radio is probably better because it can run in the background playing "silence" the whole time.
Create a shortcut on all devices to send a command to the server to stop the streaming, those servers should be manageable through ssh.
Install a normal alarm on your phone. Combine this with the location based triggering, so it is only turned on while your outside your house. Have a shortcut on your phone to manage the server and the house alarms as well.
I think this might work and should be actually be possible to realize.
I know this is not well written at all and not really in a straight line, I just made it up on the fly.
I'll try to turn it into a Tl;dr
1. Set up Internet radio server on your home network.
2. Tune all house devices in to said server.
3. Play alarms over Internet radio
4. Use command shortcuts to turn off alarm
5. Use app to automatically toggle the alarm on your phone based on your location.
6.???
7.profit
Let me know what you think, especially if it was any help at all. I like projects like that!
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Okay, great, that is really helpful and gives me a place to start Thank you!
I do have Tasker, and I'm willing to buy other apps if they look like they'd help, but I think Tasker is probably going to be my biggest help with the location detection.
I do not have any idea how to tell Tasker "turn off alarms on [primary phone] phone if [home network] is detected, turn on X, Z, and Q alarms if [home network] is not detected." I've played around a bit with it and realized that getting Tasker to execute specific actions with other programs--in this case, Alarm Clock Xtreme--is really kind of obscure, if it's even possible. It must be possible, yeah?
--Wait, is there an alarm clock for the Alarm Control Freak that will *also* detect [home network]? I loooove the way I can use Alarm Clock Extreme: unlimited numbers of preprogrammed alarms, just toggle the ones I need; all kind of options with respect to what happens when the alarm goes off, choice of snooze duration, etc etc. If there's one like that that _also_ has the option to detect location, that would be awesomeness.
Or...hmmm...I suppose I could have it freeze Alarm Clock Xtreme if it's on [home network] but activate it if it's off. I really do have to get around to rooting the phone, I suppose.
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Do you have any suggestions for what to use for streaming from the house server, and what apps to use for receiving the streaming? Oh, I see you mentioned VLC (for some reason my brain parsed that as VPN); I'll look into that.
I think if there's a decent app for listening to streaming (suggestion welcome!), and the server can stream to all the devices at once, I can probably figure out how to use just one device to ...mute the server? (With the app itself, or a shortcut, or a short ssh script maybe.) Since they all need to be listening 24/7, muting is the thing to do, right? If I turn off the server, that could make them disconnect or stop listening, right?
I still need a snooze mechanism, though. Among other things, sometimes I need to postpone whatever the reminder alarm is going off for; sometimes I need it to help me keep track of the passing of time after the alarm goes off. It's complicated. I need to be able to snooze.
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Question: In this setup, how do we prevent the alarms from going off on all the devices when the primary phone has left the house? I can see how we get the alarms on the primary phone TO go off, but not how we turn off the streaming alarms. I mean, I don't know how to tell the server to stop serving if it can't detect [primary phone]; is that possible?
It's not that I object to music playing when I'm not home. It's that if the dogs wake up while I'm gone, they'll need to pee. I'd really, really like not to have to clean that up every time I leave
Hm. A kind of bulky and inefficient way to do it could be turning off the streaming on the devices. Perhaps have them turn off the streaming app when the phone leaves the network, and then start it up again when they detect it again.
This is slightly problematic, because my house has very, very, VERY bad reception inside. We have to have a repeater (effectively a second network) for The Spouse's computer, which is FIFTEEN FEET from the wi-fi router. With no walls between. Really, really terrible reception. My phone drops off the wifi network, and immediately reconnects, dozens of times in a day. So does my laptop.
Soooooo I probably need a better metric than "is [primary phone] visible on wifi? No? TURN IT ALL OFF!" Maybe this is better: "Has [primary phone] been off the network for 15 minutes? Okay! TURN IT ALL OFF!" But reconnecting would still be a bit of a pain, unless the other devices only check for re-connections when the streaming app is already off. Hmmmm. I suppose they could check, say, 20 minutes before an alarm is due to go off, then 5 minutes before, and otherwise not check at all.
Except that, drat, it's the server that knows the alarm times, not the devices. They're _mostly_ on the hour, but not always. And what if I forget and it's partway through a "snooze" when I'm heading out the door? They should definitely shut off rather than continue once the snooze duration is up.
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Nuts, it looks like this is not going to be the jumping-off point for a whole-house intercom system the way I hoped it would be. Not if everything is strung though the server, which is only working with streaming media. I could really, really use that intercom system. I just want to be able to touch a shortcut on one device and have all the rest of them repeat whatever that device hears. Then tap it again [to stop broadcasting] and let someone else respond, if they want to, from another device, the same way.
This will eventually need to reach to an outbuilding, with either a cat6 line run to it or a wireless repeater, so bluetooth won't do. I'm wondering if Skype set up to call all the other devices in the house would do it, but I want push to talk, not push to dial. (Not to mention the pain in the neck of giving each wi-fi only device a whole voip setup.)
(The various intercom apps I've tried don't work very well. The first time one of the devices leaves the home network, they never seem to reconnect and accept transmissions again. Even the apps that are _supposed_ to work if they have ANY kind of reception, including mobile data or other wifi networks.)
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You've given me a lot to think about, thank you. But I know I am not there yet. I am wide open to further suggestions, for mechanisms, for apps, for anything!
Just a quick reply to signal you that I'm still there
I, hopefully, will come back later with a more detailed answer.
Regarding your WiFi connection problems, are you living in an area with a lot of different wireless networks present? Because this sounds to me like the channel your WiFi router is set to is already overcrowded. At such a close distance, as you described, there should be excellent reception. Unless other signals interfere, causing your mentioned frequent disconnects.
Solution: Download the free app "WiFi Analyzer" from the market and run it to see if other networks are causing interferences.
Regards, Ichwillquark
ichwillquark said:
Regarding your WiFi connection problems, are you living in an area with a lot of different wireless networks present?
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Click to collapse
Ah, no, actually. Quite the opposite. We're way out and surrounded by non-technically-minded people. We're the only wireless network anywhere near here, according to, for example, OpenSignalMaps and The Spouse's various wardriving type apps. Hm, pretty sure he uses Wifi Analyzer too, actually.
It's the freaking HOUSE. We can't get _any_ reception inside; not wifi, not cell, not radio, not TV. Go three steps outside the house and we have crystal-clear cell and radio reception. We've _tried_ to change "channels" on the wifi router, change routers, change DSL modem, all kinds of things; nothing works. It's the freaking house.
Being so remote is part of the problem. I have reminder alarms that go off all day; if I leave, I am gone ALL day. The poor dogs!
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Thanks for bouncing the signal and letting me know you still exist I do too. Would love to hear anything else you have to suggest. [Hey! I think I finally hit the minimum post limit necessary for being able to click "thanks!" Spiffy!]
I don't know how helpful to you this could be, but Timely, a recently created alarm clock app has alarm syncing. I don't know to which extent (snooze sync?) but it might be worth inquiring to the creator(s).
There's a trial function too from what I can remember, but after that you will need to purchase whichever functions you'd like to keep.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ch.bitspin.timely
If this suits you, I imagine it would be more convenient than a convoluted Tasker task.
polobunny said:
Timely, a recently created alarm clock app has alarm syncing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"Manage, dismiss and snooze alarms on all your devices at once"
Oooooooh, that sounds WONderful!
That does sound a lot easier than running a media stream from a server, and working out scripts to snooze or dismiss.
I don't _see_ any mention of anything except a ringtone for the alarm sound, either on Play or on their website. I'll try it out and see.
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The Tasker [or some other location detection] looks like it's still going to be necessary, though, and I still don't know how to do it. I need to disable the alarms on ALL the other devices when I--and the primary phone--leave the house. But the alarms on the primary phone still need to go off.
So I do still need some way for [something] to detect the phone, and to disable the alarms on [everything else] when it leaves the house.
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Oh, POOP. Timely is not *compatible* with some of the devices.
Those are rooted Sensations with ancient versions of Android. If I put updated ROMs on them, will they be able to handle more recent apps? I mean, they can't even get Google Play, currently, they're still using Market. We didn't want to mess with them, because re-setting up a phone is annoying enough once, and we _thought_ they had all the apps they were going to need.
elfchick said:
Oh, POOP. Timely is not *compatible* with some of the devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I might be wrong, but this might be just because the resolution of some of your devices is not supported. Which doesn't necessarily mean that the app won't work just fine, it's just the market trying to safe you from an inconvenient user experience. A possible workaround would be to download the app on a supported device, extract the apk, and then install them on the unsupported ones.
Other workaround would be to get an app that spoofs the information that is send to the market about your device's resolution. I just read about this possibility today. The xposed framework has an applet that does that.
Interesting about the possibilities of getting an app installed without the Market's "approval"; I'll try that if Timely responds to the questions I sent them. And hey, if it's just that I have a really old ROM on there...well, it might be worth updating the version of Android on those phones anyway.
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I just read about NFC tags, and I wonder if I could use them for this. Apparently you can buy NFC tags and program your phone to recognize them. So you can, for example, save battery by tapping the phone to a pre-programmed NFC tag on your door as you are leaving, and the phone will turn off wi-fi.
Perhaaaaaaaps I could use this in some way to turn off alarms in the house as I am leaving. Tap the NFC tag, a script disables the alarms on everything but [primary phone]. Tap it again when I get home, re-enable the alarms. That way nothing has to be constantly checking for the presence of [primary phone]. I can be scatterbrained, but if I put it by my keys I *should* manage to see it and remember to tap it, and tap it again when I get home and put my keys away.
Very intriguing. This seems like it _might_ be something I can script. As soon as I figure out just what I need to do to disable and re-enable alarms automatically.
Don't forget it's necessary for your phone to be NFC enabled. So definitely the Sensation cannot use the NFC directly, don't know which phone is your primary so that's to consider.
polobunny said:
Don't forget it's necessary for your phone to be NFC enabled. So definitely the Sensation cannot use the NFC directly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, thanks The Sensations were retired this year when we replaced them with HTC Ones, so not a problem. I thought it'd be more clear, though, throughout the thread, if I use phrasing with descriptors like [primary phone] instead of expecting people to rmemeber which of my devices is which. (I found this thread hilarious; I could almost have been the one who wrote it: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2486180 ...very helpful.)
I'm thinking touch the NFC tag on the way out and the way in, and [...profit?] the HTC One somehow sends signals to the other devices to disable/re-enable their alarms. Don't know how to do this yet, but it seems like a MUCH better idea than having all the other devices constantly scanning the network to make sure they can find [primary phone]. Especially since they might be trying to find it while it's temporarily disconnected.
Hey elfchick, just following up as you mentioned that syncing multiple devices for an Alarm clock app was just a first step and I was wondering if you had taken this concept any further?
I've got several unusual ideas about setting up tablets as Home Automation devices and wondered if you had taken this idea any further.
Thanks, Earl