Tasker FAQ thread
People have asked for a Tasker FAQ so I figured I'd make one. If you think this is useful enough to be stickied, please let the mods know. If you think this is useless enough that it should disappear, don't respond and it will.
Questions about Tasker:
WTF is Tasker?
Tasker is a productivity app that you can use to automate tasks within your phone. Let's say you use Google Navigation, but you don't have GPS turned on all the time because it's a battery hog. You could set up Tasker to turn on GPS when you launch Navigation and turn it off again when you exit the application. Tasker can pop up a menu of media programs when you plug in your headphones, turn your ringer down when you get to work, turn the call volume up when your friend who whispers calls, turn the call volume down when your boss who yells calls, launch your grocery list app when you pull into the parking lot of the store, turn on Bluetooth when you get in the car, help you find where you parked your car and read text messages to you as you receive them. These are just some of the many, many things you can do with Tasker.
How does Tasker work?
Tasker consists of profiles that have two parts - a context and a task. Think of it as a cause and effect. The context is the cause and the task is the effect. In the case of GPS turning on when Navigation launches the context is Navigation launching and the task (effect) is GPS turning on. You program a context and a task to create a profile. You can set up multiple contexts within a profile and multiple tasks as well. For example, you can say that you want your ringer off and vibrate on when you're at your office between 8-5. In this case you have two contexts (causes) - being at the office and the time of day being 8-5. You also have the two tasks (effects) - ringer down and vibrate on. All of this is within the same profile.
Does Tasker kill my battery life?
Depends. Most people report no impact at all in their battery life, but it depends on what contexts you're using. If you have a profile that launches Pandora when your headphones are plugged in, Tasker will constantly monitor your phone to see if headphones are plugged in. Obviously checking to see if your headphones are plugged in takes a miniscule ammount of battery life. If you have a profile that is dependent completely on your GPS location, Tasker will check your GPS location periodically and this could cause a power drain but no more than any other program dependent on your GPS location. Tasker is designed to be very power conservative. If you have a profile that's dependent on a GPS location between 8-5, Tasker won't check your location unless it's between 8-5. It checks the least power hungry requirement first.
How can I get Tasker?
Tasker is available in the market for about $6 USD or from the developer's web site at Tasker for Androidfor slightly less.
How hard is it to use?
There is definitely a learning curve as there is with any application, but it all depends on what you're trying to do. Having your media player pop up when you plug in your headphones is easy. Making Tasker chime the hour every hour, but only on alternate Tuesdays during August between the hours of 0300-0500 is a bit more complicated.
Can Tasker do task XYZ?
Probably yes. Search the Tasker wiki and you can probably find a solution.
Where can I find more information about Tasker?
Their are at least three places that have great information about Tasker.
Developer's site - Always a good place to start.
Tasker wiki - Great list of pre-created profiles and instructions and walkthroughs
Tasker Google group - Another good resource for news and information about the program.
I hope someone has found this FAQ somewhat useful.
People have asked for a Tasker FAQ so I figured I'd make one. If you think this is useful enough to be stickied, please let the mods know. If you think this is useless enough that it should disappear, don't respond and it will.
Questions about Tasker:
WTF is Tasker?
Tasker is a productivity app that you can use to automate tasks within your phone. Let's say you use Google Navigation, but you don't have GPS turned on all the time because it's a battery hog. You could set up Tasker to turn on GPS when you launch Navigation and turn it off again when you exit the application. Tasker can pop up a menu of media programs when you plug in your headphones, turn your ringer down when you get to work, turn the call volume up when your friend who whispers calls, turn the call volume down when your boss who yells calls, launch your grocery list app when you pull into the parking lot of the store, turn on Bluetooth when you get in the car, help you find where you parked your car and read text messages to you as you receive them. These are just some of the many, many things you can do with Tasker.
How does Tasker work?
Tasker consists of profiles that have two parts - a context and a task. Think of it as a cause and effect. The context is the cause and the task is the effect. In the case of GPS turning on when Navigation launches the context is Navigation launching and the task (effect) is GPS turning on. You program a context and a task to create a profile. You can set up multiple contexts within a profile and multiple tasks as well. For example, you can say that you want your ringer off and vibrate on when you're at your office between 8-5. In this case you have two contexts (causes) - being at the office and the time of day being 8-5. You also have the two tasks (effects) - ringer down and vibrate on. All of this is within the same profile.
Does Tasker kill my battery life?
Depends. Most people report no impact at all in their battery life, but it depends on what contexts you're using. If you have a profile that launches Pandora when your headphones are plugged in, Tasker will constantly monitor your phone to see if headphones are plugged in. Obviously checking to see if your headphones are plugged in takes a miniscule ammount of battery life. If you have a profile that is dependent completely on your GPS location, Tasker will check your GPS location periodically and this could cause a power drain but no more than any other program dependent on your GPS location. Tasker is designed to be very power conservative. If you have a profile that's dependent on a GPS location between 8-5, Tasker won't check your location unless it's between 8-5. It checks the least power hungry requirement first.
How can I get Tasker?
Tasker is available in the market for about $6 USD or from the developer's web site at Tasker for Androidfor slightly less.
How hard is it to use?
There is definitely a learning curve as there is with any application, but it all depends on what you're trying to do. Having your media player pop up when you plug in your headphones is easy. Making Tasker chime the hour every hour, but only on alternate Tuesdays during August between the hours of 0300-0500 is a bit more complicated.
Can Tasker do task XYZ?
Probably yes. Search the Tasker wiki and you can probably find a solution.
Where can I find more information about Tasker?
Their are at least three places that have great information about Tasker.
Developer's site - Always a good place to start.
Tasker wiki - Great list of pre-created profiles and instructions and walkthroughs
Tasker Google group - Another good resource for news and information about the program.
I hope someone has found this FAQ somewhat useful.