Lookout phone app and battery usage

[Rob Jones]

Lookout seems to be a

 

[Pygathrix]

If there is no app using GPS, then it does not use any power. You can tell because the GPS icon will only come on when you open maps for example, even if you leave it switched on all the time. I didn't believe this at first, but now I just leave it on in the background and I get good battery life. (I also have Lookout running).

 

[Rob Jones]

If there is no app using GPS, then it does not use any power. You can tell because the GPS icon will only come on when you open maps for example, even if you leave it switched on all the time. I didn't believe this at first, but now I just leave it on in the background and I get good battery life. (I also have Lookout running).

Pygathrix, when I switch on the GPS the icon appears in the top brower position of the phone and the two green bands start flashing telling me its on. But as far as I know I have no apps open. Are you suggesting I do

Something is going on because it drained 1/3 of my battery whilst the phone was idle for four hours today

 

[Pygathrix]

Have you looked in settings>applications>manage applications>running to see if there is something running in the background which would use GPS?

 

[garryknight]

This can happen if you've got your Location setting to use GPS satellites as well as wireless networks. If you switch that off, you can switch the GPS on (using the power control widget, say) but the receiver won't be on until an app (such as the map) uses it, in which case, you'll see the icon in the notification bar come on and go off when you leave the app.

So you can leave the GPS on 'standby' until you need it. And if any of your apps need the location to be more finely-tuned than aGPS through the wireless network, you can enable that in the Location setting while you're using that app and then disable it afterwards. Typical apps where this might be useful include Foursquare and Gowalla.

Of course, you could just leave the GPS off all the time and only enable it manually when you need it. This way, you'll not only potentially save battery, you also won't be quite so locatable if you accidentally install an app that's a little too nosy.

 

[Eris Ed]

My GPS icon in the notification bar only appears when an app is using it, so there's no battery use by having it turned on when no apps are using geo-location. Some of my widgets, such as weather, have the option to find my location using the mobile network of GPS, and I have them set to network.

 

[SUroot]

This can happen if you've got your Location setting to use GPS satellites as well as wireless networks. If you switch that off, you can switch the GPS on (using the power control widget, say) but the receiver won't be on until an app (such as the map) uses it, in which case, you'll see the icon in the notification bar come on and go off when you leave the app.

So what app is causing that? I am set to use GPS satellites, but the icon only appears when an app is actively using GPS.

 

[riki1kenobi]

This can happen if you've got your Location setting to use GPS satellites as well as wireless networks

Makes no difference. All the widget does is switch GPS on and off in Location.

As has been said, IF the GPS is being used it is because an app is requesting it. IF it is causing battery drain then you have an errant app that is constantly using the GPS.

This is one of the main reasons I dont install apps that requires location data when it shouldnt.

To OP, I would go through the apps you have running and see which ones are using location.

From home screen - Menu>Settings>Applications>Manage Apps>(either go into downloaded or running) then click on each app and scroll down to bottom to the list of permissions.

I would go through the running apps and start with the ones you have downloaded first.....

 

[Rob Jones]

Makes no difference. All the widget does is switch GPS on and off in Location.

As has been said, IF the GPS is being used it is because an app is requesting it. IF it is causing battery drain then you have an errant app that is constantly using the GPS.

This is one of the main reasons I dont install apps that requires location data when it shouldnt.

To OP, I would go through the apps you have running and see which ones are using location.

From home screen - Menu>Settings>Applications>Manage Apps>(either go into downloaded or running) then click on each app and scroll down to bottom to the list of permissions.

I would go through the running apps and start with the ones you have downloaded first.....

riki1kenobi

So when I get to permissions and I see (in orange type) Your Location fine(GPS)location, that means its using my GPS? Is that correct?

For example Facebook uses my GPS the same as Calendar Storage and the likes of Call Confirm doesn't.

Is that correct? Am I on the right track?

 

[Rob Jones]

This can happen if you've got your Location setting to use GPS satellites as well as wireless networks. If you switch that off, you can switch the GPS on (using the power control widget, say) but the receiver won't be on until an app (such as the map) uses it, in which case, you'll see the icon in the notification bar come on and go off when you leave the app.

So you can leave the GPS on 'standby' until you need it. And if any of your apps need the location to be more finely-tuned than aGPS through the wireless network, you can enable that in the Location setting while you're using that app and then disable it afterwards. Typical apps where this might be useful include Foursquare and Gowalla.

Of course, you could just leave the GPS off all the time and only enable it manually when you need it. This way, you'll not only potentially save battery, you also won't be quite so locatable if you accidentally install an app that's a little too nosy.

Gary, Ill need the GPS if I want to run the Lookout app though

 

[lifeonmtv]

you can use tasker instead,

make a profile that will switch gps on, mobile internet on, lock the phone, and email you/sms you back the location of the phone when it receives the correct keyword in a text message.

furthemore, you can customize it to text you the location based on your network's towers if gps signal is unavailable (indoors), but then send you another one if gps signal is located (the thief steps outside)

if you need any help with it let me know and i can post up the profiles i set up for this purpose.

edit: once you've set that up you, can move on to setting up a bunch of other profiles for all sorts of different purposes, probably replacing the need for many of the apps you already have

 

[Rob Jones]

you can use tasker instead,

make a profile that will switch gps on, mobile internet on, lock the phone, and email you/sms you back the location of the phone when it receives the correct keyword in a text message.

furthemore, you can customize it to text you the location based on your network's towers if gps signal is unavailable (indoors), but then send you another one if gps signal is located (the thief steps outside)

if you need any help with it let me know and i can post up the profiles i set up for this purpose.

edit: once you've set that up you, can move on to setting up a bunch of other profiles for all sorts of different purposes, probably replacing the need for many of the apps you already have

If you could do that for me, it would be great. When you post the profiles/instructions don't worry about talking to me in layman's terms, I'm very new to all this

 

[fldude99]

I didn't know tasker could do that...getting back to lookout-does anyone use this to save phone contacts? Seems like all it does is save gmail contacts, which of course is silly, since they are already residing in gmail..

 

[sail4fun201]

If you want to see which app is using your GPS constantly, enable it and give it like 15 minutes. If the icon is really on for the whole time and your battery is dropping, go to the dialer and type this: *#*#4636#*#*

Go to battery history and then tap where it says other usage and go to gps usage. If your phone is plugged in, you'll need to change the other drop down to "Total since boot"

I have GPS on all the time and Lookout doesn't use it at all. Looks like you've got a rogue app.

 

[lifeonmtv]

I moved the Tasker steps to replace lookout it's own thread cause it was such a huge post,

Thread can be found here http://androidforums.com/android-applications/226070-tasker-phone-security-profiles.html

 

[lifeonmtv]

LOL now that I think about it, you can just get Tasker to enable Gps if lookout is running an turn it off on exit, that might work too

You could also just set the Gps to on for a specified time and trigger this via text message if you're set on using lookout.

 

[Rob Jones]

I

I have GPS on all the time and Lookout doesn't use it at all. Looks like you've got a rogue app.

Yes I removed a few apps from the instruction on this thread and all is well with Jonesy

No leaks

 

[nvrfgt343]

I only have mainstream apps on my Dinc, but when I ran Lookout my battery dropped dramatically. I uninstalled it, and my battery life improved immediately. Since it sounds like a configuration issue, I'd like to try it again. Can someone walk me through a proper setup for Lookout? Use small words, if possible...