[REQ] GPS on/off apps

[UdvVrf]

Gingerbread doesn't allow apps to turn on/off GPS anymore (CM still does but it's missing some features for my device that I can't live without). Only system apps can do this these days.
As I use Tasker to automate a lot of stuff this quite sucks. I tried making Tasker a system app but the latest version still refuses to toggle GPS.

Thus my request: Could someone please create 2 tiny apps that just turn GPS on/off that can be moved to system and used by other apps to toggle that setting?

 

[amlothi]

I am running Gingervillain and Tasker still turns on/off my GPS.

Not sure what you are talking about.

 

[sitlet]

You can just put a small widget on one of your homescreens to quickly turn it on or off.

 

[UdvVrf]

I am running Gingervillain and Tasker still turns on/off my GPS.

Some custom ROMs have disable the limitation to GPS access that Google introduced with Gingerbread.

You can just put a small widget on one of your homescreens to quickly turn it on or off.

I know what I could do, but that's not what I was asking for.

 

[amlothi]

Thus my request: Could someone please create 2 tiny apps that just turn GPS on/off that can be moved to system and used by other apps to toggle that setting?

I don't think what you are asking for is as easy as you think it is.

 

[UdvVrf]

there's thousands of widgets out there, doing exactly that. So it can't be too hard.
It's just that I can't use these widgets as I need an app, not a widget.

 

[sitlet]

I really dont understand why you need an app, instead of just taking a half second to tap a widget, or just leave your gps on all the time.

 

[UdvVrf]

I really dont understand why you need an app, instead of just taking a half second to tap a widget, or just leave your gps on all the time.

It's called automation. If you ahve to do it multiple times a day it gets quite annoying and the time wasted grows as well (if you forgot to enable gps before starting google navigation it takes at least 5-10 seconds as you have to restart navigation).
and there's a number of usecases where you don't have access to the phone as well (phone lost, send sms to turn on gps and get location back, ...)

 

[sitlet]

Ok well there really isnt a way to do it. Why can't you just leave the gps on all the time?

 

[UdvVrf]

Ok well there really isnt a way to do it.

How come? As there's lots of widgets doing it, what keeps an app from doing it?

Why can't you just leave the gps on all the time?

1. GPS usage by background apps
2. GPS usage by e.g. Google Maps when I don't want it to (and no, having a prompt every time is not an option)
3. if the phone gets stolen and i remote-activate it the thief might have disabled it

 

[sitlet]

1. GPS usage by background apps

Background apps dont use gps unless YOU opened that app.

2. GPS usage by e.g. Google Maps when I don't want it to (and no, having a prompt every time is not an option)

Same thing, Maps will only use the gps when it's opened by you.

 

[UdvVrf]

Background apps dont use gps unless YOU opened that app.

Then please explain to me why sometimes when I'm just looking at my launcher the GPS icon shows in status bar.

Same thing, Maps will only use the gps when it's opened by you.

I never argued that. But not always when I open Maps I want it to use GPS. Actually, I hardly ever want it to use GPS, unless I'm in car mode and that's why I want car mode to enable GPS which is what I'd need that app for.

 

[sitlet]

Then please explain to me why sometimes when I'm just looking at my launcher the GPS icon shows in status bar.

If your gps is on, it will ALWAYS show in the status bar. Depending on what phone you have, there is usually a different icon when the gps is actually being used. Some phones its a separate icon, others the gps icon will just flash when in use.

But not always when I open Maps I want it to use GPS. Actually, I hardly ever want it to use GPS, unless I'm in car mode and that's why I want car mode to enable GPS which is what I'd need that app for.

Why wouldn't you want Maps to use gps? That's the whole point of it.

 

[UdvVrf]

If your gps is on, it will ALWAYS show in the status bar.

Nope, it doesn't. It only shows when an app is using it. Might be different on your phone though.

Why wouldn't you want Maps to use gps? That's the whole point of it.

When I just want to check where X is I don't need to know where I am on that Map.

 

[HTCandroid]

Not entirely sure what your looking for exactly but tasker works fine (although only tried on custom roms) and seekdroid turns on my gps if i want to locate it on a map (once again only tried on custom roms)

 

[UdvVrf]

Not entirely sure what your looking for exactly but tasker works fine (although only tried on custom roms)

Taskers GPS setting not working on stock ROMs is a known fact, even mentioned in the description: "Note: the GPS action doesn't work with a stock Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) ROM due to changes made by Google to Android. It's still usable on Cyanogen."
Sadly I don't have the option of using Cyanogen :-(