keeping the screen on when using google maps/gps?

[boatman]

Lots of time while driving in an area i am not familiar with, I just want to keep google maps up so I can double check where I am going/at. I am not using navigation or directions, just seeing how far I am from hwy, if there are other roads to bypass traffic, etc.

I normally just keep my phone at this point in the cupholder, and will pick it up at a red light to glance at it.

Of course, i have about 5 seconds as the light has already turned green, and of course, the screen has already blanked out. So now i have to hit the power button, hard to find with one hand and maybe the keybd is out, then unlock phone, etc.

I read some threads about diffeent programs, screebl, etc, but I just want that when google maps is up, the screen never blanks out. Ideally, it would be great if the screen dims, and if you touch it it comes back to full power, but that is the ultimate way. Just staying on is fine.

Thanks.

 

[square]

if it is plugged in, the screen will stay on.

i have the car dock and the app "setting profiles" to have the screen never timeout when in the dock (even if not plugged in). so if you don't have the dock, i guess you could use on of the dock simulator apps to accomplish the same thing.

 

[pbwhite]

Try the KeepScreen app.

 

[Shadowtech]

Hmm.. all I can think of atm is to install quick settings so you have quick access to the screen dimmer setting. Then when you get in your car just set it to never timeout. Or if you have it plugged in to a charger, you can just go into settings>applications>debugging> and enable stay awake when plugged in.

Edit: or use that app listed above.. =/

 

[mihalich]

This pisses me off too. Maps should keep the screen on even if you're not using navigation.

I use Settings Profiles to keep the screen on too.
Joe

 

[boatman]

good to know that if the screen is plugged in it will stay on (do I need to change a setting for that?)

but not normally plugged in, and don't have car dock. lots of time this happens when i have rental car, kind of familiar with area, but not intimate, which is why i want google maps up for reassurance.

ideally, this could be a setting for google maps. i really didn't want to have to remember to change some setting, or enable something everytime i get in the car, just want that google maps always keeps screen on. wonder if i can send this request in to google? shouldn't be such a big deal to add.

can you recommend any car dock simulators that work well? thanks for the responses!

 

[Jerm13]

I'm not intimately acquainted with it, but I don't see any reason KeepScreen app won't work flawlessly. Set it and forget it?

 

[mihalich]

The benefit of changing the setting would be if you wanted to do more than just keep the screen on, like: Change ringtones, change the ringer volume, turn on bluetooth, etc when you get in the car.

To have to go through that hoop to just keep the screen on, is a pain, but I think if you use it, you'll start using it for everything.

Keep Screen looks pretty cool too, since you can just keep it running, and only select the maps app to keep the screen on.

Joe

 

[tjreishus]

I use "screen stay". You can place a widget on your screen so that you can select your screen to stay on. Very quick and easy! One press and your screen stays on. When your done, one press and your screen goes back to your default timeout. Depending on how often you use it, you can place this on your first screen or on one of the side screens. I don't use it much so it's on a side screen for me. I mostly use it for when my wife is looking something up. She has the storm 2 and I race her when she is looking for something. I always win because the droid is soooo much faster at finding just about anything at all. When I find it I hand the phone over to her but she gets so mad when the screen times out. Sooooo, I found this widget to stop the timeout before I hand it to her.

Hope that helps

 

[dusttones]

get the car dock.

 

[allanlaw]

get the car dock.

Not a bad idea, given the present sale at Verizon. I put the Droid in the dock and plug in the power cord all the time. I leave Maps/GPS with the traffic layer on so I can see trouble spots before I get there (Los Angeles has pretty good traffic coverage, even on the surface streets). This also lets me see who's calling without a lot of fussing with the phone while driving. And the screen stays on without changing any settings.

 

[boatman]

get the car dock.

already have the droid holder with the suction cup to stick to windshield. I use this if I really have to navigate.

I am talking about situations where I only need to glance at phone occassionally. I hate to leave holder (maybe this is the car dock, but i doubt it) stuck to windshield as it is an invite for someone to break into car, even if phone is not there. Even when yout ake it down, it leaves circles on the windshield. But I am paranoid.

Thanks for the tips on the keepscreen, I will try that and widget one.

 

[del4]

I use "screen stay". You can place a widget on your screen so that you can select your screen to stay on. Very quick and easy! One press and your screen stays on. When your done, one press and your screen goes back to your default timeout.

Couldn't find anything with the name "screen stay" or a similarly-named widget that does what you said. Could you provide a link to this widget as it sounds like it could come in handy...

 

[Shadowtech]

Search the market for screen on by Konstantinos .. it looks for certain apps, which you can set, to see if they are running. If they are, it disables screen timeout, and when you end them, it will reenable. I haven't tested it, but the description sounds like what you are looking for.

 

[(G)]

if it is plugged in, the screen will stay on.

I don't believe this is true. I use a Bracketron to hold my Droid, and have it plugged into the charger. But like Boatman, my screen times out if you're not expressly "navigating" somewhere.

 

[Shadowtech]

I don't believe this is true. I use a Bracketron to hold my Droid, and have it plugged into the charger. But like Boatman, my screen times out if you're not expressly "navigating" somewhere.

It will stay on when plugged in if you go into Settings\Applications\Development\ and enable Stay Awake.

 

[(G)]

Search the market for screen on by Konstantinos .. it looks for certain apps, which you can set, to see if they are running. If they are, it disables screen timeout, and when you end them, it will reenable. I haven't tested it, but the description sounds like what you are looking for.

I downloaded this and will test it on the way home tonight! Thanks! Looks like a better option than changing the system settings, because I don't want the Droid to stay on every time it's plugged in, just when using Maps.

I'll report back.

 

[tjreishus]

ScreenModeWidget by Sam chiu is what I use. I am on 2.01

 

[del4]

Search the market for screen on by Konstantinos .. it looks for certain apps, which you can set, to see if they are running. If they are, it disables screen timeout, and when you end them, it will reenable. I haven't tested it, but the description sounds like what you are looking for.

Thanks, I'll try that app, along with KeepScreen. However, the widget app would also be useful. Any idea where it's at or what it's called? (Seems like the hardest part about finding apps sometimes is finding the right one amongst several that are similarly-named... )

 

[del4]

ScreenModeWidget by Sam chiu is what I use. I am on 2.01

Doh, just missed your post! Thanks, found it and will try it out!

 

[(G)]

Tested Screen On tonight on the way home. Works great.

 

[dougwilson2000]

I use My Position to referance where I am at cruising around and the screen stays on.