Help GPS Automatic?

[Cessquill]

Hi. After upgrading my Desire to a One X, I'm still in a bit of a quandary about GPS settings.

My old faithful Desire used to request that I turn it on when I start Navigation, and I'd turn it back off after using it via a widget.

The problem I have is that this still seems to be the case - some 2 and a bit years later.

Is there any way for an app to automatically turn on GPS if it needs it and turn it off again afterwards (if no other app is using it)? I've not had an iPhone before so I can't confirm, but people over there state that it is normal behaviour to turn on/off sensors as they are required.

Do I still have to have a widget - or go into location settings - whenever I need to use/finish tasks that require the GPS, or have I missed a setting somewhere?

Navigator won't run without GPS being turned on, so it would seem logical that you could allow its automatic (de)activation. Help!

 

[s.m.knipe]

Hi. After upgrading my Desire to a One X, I'm still in a bit of a quandary about GPS settings.

My old faithful Desire used to request that I turn it on when I start Navigation, and I'd turn it back off after using it via a widget.

The problem I have is that this still seems to be the case - some 2 and a bit years later.

Is there any way for an app to automatically turn on GPS if it needs it and turn it off again afterwards (if no other app is using it)? I've not had an iPhone before so I can't confirm, but people over there state that it is normal behaviour to turn on/off sensors as they are required.

Do I still have to have a widget - or go into location settings - whenever I need to use/finish tasks that require the GPS, or have I missed a setting somewhere?

Navigator won't run without GPS being turned on, so it would seem logical that you could allow its automatic (de)activation. Help!

I've always just left my GPS enabled. Unless it is a poorly coded app or you set updates for location-based-services too frequently in their settings, the GPS in Android is on demand, so it is only working & draining juice when something is asking it to.

 

[JasonC]

Just leave GPS switched on all the time, this is what I do and always have done with my Desire. The GPS will only be in use when an app that needs it is started.

 

[Cessquill]

Just leave GPS switched on all the time, this is what I do and always have done with my Desire. The GPS will only be in use when an app that needs it is started.

Ahh, OK. I had half the battery in my phone when I went to bed last night. Seven hours later, dead as you like. Figured it might have been the GPS draining it. Might be the battery not up to scratch yet, I don't know.

 

[s.m.knipe]

Ahh, OK. I had half the battery in my phone when I went to bed last night. Seven hours later, dead as you like. Figured it might have been the GPS draining it. Might be the battery not up to scratch yet, I don't know.

Take a peek at your battery stats, and tap the graph, it'll give a break down including GPS... Activity shows up as blue blocks/lines; and typically GPS usage it very very small (super thin single lines)

 

[Netherdragon]

as mentioned my the previous responses you can leave it on all the time, BUT make sure that the location sync settings for any apps/services are not set up to work too frequently. If they are set up to update frequently you will see a brop in battery life.

Or just stick to turning it on when needed, whichever is easier for you.

 

[Cessquill]

Take a peek at your battery stats, and tap the graph, it'll give a break down including GPS... Activity shows up as blue blocks/lines; and typically GPS usage it very very small (super thin single lines)

Thank you, will do.

 

[JasonC]

I'm on my 3rd (ish) charge and my battery has started to get a lot better already, I had the same with my Desire 2 years ago so this will be part of your problem at the moment.