NFC tags. What do "you" use them for?

[omgitsspooky]

It seems that you need root access. Is this true? I went into gps action and that's what it told me.

 

[XplosiV]

It seems that you need root access. Is this true? I went into gps action and that's what it told me.

As I've stated a few times;

Two types of NFC app. One writes data to the tag, and needs root access to toggle mobile data and gps.

The other detects the tags unique I'd and saves a profile to the phone and does not need root access to toggle mobile data and gps.

 

[tlo07]

I'm embarassed to admit this. I wanted to program a tag for my car to turn off wifi, launch slacker and play the last station played, and turn on my Auto SMS "drive" profile and I had no friggin clue how to do it. I mean, things like turning off wifi are a no-brainer, but when it came to getting 3rd party apps to launch I was clueless. I was using Tasker and NFC Task Launcher btw. I guess my NFC tags are going to sit in a pile until I have the time and patience to watch a bazillion YouTube videos!

 

[Covart]

I'm embarassed to admit this. I wanted to program a tag for my car to turn off wifi, launch slacker and play the last station played, and turn on my Auto SMS "drive" profile and I had no friggin clue how to do it. I mean, things like turning off wifi are a no-brainer, but when it came to getting 3rd party apps to launch I was clueless. I was using Tasker and NFC Task Launcher btw. I guess my NFC tags are going to sit in a pile until I have the time and patience to watch a bazillion YouTube videos!

Open NFC Task Launcher

-> click New Tag
-> Click New Task
-> click '+Add action'
-> click 'Launch Applications'
-> click 'Application'
-> click the name of what ever application is there and scroll down to the one you want to open
-> whenever you are done adding tasks click 'Finish'
-> hold tag behind phone til it writes on the NFC tag
-> Done

 

[tlo07]

Open NFC Task Launcher

-> click New Tag
-> Click New Task
-> click '+Add action'
-> click 'Launch Applications'
-> click 'Application'
-> click the name of what ever application is there and scroll down to the one you want to open
-> whenever you are done adding tasks click 'Finish'
-> hold tag behind phone til it writes on the NFC tag
-> Done

Thanks for helping me. Is there a way to actually get Slacker to play after it opens or will it just open?

 

[Covart]

Thanks for helping me. Is there a way to actually get Slacker to play after it opens or will it just open?

I use Pandora and it auto starts for me. I am unfamiliar with slacker. When you start the app does it beging playing, or do you manually have to start a song. However you do it now, that is how it will do it via NFC. It will simply start the app. You can add an additional sub-command within the app, but i haven't messed with that feature.

 

[akita]

As I've stated a few times;

Two types of NFC app. One writes data to the tag, and needs root access to toggle mobile data and gps.

The other detects the tags unique I'd and saves a profile to the phone and does not need root access to toggle mobile data and gps.

So the first app in your post would be NFC Task Launcher?
The other app would be Tasker?

Sorry for the questions but you might have to dumb it down for us non programming/root/computer savy folks

 

[XplosiV]

So the first app in your post would be NFC Task Launcher?
The other app would be Tasker?

Sorry for the questions but you might have to dumb it down for us non programming/root/computer savy folks

Not exactly,

NFC task launcher will write tags, as oppose to saving profiles to the phone.

Nfc ReTag is one app that will save the data to the phone.

You can tell which is which by the description of functionality under each app. If they toggle mobile data or gps, it's a profile app, if not its a tag writing app.

Tasker can I believe be used with either type of app, as long as that app allows support.

 

[akita]

Thanks again. I'll give these a shot

Not exactly,

NFC task launcher will write tags, as oppose to saving profiles to the phone.

Nfc ReTag is one app that will save the data to the phone.

You can tell which is which by the description of functionality under each app. If they toggle mobile data or gps, it's a profile app, if not its a tag writing app.

Tasker can I believe be used with either type of app, as long as that app allows support.

 

[akita]

Ok so i've written one tag in NFC Task Launcher(Car Tag: Toggle Bluetooth, Toggle GPS, Navigation to).
After doing this I went into NFC ReTag. Scanned my NFC tag. At this point am I suppose to add the activity that is associated with the tag?

I also tried the TecTile app and it said that the task was too small or something(i don't have the tag with me so I don't remember word for word). I am using the Type 2 NFC tag.

 

[XplosiV]

Ok so i've written one tag in NFC Task Launcher(Car Tag: Toggle Bluetooth, Toggle GPS, Navigation to).
After doing this I went into NFC ReTag. Scanned my NFC tag. At this point am I suppose to add the activity that is associated with the tag?

I also tried the TecTile app and it said that the task was too small or something(i don't have the tag with me so I don't remember word for word). I am using the Type 2 NFC tag.

Ok, i'll try an clarify a little if i can.

A type 2 NFC tag could be from 48 bytes, upto 2kb.

You stated that you have used NFC Task Launcher to write data to one tag, with three commands, all well and good.

As far as the TecTile app goes, I would imagine that your getting an error relating to the tag not having enough space to write more commands to it.

The NFC ReTag app should be able to just ID the tag and let you assign commands to be saved to you phone.

I can only imagine that you may have more than one app trying to ID the tag, at once, possibly causing a conflict.

However (I may have read your post slightly wrong) as far as NFC ReTag goes, once scanned, open with ReTag, then you just tap on activity and select the extra activity(s) you want it to do.

If as you stated, you have a tag set up for your car, then those commands do not need to be added via NFC ReTag as well, instead you would assign different commands.

Hope this helps

 

[akita]

Xplosiv, you've been real helpful in this thread. Sorry to keep on bugging you and having you hold my hand in the process.


So looks like I have some progress today. If I were to tap my phone to a tag, it will say:

About to connect to browser. Continue? If I hit continue then it will say: You are configuring a secure setting. This will only function if you have made NFC Task Launcher a system app. This requires root access.

Now after this, if I open up NFC Retag, tap the tag, it does indeed discover the tag and prompts me to show location settings for GPS, Permission to turn on Bluetooth. I did add the activities of Navigate and Bluetooth Toggle in NFC Retag.

So based on all of this, I'm assuming I did everything right? Shouldn't it automatically work without me having to open up NFC tag first? Thanks again!

 

[XplosiV]

Xplosiv, you've been real helpful in this thread. Sorry to keep on bugging you and having you hold my hand in the process.


So looks like I have some progress today. If I were to tap my phone to a tag, it will say:


Now after this, if I open up NFC Retag, tap the tag, it does indeed discover the tag and prompts me to show location settings for GPS, Permission to turn on Bluetooth. I did add the activities of Navigate and Bluetooth Toggle in NFC Retag.

So based on all of this, I'm assuming I did everything right? Shouldn't it automatically work without me having to open up NFC tag first? Thanks again!

I would keep it simple, and progress from there.

If you still have a programed tag, programed for NFC Task Launcher, I would wipe it clean and leave it.

Once wiped of data, I would just use NFC ReTag to do all your scanning/programming.

From this point just scan the tag, add commands as best as you can and enjoy!

You dont need to have NFC ReTag open for tags to be detected (or at least shouldnt) however if you are on the homescreen, and swype a tag, you usually get a prompt to then open NFC ReTag which you should be able to surpress.


I believe you can goto the options (button above the N of NFC on the main screen) and tick the second and thrid options to make tag detection & device toggles stop appearing each time. This should hopefully stop you having to select NFC ReTag each time you scan a tag.

 

[akita]

I would keep it simple, and progress from there.

If you still have a programed tag, programed for NFC Task Launcher, I would wipe it clean and leave it.

Once wiped of data, I would just use NFC ReTag to do all your scanning/programming.

From this point just scan the tag, add commands as best as you can and enjoy!

You dont need to have NFC ReTag open for tags to be detected (or at least shouldnt) however if you are on the homescreen, and swype a tag, you usually get a prompt to then open NFC ReTag which you should be able to surpress.


I believe you can goto the options (button above the N of NFC on the main screen) and tick the second and thrid options to make tag detection & device toggles stop appearing each time. This should hopefully stop you having to select NFC ReTag each time you scan a tag.

Cool. I went ahead and wiped the data being in association with NFC Task Launcher. Did as you said with NFC ReTag. However,despite checking those options in NFC ReTag, it still asks to select an action when i tap the tag: New tag collected or NFC ReTag
I think I can deal with this for the time being. Thanks again for your help and sorry for the OP for hijacking your thread with my questions

 

[XplosiV]

Cool. I went ahead and wiped the data being in association with NFC Task Launcher. Did as you said with NFC ReTag. However,despite checking those options in NFC ReTag, it still asks to select an action when i tap the tag: New tag collected or NFC ReTag
I think I can deal with this for the time being. Thanks again for your help and sorry for the OP for hijacking your thread with my questions

I was messing around last night, my NFC ReTag app, is now no longer scanning my tags unless its open (well they scan, but the profile isnt changing, unless that app's open)

As for the pop up surpression, stick with it, I had alsorts of trouble trying to get that to work, tried force closing the app after changing settings and rebooting the phone, and it wouldnt change, then all of a sudden, it was set and i wouldnt get the pop ups.

it's a tad buggy i think, but when it does work, it works well. Just needs a few tweeks.

 

[ylexot]

Thanks for helping me. Is there a way to actually get Slacker to play after it opens or will it just open?

I might be able to help you...I was setting up my new S3 yesterday and noticed a setting in Slacker. Go into settings and check the box for "Resume Play on Startup". Then when your tag starts Slacker, it will automatically start playing. :thumbup:

 

[SFBayArea]

Hey guys, I went to this site to purchase NFC tags: tagstand - NFC Products Catalog

However, i don't see any indication how spacious these tags, meaning I don't see them saying if they are 40bites or 250bites, etc.?
Am I reading it wrong?

 

[ylexot]

Hey guys, I went to this site to purchase NFC tags: tagstand - NFC Products Catalog

However, i don't see any indication how spacious these tags, meaning I don't see them saying if they are 40bites or 250bites, etc.?
Am I reading it wrong?

First product I went to was this:
tagstand - Logo Type 2 NFC Sticker - Ultralight C - Square (35mm x 35mm)

This sticker with our snazzy logo on the front is backed by a Mifare Ultralight C chip. This chip features 144 bytes of usable space and can be made read-only.

The other ones I clicked on had similar info. Did you not actually click on any of the product links?

 

[SFBayArea]

First product I went to was this:
tagstand - Logo Type 2 NFC Sticker - Ultralight C - Square (35mm x 35mm)


The other ones I clicked on had similar info. Did you not actually click on any of the product links?

Dam, now I feel stupid. I did click on it, but I was expecting to see variety of different capacity stickers and did not read the text. Sorry, and thank you.

Edit: Just placed my order for 12 different tags.
QQ, what would you use outdoor tags for?

 

[akita]

I was messing around last night, my NFC ReTag app, is now no longer scanning my tags unless its open (well they scan, but the profile isnt changing, unless that app's open)

As for the pop up surpression, stick with it, I had alsorts of trouble trying to get that to work, tried force closing the app after changing settings and rebooting the phone, and it wouldnt change, then all of a sudden, it was set and i wouldnt get the pop ups.

it's a tad buggy i think, but when it does work, it works well. Just needs a few tweeks.

Well that's not good to hear that its running buggy for you. Im not sure what I would do if this program craps out on me since NFC Tag Launcher doesn't work for me unless I were to root

 

[XplosiV]

Well that's not good to hear that its running buggy for you. Im not sure what I would do if this program craps out on me since NFC Tag Launcher doesn't work for me unless I were to root

Its no big deal for me, as I have a shortcut to the app on the home screen, so i just load it and scan, job done, no great hardship. But it should work better. Maybe with the next update

 

[RookTheKlown]

I just got my tags in today. As of now, I'm only using NFC Task Launcher, and only have 3 tags made at the moment:

One on nightstand as a switch: turns off LED and all volumes (except for alarm), then turns them all back on.
One on my universal car dock to turn up volumes and start car mode.
One on my desk at work to turn off ringers and start Pandora.

I was thinking of doing one in my pool cue case to update my Facebook status to say I'm playing pool, but NFC Task Launcher doesn't do that, and I don't like the Samsung app. I may have it check in instead, at whatever bar I'm playing in that week.

I may need to pick up Tasker now, just to see how much more I can do with these!

 

[DroidS3]

Does anyone notice a significant difference in the time it takes to scan a 1K tag versus an NTAG tag or ULC/UL for that matter?

Also has anyone had any interference problems with tags being on metal objects or close to computers/electronics? Just curious if anti-metal tags are actually necessary.

Just ordered some tags from buynfctags.com today. They shipped them less than ONE hour after I bought them. Amazing! I will report back on how well they work after I get them.

 

[SFBayArea]

Hey guys, been reading this thread, watched few CNET videos, and still have few questions that I hope someone on this forum can help me answer.

1. Still confused what app I need to make and write code on NFC tag? I hear that some people use NFC task launcher to write and read tags and some people use NFC re-tag. If I understand what I read than both of these apps do the same only one is paid and one is free. Is that right?

2. Lets say I want to make a simple tag for my car doc: once I put phone in the doc I want it to activate bluetooth. I understand how I can do that, however, what I can't understand is what I need to write on that car doc tag to turn bluetooth off once phone is off of the doc? In another words I want my bluetooth to be activated only when I it is in the car doc and it should not be active as soon as I pull the phone from the doc.

Thanks.

 

[ylexot]

1. Still confused what app I need to make and write code on NFC tag? I hear that some people use NFC task launcher to write and read tags and some people use NFC re-tag. If I understand what I read than both of these apps do the same only one is paid and one is free. Is that right?

Nope. NFC Re-Tag does not write to tags. It simply looks for the ID number for the tag and can run tasks if it sees that ID number again.

2. Lets say I want to make a simple tag for my car doc: once I put phone in the doc I want it to activate bluetooth. I understand how I can do that, however, what I can't understand is what I need to write on that car doc tag to turn bluetooth off once phone is off of the doc? In another words I want my bluetooth to be activated only when I it is in the car doc and it should not be active as soon as I pull the phone from the doc.

What you want can't be done AFAIK.

What you can do is:
Use NFC Task Launcher to write to a tag to toggle BT. Touch it when you get in the car to turn on BT and touch it before you leave to turn off BT. This same tag will do the same thing for any Android phone with NFC.

OR

Use NFC Re-Tag to read the tag and associate it with a BT Toggle action. Touch it when you get in the car to turn on BT and touch it before you leave to turn off BT. This same tag will do absolutely nothing for other phones.

Understand the difference now?