is there a way to keep gps off until navigating

[shortysmash]

i know the subject title sounds ******** but is there a way to keep the gps off until i navigate, in which it will automatically turn on and when i exit out of navigation it will cut back off so that it does not pull battery power

 

[may2700]

i dont think there is anything to automatically do this but there is a power controll wodget that has a button to turn the gps on and off. just put the nav icon on the same screen so u remember to turn both on at the same time

 

[jplamb]

i use the HTC widget and as "May" says, i have them on the same screen. I some times forget to turn GPS off and i have not noticed my Battery going down any faster. the GPS icon in the nav bar normally disappears when i'm not using gps so it might put its self in to a low power mode.

JPlamb

 

[fluc02]

I leave GPS on at all times (enabled in the Power Widget) and it doesn't seem to affect battery life at all. I still have around 40% left after a 12 hour day of moderate usage. I think if you have it enabled but it isn't sending/receiving data (the icon is not displayed in the notification bar), then it probably isn't consuming battery.

 

[colnago]

Basically you can "enable/disable" the GPS manually. If enabled, it is only "active" (i.e. using resources) on an "as-needed" basis by applications.

 

[square]

I leave GPS on at all times (enabled in the Power Widget) and it doesn't seem to affect battery life at all. I still have around 40% left after a 12 hour day of moderate usage. I think if you have it enabled but it isn't sending/receiving data (the icon is not displayed in the notification bar), then it probably isn't consuming battery.

agreed. i just leave it on.

 

[Redflea]

So I was wondering about this as well...the ability to have GPS only on when you opened an app that needed it (as long as you weren't using a weather app that geo-located in the background, in which case it might always be running).

I haven't tried leaving GPS on all the time, but I would expect it would use battery. Isn't it going to be locking on to sats and tracking location even if an app isn't actively using it? And would it use more battery if you were in a bad signal location, like inside a building at work?

Anyone know the facts here, as opposed to "I believe" answers?

 

[colnago]

I haven't tried leaving GPS on all the time, but I would expect it would use battery. Isn't it going to be locking on to sats and tracking location even if an app isn't actively using it? And would it use more battery if you were in a bad signal location, like inside a building at work?

Anyone know the facts here, as opposed to "I believe" answers?

Well, again, having it "enabled" and having it "active" are two different things. If "enabled" (allowed to be used by apps), it will only be "active" (in use and using battery) if apps need to continually use to update info based on locale (e.g. weather apps). "Enabling" GPS would be done in both the app (sometimes) and under the phone's main settings.

Since GPS battery usage is monitored via the battery/power monitor, along with the visible cue of the GPS icon in the notification bar, there is no guesswork involved.