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Automatic Network Connection App?

noah way

noah way

Android Enthusiast
There must be a reason they are called smart phones, but the inability to automatically initiate a data connection when required makes them seem somewhat less than intelligent.

I'm looking for an app (or wondering why none exists, or why they aren't built this way) that activates / deactivates network connections based on user activity instead of location or schedule.

Example: Open browser, mobile data ON. Close browser (plus user configurable time delay), mobile data OFF.

Seems like this would be a no-brainer for most efficient battery usage.
 
Maybe the user wants to use wifi instead of 3G, in your example. Have you looked at Tasker? That "should" allow you to set up a rule that does exactly what you want - there's a thread a millions miles long on it somewhere here ....

They are indeed called 'Smart' phones but they can't read minds yet .... :D Bleddy good job too ....

Dave
 
Interesting, although I'm don't particularly want to spend my time trying to learn how to program the phone to perform what seems to me what should be a basic functionality.

As to WiFi / 3G, why not a user preference for variables such as network availability, signal strength, etc.?

I'm no programmer, just a user (a derogatory designation if ever there was one) wondering why something seemingly so obvious is not implemented.
 
noah way said:
Interesting, although I'm don't particularly want to spend my time trying to learn how to program the phone to perform what seems to me what should be a basic functionality.

As to WiFi / 3G, why not a user preference for variables such as network availability, signal strength, etc.?

I'm no programmer, just a user (a derogatory designation if ever there was one) wondering why something seemingly so obvious is not implemented.
Click to expand...

Well on my Desire HD (runs 2.2.1) if all networks are ON then it picks the strongest one to use. So wifi first, then 3G then 2G. So maybe this is partly what you are after?

I agree with the hassle of setting up Tasker or similar though. I find it easiest, in terms of data, to just have wifi and 3G OFF until I need to use them and have a widget to rum them on/off simply. Works for me.

Dave
 
Your phone will never do that. Data on/off is a process that takes several seconds. With every phone I can think of, you have to chose. Data ON or data OFF. There is no auto-toggling. It would likely even be worse on your battery. Your phone already does default to WIFI if its available. However, it will only connect to ones you have saved. There is a good reason why Android won't just automatically connect to random WiFis. Its not really safe, and it would kill your battery insanely fast to switch WiFi 48 times while walking through a mall. As for turning data off when you aren't using it, the whole point of a smartphone is that you are supposed to be using data all the time. If you don't want to get push emails or facebook updates, that's your business. The option is there to turn that off. But then you aren't "staying up to date second by second" which is kid of the way smartphones seem to be intended.

Cutting your data connection goes against the whole purpose of a smartphone. Most people I think would rather have shorter battery life than have to live without push and have to wait 30 seconds to get a webpage or check the mail because you have to re-connect to 3g before you can get it. Manufacturers want your data to be available to you instantly at all times. They allowed it to be controlled by 3rd party apps for those of us who chose to do so but they aren't gonna put in a setting to gimp their own devices so that people who accidentally click said setting return the phone because it *sucks*. I myself prefer to have the battery over push, but there at least a dozen good free apps that will manage my data/wifi just exactly the way you are talking about so I don't really see the problem. Juice Defender. Tasker(you can DL your own profiles don't even have to set them up yourself) and a ton more. Not to mention simple toggles.
 
There is definitely a need for balance between battery usage and connectivity.

In some ways the idea of automatic network connection is more of an interface issue: how many steps are necessary in order to perform a particular task. A true "smart phone" would minimize user input and maximize battery life.

I'm trying Tasker and must say it seems quite promising. I've already set up a few apps to enable WiFi and GPS as necessary. Amazingly, Tasker disables WiFi and GPS when your application is closed. Smart. Takes a little patience to sort out, but there are some guides online.

One thing Tasker doesn't seem able to do on the Dinc is activate 3G. WiFi is not ubiquitous in my area.
 
3G can be turned off, it's just not called 3G. At least on the EVO. It's just "Mobile data". I think you can't toggle 2g/3g anymore on any newer phone not even iphones.
 
OK, made a Tasker script that activates WiFi, pauses a couple seconds for it to fire up, loads WeatherBug, then closes WiFi on exit from WeatherBug. Pretty cool, even if it won't do it with 3G, the ability to make an app activate and deactivate connectivity with a single click is nice.

Now to do this for my other apps ... a bit of work, but eventually I'll have a real smartphone.

FYI: here's the script (do not input quotes):

Start with long press on the screen, select widgets, Task.

Name it WeatherBug Elite"
WiFi set on
Flash text = "Enabling Data Services ...", Long
Wait 3 seconds
Load App "WeatherBug Elite"
Wait Until %LAPP ~ "WeatherBug Elite"
WiFi set off
Select the WeatherBug icon and press "make widget".
 
I use Tasker to turn on 3G whenever the screen is on and no Wifi connection is available. (However, you could have it set to turn on only for specific apps too.)

You can do pretty much any of the things you mentioned with Tasker, if you're willing to set it up.
 
noah way said:
Can't get Tasker to activate 3G on the Incredible ...
Click to expand...

That's a CDMA phone, right? I don't have an incredible, but I know Tasker has two different ways of changing 3G on/off and it also has a way to force to 2G. The method that requires APN won't work on CDMA phones.

Have you tried the others?
 
Hi,
it's not exactly you are looking for but i use connection commander and it's really usefull.
This application allows you to program your smartphone to connect when you want. i use it to switch off mobile traffic in the night, and to connect it only at specific times in the day. It allows me to save traffic and battery life :)

i hope it hepls you :)
 
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