Help Docking questions

[coyote1]

I searched the forum and didn't find quite what I'm seeking. Maybe someone here might know.

Wife has a DroidX. Put it in its desktop dock and it automatically puts on the nightstand clock program; put it in its car dock and it automatically starts navigation. And when you undock it, those functions shut off.

I know Tasker and AutomateIt etc can sorta kinda accomplish something like that, but they rely on battery-draining location services so I was wondering if there is anything built into the Exhibit II that might help it accomplish similar feats.

If not I'll just do homescreen widgets or something. But it sure would be cool if the phone itself could sense which docking scenario you were using.

 

[coyote1]

A related issue: The stock Navigation program does not show up on the list of aaps that can be started in AutomateIT! Since I use only Wifi and the TeleNav apparently won't start up without a data connection, I need the stock Navigation app.

 

[yaronm]

I searched the forum and didn't find quite what I'm seeking. Maybe someone here might know.

Wife has a DroidX. Put it in its desktop dock and it automatically puts on the nightstand clock program; put it in its car dock and it automatically starts navigation. And when you undock it, those functions shut off.

I know Tasker and AutomateIt etc can sorta kinda accomplish something like that, but they rely on battery-draining location services so I was wondering if there is anything built into the Exhibit II that might help it accomplish similar feats.

If not I'll just do homescreen widgets or something. But it sure would be cool if the phone itself could sense which docking scenario you were using.

You can take a look at the following link to configure your location-based triggers in AutomateIt so it will not exhaust your battery (I have several location-based rules and AutomateIt battery consumption never exceeds 2% and I almost never see it on the battery stats screen):
Android Muzikant: AutomateIt Location Trigger - Tips and Tricks

Anyway, If I read your post correctly, I think what you are really looking for is the "Dock State Trigger" of AutomateIt to identify when your device is docked to desk/car.

 

[yaronm]

A related issue: The stock Navigation program does not show up on the list of aaps that can be started in AutomateIT! Since I use only Wifi and the TeleNav apparently won't start up without a data connection, I need the stock Navigation app.

Navigation is only an add-on to the Maps application so you can use the Maps app as a trigger to turn on data connection.

 

[coyote1]

You can take a look at the following link to configure your location-based triggers in AutomateIt so it will not exhaust your battery (I have several location-based rules and AutomateIt battery consumption never exceeds 2% and I almost never see it on the battery stats screen):
Android Muzikant: AutomateIt Location Trigger - Tips and Tricks

Anyway, If I read your post correctly, I think what you are really looking for is the "Dock State Trigger" of AutomateIt to identify when your device is docked to desk/car.

I figured out that the DroidX uses magnets to achieve these things. The nightstand dock has a big silver bar that, when you insert the phone, runs across the entire back. it is a magnet! and it is what tells the X that it is in the home dock.

Therefore, the rational course is to utilize magnets with the Exhibit II. The pro version of AutomateIt utilizes magnetic field triggers. I've tested it and it works. So then, I can define the microUSB connections this way:

power + magnet = car. Open navigation.

power alone = home (nightstand). Dim the display and open an alarm clock app or something.

data connection = USB. Set up to sync data, or whatever.

I still have to work on getting the voice input widget to open via trigger. But if you can't see the widget in the app list, you can't get it to open! One humorous note: I tried to get the Voice Search program to make it work. So I said "Navigate to..." and it thought I said "gay tube" and brought up a bunch of links I will not click on