On my Palm Pre it was possible to enable network-based or network-assisted location without using Google services and without agreeing to let Google collect information about you and your device in the background. On the Shift, this doesn't appear to be the case: apparently, you can have pure GPS satellite location only *or* you can enable network assistance, but to do the latter you have to use Google's services and agree to Google's terms.
So I was wondering whether this is something that developers of custom ROMS and mods are able to do anything about. Would it be possible to tinker with the framework, or whatever part of the firmware controls such things, to allow for more finely-grained control over location services for the end user? Ideally, you would be able to choose:
1) GPS satellites only
2) GPS/aGPS (assisted location or rough triangulation)
3) The above, plus Google's network/Wi-Fi based location services (and agree to whatever terms Google requires for the use of same)
Interestingly, the Galaxy Tab already seems to have the sort of control that I'm talking about.
If I'm misunderstanding something about the way our EVO Shift devices handle location services, please let me know...e.g., could it be the case that selecting only "use GPS satellites" already enables aGPS? If so, you couldn't prove it by me. None of my applications, including Google Maps, seem to be able to use rough network location when I have only "GPS satellites" enabled, although the device itself clearly knows what tower it's registered with at any given time.
Anyway, I just thought I would bring this up to see whether there is any developer interest in tweaking this stuff, and also whether there are other users who are also interested.
BTW, I am aware that this is a "Google phone." No need to point it out. I just want to be able to use the same kind of network-assisted location services that I was able to use on my other, non-Google phones on Sprint.
AnalogXDA said:
On my Palm Pre it was possible to enable network-based or network-assisted location without using Google services and without agreeing to let Google collect information about you and your device in the background. On the Shift, this doesn't appear to be the case: apparently, you can have pure GPS satellite location only *or* you can enable network assistance, but to do the latter you have to use Google's services and agree to Google's terms.
So I was wondering whether this is something that developers of custom ROMS and mods are able to do anything about. Would it be possible to tinker with the framework, or whatever part of the firmware controls such things, to allow for more finely-grained control over location services for the end user? Ideally, you would be able to choose:
1) GPS satellites only
2) GPS/aGPS (assisted location or rough triangulation)
3) The above, plus Google's network/Wi-Fi based location services (and agree to whatever terms Google requires for the use of same)
Interestingly, the Galaxy Tab already seems to have the sort of control that I'm talking about.
If I'm misunderstanding something about the way our EVO Shift devices handle location services, please let me know...e.g., could it be the case that selecting only "use GPS satellites" already enables aGPS? If so, you couldn't prove it by me. None of my applications, including Google Maps, seem to be able to use rough network location when I have only "GPS satellites" enabled, although the device itself clearly knows what tower it's registered with at any given time.
Anyway, I just thought I would bring this up to see whether there is any developer interest in tweaking this stuff, and also whether there are other users who are also interested.
BTW, I am aware that this is a "Google phone." No need to point it out. I just want to be able to use the same kind of network-assisted location services that I was able to use on my other, non-Google phones on Sprint.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not much of a help, most likely.
All i know gps wise is theres a couple of ## codes for the dialer in Sense roms. I think one is ##gpsresetx#
There are gps apps too, which GREATLY help lock and accuracy. Check the market.
Hope somebody knows more than me
Sent from my HTC Speedy (Gonzalez)
Well, although I started the topic in the hopes of starting discussion about how to use network location without being locked down by Google...now that you mention it, it would also be cool if Speedy ROM developers could find a way to fix the cycle of "acquire fix, lose fix, acquire fix, lose fix" that is all too common with these devices...
Sent from my PG06100 using XDA App
I have avoided Google now for the previous two iterations of phone... but I'm giving it a shot on the S4!
There are two outstanding Google Now questions that I can't seem to find a clear answer to by Googling (there's a joke in there somewhere).
1) How do I actually trigger Google now? I've tried saying Google, that doesn't work. The best I've been able to do is map the double home button to launch voice input, but that's s poor solution. If I have to use button presses to trigger it, then I may as well just do whatever I was trying to do in the first place with my fingers. IE, it's no time time savings to double press the home button and then say a command, vs just clicking on the app icon I'm trying to launch (probably a time penalty in fact).
What am I missing? Why isn't my Google Now listening to me in the background? Am I just using the wrong trigger word?
2) The beep that follows voice recognition is incredibly loud, substantially louder than the speech response that Google feeds back. How do I disable the beep entirely? It's redundant and disruptive. The best solution online seems to be to mute notifications in general. That's a non starter.
You trigger it by starting the Google app and following the instructions. It's the google app, not the google+ app or the google settings app.
After that it just kind of runs. starts out slow at first but more cards appear over time, but you can pull it up anytime by running the google app.
acruxksa said:
You trigger it by starting the Google app and following the instructions. It's the google app, not the google+ app or the google settings app.
After that it just kind of runs. starts out slow at first but more cards appear over time, but you can pull it up anytime by running the google app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.... I realize how to run the app.... and how to follow its instructions
How do I trigger it, that's my question/query/frustration. As mentioned, it works fine if I double-tap the home button to launch the Google Now app manually. It also works fine if I go into my apps and find the Google Now icon, and then launch it that way, or if I use a shortcut, widget, etc to open up the app.
What I can't figure out, is how to actually trigger it during regular use. Short of going in and manually launching Google Now, I can't get it to trigger - I can't get it to listen to me. I've tried saying "Google", "Android, "Ok Android", "Ok Google", etc, and almost every other ridiculous phrase I can think of. Nothing triggers it short of manually launching the app by hand.
Once I set it up, it comes up every time I tap on the google search bar. However, normally I don't mess with it, it just automatically sends me notification cards when it thinks I need them.
For instance right now it's showing me a notification card for the last Sharks Kings game, my upcoming flight and several cards for things I've researched a lot lately like the S4, Voodoo Sound, Vsonic GR02 headphones, Fiio E07K etc. Also has my stocks and the local weather. I didn't "do" anything to get the cards, they just appear in my notification bar or whenever I tap the search bar.
acruxksa said:
Once I set it up, it comes up every time I tap on the google search bar. However, normally I don't mess with it, it just automatically sends me notification cards when it thinks I need them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's fine - once setup, it comes up every time I tap the Google search bar too. That's not my issue.
My problem is that I cannot get it to trigger by my voice. Unless I manually launch the app first each and every time I want it to do something, it does not respond to my voice. It responds to my voice just fine if I manually I launch the app first, but that's the only time I can get it to work. At all other times, I may as well be speaking to my shoe
Hold menu button for couple seconds.
Easy answer. You can't you have to launch it first.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2
ripper4209 said:
Easy answer. You can't you have to launch it first.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That can't be...? What use would a hands-free system be if you have to use your hands and navigate into an app before it will take hands-free voice commands?
Isn't the whole deal with this voice stuff that you can just talk to it?
In my experience, the hotword detection only works after you've manually triggered the app. It only relieves you from physically tapping the microphone icon.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium
get a bt headset and activate it that way..It can't be 100% hands free; it would have to be on all the time, and then you would complain about how much battery it was eating...
On my Google Now, saying "Google" does work. As long as the actual App has already been activated and is standing by that is.
On my "S Voice", saying, "Hi Galaxy" works, but it is customizable for other triggering phrases.
You are correct about Google Now only responding the first time though. If you want it to voice activate again you have to use the back key to get back to the original screen or completely re-launch it. It just seems that is the way it is.
Wow - this is significantly less impressive than I had envisioned. I was under the mistaken impression that Google Now (and Siri on the iPhone) just responded to their trigger words whenever uttered.
This strikes me as somewhat limited in usefulness until they get these apps to listen constantly. If I need to know the weather, why use my hands to launch Google Now, then ask for the weather, and then wait for it, if I could instead just use my hands to launch my weather app directly?
I must be missing all the excitement - or maybe Siri / Google Now are meant for people who can't figure out their phones?
On the issue of that annoying confirmation sound, I'm halfway there. The APK is in data/apps, and it's called "com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox-1.apk". Inside that apk there is a folder called "res", and inside that there's another folder called "raw". In that folder you'll find the WAV files for each sound.
Unfortunately, that's where my efforts die. I can't seem to open the wav files on a PC (even in audio editing software). I can't just delete them either, or Google Now crashes. I similarly can't just replace them with less annoying wav files from my PC - that crashes Google Now also. I'll see what I can do about finding a way to just upon them for the purpose of lowering their volume (or blanking them) and report back with my results (if any).
rhd-android said:
Wow - this is significantly less impressive than I had envisioned. I was under the mistaken impression that Google Now (and Siri on the iPhone) just responded to their trigger words whenever uttered.
This strikes me as somewhat limited in usefulness until they get these apps to listen constantly. If I need to know the weather, why use my hands to launch Google Now, then ask for the weather, and then wait for it, if I could instead just use my hands to launch my weather app directly?
I must be missing all the excitement - or maybe Siri / Google Now are meant for people who can't figure out their phones?
On the issue of that annoying confirmation sound, I'm halfway there. The APK is in data/apps, and it's called "com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox-1.apk". Inside that apk there is a folder called "res", and inside that there's another folder called "raw". In that folder you'll find the WAV files for each sound.
Unfortunately, that's where my efforts die. I can't seem to open the wav files on a PC (even in audio editing software). I can't just delete them either, or Google Now crashes. I similarly can't just replace them with less annoying wav files from my PC - that crashes Google Now also. I'll see what I can do about finding a way to just upon them for the purpose of lowering their volume (or blanking them) and report back with my results (if any).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't you think some people DON'T want it on all the time? It could mistakenly trigger it and possibly do an unwanted action. It is fine in it's current implementation. I would think in the future as voice recognition and battery technology improves we might see an always on Google now or siri but right now it would/could cause more problems than create convenience.
Sent from my GT-N7100
A new version of Chrome (for desktop) is coming out that supposedly will do this, but it's just not feasible on a mobile device. At least not yet. Do you really want your phone's mic on 24/7 feeding audio to the processor, constantly running voice recognition on every sound it hears? Imagine how horrible the battery life would be. Not to mention the privacy concerns of that (and legal issues, I can see something like this breaking wiretap laws in several states).
Even Google Glass requires you to either touch it or activate it through a head motion so it starts listening. The same with Siri on iOS. The point is you only have to do one thing to start issuing a variety of commands. You can do it without looking at the phone.
rhd-android said:
Wow - this is significantly less impressive than I had envisioned. I was under the mistaken impression that Google Now (and Siri on the iPhone) just responded to their trigger words whenever uttered.
This strikes me as somewhat limited in usefulness until they get these apps to listen constantly. If I need to know the weather, why use my hands to launch Google Now, then ask for the weather, and then wait for it, if I could instead just use my hands to launch my weather app directly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As mentioned, think logically about what you are asking for. If your phone's microphone was always on, listening to and parsing every single noise it hears 24/7 to detect the word Google, think about what the battery implications. Every sound it hears it must analyze, all day long. Then, consider any time it thinks it hears Google, it will immediately turn on and listen for more input and then try to respond to that. It's just not feasible to expect this without killing your battery and also dealing with the many false positives that might constantly be making your phone do stuff you didn't intend.
Having said that, you are missing the key part of Google Now which sort of addresses your issues with it. Google Now doesn't listen 24/7 for you to speak to it, it analyzes data such as your search history, location, Google now settings, gmail, calendar, and so on, to proactively give you information before you even ask for it. That's the appeal and the main idea of Now. You still get the searching, the voice commands, etc, but you also get an "assistant" that doesn't need you to constantly tell it what you want. (In theory of course)
jsmith8858 said:
As mentioned, think logically about what you are asking for. If your phone's microphone was always on, listening to and parsing every single noise it hears 24/7 to detect the word Google, think about what the battery implications. Every sound it hears it must analyze, all day long. Then, consider any time it thinks it hears Google, it will immediately turn on and listen for more input and then try to respond to that. It's just not feasible to expect this without killing your battery and also dealing with the many false positives that might constantly be making your phone do stuff you didn't intend.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep - and that's where I thought the tech was at. I thought we had overcome these problems. I thought we were able to accomplish the above.
I played with it a bunch yesterday, and there was nothing that I could do faster with voice (given that I had to use hands to trigger the app first) than I could do with just hands alone. I tested a lot of common tasks, and launching the app + giving a voice command and waiting for the response action was always slower (not even factoring in voice errors - that's assuming 100% accuracy).
The ability to constantly listen is fundamental to voice commands being useful on a smartphone (in my mind). I just jumped the gun and thought we were there already (adverts certainly make it seem like we are). Until we hit that point, until we have a system that is responsive like KIT, or HAL, or LCARS, I think voice commands are impractical. It needs constant listening. Interestingly, it looks like the industry agrees:
http://www.technologyreview.com/new...d-respond-to-your-voice-even-when-its-asleep/
http://www.techradar.com/news/compu...mm-processor-will-always-be-listening-1132647
^ that tech largely addresses jsmith8858's concerns.
rhd-android said:
Yep - and that's where I thought the tech was at. I thought we had overcome these problems. I thought we were able to accomplish the above.
I played with it a bunch yesterday, and there was nothing that I could do faster with voice (given that I had to use hands to trigger the app first) than I could do with just hands alone. I tested a lot of common tasks, and launching the app + giving a voice command and waiting for the response action was always slower (not even factoring in voice errors - that's assuming 100% accuracy).
The ability to constantly listen is fundamental to voice commands being useful on a smartphone (in my mind). I just jumped the gun and thought we were there already (adverts certainly make it seem like we are). Until we hit that point, until we have a system that is responsive like KIT, or HAL, or LCARS, I think voice commands are impractical. It needs constant listening. Interestingly, it looks like the industry agrees:
http://www.technologyreview.com/new...d-respond-to-your-voice-even-when-its-asleep/
http://www.techradar.com/news/compu...mm-processor-will-always-be-listening-1132647
^ that tech largely addresses jsmith8858's concerns.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not there yet. It is still very handy when you're multitasking and the best example is driving. Sure I would love to not have to tap my phone a couple if times, but it is still worlds better than losing focus taking my phone out if dock, making those couple taps and typing out my message or commands. Not to mention keeping a CPU and microphone running at all times keeping your phone awake at the same time and it is just not viable. I don't think apple could pull it off either as it would just keep iOS running and running when the phone is not in use. Then there's the privacy factor. I don't think this will be viable for at least another couple of years.
Sent from my GT-N7100
Siri also doesn't respond by keyword launch. S-voice seems like the only one that does and it's definitely less than stellar. As jsmith8858 said above, it's a proactive assistant. Google Now is there for you to give you information it believes you might need before you ask for it. I.e. If i google a place on google maps on my desktop, When i look at google now on my phone a moment later, it has the pop up of directions and estimated time (that i can bring up in maps or navigation by tapping) of where it was when I just searched.
There are third party apps you can use with custom roms that you can bind double-tap home button to initiate voice search, or you can add voice search as a shortcut on your lock screen as well.
I was watching TV and someone on TV said Google, and it triggered the app so I'm pretty sure that there is a way to do it without using your hands, especially because of how many times they said there was a way during one of those recent Key notes regarding it
KILLplay said:
I was watching TV and someone on TV said Google, and it triggered the app so I'm pretty sure that there is a way to do it without using your hands, especially because of how many times they said there was a way during one of those recent Key notes regarding it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I know, the only phone that triggers Google now by saying "Ok Google now" is the new moto X, but it has a processor dedicated to ear what you are saying.
I don't know if this ability cam be ported to our s4 and what will be the price to pay about battery consumption.
Enviado desde mi SGH-I337 usando Tapatalk 2
I do not have an Android head unit yet but I've been looking into security options. Case use examples where you'd want security, if you need to leave your car with a service centre; if you let a family member or friend use the vehicle; worst case scenario if it gets stolen. In all scenarios people would have access to your Google account (Gmail, Play Store, Calendar etc).
So far the solutions I've seen are:
1. Don't use your primary Google account. This is the most secure, but also the least convenient.
2. Using AppLock and other apps. I haven't tried this on any Android device so I don't know how truly secure it is at locking sensitive apps and data. I'm not even sure how convenient it really is.
Here's an idea for a third option for Lollipop and above head units, that in theory is the most elegant solution provided they have the same security functionality as the stock Android OS.
1. Enable the lock screen feature in the Android settings so it requires a pin to login.
2. Employ the smart lock feature in Android so the head unit unlocks when it detects a trusted device, such as a Bluetooth connection with your smartphone, your Fitbit, etc.
3. Add a guest user account to the head unit for times when someone else will use the car so they can still use basic features, but not access your sensitive data.
I'm not sure how this would affect boot time, or if the aforementioned security features have been disabled in these head units, etc. Let me know if this would work.
vxn said:
I do not have an Android head unit yet but I've been looking into security options. Case use examples where you'd want security, if you need to leave your car with a service centre; if you let a family member or friend use the vehicle; worst case scenario if it gets stolen. In all scenarios people would have access to your Google account (Gmail, Play Store, Calendar etc).
So far the solutions I've seen are:
1. Don't use your primary Google account. This is the most secure, but also the least convenient.
2. Using AppLock and other apps. I haven't tried this on any Android device so I don't know how truly secure it is at locking sensitive apps and data. I'm not even sure how convenient it really is.
Here's an idea for a third option for Lollipop and above head units, that in theory is the most elegant solution provided they have the same security functionality as the stock Android OS.
1. Enable the lock screen feature in the Android settings so it requires a pin to login.
2. Employ the smart lock feature in Android so the head unit unlocks when it detects a trusted device, such as a Bluetooth connection with your smartphone, your Fitbit, etc.
3. Add a guest user account to the head unit for times when someone else will use the car so they can still use basic features, but not access your sensitive data.
I'm not sure how this would affect boot time, or if the aforementioned security features have been disabled in these head units, etc. Let me know if this would work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you been able to get this working? I am also looking for a similar solution to stay secure while keeping primary Google account.
roxylove said:
Have you been able to get this working? I am also looking for a similar solution to stay secure while keeping primary Google account.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The unit I've got had half of the Settings menu disabled, including Lockscreen. Before I rooted it and installed normal settings I used activity shortcut to get to the hidden menu options. I described it here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=73282307&postcount=6
For some reason unlock with trusted devices mostly doesn't work. But overall it works and device is not accessible unless you enter pin.
Hello.I have p9 lite vns-l31 with lineage os 14.1 installed.My question is : is there anything for android like siri on ios.And i know there are a lot of assistants but i need one which can be activated when the phone is locked by voice,for example when im driving and want to call someone or send a text
Well of course your best bet is the Google Assistant. It is the only one that is truly integrated in the system and the Google apps.
All that you have listed is basically possible with the Google Assistant.
However, your point with the locked device is a question of hardware, not software!
In order to activate the Assistant by saying a hotword while the device is LOCKED requires a phone with a special microphone.
Such device have low consumption microphones.
You could compare it to the Double Tap to Wake function: most device do not support it because they do not have the proper kernel / touchscreen for it.
A device that allows you to activate a voice command while locked always has to listen to its surroundings. While it is possible with modification to enable it on most devices, it will definitely consume a lot of battery on devices that are not built for this function.
Therefore, the Google Assistant is "Google's Siri" and works very well as long as you manually activate your screen first. There are tutorials out there on how to enable "OK, Google" recognition on locked devices but I do not know if they work on Lin OS already.
I hope this answers your question.
Schlengge said:
Well of course your best bet is the Google Assistant. It is the only one that is truly integrated in the system and the Google apps.
All that you have listed is basically possible with the Google Assistant.
However, your point with the locked device is a question of hardware, not software!
In order to activate the Assistant by saying a hotword while the device is LOCKED requires a phone with a special microphone.
Such device have low consumption microphones.
You could compare it to the Double Tap to Wake function: most device do not support it because they do not have the proper kernel / touchscreen for it.
A device that allows you to activate a voice command while locked always has to listen to its surroundings. While it is possible with modification to enable it on most devices, it will definitely consume a lot of battery on devices that are not built for this function.
Therefore, the Google Assistant is "Google's Siri" and works very well as long as you manually activate your screen first. There are tutorials out there on how to enable "OK, Google" recognition on locked devices but I do not know if they work on Lin OS already.
I hope this answers your question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow.Didnt expect such a good answer.In that case,I will try and install google assistant,and just keep my screen on while I drive
sirjohnrl said:
Wow.Didnt expect such a good answer.In that case,I will try and install google assistant,and just keep my screen on while I drive
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah it can be a little complicated to get it to run though so good luck
Also as far as i know it only support english and german so far.
But they are working in it
Schlengge said:
Well of course your best bet is the Google Assistant. It is the only one that is truly integrated in the system and the Google apps.
All that you have listed is basically possible with the Google Assistant.
However, your point with the locked device is a question of hardware, not software!
In order to activate the Assistant by saying a hotword while the device is LOCKED requires a phone with a special microphone.
Such device have low consumption microphones.
You could compare it to the Double Tap to Wake function: most device do not support it because they do not have the proper kernel / touchscreen for it.
A device that allows you to activate a voice command while locked always has to listen to its surroundings. While it is possible with modification to enable it on most devices, it will definitely consume a lot of battery on devices that are not built for this function.
Therefore, the Google Assistant is "Google's Siri" and works very well as long as you manually activate your screen first. There are tutorials out there on how to enable "OK, Google" recognition on locked devices but I do not know if they work on Lin OS already.
I hope this answers your question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The P9s have Emy, their own assistant, that works without touching it even with screen locked. It also has a "where are you" function if you yell for it.