Android apps

[The Duke]

That’s right. The last phone I had it mot work was htc one x. The nexus 6p asked it may have issue but it never, when checked.

So if you try the app, my advise is do a test call. In the 6 years a or so I’ve used it, I’ve only had one phone it not work on. One of the said I kept the one X only for about 3 months. The phone had many issues though.

[The Duke]

GlassWire for android. Like the windows version it monitors all the data coming in and out of your device. It’s real Interesting  seeing what apps are calling home  when not in use and how often.

Probably more to the app, but I’ve not really dove in yet.

Also it seems very accurate, and free.

Link

[The Duke]

Not really an android app more a tip.

This is something I’ve used for ages and thought it common knowledge, but the wife just seen me do it and was amazed.

In the home screen search bar, you can type commands. The one I use the most is “alarm xx:Xx, that will auto set a one time alarm.

There are many others, call name, will start dailing the default number, if they have a home, mobile or/and work, just write call name (work/mobile) and it will call that, same with” text name (mobile), message ” will send a msg. I think what’s app works too.

Also” open (app name) will launch an app, along with “play (song name).. Start 60second timer..

Basically anything that you can do by voice, you can do by typing.

I’m yet to figure out how to turn my bedroom lights on by writing it. I can say” OK google be troops lights “which toggles the lights via home talking to ifttt which in turn talks to the lights. But typing it doesn’t have the same effect. But pressing the toggle button I have in my home screen is far quicker, I’d still like to be able to write it. Just because. Lol.

You may need at least android 6.0 to do any of the above, I’m not sure. Bit thought this was common knowledge, it’s how I interact with my phone, by voice and writing, but wifey had no idea.

 

[The Duke]

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.nbu.files

Google own ‘files go’ has just come out of beta and is a decent way to share files, (though I like push bullet for that.) but it’s excellent at cleaning up old files and apps. Defo worth a space on any phone.

[Tippon]

Giving it a try now, thanks 🙂

[blacklion1725]

There’s a few apps like this but been playing around with this app for Dashcam functionality. I’ve been using it with the phone (as usual) mounted on an air-vent holder – normal position for me for satnav. It (my car anyway) is just the right height to peep over the dashboard and record what’s in front of you. It can record footage in the background, so you can still run satnav/speed cameras or anything else on the phone screen. The default recording split of 2 minutes is a little low as it beeps at each split – but easily adjusted.

I know a lot of people have a dedicated in-car camera, but if not, or if you just want the feature on holiday this (and I’m sure others) looks like a a decent DIY solution.

[The Duke]

Sounds good, actually  sounds brilliant.  but sadly won’t work with my cd slot phone mount.

I may have a play with this if I like it try and find a mount that will peek out the window. The I could set my dash cam up out the back. Though my stupid car (first one out of last 3) doesn’t have a 12v outlet in the boot! Would make it simple easy.

 

A slight tangent but related to dash cams. If you find a battery bank that will let you power something while itself is charging, (sort of in line battery) it means you can run you dash cam run 24/7.

Out off all my battery banks (I have an buying problem) only one is capable of this, so it’s not a common “feature”, but very handy for this.

 

[blacklion1725]

that’s the most useful thing for a CD slot these days! Duke the removable air-vent mounts are a fiver-ish on ebay if your car logistics would support it…mine is like this (but not this one exactly)

On the battery, do you mean run a normal dashcam (not a phone app) so you could film your street even when car is parked and you are not in it? I’d have to check my batteries – got loads of them and never thought to use like that.

[The Duke]

Yes, I just meant a normal dash cam. However, it would work with a phone too.

I net with a phone there would be a way to upload the footage on the fly too*. It would take more juice to keep the system going.

*as long as your within a distance of your wifi, and uploaded to a home server etc.. Cloud would work our expensive.

However, my original comment was just to keep a normal DC going overnight, and let the car charge the battery via the day .the best bank would be a quick charge job, of about 10k mah. Plenary of juice for a few days, and will charge really quick with a 2.4 amp 12v plug.

 

when I had my bin issue I set this up to monitor who was contaminating my bins .never caught anyone as they stopped! Which was great but also frustrating. I was going to make a stealth pi camera but this was far simpler. And at the time wife was I’m hospital so had no time.

So I got a half decent dash cam and used one of my battery banks. Job done. It will shorten the life of the bank, but £10 (ish) for about 12 months is fine by me. They will be £5 next year.

I’ll have to check my car vents are in a decent place, my dash is not a traditional shape.

I’ll play with the app before I investigate the mounting situation.

 

Back to apps, I’m trying out a new keyboard by Grammarly. I’ll see if I’m any better with it after a few weeks. The only drawback so far is the placement of the emoji button.

 

[JayCeeDee]

Steve – if this post above is anything to go by, it’s a bl**dy good keyboard. Two “fat” finger adjacent key strikes and one predictive error!! Spot on!!??

[The Duke]

I’m not sure where the videos upload, I made an account, logged Into the app from app side, hit upload, and nothing appeared on the website. I wouldn’t use this feature mined, but do like to try them out.

 

Though using google photos we all get up to 1080p unlimited uploads.so we can just set them to upload when on wifi and com charge at night. Pixel owner I could take the piss and upload all mine in 4k till2021. That would pee the googs off.lol. I’m liking this app a lot.

How long you used it for?

[blacklion1725]

Driven for an hour and a half or so with mine – on high def settings (overkill) and it was about a 7GB file (saved to my SD card but you can save to internal memory. I think you only need to upload the file to get the GPS overlay – from memory I tried once out of interest but not something you would need as standard (I wouldn’t have thought anyway). I’ve not tried the lower res settings as I’ve got a half empty 128G card,  but I’ll try to remember and try some different settings out on my next run. This has now made me wonder how it is at night – which I’ve not tried either and will need to test.

The default split (every 2 minutes) beeps and drives me potty – so set it to 30 minutes but you can set it to pretty much anything and can probably turn it (the beep) off.

[Tippon]

The Duke wrote:

I’ll have to check my car vents are in a decent place, my dash is not a traditional shape.

Have a look at the vent for clearing the windscreen. They’re usually pretty close to the glass, and the passenger side de-misting a bit slower shouldn’t cause problems.

[The Duke]

Just had a check while waiting for “her” outside Sainsbury’s. a vent mount won’t work for me.

I’m holding that paper at about 90 degrees of the top of the dash. My phone in portrait won’t even reach over from the air vents

The second pic attached is from my eye like to show how low you sit in the car. The 3rd shows where the cd mount is and how perfect it works out. But not for the app we are speaking of. (You can see my NFC tag on my mount that fires my car apps up on docking.

 

For some reason, I couldn’t embed any pictures today. So attachments will have to do.

Also apologies for the amount of dust my flash seems to of highlighted. It isn’t be seen with the naked eye

Update: I couldn’t embed and my attachments failed! So here is a direct link to the photos I’m their full glory.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/wQzNCU7CNcNsNWx03

The order of them is now off, but sure if anyone is interested they’ll figure it out.

It’s not put me off the app though. I’ll revisit dash top/window mounts after the new year. (Ill set a reminder for Jan).

 

 

[Ed P]

Steve, be very careful about positioning anything with a screen in your car. As the law stands, a badly positioned screen is a very serious road traffic offence and could result in a whole string of charges. see link

Personally I think the TV part of the law is badly out of date as it prevents one mounting a sensor equipped  dash cam to act as a very wide angle rear view mirror. But why should I be surprised that our laws struggle to keep up with technology.

[The Duke]

Ed, unless the football is on, I really watch anything while driving ?

Jk, of course, I think the place whet it mounts should be on, and the only thing on the screen is the satnav, and that’s rare tbh.

If you the screen above my holder, that is where vx will put their upgraded screen, satnav enfotainment set up. For over £700 iirc.

Given I knew it is a poor system, I opted against that offer lol. and I think the higher placement would be too high on my car as you sit very low, much lower than 5 door Astra its based on. So it would be bang in your eye line, and would forever be taking your attention.

If honest the majority of the time I use sat nav, the listing is all you need. Until you get to a the very end of a journey.

You are right the law is being . iirc in as you not allowed any devices on for the first 2or 4 years of driving. At least our dvla now incorporate satnavs into the diving test

[Drezha]

Does any know of a decent app to track meter readings? I’ve been using Meters on iOS and I can’t seem to find a decent Android equal. The closest I’ve seen is Smart Meters, which I’m trialling.

"Everything looks interesting until you do it. Then you find it’s just another job" - Terry Pratchett

[Bob Williams]

I don’t have a Smart meter, or any form of energy tracking. My gson has built his own method, no clue how it works but I suspect he has built and programmed his own software* into some gizmo he bought online, based in his living room and using WiFi to the boiler. I know it’s Android-based, he can run it remotely, but I’ll have to ask him what he did and how he did it.

I just open my front door, take three steps, open the meter door and read it. It’s a new (non-smart) meter, installed in 2015. I send the readings to EDF website and get a new bill within 48 hours. Currently paying £73/month for Dual Fuel and expecting that to reduce as weather warms up (I live in hope).

*His energy company has asked how he did it, after he refused a Smart Meter and told them why. He requested a Consultancy Fee! No mug, is my senior GS.

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[Drezha]

It doesn’t read the meter itself, I still have to do that. I want to track my usage throughout the year (and if it allows me to set a fee per unit, I can see if the costs that British Gas are telling me are reasonably correct).

"Everything looks interesting until you do it. Then you find it’s just another job" - Terry Pratchett

[Richard]

All you need is a pen, paper, (clipboard optional) and a spreadsheet. Since the dumb squad screwed up readings in the energy company I take irregular, (due to circumstances) readings and a simple spread sheet works out my daily average consumption between record points. Originally it was intended to find and correct meter reading errors by the contractor, but interestingly the recent winter has barely moved our average daily consumption, (which some might find to lie on the horrendous side of considerable).

[Author]

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