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Question about android gps settings
- Thread starter mclld
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In my experience, yes. Several apps, especially weather apps give you the option of using network location aka cell towers to determine your location.
If you leave it in power saving mode and go to use an app it will prompt you where needing to use high accuracy mode and offer you the settings panel.
If you leave it in power saving mode and go to use an app it will prompt you where needing to use high accuracy mode and offer you the settings panel.
I asked a similar question on xda; this is the response I got.
"Device mode is the traditional GPS toggle. GPS is more battery hungry than network location, but more accurate. This is why battery saving is called battery saving, as it uses network location, and compared to GPS it is more battery saving. Because it uses network location it is also less accurate, so it can't be used for navigation. However, to save battery, Google location stuff (Google Now, location history, reporting, etc.) only use network location. In device only mode, there is no network location, so Google location stuff doesn't work. This is why it may appear to be more battery efficient as you don't get the Play Services wakelock. Just imagine what will happen to your battery if every time it wakes your device up it has to wait for a GPS lock. By disabling Google location stuff when network location isn't available Google is doing you and your battery a favor.
Which mode uses less battery? I'd say device, as GPS is only used when an app like maps requests it. As much as Play Services wakelocks have been a non-issue for me, they do wakelock more. It's not directly linked to battery saving, as battery saving itself is indeed more battery saving than device, but unless you disable location services battery saving brings with it those wakelocks which may or may not bother you."
"Device mode is the traditional GPS toggle. GPS is more battery hungry than network location, but more accurate. This is why battery saving is called battery saving, as it uses network location, and compared to GPS it is more battery saving. Because it uses network location it is also less accurate, so it can't be used for navigation. However, to save battery, Google location stuff (Google Now, location history, reporting, etc.) only use network location. In device only mode, there is no network location, so Google location stuff doesn't work. This is why it may appear to be more battery efficient as you don't get the Play Services wakelock. Just imagine what will happen to your battery if every time it wakes your device up it has to wait for a GPS lock. By disabling Google location stuff when network location isn't available Google is doing you and your battery a favor.
Which mode uses less battery? I'd say device, as GPS is only used when an app like maps requests it. As much as Play Services wakelocks have been a non-issue for me, they do wakelock more. It's not directly linked to battery saving, as battery saving itself is indeed more battery saving than device, but unless you disable location services battery saving brings with it those wakelocks which may or may not bother you."
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I agree with ^, I believe it is actually device mode that uses the least battery, besides off of course.
I used to run on device mode, until there were a few apps that I wanted to use that need googles location service, which needs battery saver or high accuracy. Now I just run on high accuracy. I don't really see the point in battery saver, unless you have an app that you know is continually hitting the actual GPS, otherwise I prefer the more precise location within navigation apps
Highly recommend turning off googles location reporting though
I used to run on device mode, until there were a few apps that I wanted to use that need googles location service, which needs battery saver or high accuracy. Now I just run on high accuracy. I don't really see the point in battery saver, unless you have an app that you know is continually hitting the actual GPS, otherwise I prefer the more precise location within navigation apps
Highly recommend turning off googles location reporting though
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What all does location reporting off effect? Can I still see my device on Android device manager?
yes device manager definitely works, that is polled when you are making the request in ADM
I think all it does is let you look at where you have been in the past on a map. It may have effects on google now, not sure there. From what I understand it increases location wakelocks (which are too high as it is IMO)