yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Yorad:
Multiple Phones

I'm completely new to this and just bought my Galaxy Nexus. I've used the Google Wallet and love it, but I'm now considering using some NFC tags. My question is: can a NFC tag do different things for different phones? For instance, could I buy my girlfriend the same phone and when she taps the tag at the front door her phone goes to silent and turns on wi-fi, but when my phone tags in there it goes to full volume and turns on wi-fi? I assume all the programming is done on the phone to tell it how to behave at that tag rather then any "programming" in the tag itself but as you can tell from my questions I don't fully understand the technology yet.

Also, I'm going to go search for this answer as well but I'm sure someone knows this: Do you have to be rooted to use Tasker?

Just for the sake of argument, Llama (which is free) does many of the things people are using these NFC tags for without having to tap anything. When I leave the house it turns off my wi-fi and turns it on when I come home. It puts my phone to silent during certain hours IF I'm at home. It also puts my phone on silent when I get to the office and turns it back to loud when I leave. There are many other location/time based actions you can program it to do as well. Your different locations have to be far away enough for it to work correctly because is uses cell towers to determine location, but it works for me.

I do like the car/bike/running actions people are using the NFC tags for though. :)
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] ascsa:
Hmm, sorry that´s not correct.

That´s the way most of the nfc apps work (and the way nfc was originally designed), but I wrote an app, that does not need to store any data on the tag.

You can even use it with write protected NFC tags (NFC hotelkey card, lift pass, company badge etc.).

All the data is stored in an app internal database, so sure you can program different actions on different phones.

Have a Look: xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1477138

EDIT:sorry, forgot the Tasker answer: No, you don´t need root for Tasker, but changing some secure settings with Tasker needs root.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] krohnjw:
That's correct for the app he cited ;) (and by design)

However this is not the design approach taken by pretty much every other NFC automation app (Sony's Live Tags, Touchatag, etc). They all either rely on a local mapping or a call back to a web service.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] ascsa:
Yes, I know that is correct for your app (amazing job btw. :)) and most of the other apps, but neither the question was app specific nor the answer ...

I think you´re right with the sony app, but I don´t think the web service based apps can be used to trigger different activites on different phones ...unless they use some additional identifier ... never used one of them, so please correct me if I´m wrong ... ;-)

However don´t want to argue, which solution is more common or better, I think both (or with the web based services all three) solutions have their specific use cases.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] krohnjw:
Sony uses a local database and a URI on each tag identifying which "color" it is. Apps like touchatag use a web service.

Each most certainly has its use case.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Archpope:
My three very simple tags

1. Bedtime: turn off ringer, dim screen, start White Noise app.

2. Wake up: Turn ringer back on, restore screen brightness, start flipboard app.

3. I'm here: This tag is in the car. When I pull up to my girlfriend's house, the tag sends her a text message that says "I'm here." I needed Tasker to do this one.

Edit: Bonus 4th use. Set tag to enable Wifi and open Airdroid. I setup Airdroid with a default password, so I can just click on the shortcut on my PC and login. No more having to take that picture. Also, the tags will work just fine through my glass-topped desk.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] krohnjw:
I've written a private app that sends SMS messages using nfc. That wasn't added to nfc task launcher as it requires the send SMS permission. Is that something that people want?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] AftermathLK:
yes, please
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Archpope:
Absolutely. I don't know how much complexity it would add, but maybe make it differentiate between using the SMS app and using Google Voice, since I have a limited text plan.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] BigPhil:
Tag your Bins!

Hi, I am gatecrashing this forum from the Sony Xperia S forums. I have been playing with NFC a lot recently and I have come up with some pretty neat apps. All these apps have been tested on my Sony, and I was wondering if anyone here fancied trying them. All the apps are free and will never have adverts.

I suppose the best one first, published about an hour ago.

In the UK most households have multiple bins (trash cans), one for rubbish, one for recyclable materials and possibly one for garden waste. These bins are usually collected on alternate weeks. So here's the problem, how do you tell which bin is to be collected and when?

With Bin Buddy you can stick an NFC sticker to each bin and use the app to encode it with recurring rules. Now, simply wave your phone over your bin and Bin Buddy will tell you when it is due for collection, it can even read out how many days until you need to put it out.

Sure, you could achieve this with repeating calendar entries, but you have a £500 phone in your pocket, why not use it (and confuse your neighbours)?

If this sounds interesting, check it out here

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vexedbadger.binbuddy

Next up are a pair of apps, Car Mode On and Car Mode Off. These are intended to be run from NFC Tasker (or Xperia SmartTags) and do exactly what the name suggests. I have found plenty of apps out there that toggle car mode, which is annoying as hell if you dock your phone, remove it then dock it again, or simply unlock it. Anyway, triggering Car Dock Mode launches any app that is listening for it (I can recommend Car Home v3, but I am not affiliated with it)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vexedbadger.simpletoggles.car_mode_on

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vexedbadger.simpletoggles.car_mode_off

Finally, anyone in the UK looking to buy NFC stickers, I have been using http://www.RapidNFC.com (again, not affiliated with them). Pretty cheap and lightning fast delivery.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] xternal:
I thought it would be cool if you could include private keys on nfc tags.

So you have an encrypted database on your phone, or about to make an ssh connection and you hold the tag near the phone and it provides the private key to complete the encryption/authentication.

That way you dont have to store databases and keys etc on the same hard drive. Much like keeping a private key on a usb stick but much easier. Would this be possible? My understanding is NFC tags can hold upto 1024k? so could easily fit 256AES keys?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] dipole:
1. I put one on the bottom of my dslr that turns on GPS and then launches a gps recorder app so that I can geotag my photos.

2. Put a tag next to the nightstand that initiates an rsync backup of my sdcard to my server.

3. Made 3 tasks in tasker, 1 for each shoe and by placing an NFC tag in the soles of each I can track which shoe I used on each day by adding the shoe name to my running calendar (I rotate 3 pairs) and match that up with my GPS watch data.

4. Punch in and out of Sleepbot, which tracks my nightly sleep

5. Put one in the car to scan so I remember where I parked. Really useful in big parking lots

Ones that I want to do...

Put one in garden and do something with watering/fertilizing schedule (haven't thought this out, just would be fun).

I brew beer so maybe use them to track fermentation, hops, kegging etc....

Put them on the kitchen whiteboard to track kids homework, chores, ie responsibility chart, etc
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] rmiles7721:
I've been looking at a combination of Tasker and Eventghost for Z-Wave control myself. I've used Homeseer for my HA stuff for about 12 years now and am not interested in any other software on my PC. Homeseer is probably the most robust home automation software out there. Think Tasker on steriods for the PC. Anyway, there is an evenghost plugin for Homeseer as well as Tasker so it shouldn't be too much of a problem to get the all of the software talking together.

On vacation next week so I may have some time to get it up and running and will post a bit more here.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] BigPhil:
I love the camera idea. I am doing that tonorrow. On my phone (xperia s) you cant turn gps on on programmatically, is it the same on yours?

I am currently using bin buddy to track the watering if a few of my favorite plants. Some need watering every 3 days, some every 5. Perhaps I should release a 'de - binned' version of it. Aynt ideas for a catchy name? 'NFC reoccurring task monitor' sounds a bit rubbish
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] krohnjw:
You should be able to turn it on given it's a system app accessing the API. This is in the next release of nfc task launcher (allow the app to make itself a system app and subsequently access protected apis).
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] rich_bown:
There's a ghost walk in my hometown of noriwich that uses NFC tags in posters to load a webpage that tells you a spooky story about that location.

You wander wound the medieval city and find the posters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ezJkP9oXbs
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] ArmanUV:
Can you explain how you did number 2 and 5 ? thanks.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Ammontj:
I would assume you would have to use tasker and NFC task maker together to accomplish this.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Stevie D:
Just started playing around with NFC tags using a combination of NFC Task Launcher and Tasker, so far I have set up two tags, both as switchable tags.

Car Tag

Turns On/Off Wifi - Turns On/Off Bluetooth and Launches/Kills Voice Control Full

Motorcycle Tag

Turn On/Off Wifi - Turns On/Off Auto Brightness and sets display level to max (for those sunny days out on the bike) - Starts/Stops a tasker profile that send an automated SMS reply if someone texts me.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] BigPhil:
I do something similar. I have the tag launch Car Mode On, this in turn launches Car Home v3. It works brilliantly. Importantly it means that repeatedly scanning the tag does not cause car mode to flip flop, and being in car mode keeps the screen of the phone on.

Not creative but damn effective, especially with the tag stuck to my car dock
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Ammontj:
Just received my tags and already getting started!
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Ammontj:
I like the idea of the Motorcycle Tag. Might look at setting something like that up in my riding jacket pocket.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Lambetts:
Where did you get your tags from champ?

Thanks in advance.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Hotshot205:
What dock is you using for your motorcycle to hold your phone? Post pictures if you can.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] BigPhil:
I don't know if this helps or not but I was talking to RapidNFC.com about a potential project last week and they do a range of NFC laundry tags. They are not listed on their web site so you would need to contact them directly. We didn't get as far as discussing pricing.

Also, given the phone has to be on and unlocked to read the tag, having it in the back of the glove, or the cuff of the jacket would be a better move than in the pocket IMHO*.

Cheers

-- Phil

* I dont ride, so may be talking nonsense...
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Ammontj:
Good thinking, as soon as I get some more time I will be checking this out. Thank you
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Stevie D:
Don't use the phone for anything when on the bike (yet) so the dock is effectively my pocket at the moment. Can post a picture of my pocket if you like though :)

When/If I do start to use the phone on the bike (probably for SatNav) then I will just stick the phone in a RAM AquaBox connected to a RAM mount.

The tags I used were from CoreRFID, just basic blank white ones.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Hotshot205:
Okay lol cool, just. Wondering since I'll be getting a motorcycle soon.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] myriad46:
TagStand has the laundry tags too.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Lambetts:
Thanks man.

So do you need to program the tags with another piece of equipment?

Sorry have just become interested in this just as I saw the thread. Haha

Thanks guys.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Ammontj:
You will program them with your phone using NFC task maker
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] superstargoddess:
I finally got around to ordering a couple of these. I'm going to like it way better than using those apps like Tasker or profiles! It's pretty much just another geeky toy, that's why I wanted it. :P
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Stevie D:
Nothing wrong with that, all my tags do is launch Tasker tasks anyway, which I could have done using Tasker widgets, but launching them with NFC tags is just way more flash :)
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Archpope:
I went to the conveyor belt sushi bar last night, and when I picked up one of the plates, I noticed that there was something stuck to the plate. It looked like a really large version of one of the NFC tags I got in my kit. I tried to read it with my phone, and sure enough, it read as a blank, NDEF formatted tag with about 750 bytes available.

So, does anyone have any fun ideas of what to do with them? Maybe put joke messages on them like "Help, I'm being held prisoner in a sushi bar"? I don't know that anyone will ever even see that something has been written to the tag, though.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] LoveNFC:
I wrote a URL to a disgusting shock site. Android phones take you straight to a scanned URL without you first confirming. This means that anyone with an Android phone who scans the tags that I've written will be taken directly to a picture of something they'd rather not see.

I've already seen the reactions that this causes, but this was with friends. Once NFC becomes mainstream (i.e. if the iPhone gets it), this will have huge potential for pranks.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Seechay:
I have the same 3rd task haha
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Cptsamir:
If you make a tag read only can you undo it after? Or it is always stuck as read only?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] krohnjw:
stuck as read-only (for tags that can be locked).
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] kolyan:
1 tag Car Mode:

Enter:

1. Enable BT

2. Enable GPS

3. Disable Auto-Rotate

4. Disable WiFi

5. Launch tasker Music menu which let's me choose 3 different apps (Pandora, Tune-In, or local music player)

Exit:

1. Disable GPS

2. Disable BT

3. Enable Auto-Rotate

4. Launch tasker Auto Wifi On/Off task which turns Wifi on and if its not connected, it turns it off

ps. this can all be done easy with Tasker without NFC use, especially if you setup a time-frame instead of location based services.

another ps. my NFC tag is behind the dashboard in car so its not even visible :)
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] OptoChip:
Since I'm still not 100% sure what NFC does, I figure this would be the thread to ask in.

My work uses RFID tags for entry, would it be possible to setup my phone to mimick my RFID tag so I could just use my phone to enter instead of the RFID card?

Edit: I'm really doubting it since I can't seem to get my RFID Card to scan into any of the NFC Reader Apps.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] andygeog:
Top thread everyone.

Mine arrive tomorrow, I'll start playing with Tasker now to get some stuff ready for them.

I know NFC tage can't toggle GPS on an unrooted Galaxy Nexus. Can I achieve this in Tasker?

Cheers.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] krohnjw:
No, no without leveraging something like secure settings, which requires root. The API isn't available to non system apps hence the need for root.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] kolyan:
no
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] seymour_butts:
im combining NFC tags and llama... Im waiting for NFC task launcher to work also with llama or similiar and not just Tasker... I think llama is more friendly user and Tasker is expensive... Emailed them (NFC tasker launcher) and waiting for the answer...

For now, with NFC tags i use them on car and near bed. I car to:

- bt on

- wif off

- screen timeout 10min

- connect to jaba speaker

- launch Car Mode Ultra (wich has my music box app to listen to music , app like pandora or spotify, that I radio frequency to my car radio)

when leaving car:

- turn BT off

- Mobile data on

- close car mode

- screen timeout 30sec

no my bed, going to sleep:

- screen timeout longer

- set brightness to 100

- set alarm

- clock night mode

- set silent mode

bed, waking up:

- set brightness to 15

- screen timeout 30sec

- set normal mode

- launch news app

in llama im using profiles to detect when i get home, leaving home, getting to work and leaving work...

again, tags will be more perfect when i discover how to lauch llama profiles or tasks :)
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] krohnjw:
When did you email about llama? Those emails should come to me and I don't recall seeing it. Haven't used llama - what are you using it for that's necessary (just curious).
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] seymour_butts:
I sent it today.. LOL cause today was my day off and i started testing my tags :)

well, for instance, i wanted to kill a certain app.. nfc task launcher only allows me to launch an app... with llama i can... in llama i can prevent my nexus to use screen lock password... for instance when im at home i dont need to use.. leaving home it puts the screen password i want... if i could launch those profiles like we can launch tasker tasks it would be great...

also what someone already said here before... i could use smaller tags since in a task of Tasker or llama we can do many more actions by just calling them :)

dont know if i answered what u wanted :)

note: info@tagstand.com sent the email to here...
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] mynameismolotov:
Oh that's a really good idea, I'm gonna use that. Just keep the sticker on the dash or maybe by the handle or something.

Also, I don't think anyone has mentioned it yet, http://www.buynfctags.com has some really cool stuff. You can get bracelets, key fobs for your key chain, ID cards hooked up to linkedin, pens, machine washable tags, and more, all NFC compatible. And they're all only like a buck or two. Plus various sample packs with reduced rates.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] krohnjw:
Ah, they haven't forwarded that on yet :)

feedback@tagstand gets auto forwarded to me. sales and info are handled by other people :) I'll bug them to send me the email.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] seymour_butts:
Lol.

That was the email I saw on the website.. :)
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] krohnjw:
Yeah, feedback is on the market listing and in the app :) The website handles a lot of non app related inquiries (unsurprisingly) so I don't need to sift through those.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] seymour_butts:
I noticed that after I sent the email...

But... You can answer here ;-)

Any idea on adding support to other apps other than tasker? Or is it already possible?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] krohnjw:
It's not currently possible. I'll take a look though. After this next release there will be a bit of time to do full tagstand manager integration so I may be able to work it in there .
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] seymour_butts:
That would be great...

I know I can't complain a lot but almost 5€ for tasker is to much... So it would be great to not limit to that app...

Or.. Lol... More options in nfc task manager.. ehehe
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] krohnjw:
Make a list of things you'd like to see added you use in llama and I'll take a look. We're always looking to expand functionality in ways people use.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] seymour_butts:
It's great to see that... I'm starting to combine both, tags and llama, and starting to learn their potential... In a few days I'll put here the things I do with llama that I can't do, or don't know, with just nfc task manager.

Meanwhile maybe others can share their thoughts since I noticed here more people mentioned llama
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] gear.h34d.2012:
I was thinking that exact same thing. Brilliant.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Ammontj:
Right now I have a tasker profile that auto respond to texts whenever I'm going faster than 10 MPH. Chose to just use tasker for now but may set something up different later or to send a text to the wife to let her know I'm headed home
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] winterpinn:
I just found the blog of the llama guy, Seem like he already working on adding NFC capability to the llama which is really great. He also posted the apk for any one who want to try. Unfortunately, official llama with NFC hasn't been released in the Play store yet.

http://kebabapps.blogspot.com/search/label/NFC

I tried to use NFC to enable/disable lock screen and it works.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] seymour_butts:
That's one of the things I wanted to see implemented in nfc task launcher, ability to change lock screen password. In llama I set no screen password at home and when I leave it it's back on. Other would be kill apps...
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] krohnjw:
Working on the lock screen stuff, will probably be in within a few weeks if all goes well.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] seymour_butts:
That's good news...

Isn't also easy, sort of speak, to kill the apps?
[Motorola Photon 4G] thundercles:
Special thanks to Miniassasin23 for doing the testing. I don't have a sim card to test with, and when i test my stuff it often results in my devices being inoperable for long periods of time, and they normally aren't spares either. Utter chaos....

That is the correspondence, post the pictures in a reply to this thread if you want Miniassasin I'd like to see them. Once again thanks, and I'll send you what should be a much more stable kernel that I built last night as soon as you give me an e-mail.

What does this mean now? For anyone who has been wanting to jump ship with their photon, it means you should soon be able to. An alpha release will be posted as soon as I pump a build out that I feel is stable enough (and works well enough) to responsibly distribute. I did a build last night that is untested currently, so if it tests well, the alpha release could be available within 24-48 hours on these boards.

The recommended release will be more for the devs then for the users as it will basically be a demonstration that the GSM code has been isolated and is portable, mine will be the latest stock kernel with GSM unlocked, but I intend to release it with a patch for devs to use to add that functionality to any of their non-stock kernels.
[Motorola Photon 4G] slawson:
Do you have any proof other then a forum post?

This looks like pure troll.
[Motorola Photon 4G] e240:
I can test ..I have an att sim card not activated and I'm on cm7.let me know

I also have a T-Mobile sim card not activated
[Motorola Photon 4G] daddymikey1975:
just release what you have put together so the rest of the devs can collaborate and work together.. many can/will test this and help you debug it.
[Motorola Photon 4G] craby1925:
yes, maybe we'll get some of our lost members back like kennypow3rs to return.
[Motorola Photon 4G] daddymikey1975:
if there are no builds, code, source, or SOMETHING posted up for us to test before morning, I'm reporting this as trolololol.
[Motorola Photon 4G] shabbypenguin:
while i havent seen his work firsthand, i can vouch that hes posted around on the forums asking about kernel source, and been in the irc channel talking to me about stuff.....

but i do agree that the release thread shoulda been in dev section while this... shoulda been general
[Motorola Photon 4G] Miniassassin23:
hey how do u post pics?
[Motorola Photon 4G] lucidvtec:
Wow!!!

sent from my ICS'd Mopho
[Motorola Photon 4G] dcowboys2184:
Good stuff
[Motorola Photon 4G] anaragayevafr:
Thanks for the news at least, waiting for your work
[Motorola Photon 4G] Miniassassin23:
Well here's a photo I think
[Motorola Photon 4G] Jmaserang:
i am willing to test i have both tmobile and at&t activated sim cards
[Motorola Photon 4G] jokersax11:
Congrats on this, I have official sprint documents stating the radio is blocking us carriers. So once this is out that is great. Also we need some github love on this so I can spread that code to every project.