yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
After more than a year I am consolidating threads. Maintaining several threads was getting to be too much. Please move to the new thread here with any new questions or comments: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=34417369

Market Link: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.jwsoft.nfcactionlauncher

Application Site: http://www.jwksoftware.com/

Screenshots: http://www.jwksoftware.com/screenshots

Known Issues: http://www.jwksoftware.com/issues

Features:

NFC Task Launcher uses the NFC Hardware and RFID/NFC Tags to allow you to create tags several types of tags, including a custom "Task" tag that will automatically execute tasks when read. See Site for full feature list.

If you do use and enjoy the app it is up in the Market as a paid app. Any purchases / ratings are appreciated as I have put quite a few hours into this expanding it to fill requests for functionality.

Change log:

6/12 Version 3.6

- GPS (Root needed)

- Mobile Data (Root needed)

- Display Timeout

- Fixed Airplane mode bugs

- Precision timer

- New languages

- Cloud backup and restore

5/9 Version 3.4

- UI updates

- Added German, Spanish and Korean

- Removed Italian as it is out of date

- All tags now save to "Your Tags". Recent shows the 5 most recently used

- Changed Tag limiting to uniquely track switch tags

4/19 Version 3.3

- Added Google Places support in Latitude

- Added Navigate to address support

- Added Auto-rotation

- Added write lock option when writing

- Added size to vCards

- Added setting to pause after launching an app (for launching multiple apps or launching and then interacting)

- Added notification when tags save when hitting finish

- Updated Tasker integration (should fix issues with HTC One X)

- Enhanced debugging to make bug reports easier

- Fixed condition where tasks would stop executing when wifi changed

- Fixed reported crashes and typo

Full: http://www.jwksoftware.com/change-log

Where to get Tags?

http://www.jwksoftware.com/nfc-tags

If you'd like to see some functionality added feel free to make a request.

The APK linked below is free of the license check of the Market version and is fully functional for 7 days.

http://goo.gl/xBBOU

For anyone who decides to purchase the app after using the APK attached to the thread - un-install the free version first otherwise the market installation fails.

Here's a few videos I made for a current demo:

Tag Demos

[YOUTUBE]AFwa4vwfrTc[/YOUTUBE]

Car Dock Demo

[YOUTUBE]x82HtpDtE8M[/YOUTUBE]
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] kenvan19:
Hmm that would be really cool. Embed a tag in my doorframe and set it to enable/disable wifi so I never have to do it by hand lol. Put one it my car steering wheel to turn on BT...you're a genius sir!
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] gabrialxue:
What I would be really interested in is an app which allowed users to easily assign a list of actions to certain tags, directly from the application.

I'd certainly help out in the development of the application if anybody else is interested
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
If this was something people were interested in it would be fairly trivial to write an app with a defined set of options and write the text tags instead of having to compose them by hand.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] jaker.the.skater:
this is a great idea! about how much do blank nfc tags cost though?
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] joshthewaster:
This would be my question as well. I think this is a cool idea. Definitely need to have an easy to set up user interface to enable tags.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
I picked them up for $2-3 each.

I ordered a few from Finland for €1.30 a piece shipped. I also ordered a few from a US company for 2.95 each + shipping. All are 1k tags. Once I get them I'll let you know how they flush out.

Touchtag sells them reasonably cheap but it's a lot of 25 for #15 or $20, I think, but they are out of stock .
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
Once I get the tags I'll add a main UI for building/writing the text tags. I had assumed constructing them manually and then writing with one of the existing products would be easy enough, but it's pretty trivial to implement a simple text tag writer and accompanying UI.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
I overlooked that entirely. I'll add toggle support as well.

I don't have tags to test writes tonight, but if my kids cooperate I'll try to get a UI and the associated logic set up over the next few days. Then when the tags arrive I'll get some video/screenshots up for people to are how it all works.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
Ok, toggle support is in. I created a UI to start with tonight for tag building. The known SSIDs and app list aren't populated yet - I'll get to that some time this week. It needs cleaned up a bit as well, but it's a start for now.

It does looks like auto BT pairing isn't part of the API, so that my be out of the feature list. But enabling Wifi Tethering and associating with a known SSID should be no problem.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] pratishk:
is it worth using something like the locale or tasker app? and working with them? They already have a good task maker GUI..?
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
I don't use either and wouldn't want to rip off a UI from them. We really need a very small subset of what those apps appear to offer for building tags and our use case doesn't seem to fit into what those apps do very well.

Moving forward I'll likely pull the "add" into a separate view to make it cleaner, as well as the write dialog. This is just a starting point currently to write the tags when I receive them.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] pratishk:
sounds good anyhow, look forward to hearing more about the app...
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
New SS up with a cleaner UI using multiple views.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] dskyers:
Think your giving the million doller idea away buddy. This could change everything essentially if you think about it? I won't have to touch anything on my phone for cretin things like turning on and off wifi or turning in Bluetooth when I get in car. Going to desktop mode when I get to work. Think u should make a good Buck off of this. Good luck.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] Deleted member 2227528:
this would be an awesome app. i'd buy it.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
Sounds good ;)

I plan on putting a free version up here and a version on the market you can buy as a donate version.

I completed all of the wifi tethering stuff, as well as configuration options. I've got the write code in place (in theory - no tags to test on yet). Updated UI screenshots in the OP.

I've got a few more small additions to make and then it's just waiting for tags to arrive in the mail for testing.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] instigator008:
Do RFID tags work with this technology? Lots on ebay but no NFC specific.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] instigator008:
Here's another retailer. $1 a piece NFC labels:

http://www.tagage.net/tagage-shop/
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
I have an order with them - they are in Finland. I placed the order last week and have no response from them yet (not even a confirmation email) my card however was charged.

I also ordered a few tags from here: http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10128

These have shipped it seems and should be here in the next few days.

I am eagerly waiting as I'd like to finish this up :)
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] instigator008:
Also fc's 100% if I select "silent"
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
Indeed it does - this is now fixed as well.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] instigator008:
Feature suggestion:

"Smart Email Address" ...launches email program and populates "to:" field with email address

Phone number could launch/populate the dialer
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
I'm going to stick in the well known URIs (Email, SMS, etc).

Anyone want to volunteer to test a new build (with profiles and a widget for status / launching the app)?
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] instigator008:
Yes please!
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
Ok - completed and coming up in 2.4:

- Add support for toggling Profiles using saved tags (new Tag type Profile tag)

- Add small widget (4x1) to identify Profile applied or last actions taken - also launches app when the icon is clicked

- Ability for Format/Erase tags

- Vibrate notification and preference

- Add support for other well defined URIs (Tel, SMS, Mailto)

I likely won't release anything until Monday as I'll be leaving early Friday morning and essentially unreachable for any issues until Monday.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] fesar:
You can send it to me for testing till that time
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
PM'd

I have 2 people testing over the weekend. If all goes well then I'll look for a Monday release sometime for 2.4.

Final features:

- Add support for toggling Profiles using saved tags (new Tag type: Profile tag)

- Add small widget (4x1) to identify Profile applied or last actions taken - also launches app when the icon is clicked

- Ability for Format/Erase tags

- Vibrate notification and preference

- Add support for other well defined URIs (Tel, SMS, Mailto)

- Various bugfixes
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] fesar:
Cant we mix up tasks, URIs in a single tag. Like this whenever I get activated a profile I send an SMS to my number. So whoever activates the tag I will know it.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
Multiple NDEF Records can definitely be written in one NDEF message. So, in theory it's something that could be done. (Write 1 Task tag, 1 URI, 1 Text tag - etc as space permits).

It's not currently something that the app is set up to do, but creating what essentially amounts to a queue of messages waiting to be written would not be terribly difficult. It's something to consider moving forward for sure.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] fesar:
Ok. Another Fix i think you can do with the Widget.

Currently Widget displays the last tag read with the content of it. Rather than displaying the content. If you can add the Save Tag name also as part of the Tag. You can use that to display on the Widget.

For Example:- If I have created Task for CAR, HOME, OFFICE. Then if you can store this also as part of the TAG or use the SAVE TAG Name and show it as the Profile Read. I think you can do this ? If Save tag name is not present you can use the same what is currently being displayed.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
Yeah, that's something that should be fairly easy to implement. I likely won't have time today, but I'll get that in tonight possibly or Monday.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] fesar:
Thanks apart from that I tested almost everything and I didnt find any issue. Will keep testing and post you if I get any issue.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] garfnodie:
Curious about this myself as I'd be looking to do the same thing.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] Fitchman:
Yeah, I don't have any tags to test, but I was thinking that since there's no official Nexus S Dock to launch Car Home or Desk Home, you could just use any old dock with a tag sticker on it! I'd worry it would it just keep trying to launch Car Home over and over. Does Car Home also put the phone in "Car mode" or is that a different.

Anyone in Seattle want to go in on a group order of these?
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] garfnodie:
Can the tags be setup so that things only happen in the presence of the tag, but as soon as the tag is not present, the actions stop?

Ex: Set phone on desk and pandora launches, but then I get up to go on break and take phone with me. When I pick up my phone, pandora exits since the tag is not present. Or is this something I'd have to setup in tasker?
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] instigator008:
I've since received my tags and have come to the conclusion that it doesn't drain. The NFC chip seems to register the first contact and, as long as the phone or tag isn't moved, doesn't continue to read. You have to basically move the phone over the tag again in order for it to register again.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] instigator008:
I have a tag on the side of my dock setup with car home and Bluetooth toggle. I swipe it before I put it in the dock to toggle on Bluetooth and to turn on car home. Swipe it out of the dock to toggle off Bluetooth.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
Essentially this is what happens. When you place the NFC hardware on the tag an intent is fired showing the tag discovered. If the tag and the phone do not move you won't see this again. So, the action will only be performed once.

Once the screen times out though it will re-fire the intent when you turn the screen on. Performing the action again.

It does appear as though the connection to the tag is held open while the screen is on. I don't know the implications on battery life on this, but I would assume that if you are in a car dock, and aren't allowing the screen to turn off that you have it plugged in anyway.

Car home is the same app that was launched when the Nexus One was docked in the car dock. I'm unsure what you mean by "car mode".

You'd have to figure out a way to do something on disconnect of the tag - an intent isn't fired on this, so I don't think it's something you could do anyway. However, it disconnects when the screen powers off or when it is out of range - so you'd have to stop the device from sleeping to keep the tag connected the entire time.

You could set up 2 tasker tasks (one to start pandora and another to stop it), save the 2 tags and use them as a profile (hit the tag once to start the first profile, a second hit would fire the second and stop it via tasker).
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] garfnodie:
I don't have an NS yet, plan on getting it when Sprint comes out with theirs, and then I can mess with it. But would it be possible to have tasker keep checking if the tag is there (screen on or off), once it detects that the tag is no longer present, then the exit task is performed? Tasker already checks your GPS or Network location periodically, so this seems like something it should be able to do.

I realize this may seem lazy, all I'd have to do is pull phone away for a moment, then hit tag again, but I'm just thinking of seamless ways to do things like this. Things that really don't require and thought once they are set up.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
I don't know - I don't use Tasker personally. I only installed the demo copy to do the initial Tasker integration.

From a program perspective the only thing tasker *may* be able to do is listen for when the tag connection is lost (this happens when it is either moved out of range or the screen turns off). I have no idea if is set up to check this though.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
If you pick some up here http://www.tagage.net/tagage-shop (minimum order of 5 I think) you are looking at $9 shipped for the 1k tags - this is pretty reasonable for the convenience.

You could get the 64 byte ultralight tags for less (~!$6 shipped) and use profiles to save space if the Task you want to perform is over 64 bytes. Even if you put the same tag on the profile twice to always trigger the same action - this is only 5 bytes and would not restrict you to tag size.

These are stickers and easily affix to various locations.

Just a thought - I don't know what's affordable or not for you.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] 3Shirts:
Just to add my method with car mode.

I have a tag stuck on my car holder which has built in charger. The tag fires a task which sets a variable (%NFCTag) to car.

I then have the 'car mode' task (screen on, no vibrate etc) set to fire when that variable is set AND the power is plugged in.

When I take the phone out of the holder it removes power so Tasker leaves that task. I have the exit task set to wait 30 seconds then set the variable %NFCTag back to default. This means it's ready next time I drop it in the dock.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] garfnodie:
Ok, that works. I can't wait to give it a try. I might just order some tags now so that when the phone finally comes out on Sprint, I'm ready to experimenting.

I would just like to mention to the OP, this thread is the sole reason I decided to go with the NS4G instead of the Evo. This NFC thing sounds cool and I can wait to start trying it out. Awesome thing you are doing, this is what Android and the Dev community are all about.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
Heh, that's quite the setup - I can see why some wanted Tasker integration. What card dock do you have with integrated power?

Nice, I hope you enjoy it! It's actually quite a solid phone (since they got the reboot issue sorted out).

NFC is something that I actually find quite useful now, whereas before it was fairly useless for me. Hopefully it comes out sooner rather than later.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] 3Shirts:
It's Brodit. I've been using their holders/clips for about 4 years now and while they are a bit pricey (being made specifically for each device) they are amazing quality and the clip/holder combination is great.

For those that don't know you buy a holder specific to the phone and a 'clip' specific to the car. The clip fits around gaps in the dash around vents or other parts so you don't have to screw anything in but get an incredibly solid fitting.

Back on topic, I have found using this app with tasker to be incredibly powerful. Thanks so much
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] onicrom:
just got my rfids delivered today time to have some fun with tasks

thanks so much!
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] onicrom:
+1 here it would be neat to have a hashed passwd written to each tag, and only tags with the hashed password will actually cause the tasker to execute.

or even just a 4 character alphanumeric passwd to save on space.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
Does tasker support this or are you requesting a security option within the app?
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] onicrom:
requesting it in the app. a hash on the tag itself to ensure nfc tasker does not execute anyhing unless the hash matches the phone.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] onicrom:
has anyone tried having NFC Task launcher execute a tasker task? if i test the tasker task it wotrks just fine, but when i try and exec via rfid it didnt work.

ideas?
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] instigator008:
I will test. Standby!
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] instigator008:
Just fc's when I try to add the tasker task. Submoyto the dev.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] garfnodie:
Here's a question, not so much about this app, but about NFC codes in general. Is the code that get written to a tag that does stuff like auto login to WiFi, or auto-load a dialer to call a specific number, etc. specific the the make/model of the phone, or OS, or NFC module maker? What I mean, is if you make a tag that will auto login to WiFi using your Android phone, will someone with the supposedly coming iPhone 5 with NFC be able to use that same tag to log their iPhone on the WiFi? Is there a standardized NFC tag coding system that is in place to allow cross platform utilization such as this, or is it still all for one and one for all?
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] :
just got my tags in and the first 2 i made work great. i saw in your todo list about profiles... is that profiles in the NFC app itself or were you going to try to integrate it in with the profiles in CM7? It is quick enough to switch those from the phone but could be cool to integrate that into a tag with some other functions in the NFC app.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] fesar:
I am testing the 2.4 version. I tried adding a tasker task and then i wrote the tag. When i read the tag. It read it correctly no F/C. What I can suggest is you is to format the tag again Or erase the content and writing it again. Then try reading it. If it doesnt work. Wait for a day it is already fixed in 2.4 as I dont hit this issue.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] instigator008:
I am testing 2.4 as well and I am getting fc's when I hit "select tasker task".
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
Looks like this was an issue with the version of tasker he was using. It wasn't handling the intent to display the task list.

I'll still handle the exception to prevent the FC and alert the user when this happens (it shouldn't in theory) .
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] fesar:
I tried many times and it doesnt happen for me. I am using the tasker 1.0.19. I even tried now, I never get any F/C.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] instigator008:
Yes, I resolved it. I was running .17 and it was not working. An update fixed it.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] GrendelJapan:
First, huge thanks krohnjw for the outstanding app!

I just got a dozen tags from TagAge and have started making a few simple tags so far.

I slapped the first tag I created onto the center of universal car dock. I haven't used it a ton so far, but of the few times I've gone out in the past two days, it seems to work great. As other have mentioned, if the screen times out, turning it back on will cause it to re-read the tag. You can avoid this by simply plugging the phone into a power adapter, which, I believe, keeps the screen from timing out by default.

My second tag is just a simple clock launcher that I have next to my nightstand, so I can just swipe the phone to trigger my "bed time" mode (e.g., launch the stock Clock app). The only oddity I've noticed with this is that after swiping the display turns off and then the clock app pops up roughly half a second after. I'm not sure why that is happening.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
2.4 Up in the market and OP

Changelog:

2.4

Add support for toggling Profiles using saved tags (new Tag type Profile tag)

Add 4x1 widget to identify Profile applied or last action and launch app

Add ability for Format tags

Add Vibrate notification option

Add support for other well defined URIs (Tel, SMS, Mailto)

Bugfixes
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] Vulpix:
I love the new icon!
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] Zeem:
Loving the update,

toggle profile works a treat :)

now to update all my tags :D
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
Good to hear. One of the nice things about profiles is that tag size now becomes irrelevant. It confines your tag to work on your device only, but you can create huge tags if you desire as each profile tag is a mere 5 bytes total. So, if you have smaller tags (Ultralights for example) you aren't confined with < 64 bytes.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] fesar:
One more change is required. Say for example i have 3 saved tags.

1. Home

2. Office

3. Default

I have two tags with this profile in Order

1st Tag - 1. Home 2. Default

2nd Tag - 1. Office 2. Default

Now I delete the default tag as there is no option to rename. And I create a new tag.

The tag takes the sequence number as 4 and not 3. Though I deleted the default. So even if i recreate the new save as Default. I need to rewrite the tag. Rather than using the sequence number, cant we use the saved tag name ??
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
Sure - ID was just a smaller tag, but I could change it to name as it would still create a fairly small tag and support tags being delete/recreated.

This won't happen until later in the week as I am traveling for the next 5 days.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
On second thought this is going to require the limitation of characters used in the tag names (namely : and ; which are used as delimiters for commands). This is entirely doable, but is it worth the potential inconvenience for people. Any thoughts?
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] garfnodie:
Still curious about this.
[Nexus S Themes and Apps] krohnjw:
Well, there are a few standards, the URI based tags for example like TEL: which calls a phone number, SMS: which sends an SMS and MAILTO: which will compose an email.

However, all of the functionality present in the "Task" tags is definitely non standard and would require another device to be running a similar piece of software that would read the command string and perform the described actions.