Location based reminders (Shopping List?)

[kishengajjar]

Have you ever told yourself "The next time I'm at the shops, I better pick up XYZ", but then you get the shops and completely forget about it? It could be any variant, like:

"The next time I'm at the bank..."
"The next time I go to Mom's place..."
Etc.

Imagine having a GPS powered application that popped up a reminder the next time you were within X metres of a pre-saved location. That would kill the battery, wouldn't it, because you'd have to leave the GPS on the whole time.

I like what Google Maps have done to their latest edition which can show you an estimate of your location based on Cell Info. Can this be used to make a location based reminder application?

Perfection would be if the application could pickup the location of an Outlook Task as well, and if it recognises a saved location in the text of the Task, it would pop up. Just a thought...more likely wishful thinking :)

I've search the net, but I don't think an application with this capability exists. If anyone knows of one, please do let me know. If someone thinks they can make one, that would be great too. I'm not a programmer, but I would willing be a tester or provide creative/functionality input, if you like.

Thanks,

K

[wyzepro]

This is a great idea...and if we dont do it here we will wish we had....one of those things that just makes life simpler and once we implement it wont know how we got by without it....let's say you have something in the trunk or back seat that you keep meaning to drop off...say the dry cleaning or the computer you promised your neice or church....but you never remember obviously till you get home and see it while grabbing your things out of the car...well this type of service would go a long way to help you look like you're not the absent minded geek that we all know we really are!!.......while we're dreaming it up...how about a part of it functions like this...lets say you're driving out and about and see say a house you like...cause maybe you're in the market... a few taps would bookmark your location within a few hundred meters....and the next time or every time depending on how you have it set up...you'd be alerted that you were near your bookmarked location...sweet

[bigruss]

Well apps like SKScheMA and PhoneAlarm allow system changes based on cellid so it should certainly be possible to set up a pop up box with a todo based on cell id. I guess the tricky part would be a nice gui.

[lastnikita]

you'll need to have gps on all the time, so your ppc won't last half a day ! :D

[kishengajjar]

you'll need to have gps on all the time, so your ppc won't last half a day ! :D

You obviously didn't read the entire post. I already mentioned the battery drain issue if the GPS was used. The alternative was CellID. Thanks for taking an interest though.

[kramerica2]

That's a great idea. Phonealarm has location based profiles using cell ID. I'm sure that a skilled developer could use that to make an app that does what you offer...

[pmcall]

TrackMe offers this feature

[lastnikita]

You obviously didn't read the entire post. I already mentioned the battery drain issue if the GPS was used. The alternative was CellID. Thanks for taking an interest though.

sorry I replied too fast ;)
now another problem is, from what I've seen on my device, tri-positionning was not accurate at all, around 500m accuracy as opposed to few meters of GPS. That could still be useful from town to town needs, though (like "go see your mother !" :D)

[kishengajjar]

TrackMe offers this feature

I followed the link to the App you suggested. Although the main page for the app doesn't talk about this CellID feature and the reminders, it looks like the update logs have them mentioned, and the screenshots look like the reminders must work the way I'd like.

UNFORTUNATELY, I've got an HTC TyTN which doesn't have a lot of memory for me to install .NET Compact 3.5 (I've got other required apps installed which I can't remove) so I can test the darn thing.

Perhaps if some of the other contributors to this thread would like to try it out and let me know, please? :D

I'm going to buy a Touch Pro next month (when they finally release an Invisible Shield for it) and I'm going to officially love this program, it it does what I want it to.

Ciao

K

[kishengajjar]

sorry I replied too fast ;)
now another problem is, from what I've seen on my device, tri-positionning was not accurate at all, around 500m accuracy as opposed to few meters of GPS. That could still be useful from town to town needs, though (like "go see your mother !" :D)
Don't worry about it. We all skim through sometimes. In fact, when I first mentioned the idea to my brother, he barged in with the same comment, just as I was getting to it :)

I think 300 - 500M would be sufficient if you needed to remind yourself to pickup a tub of your favorite coffee then ext time you were at your supermarket (unless you live next door to the supermarket).

[kramerica2]

sorry I replied too fast ;)
now another problem is, from what I've seen on my device, tri-positionning was not accurate at all, around 500m accuracy as opposed to few meters of GPS. That could still be useful from town to town needs, though (like "go see your mother !" :D)

For those of us that live in relatively big cities, 500m is usually enough for those things...

[kishengajjar]

TrackMe offers this feature

I took another look at the app you suggested (Is it the one by Espinosa?). It looks like it's a full featured location tracking application, but I don't think it has the specific feature discussed in this thread.

In fact, the app seems to be way too big to be practical for everyday use anyway.

If I'm looking at the wrong TrackMe, do let me know.

K

[kishengajjar]

For those of us that live in relatively big cities, 500m is usually enough for those things...

Here here. Or is it hear hear?. Not sure, but what the hell...I agree with you :rolleyes:

[kramerica2]

I've installed TrackME. seems that it doesn't have the required feature...

[kishengajjar]

I've installed TrackME. seems that it doesn't have the required feature...
Yes, I noticed. So I see we're still looking for an app that does this. If anyone finds one, do post :)

[digitus]

Funny this came up because I was checking google android last night and noticed that someone won 250,000 with an app that does exactly this as well as lets you price check other stores in the area

Here is the link:

http://code.google.com/android/adc_gallery/

hmmmm....just looking again and its not there. I know I seen something just like what you are talking about on andriod yesterdy:confused:

[pmcall]

Yes, I noticed. So I see we're still looking for an app that does this. If anyone finds one, do post :)

In TrackMe -> yes the one by Espinoza -> Menu|Tools|Geofence|ShowAlerts|Add|General

where you have the option of specifying a Latitude and Longitude the distance from the lat and long, and whether to fire an event based on if you are in the area or not. In the NotificationsTab you can specify if an e-mail or sms is to be sent, and what address/number to send the notification too.

[kramerica2]

In TrackMe -> yes the one by Espinoza -> Menu|Tools|Geofence|ShowAlerts|Add|General

where you have the option of specifying a Latitude and Longitude the distance from the lat and long, and whether to fire an event based on if you are in the area or not. In the NotificationsTab you can specify if an e-mail or sms is to be sent, and what address/number to send the notification too.

I don't want a SMS or an e-mail. I want that the application will open a specific note when I reach a certain place. Or a pop-up reminder.

[programatix]

PhoneAlarm would be the best. It does not have the exact feature you are looking for, but you can ask it to run certain program/application when you are within a certain CellID choosen by you. You can also label the CellID to your liking.

If you buy the software, you can actually ask the author to add the feature you want. He is very open to suggestions. And if you do, you can also ask him to monitor the CellID first, and if you are in the CellID, then the GPS can be used to track the range of the specified point.

Good luck.

Edit: I just checked the software, it has the feature of using the GPS for location detection.

[kramerica2]

PhoneAlarm can indeed solve the problem. You need to make permanent notes for each location, and then tell PhoneAlarm to open the specific note for your location.

For example: you make a shopping list note, create a profile on PhoneAlarm that's called Shopping, and tell it to open that note when switching to Shopping profile. You can keep the note itself, just change it's content. The same thing can be done for the bank, parents' house, etc...

My only problem with PhoneAlarm is major battery drain...

[wubbo51]

PhoneAlarm would be the best. It does not have the exact feature you are looking for, but you can ask it to run certain program/application when you are within a certain CellID choosen by you. You can also label the CellID to your liking.

If you buy the software, you can actually ask the author to add the feature you want. He is very open to suggestions. And if you do, you can also ask him to monitor the CellID first, and if you are in the CellID, then the GPS can be used to track the range of the specified point.

Good luck.

Edit: I just checked the software, it has the feature of using the GPS for location detection.


I was kind of thinking about the same thing ,every time your phone knows you are around the specified target the cellId uses. And gps comes on every hour to specify you're current location (and maybe even more frequent as you approach the target)

edit: maybe this app http://code.google.com/android/adc_gallery/app.html?id=25

[kishengajjar]

This "Locale" App for Android looks pretty good, but the key feature, namely the reminders, aren't easily available. The rest of the app sounds great.

Regarding PhoneAlarm, I think that's the equivalent of packing a commando unit where all you really need is a swiss army knife.

Here are the specs for the ideal application in my head:

Name: Minders

Locations Tags:
Current Location
Saved Locations
New Location (brings up a Google Maps style map with circled areas)
Multiple locations could be markable as "The Huge Retail Park" or a particular street lengthwise as "Oxford Street" (When adding locations, there could be an option to "Add more zones/hotspots"
The Google Maps feature which translates Cell ID to Lat and Long will become necessary here, methinks

Reminders:
Reminder pops up on the screen and you have two options
Dismiss: Message is deleted/archived and never displayed again, unless rechecked (Check box option might be nice for periodically recurring items)
Snooze: Customised Snooze option which says "Snooze this alarm for X minutes/hours and if I'm still at this location after the period specified (Or just Snooze until next time) This could be set in application options or just a snooze menu.

What do you all think?

[dez93_2000]

love this idea (though i wonder how much one can reduce the need for it by having a good guess at what time they'll need reminding, then setting an alarm. I suffer from CRS* and this helps me).

similar lines: i'd love the option for my phone (TouchHD) to recognise when it's at home and turn on bluetooth and wifi. Ooh ooh! I recently found someone's shared gmaps layer of free wifi spots in London (but there'll be others assumedly) - how sweet would it be to be able to have your wifi turn itself on when it's in a free wifi spot, then auto-update the weather, get your emails, cache a big block of local gmaps data, etc?

Linking various ideas and featurecreeps which aren't there yet - phone informs you when you're near points of interest based on filters you've setup in gmaps and it's downloaded. E.g. "beep! strip club, next left", or bars with high ratings and keywords which match your preferences, etc...

I'm gonna check out PhoneAlarm... [edit: kish is right. like buying a swiss army knife cos you need a toothpick]
Dez


*Can't Remember Sh1t.

[dez93_2000]

alternatives:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=458311
and
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=448783
and
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=328114

[MLonon]

alternatives:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=458311
and
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=448783
and
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=328114

1. Almost there, but does not do GPS. Also appears to be a dead project....

2. I guess you could have it launch the Tasks app or some other list manager, but that is still kludgy and wasting resources. Also does not do GPS/Triangulation.

3. Way too complicates and still really does not do what we are asking for.


I need a task manager/ todo app that I can set reminders based on time and/or location. And by location I mean GPS. I work and do most of my shopping within a mile of my home so just looking at cell towers without at least triangulation is pretty useless for me.

I used to have this with my BB Bold using reQall and there are at least 7 ways to do it on an iPhone. SOMEONE must have made a WM knockoff somewhere...right?

I AM WILLING TO PAY GOOD MONEY FOR THIS AND I AM A CHRONIC CHEAPO!

[mogli]

I used to have this with my BB Bold using reQall and there are at least 7 ways to do it on an iPhone. SOMEONE must have made a WM knockoff somewhere...right?

I beg to differ: there is, in fact, no way to currently realize this on the iPhone, because it doesn't allow background threads to run. Hence, the phone cannot track your position in the background. The only way to do this would be to keep the application running in the foreground all the time.

And yes, I've implemented such an app on WM6.1. However, I'm neither using cellid nor GPS, but the available WiFi access points, as a location landmark. This is nice, because it is higher accuracy than cellid, doesn't require as much battery as GPS, and works indoors as well. The only downside is that in rural areas without any wifi access points in sight it won't work.

Unfortunately it hasn't really reached the point where I could broadly distribute it (also, there are some patents on this -- not by me). But it is working on my Kaiser, and I'd be happy to share an alpha version with anyone who is interested. Please PM me, if you are interested.

[kishengajjar]

However, I'm neither using cellid nor GPS, but the available WiFi access points, as a location landmark

I take it you're not bothered by the battery drain of keeping the WiFi on?

PS: I thought this thread had died eons ago :)

[mogli]

I take it you're not bothered by the battery drain of keeping the WiFi on?

I don't keep it on. I just turn it on for a few seconds every so often. Polling the location once a minute seems plenty.

[MLonon]

I beg to differ: there is, in fact, no way to currently realize this on the iPhone, because it doesn't allow background threads to run. Hence, the phone cannot track your position in the background. The only way to do this would be to keep the application running in the foreground all the time.

And yes, I've implemented such an app on WM6.1. However, I'm neither using cellid nor GPS, but the available WiFi access points, as a location landmark. This is nice, because it is higher accuracy than cellid, doesn't require as much battery as GPS, and works indoors as well. The only downside is that in rural areas without any wifi access points in sight it won't work.

Unfortunately it hasn't really reached the point where I could broadly distribute it (also, there are some patents on this -- not by me). But it is working on my Kaiser, and I'd be happy to share an alpha version with anyone who is interested. Please PM me, if you are interested.

Touche! You are correct, the iPhone apps only work if you are in the app at/near the desired location. Since I always jailbroke my iPhone(s) I did not remember the difference.

Can/does your app have a fall back besides WiFi? I think that there are some places I would need this to work that do not have WiFi? I will check and get back to you.