[grayrest]

I'd like an easy interface to events around the phone being at rest (no accelerometer input).

For the rest state: I assume that most people have their phone by their beds at night. I have a locale rule that puts my phone into airplane mode during the hours I'm normally asleep. This is much more easily/accurately expressed as "phone at rest for 15m". Similarly, I'd like to sync news when I pick up the phone to leave in the morning (I don't always unlock the phone when I do) so it can sync over wifi.

I'd also like to monitor signal strength. I do so in Locale and shut down the 3g data connection if the signal strength is under 25%. This combined with the airplane mode at night and an undervolted kernel gets my (old, otherwise stock) Droid Incredible up to 3 days of battery life through normal use.

[saary]

Great scenarios! Writing these down to make sure we will be able to cover them.

[snotrockets]

From my quick run with the app, what I find lacking isn't in the events, but in actions: currently, it mostly notifies you (or others) about events.

It'd be more useful if it could also interact with the phone settings (for example, silence the phone at certain locations, &c).

Currently, this could be worked around by having an event launch SL4A that would run another script doing it; but this forces you to maintain a separate script for the desired action, instead of doing it at the same place.

[sk55]

I use Juice Defender (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.latedroid....) for those scenarios

[HorizonXP]

On a BlackBerry, when it is put in the charger, it goes into Bedside Mode, and the clock application is shown. The user can set up the profile to be used during this state (i.e. what notifications to allow, etc.). It can also be programmed to only enter bedside mode during certain hours.

I know it's not exactly what you're asking for, but it's something they've done for several years, and done quite well. I'm hoping they extend it, and keep it in BlackBerry 10.

[darklajid]

For me the nicest variant of this idea was the TouchStone thign from Palm/HP/Web OS.

Inductive charger that triggered a configurable mode on your phone -> Drop the phone on a magnet, get a clock or whatever and the phone charges without searching the plug beneath the bed.

[HorizonXP]

Just to clarify, BlackBerry does this sans a dock. It simply activates whenever being charged, whatever the source. However, it can and does distinguish between USB and dock. Just unsure if it actually uses it in the software, because I always use a dock nowadays.

[madrona]

My Nexus 1 does this with the dock too.

[blvr]

So would my Nexus S if I could find a dock for it.

[madrona]

IIRC keeping the accelerometer hot is a big battery suck. For this reason Tasker wouldn't let you use accelerometer input as a first-order input. You had to prefix it with some other, less expensive condition, like time of day ranges, wi-fi SSID visibility, etc.

[trentmb]

"up to 3 days of battery life through normal use."

I use to be able to get weeks of use from a single charge of my old Motorola Razr.

[petitmiam]

it's a shame we had to give up battery life for our phones to become 'smart'

[batiudrami]

And truly surprising that when you add faster components, bigger screens and many, many more functions, phones require additional battery power. At this point, my phone can make it from my wake up at 7am easily until 3am if I'm out late, and that's enough that I don't have to worry about it (though obviously I won't say no to battery improvements).

[mikeash]

A modern smartphone will go for weeks between charges if you keep it turned off, too.

This comparison is not useful.

[trentmb]

I never said anything about turning off the phone.

[mikeash]

Sure, and the guy you originally replied to never said anything about a RAZR-type phone.

[rplnt]

I can get a week on my Android phone if I use it as a phone. Only calls, few messages and occasional time check.