Uses For NFC Tags

AndyCr15 said:
chiggz said:
Maybe I can link it with Fing to wake my PC on LAN! Now that'd be cool at work!!!
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Interesting idea. You can patch Tasker into NFC Task Launcher I think, but I never figured out Tasker :( Let us know if you can do it. I would love to add this to my 'arrive home' NFC tag :)
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Hi,

So my Tags arrived today. After playing around with it, I decided to get NFC to WOL working. And... SUCCESS!

Apps required:
NFC Task Launcher - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jwsoft.nfcactionlauncher
Tasker - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.dinglisch.android.taskerm&feature=nav_result
Wol Wake on Lan Wan - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.benfinnigan.wol

Note, Tasker has a free 7-day trail from developer's site: http://tasker.dinglisch.net/

1) Create a new Wake on Lan profile using Wol Wake on Lan Wan and ensure it works. Save the profile with a memorable name.

You may need to ensure your BIOS and OS support WOL. Note, I found Wol Wake on Lan Wan to be a bit fidgety when inputting all the PC settings. Instead, I used Fing (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.overlook.android.fing) to find my PC on my network and automatically set WOL. Then I pasted these settings into Wol Wake on Lan Wan. Note, I use Wol Wake on Lan Wan because it supports widgets, which I later use in Tasker.

2) Create a new Tasker Task to launch the Wake on Lan profile created above. As credits go to the following source, follow it for complete detail:
http://tasker-profiles.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/auto-wake-on-lan-when-returning-home.html

3) Finally create a new NFC Tag using NFC Task Launcher. Within it's settings you'll be able to select an existing Tasker Task.

If all goes well, you should be able to boot your computer by simply tagging the new tag!


Notes:
- I had originally installed NFC Task Launcher before Tasker. When attempting to use Tasker tasks with NFC Tags, these would not immediately work. I found by reinstalling NFC Task Launcher (after Tasker had been installed), that the two apps would properly work together.

Credits:
OP, AndyCr15 for inspiration
http://tasker-profiles.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/auto-wake-on-lan-when-returning-home.html
 
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Thanks for this thread. Just got a GN so will buy some tags and make a "car mode" guide i.e. turn on GPS/Bluetooth/brightness/play music for Tasker.

Actually I've been using Tasker to connect to my car via Bluetooth for a while, but just using "Power" state as the activating condition. NFC will make the process a bit more elegant.
 
Right I've got my NFC tags and I've made NFC Task Launcher successfully launch a Tasker task. However, for some reason I thought the tags would be able to disable a task from moving them out of range..? For example, the way it worked previously was that I plugged my phone in to charge and that would activate the task e.g. turning on Wifi. By default, unplugging the phone disabled the task e.g. returning Wifi to it's previous state (off).

Now though, holding the phone next to the NFC tag activates the task, but moving it away from the NFC tag doesn't disable the task. I've no idea why I thought this would happen, it makes far more sense the the tag just works "one way". So my question is, is there any way to replicate the previous tasker behaviour? Will I have to use one tag for "on", and another tag for "off"?
 
Sundance said:
Thanks for this thread. Just got a GN so will buy some tags and make a "car mode" guide i.e. turn on GPS/Bluetooth/brightness/play music for Tasker.

Actually I've been using Tasker to connect to my car via Bluetooth for a while, but just using "Power" state as the activating condition. NFC will make the process a bit more elegant.
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I don't understand the use of NFC tags in the car when you have a bluetooth headset in there which you can use tasker from instead and with less effort. Having an NFC tag requires you to turn on the phone, unlock it and then place it on the tag. Is your battery life really that bad with bluetooth turned on? Bluetooth is a tiny percentage of my daily battery use.

I use NFC tags in places like my kitchen, I have one on a shelf which connects my phone sound output to the speakers in my ceiling via an a2dp bluetooth adapter and then resumes what media or radio station was playing. Also going to do the same in the bathroom.
 
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So you mean, make connecting to the car via bluetooth the activating condition for a task e.g. play music?

Not sure about the Bluetooth power use. I just assumed it was bad. Maybe I'll try leaving it on.
 
chiggz said:
SnIP

Credits:
OP, AndyCr15 for inspiration
http://tasker-profiles.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/auto-wake-on-lan-when-returning-home.html
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THanks Chiggz!

Had a fiddle today and got it all working, just need to wait for tags to arrive and can test :)

Im guessing you can delete the tasker task on the phone once its on the tag? Otherwise it would just run when I connected to the wireless anyway, or am i getting confused.:confused:

EDIT: Nvm, just figured it out lol, just need to delete the profile not the task!
 
Sundance said:
So you mean, make connecting to the car via bluetooth the activating condition for a task e.g. play music?

Not sure about the Bluetooth power use. I just assumed it was bad. Maybe I'll try leaving it on.
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Yes on mine when the phone connects to the car kit then it turns off wifi, connects to my a2dp adapter (which isn't automatic normally) and then starts tune in radio, playing the stream I last listened too. If I did the same with an NFC tag I'd have to wake the phone up and unlock it then put it over the tag, all extra uneeded steps.
 
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AndyCr15 said:
NFC will soon be standard on phones I think, tags themselves can be bought for only £5.50 for 5, so how can they be used?

At present I have two by my front door, coming home and leaving. Set to turn WiFi off and set to vibrate as I leave, do the reverse as I come home.

I have one at work that does similar and will put one on my car holder to turn WiFi off, Bluetooth on and open the car app.

(I bought NFC Task Launcher so I could write the tags)

What I'm wondering, are there any other clever uses of NFC tags?
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The tech is cool but surely setting profiles via cell towers (eg location) is far more efficient for your use? Relevant of course if you want to change settings via rooms themselves of course.

NFC - I can see it amazing for mobile payments, marketing purposes (NFC enabled ads), offers.

(Sorry I dont mean to pee on your parade!)
 
Nexus18 said:
You can disable that feature too :p

But yeah that is true about the "background" scanning, although can't say that my battery life has been impacted hugely by leaving wifi on when out and about.
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Yeah it does a bit - better to use cell tower location to turn on wifi/scanning when in range of known wifi connections. Android is so inefficient, any way to save power is a winner!
 
My NFC has been on since day 1 and you've seen my battery usage already so....I doubt it uses any excess idle power at all. Only activated once a tag is in range to kick it all in motion.

Plus, notice that various things on Samsung's UI, when enabled, a dialogue says leaving it on can consume battery. WiFi direct is one of them. Turning on NFC shows no such dialogue.
 
Ol!ver said:
Got a One X the other day so might have to pick up some tags and give this a try. What tags are everyone buying?
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You probably don't even need to buy a tag to do some testing - download "NFC Retag" app and then you can use things like your credit card (if it has contactless payment), work passes, hotel keycards etc.

Here is an example I made where my O2 Money card opens the O2 Wallet app:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo4Wdb97vU8&feature=g-upl

You can do anything from within tasker using that NFC Retag app though, not just simple stuff like this.
 
Em3bbs said:
You probably don't even need to buy a tag to do some testing - download "NFC Retag" app and then you can use things like your credit card (if it has contactless payment), work passes, hotel keycards etc.

Here is an example I made where my O2 Money card opens the O2 Wallet app:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo4Wdb97vU8&feature=g-upl

You can do anything from within tasker using that NFC Retag app though, not just simple stuff like this.
Click to expand...

I've got a contactless Barclaycard and I'm on the NFC sticker trial thing they are doing too. I'll check it out.
 
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