Develop Bugs

[APP] 6/12 NFC Task Launcher 3.6.1

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://forum.xda-developers.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
Where to get Tags?
http://www.jwksoftware.com/nfc-tags
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- Removed Italian as it is out of date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
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
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 may fail.
Here's a few videos I made for a current demo:
Tag Demos
Car Dock Demo

Awesome. I'm gonna have to research this. Off topic but how much do those tags cost?
My mind is racing with ideas.... oh no

player911 said:
Awesome. I'm gonna have to research this. Off topic but how much do those tags cost?
My mind is racing with ideas.... oh no
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are pretty reasonable. If you check out the site I compiled a list of shops that I've tested. Usually $1.15 - 1.50 a piece for Ultralight C or Classic 1K tags.

Question for you guys with the nfc tags what have you done with them I like the idea of swiping my phone over a credit card scanner but what can be created with your own tags
Sent from my SCH-I510 using xda premium

Can't wait to try this. Already ordered the starter pack from tagstand. Looks like an amazing app. Will definitely buy as soon as I get my phone = ]. Thanks for the hard work.

@krohnjw
Can these tags be pre-defined and written into the software?
Was just thinking, you could be onto a winner here.
Set your program to know whats tags are, so say put a tag for a store. When someone scans it with your app, it auto checks them in at whatever app they have installed

Evostance said:
@krohnjw
Can these tags be pre-defined and written into the software?
Was just thinking, you could be onto a winner here.
Set your program to know whats tags are, so say put a tag for a store. When someone scans it with your app, it auto checks them in at whatever app they have installed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The instruction set is encoded on the tag. Any user with the app that scans the tag will see the same actions performed. It makes no calls back to any server or outside service.
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium

Ah ok, makes sense. How do you code the tag though?
Sent from my iPad 2 using Tapatalk

Evostance said:
Ah ok, makes sense. How do you code the tag though?
Sent from my iPad 2 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's fairly simple. I designed a basic syntax describing the actions to be taken and wrote a complementary parser for when the tags are read.

That's simply amazing. I knew the NFC would be a nice toy, but not that nice!
Does anyone know where to get some cheap tags in germany. Cheapest I found so far was ebay, but still around 2,50 EUR per tag (incl. shipping).

Atreus said:
That's simply amazing. I knew the NFC would be a nice toy, but not that nice!
Does anyone know where to get some cheap tags in germany. Cheapest I found so far was ebay, but still around 2,50 EUR per tag (incl. shipping).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you check http://www.tagage.net/tagage-shop/ ?

I purchased these nfc tags which the seller has confirmed that they are in working order and bought the application. However, the app says that the nfc type is not supported. What's up with that?

drdino said:
I purchased these nfc tags which the seller has confirmed that they are in working order and bought the application. However, the app says that the nfc type is not supported. What's up with that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See the edited first post. Something in 4.0 changed and Mifare Ultralight, Ultralight C and Classic 1K tags are no longer reporting as NdefFormatable - so the functionality to format them TO NDEF is broken.
Essentially the NdefFormatable class verifies that the tag lists the tech before it will operate on them. As they no longer list that tech it refuses to do anything with them.
This affects all NFC Apps I've tried in the Market so far. If the tags are already formatted NDEF then they work without issue.
I've got a bug report open to see if I can get a response on this as well as a post on the dev group as it's not a listed change in the API changes anywhere from 3.0 up.
If you don't want to wait it out and want a refund let me know and I'll process it.

Its allright, seems like a decent app so I still want to explore the possibilities.

drdino said:
Its allright, seems like a decent app so I still want to explore the possibilities.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are shops that sell the tags pre formatted with NDEF - those will work. Anything that comes blank though currently will not.
As a curiosity I sent an email to NXP as well to see if they have any more information. I'd like to get this sorted sooner rather than later so hang in there

Can this app be set to do something when moved away from an NFC tag?
So say you put it in car dock and a tag turns on BT. But when removed its turns off BT
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

Evostance said:
Can this app be set to do something when moved away from an NFC tag?
So say you put it in car dock and a tag turns on BT. But when removed its turns off BT
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, there's no intent raised when the tag is moved out of range, only when it is detected.
It is reported in the logcat, but to do that you'd need to constantly be reading the logs and scanning for that (which would involve a read logs permission).

For all Europeans: I contacted tagage and their tags are not pre-formatted by default, but if you send them an email, they'll format your tags first.

Atreus said:
For all Europeans: I contacted tagage and their tags are not pre-formatted by default, but if you send them an email, they'll format your tags first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most vendors don't pre-format their tags - so get in touch with them before/when your order for now to be sure.
Hopefully this is something that I can get an answer on, but I don't currently see a good workaround.

krohnjw said:
No, there's no intent raised when the tag is moved out of range, only when it is detected.
It is reported in the logcat, but to do that you'd need to constantly be reading the logs and scanning for that (which would involve a read logs permission).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you put implement it as an option on each tag? That way we could enable it for a car tag only and not another tag etc.
If that makes sense?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

This can't be this difficult...

So I have some tags, and what I want to do, is make a NFC Facebook check in for my bar. So when someone comes in, they can scan the NFC and it checks them in. Easy? lol
I can easily make the tag with NFC task launcher, however when I test it with a phone that does not have NFC task launcher, it doesn't work. But, it works fine with mine.
How can I write a tag that will allow users to scan a tag and check in?
I have tried several NFC writing apps, and none seem to be able to write a tag that can do this.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

that my dear friend will be the magic sauce. a lot of things are possible when you have custom programming but its just that custom.
I am pretty sure what needs to happen is FACEBOOK ITSELF needs to support this. IE they need to have facebook on the phone and that app needs to support "checking in" via NFC.
then you can make a universal tag that anyone can "tap" as long as they have the facebook app.
no matter what SOME custom program will need to be installed unless its built into the OS

i think i got it to work
what i did was take the URL from our facebook page and wrote that to the nfc tag.
my issue with that was the URL was https://www.facebook.com/stuff/mores_stuff
once i changed it to http:// it started working
also doing it that way works great because the page it brings you to not only allows you to check in, but you can also like the page, tag your friends, etc.
now i just need to have more people with different devices test it out.
then i'm going to make NFC drink specials and menus

That is an awesome idea! This is the kind of ingenuity that will hopefully prompt more manufacturers to implement nfc in their devices and more companies to use nfc in their establishments.
Sent from my A500 using xda premium

Cool idea and thanks for sharing the solution - good info to have when people ask!

Sweet, glad I found this. Though I still had problems through NFC Task Launcher, I completed using NFC Writer.
At the business I am creating these tags for, I do have some questions. (Hope this thread isnt too old to dig up)
I'd like to also write 4sq, google, twitter check ins. I saw this capable with NFC Task Launcher, but again anyone whom taps the tag without the app will be directed to the store. Or would it be better to write a tag for each?

Best NFC app

Hi
I want a good nfc task App. I have seen one called nfc tasker. But is it any good? Dødes anyone have sugestions for other apps?

nfc task launcher, they have cheap tags through their app store too

Is it easy to use?

+1 for NFC Task Launcher. Best & Pretties NFC app.
Real easy to use. Pick a Profile (Car, Home, Bed, Office), and write to tag. Add other task to the pre-made profiles, or make your own from scratch. Erase tags too.
If you want to write URLs, V-Cards, Messages, etc then get Tagstand Writer (by the same developers of NFC Task Launcher)
(also in NFC Task Launcher, scroll to the left to "Free Tags" and get two free tags by posting to Twitter)

Is there an app that lets me read a nfc/rfid card and later lets the phone act as that card?

la3bna said:
Is there an app that lets me read a nfc/rfid card and later lets the phone act as that card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Umm, no... and since when does the Nexus 4 have anything to do with RFID?

UberSlackr said:
Umm, no... and since when does the Nexus 4 have anything to do with RFID?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It has nothing to do with it. It would simply make less for some of us to carry.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app

Basically NFC is based on RFID standards but uses different frequencies so the two don't work together. That said, many companies are embracing NFC now and things like Mastercard Paypass and Visa Paywave technology use it. If these companies pulled their finger out and actually started allowing us to connect our accounts to the phone through the likes of Google Wallet, we could do away with physical wallets altogether!
Security is the big issue though and this is why you will never be able to just scan and then use a card, imagine how easy it would be to just swish your phone past someones wallet in a queue and then pay with their card! There is already equipment fairly readily available that can be put together and programmed to do this, putting that tech in everyones hands would be asking for trouble.
Back on topic. I highly recommend NFC Task Launcher and, for ultimate automation, use it with Tasker. That lets you do basically anything you want with your phone at the simple swipe of a tag.

I see, I did get a all that reads the access card @work so I was thinking that an app would let me read and replicate so that I could enter the office complex even if I forgot my card...

Specific nfc app

Hello everybody
I was wondering if there is a nfc app which makes it possible to write on a nfc tag to connect to a specific wifi-connection.
Sent from my LG-P880 using xda app-developers app

TeunowNL said:
Hello everybody
I was wondering if there is a nfc app which makes it possible to write on a nfc tag to connect to a specific wifi-connection.
Sent from my LG-P880 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, easy
Get NFC ReTag ...tap a tag ... name the tag....add activity "Add new SSID" (Wireless/Network) configure your SSID, Security and password and then use the Write option within the tag edit screen (action bar above) to write the activity on your tag.
Et voila, ssid and password written on your tag and everybody with nfc retag installed can easily connect to your network ....
Remark: Unfortunately, there is NO WAY to write a tag which doesn´t require an app to interpret the information, because Android (and the NFC specification!) doesn´t provide any native way to do this without an app installed... ... However, if someone without NFC ReTag installed, scans the tag, the tag will open Google Play and let the user download NFC ReTag (FREE version and less than 700kb).

Thanks! It works. I've been searching for an app like this one for so long
Sent from my LG-P880 using xda app-developers app

So far, it looks like this is the app I was looking for as well. I wanted something more capable than Samsung's TecTile app and this seems to fit the bill.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

TeunowNL said:
Thanks! It works. I've been searching for an app like this one for so long
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
liteon163 said:
So far, it looks like this is the app I was looking for as well. I wanted something more capable than Samsung's TecTile app and this seems to fit the bill.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, you´re welcome .... and thanks for the wake up call ... either I should improve my marketing or you should improve your search skills ...:laugh:... NFC ReTag is currently the number 2 result within Google Play, if you search for "NFC"... ....but apparently a lot of people are not aware of it ....

NFC Retag was #4 when I just searched.
I particularly like that the app doesn't actually seem to write to the tag, it simply forms an association with its value that triggers my settings.
Samsung's TecTile app actually seems to change the tile's value. At least it seems this way when reading the tag first with NFC Retag, programming it with the TecTile app, and then reading it again with NFC Retag.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

liteon163 said:
NFC Retag was #4 when I just searched.
I particularly like that the app doesn't actually seem to write to the tag, it simply forms an association with its value that triggers my settings.
Samsung's TecTile app actually seems to change the tile's value. At least it seems this way when reading the tag first with NFC Retag, programming it with the TecTile app, and then reading it again with NFC Retag.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, the Google Play search rank is currently a bit unstable ... Goggle obviously had just changed their ranking algorithm and mess it up somehow ....seems that a lot of apps jumping 100+ ranks up and down several times a day ...so #4 is a setback, but it could be worse
However, yes NFC ReTag doesn´t write anything on the tag, unless you want it to do so
It´s designed to work with read-only tags,too...therefore it saves all your activities in an app internal database on your device....
BUT it also has some cool write features: e.g.:
- the write Activity tag option mentioned in post 2 (action bar; tag edit screen) --> writes a cycle on a tag ... and usually needs a lot less space on the tag than the TecTile app --> means more activities per tag ... and it´s perfect for sharing your wifi credentials ...
- the write "special NFC ReTag tag" option (more button) writes only some small dispatching information on the tag ....so it combines both concepts (written tag + database) --> bulletproof dispatching, best performance, cycles and unlimited number of activities ... if you have writeable tags, I would always recommend to write a special NFC ReTag tag ....
So with ReTag, you can use both concepts depending on your use-case, tag size, requirement, restriction or preference ....Hack, you can even beam your tag activities from one device to another device

Write NFC tags that do not require other users to have the app used to write the tag.

I have a done a bit of looking but all I've come up with is mainly 'use trigger' or something like it. But my question is: Is there a way with Trigger to write a tag that anyone can read? Or is there another NFC tag writer app that I should use?
The thing I want to do is make a tag for friends to tap when they call over that will connect them to my wifi network, but if they have to go and download trigger first then no one is going to use my tag.
Sorry if this is a re-posted question, I looked and didn't see it anywhere here and when I put the title in there was no recommended threads that had what I was asking.

I've tried different apps, and it looks like connect to wireless is not one of the default actions that is included in Android. I've only found connect to bluetooth.

Hi, you can use NFC Tools for that.
All records on "write" tab is compatible with other NFC device.

daniel_loft said:
I've tried different apps, and it looks like connect to wireless is not one of the default actions that is included in Android. I've only found connect to bluetooth.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am new to NFC and I am a little confused about what NFC can do. I have the nfc-tool App and I can read many NFC tags that I have.
But for an Android phone with NFC support, without installing any 3rd party App, what can it do? Is NFC enabled by default? Are there native NFC apps that can trigger action, open URL, etc?
Also, since each NFC tag already has a unique identifier, it seems to me writing data to NFC tag isn't all that useful when only 1 phone is using it. As you could have just programmed the command to the phone. The same applies to multiple phones if you can program the phones through some other means. Am I missing something here?

As I was saying, looks like what you want is only possible in Android L.
Have a nice day!

nookin said:
I am new to NFC and I am a little confused about what NFC can do. I have the nfc-tool App and I can read many NFC tags that I have.
But for an Android phone with NFC support, without installing any 3rd party App, what can it do? Is NFC enabled by default? Are there native NFC apps that can trigger action, open URL, etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android has native build-in support for some simple standard NFC activities, like reading a messages/contact, open URL/URI, launch application etc. .For more sophisticated activities you will always need an app to parse the tag content and handle the activities.
Also, since each NFC tag already has a unique identifier, it seems to me writing data to NFC tag isn't all that useful when only 1 phone is using it. As you could have just programmed the command to the phone. The same applies to multiple phones if you can program the phones through some other means. Am I missing something here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yep, fully agree. Have a look at NFC ReTag

ascsa said:
Android has native build-in support for some simple standard NFC activities, like reading a messages/contact, open URL/URI, launch application etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm a newbie here. I have a phone running 4.2.2. How do I make it read an NFC tag and take action without installing additional app? Just tap?

So I finally found an official NFC tag in mall. When I place my phone on it, it asks me to choose between stock Browser and Chrome. I guess if I have already chosen a default, it will just open a webpage. Now I wonder if there are security concerns. What if the URL is malicious? What if it downloaded a lot of data when the user is roaming?
I wonder what other functions an NFC tag can trigger without installing additional Apps? If I buy writable NFC tags, like the Samsung TecTiles, can it be programmed just like the mall NFC tag?