• How to create a one-tap shortcut directly to the Google Maps Use precise location toggle

    From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Fri Oct 31 22:39:41 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    How to create a one-tap shortcut directly to the Google Maps
    "Use precise location" toggle?

    I already put into my homescreen shortcuts folder, one-tap shortcuts to:
    Settings > Location > Location services
    and to the one-level-deeper toggle for...
    Settings > Location > Location services > Google Location Accuracy=on/off

    But now I want a shortcut to the far more difficult deeply-ensconced
    Settings > Apps > Maps > Permissions > Location > Use precise location=on/off
    adb shell pm revoke com.google.android.apps.maps android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
    adb shell pm grant com.google.android.apps.maps android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION

    1. I'm on a USA Samsung Galaxy A32-5G which is not known to be rootable.
    2. I have Developer Options & USB debugging enabled.
    3. I have adb installed on Windows & set up for the phone.
    4. I have Llamalab's Automate & Jens' Automation (but not Tasker)
    5. I have Shizuku enabled (over USB Debugging).
    6. I have Muntashirakon App Manager (which creates shortcuts to activities)
    7. I have <cemique> Shortcut Widgets & Inspector & <krow> Intents
    8. I have <trianguloy> Instant Intent & <villavalta> Intent Launcher
    9. I have <maigo> Intent Viewer & <balda> IntentTask
    10. I have <sika524> QuickShortcutMaker & <atolphadev> Quikshort
    11. I have <panagola> App Shortcuts & <bhanu> App Shortcut Maker
    12. I have <vndnguyen> Shortcut Master Lite & <any> Shortcuts
    13. I have <miotti> Shortcut To URL & <deltacdev> Website Shortcut
    14. I have <szalkowski> Activity Launcher & <cunnj> Activities
    15. I have <alextern> Shortcut Creator & <alextern> ShortcutExecutors
    16. I have <rk> Shortcut Maker & <rk> Pinned Shortcuts
    17. I have <activitymanager> Activity Manager & <leedroid> Shortcutter
    18. And a few other debugging tools (e.g., <draco> local adb ladb)

    I found the activity that I needed to make a one-tap shortcut to.
    A. I turned on the <cemique> Shortcut Widgets & Inspector
    B. I toggled Settings > Apps > Maps > Location > Use precise location = on
    C. Shortcut Widgets & Inspector told me this activity was invoked:
    <com.google.android.permissioncontroller/com.google.android.permissioncontroller.permission.ui.GrantPermissionsActivity>
    D. In Muntashirakon, I created a homescreen shortcut to that activity
    E. But tapping it just flashed (because only the system can invoke it)

    So we can't invoke it directly perhaps, but maybe we can get close?
    --
    I am not here for my ego; nor for my amusement; but to teach & learn.
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  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Fri Oct 31 22:52:39 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Marion wrote:
    So we can't invoke it directly perhaps, but maybe we can get close?

    1. In Muntashirakon AM, I look up "Permission usage"
    <com.samsung.android.privacydashboard>
    2. "Permission usage" has a "Main Activity"
    <com.samsung.android.privacydashboard.views.MainActivity>
    3. That opens a "Permission usage" page which has recent permissions
    4. One of which can be "Location" & then "Maps" & "Location Permission"

    Tracking that with <cemique> Shortcut Widgets & Inspector, that sequence appears to have invoked the following Activities on my Samsung Galaxy.

    A. One UI Home <com.sec.android.app.launcher/com.android.quickstep.RecentsActivity>
    B. Permission usage <com.samsung.android.privacydashboard/com.samsung.android.privacydashboard.views.MainActivity>
    C. Permission usage <com.samsung.android.privacydashboard/com.samsung.android.privacydashboard.views.PermissionDetailActivity>
    D. Permission controller <com.google.android.permissioncontroller/com.android.permissioncontroller.permission.ui.ManagePermissionsActivity>

    When I use Muntashirakon AM to create that last desktop shortcut, it opens
    the "Permission usage" screen, where, from there, I can sequence
    a. Location (which has every app recently requesting location
    b. Maps (which has a toggle for "Use precise location")

    But that's three taps to access the "Use precise location" toggle. :(
    i. Tap the shortcut to the permission controller activity
    ii. Tap Location
    iii. Tap Maps (which has the desired precise-location toggle)

    What can I do to make this a single tap shortcut to get to the deeply
    hidden "Maps" "Location permission" "Use precise location" toggle?
    --
    Helping others & learning from them is what this Usenet ng is all about.
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  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Fri Oct 31 23:48:25 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Marion wrote:
    What can I do to make this a single tap shortcut to get to the deeply
    hidden "Maps" "Location permission" "Use precise location" toggle?

    As I see it, I think we have the following options for a one-tap toggle.

    a. Chasing Samsung's hidden activities (which need extras we can't supply)
    b. Use Automate + Shizuku to run the pm grant / pm revoke commands.
    c. Use Automate + LADB to run the pm grant / pm revoke commands.
    d. Jens' Automation app: can also run shell commands
    e. Termux + Shizuku (script the pm grant/revoke commands in a .sh file)
    f. Bixby Routines (but that will be Samsung specific & not general use)
    g. AppOps + Shizuku (allows us to flip app permissions)
    h. Permission Manager X + Shizuku (allows us to flip app permissions)

    In order of worst to best, I think this is a defensible sorting.
    a. Samsung's hidden activities require intent extras I don't have
    f. Bixby Routines can do zero-tap automation but specific to Samsung
    e. Termux + Shizuku (powerful, but perhaps too much overkill)
    d. Jens' Automation can run shell commands but weak on shortcuts
    c. Automate + LADB (redundant to Automate + Shizuku)
    h. Permission Manager X + Shizuku (useful for manual control)
    g. AppOps + Shizuku (a couple of taps unless we use profiles
    b. Automate + Shizuku (directly runs pm grant / pm revoke commands)

    Unless someone has a better idea, I'm might soon try to use Automate +
    Shizuku since Automate can expose flows as homescreen shortcuts.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Sat Nov 1 13:21:07 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Marion wrote:
    Unless someone has a better idea, I'm might soon try to use Automate + Shizuku since Automate can expose flows as homescreen shortcuts.

    After extensive trial and error, even with Shizuku, my unrootable Samsung device on Android 13 still blocks DIRECT one-tap external access to hidden system activities, such as attempts to DIRECTLY launch either of these:
    <com.google.android.permissioncontroller/
    com.google.android.permissioncontroller.permission.ui.GrantPermissionsActivity>
    ...or...
    <com.google.android.permissioncontroller/
    com.android.permissioncontroller.permission.ui.ManagePermissionsActivity>

    It seems that GrantPermissionsActivity is the 'system dialog' that appears when any app requests any runtime permission that the user must grant or deny.

    Meanwhile, ManagePermissionsActivity is the 'settings UI' that enables us
    to manage an app's permissions such as toggling precise location for Maps.

    I'm not an expert, but so far, even with Shizuku, my unrootable Samsung
    on Android 13 blocks DIRECT external invocation of these activities.
    GrantPermissionsActivity = system dialog
    ManagePermissionsActivity = settings UI

    As far as I can tell, here's the difference between the two types above.

    GrantPermissionsActivity = system dialog
    A temporary window created by Android itself.
    It appears on top of the current app when that app requests a permission.
    For example, when Google Maps prompts for "Allow" or "Deny".
    It's a short-lived modal window you must respond to before continuing.

    ManagePermissionsActivity = settings UI
    A screen (aka activity) that shows inside the Android Settings app.
    It lets the user review and change permissions at any time.
    For example the screen where we toggle Google Maps precise location.
    It's a persistent screen the user navigates to that can be revisited.

    It seems that both GrantPermissionsActivity (system dialog) and ManagePermissionsActivity (settings UI) exist inside the permission
    controller package where, so far, all my attempts to invoke them
    DIRECTLY from outside the system didn't work, even with Shizuku.

    I'm not ready to conclude this, but it may be that those activities
    can't be launched by a 1-tap shortcut on unrooted Samsung Android 13.
    Settings > Apps > Maps > Permissions > Location > Use precise location

    The most promising alternative approach seemed to be perhaps non-runtime control directly to the Google Maps runtime through shell commands like:
    adb shell pm revoke com.google.android.apps.maps android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
    adb shell pm grant com.google.android.apps.maps android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
    But, when run on the local device, those commands seem to require the
    shell user to have the same privileges adb has when connected from a PC.

    On my unrooted Samsung, my local shell user doesn't have those privileges. Worse, even Shizuku doesn't seem to be able to grant those privileges.

    Shizuku might elevate permissions for a Pixel, but when I try to use it
    for pm grant or pm revoke on Maps' fine location permission, Samsung's security model appears to be blocking those calls (AFAICT).

    While my original plan went to hell, apparently due to Samsung's
    strict added permission issue, my latest next-level plan may be to
    add a Settings intent that opens the Maps app info page.
    Settings > Apps > Maps > Permissions
    Unfortunately, from there we still need to tap Permissions, then
    Location, and only then can we toggle precise location on or off.

    Hence, my next step may be to explore whether an intent can open the
    Maps app info screen to reduce the tap count from 6 taps to 3 taps.

    For that, maybe an intent such as ACTION_APPLICATION_DETAILS_SETTINGS
    with the Maps package name can be used. If successful, this would
    create a shortcut that lands directly on the Maps app info page in
    Settings. That may be the closest shortcut available sans root access.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jim Jackson@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Sat Nov 1 19:47:59 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 2025-11-01, Marion <[email protected]> wrote:
    How to create a one-tap shortcut directly to the Google Maps

    Why use google maps?

    I strongly recommend OSMAND+ available on FDroid. You down load the map
    info for the regions you require and all your map use is local to your
    phone, even route planning and directions.

    And frankly google maps suck! The actual mapping is not that useful and
    omits lots of info - it relies on you choosing to plan a route to your destination, calculated at google, so that google has even more info
    about you.

    OSMAND+ is based on OpenStreetMap data and, certainly in my region, that
    info is far far superior to google maps. It even often is better than
    Ordnance Survey here in the UK, certainly at street level.



    "Use precise location" toggle?

    I already put into my homescreen shortcuts folder, one-tap shortcuts to:
    Settings > Location > Location services
    and to the one-level-deeper toggle for...
    Settings > Location > Location services > Google Location Accuracy=on/off

    But now I want a shortcut to the far more difficult deeply-ensconced
    Settings > Apps > Maps > Permissions > Location > Use precise location=on/off
    adb shell pm revoke com.google.android.apps.maps android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
    adb shell pm grant com.google.android.apps.maps android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION

    1. I'm on a USA Samsung Galaxy A32-5G which is not known to be rootable.
    2. I have Developer Options & USB debugging enabled.
    3. I have adb installed on Windows & set up for the phone.
    4. I have Llamalab's Automate & Jens' Automation (but not Tasker)
    5. I have Shizuku enabled (over USB Debugging).
    6. I have Muntashirakon App Manager (which creates shortcuts to activities) 7. I have <cemique> Shortcut Widgets & Inspector & <krow> Intents
    8. I have <trianguloy> Instant Intent & <villavalta> Intent Launcher
    9. I have <maigo> Intent Viewer & <balda> IntentTask
    10. I have <sika524> QuickShortcutMaker & <atolphadev> Quikshort
    11. I have <panagola> App Shortcuts & <bhanu> App Shortcut Maker
    12. I have <vndnguyen> Shortcut Master Lite & <any> Shortcuts
    13. I have <miotti> Shortcut To URL & <deltacdev> Website Shortcut
    14. I have <szalkowski> Activity Launcher & <cunnj> Activities
    15. I have <alextern> Shortcut Creator & <alextern> ShortcutExecutors
    16. I have <rk> Shortcut Maker & <rk> Pinned Shortcuts
    17. I have <activitymanager> Activity Manager & <leedroid> Shortcutter
    18. And a few other debugging tools (e.g., <draco> local adb ladb)

    I found the activity that I needed to make a one-tap shortcut to.
    A. I turned on the <cemique> Shortcut Widgets & Inspector
    B. I toggled Settings > Apps > Maps > Location > Use precise location = on
    C. Shortcut Widgets & Inspector told me this activity was invoked:
    <com.google.android.permissioncontroller/com.google.android.permissioncontroller.permission.ui.GrantPermissionsActivity>
    D. In Muntashirakon, I created a homescreen shortcut to that activity
    E. But tapping it just flashed (because only the system can invoke it)

    So we can't invoke it directly perhaps, but maybe we can get close?
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Sat Nov 1 14:48:17 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Marion wrote:
    Hence, my next step may be to explore whether an intent can open the
    Maps app info screen to reduce the tap count from 6 taps to 3 taps.

    Think of an Android Intent as a little instruction slip we hand to the
    system that says "please do this action, with this data." The system then figures out which program or component can handle it.

    The intent I'm considering uses the action
    ACTION_APPLICATION_DETAILS_SETTINGS
    with the data
    package:com.google.android.apps.maps.

    When the system receives this intent it launches the Settings activity
    that shows the info page for that app. From there, we can tap
    Permissions, then Location, then toggle the precise location option.

    This is an explicit intent because we are naming the exact component we
    want to open. An implicit intent would be more like saying "show me any
    app that can view a map," and the system would present a chooser of apps
    that can handle that action.

    For example, with a PC attached over USB, the adb command might be
    adb shell am start -a android.settings.APPLICATION_DETAILS_SETTINGS \
    -d package:com.google.android.apps.maps

    But inside the intent, that same set of commands turns into something like
    startActivity(new Intent(Settings.ACTION_APPLICATION_DETAILS_SETTINGS,
    Uri.parse("package:com.google.android.apps.maps")));

    The adb shell form is useful for testing because it lets us simulate the
    intent from a connected PC without writing any code. The startActivity form
    is what an Android app would actually call inside its own process to launch
    the same system activity.

    Intent intent = new Intent(
    Settings.ACTION_APPLICATION_DETAILS_SETTINGS,
    Uri.parse("package:com.google.android.apps.maps")
    );
    startActivity(intent);

    Muntashirakon App Manager (AM) can create shortcuts but this failed
    because the shortcut needs "extras" that AM doesn't give to them.
    1. In Muntashirakon App Manager, I searched for "settings"
    2. There are many. I selected "com.android.settings".
    3. I went to its Activities list top find these three.
    com.android.settings.applications.InstalledAppDetails
    com.android.settings.applications.InstalledAppDetailsTop
    com.android.settings.applications.InstalledAppOpenByDefaultActivity
    4. But when I press "Launch", it just blinks.
    5. Likewise with the shortcut created by "Create shortcut".

    So that failed.

    We need a tool that lets us explicitly set both Action & Data.
    Action: android.settings.APPLICATION_DETAILS_SETTINGS
    Data: package:com.google.android.apps.maps

    It seems that QuickShortcutMaker, Activity Launcher, Intent Launcher &
    Instant Intent can probably create a shortcut with Action & Data.

    It turns out QuickShortcutMaker can make pinned or static shortcuts.
    I prefer static because it works even if the creator is removed.

    So I'll try that next.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Sat Nov 1 15:06:58 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Jim Jackson wrote:
    How to create a one-tap shortcut directly to the Google Maps
    "Use precise location" toggle?

    Why use google maps?

    Good question. I must not have been clear at defining the problem set.
    That's my fault.

    The problem set we're solving is completely irrespective of the map app.
    The "precise location" toggle is the problem; not the map app using it.

    I have every free map app installed on my system that is known to man.
    I've written entire tutorials on all the map apps, including OSMAnd~.

    I strongly recommend OSMAND+ available on FDroid. You down load the map
    info for the regions you require and all your map use is local to your phone, even route planning and directions.

    You make good choices, as I am extremely familiar with OSMAnd~ maps.

    The greatest thing about OSMAnd~ is that it's offline by default.
    But it still has the exact same problem of the precise-location toggle.

    And frankly google maps suck! The actual mapping is not that useful and omits lots of info - it relies on you choosing to plan a route to your destination, calculated at google, so that google has even more info
    about you.

    I fully agree with you that it would be nice to have an alternative to
    Google Maps, but unfortunately, the address lookup on OSMAnd~ sucks.

    Years ago I wrote a tutorial to do a one-shot address lookup on Google Maps using code, and then injecting the GPS location into OSMAnd~ routing.

    But that was cumbersome (and I did it, at that time, to save on data).

    OSMAND+ is based on OpenStreetMap data and, certainly in my region, that info is far far superior to google maps.

    I also agree with you on the "concept" of open street maps, but, what
    Google maps has that nobody else easily has, is accurate traffic data.

    Sure, I wrote tutorials for how to get traffic data OUTSIDE of Google Maps,
    but the reality is you still need routing to take traffic into account.

    It even often is better than
    Ordnance Survey here in the UK, certainly at street level.

    Like you, I deplore Google Maps, but the two things Google Maps does better than OSMAnd~ is the address lookup and traffic (in my humble opinion).

    One other point, which is unrelated to this problem set, is that the
    OSMAnd~ topographic backcountry maps are horrid compared to USGS maps.

    But that's no worse than OSMAnd~ topo maps are because Google Maps
    topographic views, while pretty, are horrid when zoomed to usable levels.

    I wrote tutorials on how crappy the OSMAnd~ topo maps were compared to the
    free USGS topo maps, but the USGS maps are only available for the US.

    So for folks on the other side of the pond, OSMAnd~ topo maps may be the
    best that you have freely available & then they're just what you get.

    In summary, I dislike Google Maps as much (or more) than you do, and while
    I love OSMAnd~ for what they're trying to do, the main reason I still use Google Maps is for
    a. Address lookup
    b. Traffic (and traffic routing)

    I never log into the Google Maps app (ask me to tell you what horrid things happen the instant you make that mistake) so I can't download them offline.

    But even so, this problem of "precise location" affects *many* apps!

    *SatStat*
    <https://gitlab.com/mvglasow/satstat>
    <https://f-droid.org/packages/com.vonglasow.michael.satstat/>

    *Avenza Maps* Offline Mapping by Avenza Systems Inc., In-app purchases
    Free, ad free, 4.6 star, 72.6K reviews, 1M+ Downloads
    <https://www.avenza.com/avenza-maps/>
    <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Avenza>
    <https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id388424049>

    *Paper Maps* by Abbro Inc, In-app purchases
    Free, ad free, 5K+ Downloads
    <https://www.paper-maps.com/>
    <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ca.abbro.androidmap>
    <https://apps.apple.com/app/nextmap/id1147385120>

    *OuterSpatial* by OuterSpatial
    free, ad free, requires gsf, rated 3.4 out of 113 reviews @ 10K+ Downloads
    <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.trailheadlabs.outerspatial>
    <https://www.outerspatial.com/>
    <https://apps.apple.com/us/app/outerspatial/id1254161962>

    *GPS Waypoint Finder* by keuwlsoft
    free, ad free, gsf free, 3.9 star, 1.35K reviews, 100K+ Downloads
    <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.keuwl.gpswaypoints>

    *Parked Car* by Myroslav Kolodii
    free, ad free, requires gsf, 4.4 star, 179 reviews, 10K+ Downloads
    <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.unagit.parkedcar>

    *GPS to SMS* - location sharing by Tralchonok Labs
    free, ad free, gsf free, 3.6 star, 787 reviews, 100K+ Downloads
    <https://github.com/tral/GPS2SMS>
    <http://xdaforums.com/devdb/project/?id=7537#downloads>
    <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ru.perm.trubnikov.gps2sms>
    <https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/app-2-2-gps-to-sms-location-sharing.2994187/>

    SOS Alert (send SOS message & GPS to 5 contacts)
    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.main.contacts.smsmanager
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From AJL@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Sat Nov 1 21:13:55 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 11/1/25 12:47 PM, Jim Jackson wrote:

    Why use google maps?

    I strongly recommend OSMAND+ available on FDroid. You down load the map
    info for the regions you require and all your map use is local to your >phone, even route planning and directions.

    And frankly google maps suck! The actual mapping is not that useful and >omits lots of info - it relies on you choosing to plan a route to your >destination, calculated at google, so that google has even more info
    about you.

    It's been a few years since I took a trip so things may be different now.
    But what I really liked about Google was the road warnings. Speed traps,
    real time traffic conditions ahead, etc. And it takes a lot of regular
    people on the road ahead to enter those warnings into Google. I've never
    used the competition but wonder if there is enough folks using them to
    provide adequate warnings. Or do they even have the capability?
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Carlos E.R.@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Sat Nov 1 22:58:35 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 2025-11-01 22:13, AJL wrote:
    On 11/1/25 12:47 PM, Jim Jackson wrote:

    Why use google maps?

    I strongly recommend OSMAND+ available on FDroid. You down load the
    map info for the regions you require and all your map use is local to
    your phone, even route planning and directions.

    And frankly google maps suck! The actual mapping is not that useful
    and omits lots of info - it relies on you choosing to plan a route to
    your destination, calculated at google, so that google has even more
    info about you.

    It's been a few years since I took a trip so things may be different now.
    But what I really liked about Google was the road warnings. Speed traps,
    real time traffic conditions ahead, etc. And it takes a lot of regular
    people on the road ahead to enter those warnings into Google. I've never
    used the competition but wonder if there is enough folks using them to provide adequate warnings. Or do they even have the capability?

    TomTom does, to some extent. Depends on the city. You have to pay for
    this service, maybe (not sure). And agree to share your own data,
    otherwise you do not receive the aggregate information they generate.
    But the information they collect stays solely inside TomTom.
    --
    Cheers, Carlos.
    ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Sat Nov 1 18:39:20 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Marion wrote:
    It turns out QuickShortcutMaker can make pinned or static shortcuts.
    I prefer static because it works even if the creator is removed.

    After a few dead ends (e.g., QuickShortcutMaker can't make custom
    shortcuts), I used Shortcut Maker 4.2.2 <rk.android.app.shortcutmaker>

    This created a custom shortcut that I had full control over.
    1. Open Shortcut Maker 4.2.2 <rk.android.app.shortcutmaker>
    2. On the main screen, tap the purple "Intents" icon
    That will display all the pre-defined intent templates
    that are installed on your device to hook into things.
    3. Tap the + in a box icon at the top.
    That will display an "Edit Intent" form
    Action =
    Package Name =
    Class Name =
    Data =
    Mime Type =
    Extras =
    Flags =
    Categories =
    4. Set only Action & Data
    Action = android.settings.APPLICATION_DETAILS_SETTINGS
    Data = package:com.google.android.apps.maps
    5. Tap Save (which is the checkmark icon at the top right).
    6. Your new intent will appear where you can fix a few things
    [Try this Shortcut]
    Intents (tap to edit the label) -> Maps App Info
    Icon (tap to edit icon)
    Open with Default (tap to change)
    Intents = package:com.google.android.apps.maps
    (this line is just repeating the data field)
    Shortcut Lock = off
    Shortcut Fix = on
    [Create Shortcut]
    7. Tap the "Create Shortcut" button.
    8. It will allow cosmetic edits
    9. And then it will ask you to place it on your homescreen
    10. When you tap it, it goes to the Google Maps "App info" screen.
    11. Place this into your shortcuts folder on your home screen.
    12. I placed mine alongside my shortcuts to "Location services"
    and "Improve Location Accuracy" to check them easily.

    If you want to repeat this process above for other apps to set the precise location, the only thing you change is the package name in the Data field.

    For example:
    For SatStat:
    Data = package:com.vonglasow.michael.satstat
    For OSMAnd~
    Data = package:net.osmand.plus
    For GPS to SMS
    Data = package:ru.perm.trubnikov.gps2sms

    Given there are a billion intents on any given Android device, to FIND your intent, a year from now, inside of Shortcut Maker, will be miserable.

    You can't find them by label or searching on the label.
    Nor by adding key/value pairs in Extras.
    Nor even piggybacking on the Data URI since Android ignores them!
    Data = package:com.google.android.apps.maps#abcdefg
    Data = package:com.google.android.apps.maps?tag=abcdefg

    So you just have to know how to recreate them if you can't find them.

    Save this, and you can open up anything your system will let you.
    In a single tap.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Sun Nov 2 18:02:33 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Marion wrote:
    Save this, and you can open up anything your system will let you.
    In a single tap.

    We cut the number of steps in half, but we didn't cut it to one tap yet. Luckily, it takes only a minute of your time to cut the steps in half.

    Note that this turned out to be overly complex in presentation but super
    simple in the end, given that any function can be made a single-tap
    shortcut if the system allows a non-privileged user to create it.

    What caught me off guard was that I had assumed Shizuku would temporarily elevate me to privileged status for running tools like App Ops, Permission
    X, or Automate. However, as far as I've been able to determine, this has
    not proven true, though my testing has been limited and Shizuku may
    still work in some cases (particularly when I add Llamalab's automation).

    After much effort trying to toggle an app's runtime "Use precise location" switch, I have learned more than expected about Samsung/Android security.
    It appears impossible to defeat current Android security in order to toggle that switch directly, though I still hope automation may provide a path.

    Current status (without automation):
    Settings > Apps > Maps > Permissions > Location > Use precise location becomes:
    shortcut > Permissions > Location > Use precise location

    Cutting six steps in half was done with Shortcut Maker 4.2.2 <rk.android.app.shortcutmaker> set to these two values alone:
    Action = android.settings.APPLICATION_DETAILS_SETTINGS
    Data = package:com.google.android.apps.maps

    You can then place this into your existing shortcut folder:
    Maps precise location one-tap shortcut
    OSMAnd~ precise location one-tap shortcut
    SatStat precise location one-tap shortcut
    GPS to SMS precise location one-tap shortcut
    Google location accuracy one-tap shortcut
    Wi-Fi scanning one-tap shortcut
    Bluetooth scanning one-tap shortcut
    Improve precise location one-tap shortcut
    etc.

    Note this important distinction despite the similar names:
    "Use precise location" (per-app) = allows that app GPS access
    "Improve precise location" = allows Google to collect broader
    location data from nearby devices

    The end result is that anyone can cut the number of steps in half to get to
    the precise location toggle for any given app, but going farther is harder.

    I'll probably put this on the back burner for now since it took far longer
    (due to many failures) than I had hoped, but the good news is cutting the
    steps in half takes all of a minute or two once you know what's above.
    --
    Usenet is where kind-hearted well-educated people gather to share ideas.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Sun Nov 2 19:48:42 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Carlos E.R. wrote:
    It's been a few years since I took a trip so things may be different now.
    But what I really liked about Google was the road warnings. Speed traps,
    real time traffic conditions ahead, etc. And it takes a lot of regular
    people on the road ahead to enter those warnings into Google. I've never
    used the competition but wonder if there is enough folks using them to
    provide adequate warnings. Or do they even have the capability?

    TomTom does, to some extent. Depends on the city. You have to pay for
    this service, maybe (not sure). And agree to share your own data,
    otherwise you do not receive the aggregate information they generate.
    But the information they collect stays solely inside TomTom.

    I concur with Carlos and AJL & Jim Jackson even as I haven't tested car
    driving map routing apps in a while, as I use mainly Google & OSMAnd~.

    Specifically to AJL's point though, here, in California, there are plenty
    of sites which will give you *far better* road conditions than Google Maps.

    This is important.

    There are *plenty* of sites designed to give you tons of information about
    road conditions (particularly of construction & traffic) in the states.

    Offhand, just for Silicon Valley alone, there are plenty of databases...
    <https://511.org/>
    <https://www.sigalert.com/>
    <https://www.localconditions.com/us/santa-clara-county/california/traffic/>
    <https://www.broadcastify.com/listen/ctid/225>
    <https://californialocal.com/localnews/santa-clara/ca/traffic/show/>

    And some related local traffic and road conditions apps:
    <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.freewood.calroadreport>
    <https://roads.santaclaracounty.gov/roads-and-traffic-info>
    <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.californiatrafficcam.app>

    In addition, there is Waze, Google Maps & Apple Maps of course.

    Note there are a ton of mobile apps listed in this site for the bay area.
    <https://511.org/getting-around/mobile-apps>

    There are about 10 million people in the Bay Area (give or take) so it's
    not surprising there are traffic apps which compete with Google Maps.

    The good news is you can use these other apps to save on data when/if you
    need to save on data (which I used to need to do myself, but no more).
    --
    Usenet is where kind people daily gather to voluntarily help others.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Sun Nov 2 19:55:28 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    When dealing with creating one-tap shortcuts, especially to hidden
    activities on Android which are protected by security, these may help...

    All are free, no ads, registration free (as always)...

    Activities 1.5 (6) <com.cunnj.activitylauncher>
    Activity Launcher 1.15.2 (41) <de.szalkowski.activitylauncher>
    Activity Manager 5.4.2 (542) <com.activitymanager>
    App Manager 4.0.4 (444) <io.github.muntashirakon.AppManager>
    App Ops 9.0.7.r1708.57e6ad70 (1708) <rikka.appops>
    App Shortcut Maker 3.10 (30) <com.bhanu.appshortcutmaker>
    App Shortcuts 4.4 (14) <com.panagola.app.shortcut>
    AppLinks 1.1.0 (1010000) fr.smarquis.applinks
    Automate 1.47.0 (251) com.llamalab.automate
    Automation 1.8 (139) <com.jens.automation2>
    Easer 0.8.2.3 <ryey.easer>
    Hidden Settings 1.1 (6) <com.PDquila.HiddenSettings>
    Instant Intent 0.1 (5) <com.trianguloy.instantintent>
    Intent Launcher 1.0.2 (3) <com.villevalta.intentlauncher>
    Intent Viewer 1.0.1 (2) <info.maigo.lab.intentviewer>
    IntentTask 2.2.0 (50) <com.balda.intenttask>
    Intents 1.1.1 (3) <krow.dev.scheme>
    LADB 2.1 (39) <com.draco.ladb>
    Open Link With 2.8 (20800) <com.tasomaniac.openwith>
    Permission Manager 1.1 (2) <in.yourstreet.permissionmanager>
    Permission Manager X v1.25-fd (125) <com.mirfatif.permissionmanagerx>
    Pinned Shortcuts 2.0 (6) <rk.android.app.pinnedshortcuts>
    QuickShortcutMaker 2.4.0 (20400) <com.sika524.android.quickshortcut>
    Quikshort 1.9.1 (60) <com.atolphadev.quikshort>
    Shizuku 13.5.4.r1049.0e53409 (1049) <moe.shizuku.privileged.api>
    Shortcut Creator 3.2.4 (62) <com.alextern.shortcuthelper>
    Shortcut Maker 4.2.2 (102) <rk.android.app.shortcutmaker>
    Shortcut Master (Lite) 1.2.7 (12) <org.vndnguyen.shortcutmaster.lite>
    Shortcut To URL 1.5 (6) <jp.miotti.ShortcutToURL>
    Shortcut Widgets & Inspector 1.0.0 (1) <com.cemique.shortcutwidgets>
    ShortcutExecutors 1.0.2 (4) <com.alextern.shortcutexecutors>
    Shortcuts 1.2.5 (47) <any.shortcut>
    Shortcutter 7.8.0 (780) <com.leedroid.shortcutter>
    Termux 0.118.0 (118) <com.termux>
    Website Shortcut 3.4.1 (35) <com.deltacdev.websiteshortcut>

    The app I use most is Muntashirakon App Manager (which I use every day).

    Others which are rather useful when you need them are Automate, Termux, Shizuku, App Manager, Shortcut Maker, Shortcut Widgets & Inspector and QuickShortcutMaker.

    This happens to be a list of apps I have currently installed.
    Obviously you don't need all of them, but I test apps for learning.
    --
    It's no wonder I have a thousand packages installed on my 64GB!
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Sun Nov 2 19:59:38 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Marion wrote:
    This happens to be a list of apps I have currently installed.
    Obviously you don't need all of them, but I test apps for learning.

    Here's a short description of what each of those apps I tested do.

    Activities: Launch hidden activities and shortcuts from installed apps
    Activity Launcher: Browse and start activities not exposed in app menus
    Activity Manager: Manage running tasks and activities on your device
    App Manager: Inspect, back up and control apps with strong privacy tools
    App Ops: Manage and fine-tune app permissions beyond Android defaults
    App Shortcut Maker: Create custom shortcuts to apps and activities
    App Shortcuts: Build and place quick shortcuts for faster app access
    AppLinks: Inspect and test Android app link handling and deep links
    Automate: Create flows to automate tasks and reduce repetitive actions
    Automation: Automate device actions with triggers and conditions
    Easer: Automate actions triggered by events, time or specific conditions
    Hidden Settings: Access hidden Android system settings quickly
    Instant Intent: Send and test Android intents instantly
    Intent Launcher: Launch apps or actions using custom intent URIs
    Intent Viewer: View details of Android intents for debugging
    IntentTask: Automate tasks by sending custom Android intents
    Intents: Test and send Android scheme and intent URIs
    LADB: Run ADB commands locally on device without a connected computer
    Open Link With: Choose which app opens links instead of system defaults
    Permission Manager: Basic tool to manage app permissions manually
    Permission Manager X: Advanced permission control with detailed options
    Pinned Shortcuts: Create pinned shortcuts for apps and activities
    QuickShortcutMaker: Make shortcuts to hidden settings and activities fast
    Quikshort: Build and manage quick shortcuts for apps and functions
    Shizuku: Allow advanced app permissions without requiring full root access
    Shortcut Creator: Create and customize shortcuts with icons and labels
    Shortcut Maker: Build shortcuts to apps, activities and system actions
    Shortcut Master Lite: Discover and launch hidden app activities
    Shortcut To URL: Create home screen shortcuts that open web URLs
    Shortcut Widgets Inspector: Inspect and create shortcut based widgets
    ShortcutExecutors: Run predefined shortcut actions quickly
    Shortcuts: Simple tool to create and manage app shortcuts
    Shortcutter: Add quick settings toggles and custom shortcuts
    Termux: Run Linux commands and scripts directly on your Android device
    Website Shortcut: Place website shortcuts on your home screen

    Every single one of these I've tested, so you can rest assured they are all free, ad free and registration free, as I don't use any apps that aren't.
    --
    Sometimes on Usenet you can find people who know more than you do.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From AJL@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Sun Nov 2 20:45:18 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 11/2/2025 7:48 PM, Marion wrote:
    Carlos E.R. wrote:
    AJL wrote:

    It's been a few years since I took a trip so things may be
    different now. But what I really liked about Google was the road
    warnings. Speed traps, real time traffic conditions ahead, etc.
    And it takes a lot of regular people on the road ahead to enter
    those warnings into Google. I've never used the competition but
    wonder if there is enough folks using them to provide adequate
    warnings. Or do they even have the capability?

    TomTom does, to some extent. Depends on the city. You have to pay
    for this service, maybe (not sure). And agree to share your own
    data, otherwise you do not receive the aggregate information they
    generate. But the information they collect stays solely inside
    TomTom.

    I concur with Carlos and AJL & Jim Jackson even as I haven't tested
    car driving map routing apps in a while, as I use mainly Google &
    OSMAnd~.

    Specifically to AJL's point though, here, in California,

    Interestingly my above comments were for between here (Phoenix) and
    Coronado Island (not actually an island) in southern California using
    mostly Interstate 8. I vacationed there for many years. Stayed at the
    Del. Nice place. But I digress.

    there are plenty of sites which will give you *far better* road
    conditions than Google Maps.

    My THEORY was that Google might be BEST to use since MORE people were
    likely using it and thus MORE PEOPLE were likely ENTERING the CURRENT
    road conditions into Google. Road construction would likely be on all
    the competing maps since it's there for days/weeks/months. But a Highway
    Patrol speed trap would be there for just a short time. I was always on
    my best behavior when one of those civilian entered warnings was ahead
    and breathed a sigh of relief when I passed the trap unscathed. Thanks
    fellow drivers and Google. Another time an accident closed the freeway
    ahead and because of the warning I was able to detour through a nearby
    town and could see all the stopped freeway traffic as I cruised by on a parallel street.

    Again my theory only works if considerably MORE folks use Google than
    the competition. It's just a chance thing: more eyeballs, more warnings. (assuming of course that the competition has the civilian warning capability)...

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Sun Nov 2 21:43:58 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    AJL wrote:
    My THEORY was that Google might be BEST to use since MORE people were
    likely using it and thus MORE PEOPLE were likely ENTERING the CURRENT
    road conditions into Google.

    All your points are perfectly valid.

    However, in my Silicon Valley experiences, Google Maps sucks in terms of explaining WHY the traffic is suddenly backed up somewhere. It just does.

    Why?
    I don't know why.
    Maybe it's just me?

    I don't know if Google Maps sucks compared to the other methods for others.

    But I don't disagree that almost all of the 10 million people out here are using Google Maps, but I didn't even KNOW you can update Google Maps that easily (e.g., speed trap, deer in the road, kids throwing rocks, whatever).

    Of course, I'm aware that "Waze" allows that kind of input easily, and
    Google Maps can suck out of Waze whatever it wants, so that does exist.

    I just looked up if you can add transient traffic hazards to both, and the answer is "yes, of course you can". It's different, but it can be done.

    Google Maps allows hazard reporting during active navigation while Waze is built around real-time user reports, making it ideal for transient hazards
    like debris, potholes, stalled cars or kids hurling tires off a bridge.

    Looking it up, you need to be logged in to report those hazards, which is normal for Waze, but how many people use Google Maps logged in?

    I don't. (I can't.) (I won't.)
    Google Maps *creates* an account on your device if you log into it.

    Road construction would likely be on all
    the competing maps since it's there for days/weeks/months.

    Heh heh heh... out here, in the Silicon Valley, Caltrans has a habit of
    closing a lane all the time, temporarily, to clean something up.

    Sometimes it's scheduled. Sometimes not.
    But most of the time it's scheduled, so your point is taken as valid.

    But a Highway
    Patrol speed trap would be there for just a short time.

    Yup. I've had Google Maps warn me of them.
    Someone is reporting them. Maybe the CHP?

    I was always on
    my best behavior when one of those civilian entered warnings was ahead
    and breathed a sigh of relief when I passed the trap unscathed. Thanks
    fellow drivers and Google.

    Agree. I used to use a radar detector back east, where there's a speed trap
    at every intersection, but they're not so much out here in California.

    I'm not sure what the status is of the radar/lidar/helicopter detectors.
    Are they still being used by folks?

    Another time an accident closed the freeway
    ahead and because of the warning I was able to detour through a nearby
    town and could see all the stopped freeway traffic as I cruised by on a parallel street.

    Yeah. Long ago we had a discussion of whether cell phones caused accidents, where one of the boons is re-routing around situations like that.

    It's wonderful.
    A billion people's lives are saved by avoiding such situations.

    Again my theory only works if considerably MORE folks use Google than
    the competition. It's just a chance thing: more eyeballs, more warnings. (assuming of course that the competition has the civilian warning capability)...

    I don't doubt almost everyone uses Google Maps on the road.
    But I could be wrong. SO I looked it up.
    <https://www.androidpolice.com/apple-ios-us-google-maps-navigation-apps/>
    <https://www.autoevolution.com/news/google-maps-is-the-top-navigation-app-apple-maps-close-to-overtaking-waze-230144.html>

    70% Google Maps
    27% Waze
    20% to 25% Apple Maps (and growing)
    5% HERE WeGo, MapQuest, and niche apps
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From AJL@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Mon Nov 3 05:47:44 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 11/2/25 9:43 PM, Marion wrote:

    how many people use Google Maps logged in?

    On all my Android/Google stuff if I log into one Google app I'm
    automatically logged into all the rest of the Google apps on the device. If
    Google Maps isn't on the device, when I later install it, it's logged in
    with no further effort on my part. Same on this Chromebook I'm posting with
    BTW. So my GUESS is that when most folks add Google Maps to their working
    Android device it's signed in automatically.

    Yup. I've had Google Maps warn me of them.
    Someone is reporting them. Maybe the CHP?

    I doubt cops would report on themselves. In my case it was definitely other
    civilian users.

    I used to use a radar detector back east, where there's a speed trap
    at every intersection, but they're not so much out here in California.

    Funny story. I think you know where I'm retired from. I was working radar on
    a local street. Got a guy going way over. When he got out of the car and
    saw he was caught, he grabbed his radar detector off the dash and started
    stomping on it cause it apparently wasn't working so good... ;)

    I'm not sure what the status is of the radar/lidar/helicopter detectors.
    Are they still being used by folks?

    Dunno. I retired 33 years ago. I suspect things have changed a bit.

    Again my theory only works if considerably MORE folks use Google than
    the competition. It's just a chance thing: more eyeballs, more warnings.
    (assuming of course that the competition has the civilian warning
    capability)...

    I don't doubt almost everyone uses Google Maps on the road.
    But I could be wrong. SO I looked it up.
    <https://www.androidpolice.com/apple-ios-us-google-maps-navigation-apps/> <https://www.autoevolution.com/news/google-maps-is-the-top-navigation-app-apple-maps-close-to-overtaking-waze-230144.html>

    70% Google Maps
    27% Waze
    20% to 25% Apple Maps (and growing)
    5% HERE WeGo, MapQuest, and niche apps

    Interesting.


    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Carlos E.R.@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Mon Nov 3 13:38:59 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 2025-11-03 06:47, AJL wrote:
    On 11/2/25 9:43 PM, Marion wrote:

    how many people use Google Maps logged in?

    On all my Android/Google stuff if I log into one Google app I'm
    automatically logged into all the rest of the Google apps on the device. If Google Maps isn't on the device, when I later install it, it's logged in
    with no further effort on my part. Same on this Chromebook I'm posting with BTW. So my GUESS is that when most folks add Google Maps to their working Android device it's signed in automatically.

    Certainly. Almost everybody uses their android phones logged into them,
    and thus, to google maps.

    I don't personally know any friend that is not logged to Google
    permanently. Well, yes, some may log into Apple instead X-D

    Yup. I've had Google Maps warn me of them. Someone is reporting them.
    Maybe the CHP?

    I doubt cops would report on themselves. In my case it was definitely other civilian users.
    I used to use a radar detector back east, where there's a speed trap
    at every intersection, but they're not so much out here in California.

    Funny story. I think you know where I'm retired from. I was working >
    radar on a local street. Got a guy going way over. When he got out
    of the car and saw he was caught, he grabbed his radar detector off
    the dash and started stomping on it cause it apparently wasn't
    working so good... ;)

    :-D

    Detectors are illegal here. Even carrying one might get you a fine.
    --
    Cheers, Carlos.
    ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From AJL@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Mon Nov 3 15:57:22 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 11/3/25 5:38 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
    On 2025-11-03 06:47, AJL wrote:
    On 11/2/25 9:43 PM, Marion wrote:

    how many people use Google Maps logged in?

    On all my Android/Google stuff if I log into one Google app I'm
    automatically logged into all the rest of the Google apps on the device. If >> Google Maps isn't on the device, when I later install it, it's logged in
    with no further effort on my part. Same on this Chromebook I'm posting with >> BTW. So my GUESS is that when most folks add Google Maps to their working
    Android device it's signed in automatically.

    Certainly. Almost everybody uses their android phones logged into them,
    and thus, to google maps.


    I don't personally know any friend that is not logged to Google
    permanently. Well, yes, some may log into Apple instead X-D

    On my regular Android tablet/phone toys I had no choice but to log into
    Google or I couldn't get past the first few screens. And from there all
    additional installed Google apps were signed in automatically. I Think most
    Android devices are like mine.

    One exception is my Amazon tablets with the Fire OS Android fork that come
    with NO Google stuff. Fortunately they allowed me to sideload the Google
    Play Store. From there it was the same. Once I signed in to the Play Store
    all additional downloaded Google apps were also automatically signed in.

    BTW I read that Amazon is working on a non-Android OS for future devices so
    time may be running out for this handy Google mod...


    Yup. I've had Google Maps warn me of them. Someone is reporting them.
    Maybe the CHP?

    I doubt cops would report on themselves. In my case it was definitely other >> civilian users.
    I used to use a radar detector back east, where there's a speed trap
    at every intersection, but they're not so much out here in California.


    Funny story. I think you know where I'm retired from. I was working >
    radar on a local street. Got a guy going way over. When he got out
    of the car and saw he was caught, he grabbed his radar detector off
    the dash and started stomping on it cause it apparently wasn't
    working so good... ;)

    :-D


    Another funny story. As a motorcycle cop I worked mostly traffic. When I
    wasn't doing accident investigation I often worked citizen complaints. One
    guy called in a complaint of speeders on his residential street. So when I
    had some free time I went to his house. I tried to contact him but he
    wasn't home so I parked my MC in his driveway and worked radar on his
    street and would have left a note for him so that he knew I had been there
    working his complaint. But guess who was one of the ones I caught? Yep,
    him.

    Detectors are illegal here. Even carrying one might get you a fine.

    In the early days of police radar they were large machines that had to be
    carried in cars and stayed fixed on the roadway constantly so detectors
    worked pretty well. But later we went to handheld guns (easily carried on a
    MC). When in use the gun was held pointed at the ground until the the car
    was in range and then it was pointed at the car. I got a reading about the
    same time the guy's detector would go off and thus he had no time to slow
    down so the detector didn't do much good.

    I don't know anyone that has a detector these days but I see Amazon has them
    for sale...





    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Mon Nov 3 09:10:57 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Carlos E.R. wrote:
    On all my Android/Google stuff if I log into one Google app I'm
    automatically logged into all the rest of the Google apps on the device. If >> Google Maps isn't on the device, when I later install it, it's logged in
    with no further effort on my part. Same on this Chromebook I'm posting with >> BTW. So my GUESS is that when most folks add Google Maps to their working
    Android device it's signed in automatically.

    Certainly. Almost everybody uses their android phones logged into them,
    and thus, to google maps.

    I concur with AJL & Carlos, where I would simply like to add value.

    Just to be clear for all, while, on my phone, I can't log into my Google Accounts (yes, I have many), I would agree most people almost certainly do.

    But my only point about that is those same people can't logically complain about the lack of privacy - where this thread is about location privacy.

    I don't personally know any friend that is not logged to Google
    permanently. Well, yes, some may log into Apple instead X-D

    Again, I agree. I use iOS & Android every day, where every poster to both groups knows how valiantly I've tried to NOT log into Cupertino servers.

    You can easily not log into Palo Alto servers, but not Cupertino servers.


    Yup. I've had Google Maps warn me of them. Someone is reporting them.
    Maybe the CHP?

    I doubt cops would report on themselves. In my case it was definitely other >> civilian users.
    I used to use a radar detector back east, where there's a speed trap
    at every intersection, but they're not so much out here in California.

    Funny story. I think you know where I'm retired from. I was working >
    radar on a local street. Got a guy going way over. When he got out
    of the car and saw he was caught, he grabbed his radar detector off
    the dash and started stomping on it cause it apparently wasn't
    working so good... ;)

    Detectors are illegal here. Even carrying one might get you a fine.

    Regarding the legality of radar detectors, here in the states, we generally have a "freedom from government" culture in the USA (well, not in
    California) where, in the USA, you can *receive* (almost) any radio signal.

    For reasons that are kind of obvious, they're banned in commercial vehicles
    and on US military bases, but for reasons unknown to me, they're illegal in only the state of Virginia & in the district of Washington, DC. Go figure.

    In California and Minnesota, you can't have anything mounted to the
    windshield, but you can strap it to your dashboard.

    But other than the two banned areas, everyone in the USA is allowed to
    detect and interpret radio signals. I don't know how Virginia & Washington
    DC get away with banning the reception & interpretation of radio signals.

    It's the first step to loss of freedom to restrict the 1st amendment.
    --
    Usenet allows people with shared interests to discuss topics of import.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Mon Nov 3 09:22:15 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    AJL wrote:
    On my regular Android tablet/phone toys I had no choice but to log into
    Google or I couldn't get past the first few screens. And from there all
    additional installed Google apps were signed in automatically.


    Hi AJL,

    I don't understand that statement, but I'm probably not used to what you're setup is like. As far as I'm aware, there's no need to log int Palo Alto servers for Android to work.

    Of course, if you want to use specific apps, such as Google Voice &
    Google's GMail app, then you do need to log into Palo Alto servers.

    But if you just want to install apps, or watch/download/rip YouTube videos, there's no need to log into a Google server to do that basic stuff.

    If you want a calendar, and if it must be Google's calendar, then yes, you
    need to log into Google's servers. But only if it must be Google's
    calendar, which, I'm sure, ties nicely into the Google email but you can
    get your Google email without using the GMail app (e.g., with FairEmail).

    Also, if you want to *pay* for apps, then, yes, you need to log in.

    I Think most Android devices are like mine.

    I would think 99% of Android devices automatically log into a Google
    Account, but my main caveat about that practice is that anyone who logs
    into any account that they don't have to log into, can't complain that they have no privacy (because it's their fault, for the most part).

    Yes, it's the fault of the bad guys too, but privacy is like personal
    hygiene where we have to stay clean every moment of our working day.
    --
    Usenet allows purposefully helpful people to pool their experiences.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From AJL@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Mon Nov 3 17:49:50 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 11/3/25 9:22 AM, Marion wrote:
    AJL wrote:
    On my regular Android tablet/phone toys I had no choice but to log into
    Google or I couldn't get past the first few screens. And from there all
    additional installed Google apps were signed in automatically.


    Hi AJL,

    I don't understand that statement, but I'm probably not used to what you're >setup is like. As far as I'm aware, there's no need to log int Palo Alto >servers for Android to work.


    Just as a test I factory reset my latest toy, a 7" ONN Android tablet. I
    then started it from scratch. The first few screens were welcome and WiFi
    connection. Then came the sign in to Google page. It won't go past there
    without signing in. IIRC my other Android toys were the same but I'm not
    going to factory reset all of them just to see for sure... 8-O

    And I admit that I really can't speak for the other 1000+ Android gadgets
    out there.


    Of course, if you want to use specific apps, such as Google Voice &
    Google's GMail app, then you do need to log into Palo Alto servers.

    But if you just want to install apps, or watch/download/rip YouTube videos, >there's no need to log into a Google server to do that basic stuff.

    If you want a calendar, and if it must be Google's calendar, then yes, you >need to log into Google's servers. But only if it must be Google's
    calendar, which, I'm sure, ties nicely into the Google email but you can
    get your Google email without using the GMail app (e.g., with FairEmail).

    Also, if you want to *pay* for apps, then, yes, you need to log in.

    I Think most Android devices are like mine.

    I would think 99% of Android devices automatically log into a Google
    Account, but my main caveat about that practice is that anyone who logs
    into any account that they don't have to log into, can't complain that they >have no privacy (because it's their fault, for the most part).


    Yes, it's the fault of the bad guys too, but privacy is like personal
    hygiene where we have to stay clean every moment of our working day.

    I don't worry about privacy if you're talking about bits and bytes on a
    server somewhere. WE (you and I, and most all of us) have none of that kind
    of privacy anyway. For example your doctor records, tax records, car
    registration, home registration, bank records, etc,etc,etc, are all on a
    server somewhere available for access. And if you're worried about a human
    looking at them you have a much bigger chance of a doctor's secretary
    looking at your really personal stuff than I do having a human picking me
    out of billions of Google accounts to look at. But bottom line we're all in
    the cloud big time. The best one can do is try and stay safe. That's one
    reason I use this Google Chromebook for sensitive stuff. It currently has
    the best reputation for security among the competition...



    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Carlos E.R.@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Mon Nov 3 22:42:07 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 2025-11-03 16:57, AJL wrote:
    On 11/3/25 5:38 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
    On 2025-11-03 06:47, AJL wrote:
    On 11/2/25 9:43 PM, Marion wrote:

    ...


    Yup. I've had Google Maps warn me of them. Someone is reporting
    them. Maybe the CHP?

    I doubt cops would report on themselves. In my case it was definitely
    other
    civilian users.
    I used to use a radar detector back east, where there's a speed trap
    at every intersection, but they're not so much out here in California.


    Funny story. I think you know where I'm retired from. I was working
    radar on a local street. Got a guy going way over. When he got out
    of the car and saw he was caught, he grabbed his radar detector off
    the dash and started stomping on it cause it apparently wasn't
    working so good...  ;)

    :-D


    Another funny story. As a motorcycle cop I worked mostly traffic. When I wasn't doing accident investigation I often worked citizen complaints. One guy called in a complaint of speeders on his residential street. So when I had some free time I went to his house. I tried to contact him but he
    wasn't home so I parked my MC in his driveway and worked radar on his
    street and would have left a note for him so that he knew I had been there working his complaint. But guess who was one of the ones I caught? Yep,
    him.

    LOL :-D


    Detectors are illegal here. Even carrying one might get you a fine.

    In the early days of police radar they were large machines that had to be carried in cars and stayed fixed on the roadway constantly so detectors worked pretty well. But later we went to handheld guns (easily carried on a MC). When in use the gun was held pointed at the ground until the the car
    was in range and then it was pointed at the car. I got a reading about the same time the guy's detector would go off and thus he had no time to slow down so the detector didn't do much good.

    I don't know anyone that has a detector these days but I see Amazon has
    them for sale...

    Apparently (I say apparently because I have never owned such a device)
    the common type of detector also does interference. At the first
    detection of the radar, it interferes with it so that the measurement
    fails. It beeps; the driver slows, and the second time the car is within limits. This is highly illegal.

    There is another type which is only a sensor. It works here with the
    type of radar that is constantly on catching the traffic automatically.
    It is also illegal here.

    And then there is the legal type, which is a device without a display,
    or not a graphical display, which beeps if you are near the stored
    location of a known radar. Obviously it has a GPS receiver. I don't know
    why people bought this instead of a navigator. Maybe because they are
    illegal in some countries, thus used in disguise?
    --
    Cheers, Carlos.
    ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Carlos E.R.@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Mon Nov 3 22:54:31 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 2025-11-03 17:10, Marion wrote:
    Carlos E.R. wrote:
    On all my Android/Google stuff if I log into one Google app I'm
    automatically logged into all the rest of the Google apps on the device. If >>> Google Maps isn't on the device, when I later install it, it's logged in >>> with no further effort on my part. Same on this Chromebook I'm posting with >>> BTW. So my GUESS is that when most folks add Google Maps to their working >>> Android device it's signed in automatically.

    Certainly. Almost everybody uses their android phones logged into them,
    and thus, to google maps.

    I concur with AJL & Carlos, where I would simply like to add value.

    Just to be clear for all, while, on my phone, I can't log into my Google Accounts (yes, I have many), I would agree most people almost certainly do.

    But my only point about that is those same people can't logically complain about the lack of privacy - where this thread is about location privacy.

    Notice that most people would not complain about "the company" having
    the data, but complain about others having access to that data.

    We also complain about "the company" using the data in hidden ways, in
    ways different that what they said they do. Ie, when they are found out
    doing something that, for instance, is illegal in the EU.

    Another complaint we have is that USA companies with servers in the EU,
    so that they claim that the data resides in the EU and never leaves the
    EU, nonetheless there is a law that allows the USA government to collect
    that data from any USA based company at servers outside of the USA.
    Which is the reason that several countries are realizing this and
    migrating from Microsoft services to other EU based companies with no
    USA ties.

    (The USA has a tradition of forcing their laws extraterritorially)
    --
    Cheers, Carlos.
    ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From AJL@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Mon Nov 3 23:24:40 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 11/3/25 2:42 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
    On 2025-11-03 16:57, AJL wrote:

    Detectors are illegal here. Even carrying one might get you a fine.
    In the early days of police radar they were large machines that had to be
    carried in cars and stayed fixed on the roadway constantly so detectors
    worked pretty well. But later we went to handheld guns (easily carried on a >> MC). When in use the gun was held pointed at the ground until the the car
    was in range and then it was pointed at the car. I got a reading about the >> same time the guy's detector would go off and thus he had no time to slow
    down so the detector didn't do much good.

    I don't know anyone that has a detector these days but I see Amazon has
    them for sale...


    Apparently (I say apparently because I have never owned such a device)
    the common type of detector also does interference. At the first
    detection of the radar, it interferes with it so that the measurement
    fails. It beeps; the driver slows, and the second time the car is within >limits. This is highly illegal.

    Interesting. I don't remember seeing any radar jamming during my career but
    then my memory isn't all that good anymore. Jamming certainly would have
    messed up my radar gun readings. I just looked it up and jamming would be
    illegal in all of the USA because of federal law. Radar detectors are legal
    in my state (Arizona) except for commercial vehicles. But in some states
    they are illegal. Things here in our multi-government society are all very
    complicated...


    There is another type which is only a sensor. It works here with the
    type of radar that is constantly on catching the traffic automatically.
    It is also illegal here.

    And then there is the legal type, which is a device without a display,
    or not a graphical display, which beeps if you are near the stored
    location of a known radar. Obviously it has a GPS receiver. I don't know
    why people bought this instead of a navigator. Maybe because they are >illegal in some countries, thus used in disguise?


    These days perhaps I should worry more about my insurance than the cops.
    From what I read modern cars are fully connected to the manufacturer and
    data (including speed and the local speed limit) are sometimes shared with
    insurance companies...

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Carlos E.R.@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Tue Nov 4 02:19:42 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 2025-11-04 00:24, AJL wrote:
    These days perhaps I should worry more about my insurance than the cops.
    From what I read modern cars are fully connected to the manufacturer and data (including speed and the local speed limit) are sometimes shared with insurance companies...

    At a job some years ago, a young colleague found the insurance as novice driver was very expensive. He struck a deal by which the insurance
    tracked him with a special GPS on the car, and based on what roads he
    used, they charged. They consider driving on big cities more dangerous,
    so staying out of those, which was easy for him, they charged less. Win
    win. That could be 2010.

    Another twist. I understand new cars on the EU beep if you speed too
    much for the road, tracking this with a GPS and a map. The next goal
    will be that the car will refuse to speed up over the limit.
    --
    Cheers, Carlos.
    ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Mon Nov 3 19:26:40 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Carlos E.R. wrote:
    But my only point about that is those same people can't logically complain >> about the lack of privacy - where this thread is about location privacy.

    Notice that most people would not complain about "the company" having
    the data, but complain about others having access to that data.

    Understood. Today I was filling out a medical form and I told the
    receptionist that I didn't want to provide any data they didn't need.

    She assured me the doctor keeps all my data perfectly safe & secure.

    We also complain about "the company" using the data in hidden ways, in
    ways different that what they said they do. Ie, when they are found out doing something that, for instance, is illegal in the EU.

    Yup. Thank God for the EU and the UK forcing their laws on Apple & Google.
    For some reason the USA is the wild west in terms of allowing both of them
    to run roughshod over us. Both have broken the rules numerous times.

    Another complaint we have is that USA companies with servers in the EU,
    so that they claim that the data resides in the EU and never leaves the
    EU, nonetheless there is a law that allows the USA government to collect that data from any USA based company at servers outside of the USA.

    Well, I don't doubt the five eyes vacuums up all the data that they can.

    Which is the reason that several countries are realizing this and
    migrating from Microsoft services to other EU based companies with no
    USA ties.

    (The USA has a tradition of forcing their laws extraterritorially)

    Understood. It seems to be general accepted principle that if you want to
    have a VPN be immune from server logs being subpoenaed, it needs to be on
    an island somewhere not anywhere near the jurisdiction of the five eyes.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Mon Nov 3 19:35:35 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    AJL wrote:
    Just as a test I factory reset my latest toy, a 7" ONN Android tablet. I
    then started it from scratch. The first few screens were welcome and WiFi
    connection. Then came the sign in to Google page. It won't go past there
    without signing in. IIRC my other Android toys were the same but I'm not
    going to factory reset all of them just to see for sure... 8-O

    And I admit that I really can't speak for the other 1000+ Android gadgets
    out there.

    Every Android I've had for, oh, I don't know, ten or more years, I haven't signed into a Google Account on it. You just have to find the skip button.

    Even Google says you don't need to have an account to use Android.
    <https://support.google.com/android/answer/7664951>

    Yes, it's the fault of the bad guys too, but privacy is like personal >>hygiene where we have to stay clean every moment of our working day.

    I don't worry about privacy if you're talking about bits and bytes on a
    server somewhere. WE (you and I, and most all of us) have none of that kind
    of privacy anyway.

    I agree with you that the worst thing they get is pictures of our pets.
    But the point about hygiene is apropos that privacy has to be practiced.

    It's also disgusting to me that Google & Apple throw mud on our hygiene.
    For example, they hoover up our Wi-Fi access points without asking us.

    For example your doctor records, tax records, car
    registration, home registration, bank records, etc,etc,etc, are all on a
    server somewhere available for access.

    What pisses me off, is when the Capitol rioters were being apprehended, the government used license databases which is, to me, an abuse of power.

    I'm not defending the rioters, but I don't like the fact they looked up a database which contains me, and I had nothing to do with those riots.

    They abuse privileges, e.g., your SSN is used in places that have nothing
    to do with social security payments. It's abuse. Rampant abuse. It irks me.

    And if you're worried about a human
    looking at them you have a much bigger chance of a doctor's secretary
    looking at your really personal stuff than I do having a human picking me
    out of billions of Google accounts to look at.

    See my recent comment to Carlos, where I'm in my 80s and I seem to be
    spending more time at the doctor's office than at the local pool hall.

    The receptionist today assured me that the medical records will be kept
    private when I objected that they asked for information they didn't need.

    But bottom line we're all in
    the cloud big time. The best one can do is try and stay safe. That's one
    reason I use this Google Chromebook for sensitive stuff. It currently has
    the best reputation for security among the competition...

    Well, most of us have had loans for homes, so bingo. You're in it forever.

    I always give them a bogus phone number, for example, which I've used for
    so long it may as well be my phone number. But if I change it, I'd forget
    what it was.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Mon Nov 3 19:45:39 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Carlos E.R. wrote:
    At a job some years ago, a young colleague found the insurance as novice driver was very expensive. He struck a deal by which the insurance
    tracked him with a special GPS on the car, and based on what roads he
    used, they charged. They consider driving on big cities more dangerous,
    so staying out of those, which was easy for him, they charged less. Win
    win. That could be 2010.

    Another twist. I understand new cars on the EU beep if you speed too
    much for the road, tracking this with a GPS and a map. The next goal
    will be that the car will refuse to speed up over the limit.


    Speaking of radar jammers, in the 1980s they were all the rage, where we
    built them ourselves, but we never put them in practice in cars. We also
    used the Kodak IR chips to build our own distance sensors for parking.

    In my Suzuki GT650EX I wired a two transistor speaker and microphone into
    the two helmets for traveling on long trips with two people. They were the
    big tophat transistors about the size of a quarter.

    My how times have changed.

    In the USA, radar jamming is illegal because you can't transmit on licensed frequencies, but you can receive and decipher the signals on those
    frequencies. The point is that it's "free speech", where any look at Nazi Germany or any repressive regime shows how important radio freedom is.

    Regarding AJL's point about pointing the gun down and Carlos' point about reflection, if a huge semi is behind you and you're on a motorcycle, we've always been told the gun will read the truck more likely than reading you.

    AJL can expound on that, plus for those who don't know about the cosine, it matters greatly the angle where the cop tries to be head on if possible.

    Back to jamming, there are famous stories of people jamming on their daily commute where the government spent weeks finding them so it's not easy.

    As I recall, there were complaints from a local utility about an
    unauthorized interference, and then when the FACC investigated, it happened
    at the same commute time every day of the week except weekends. :)

    We could dig up the story as it was infamous at the time it happened.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From AJL@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Tue Nov 4 02:59:01 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 11/3/25 6:19 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
    On 2025-11-04 00:24, AJL wrote:
    These days perhaps I should worry more about my insurance than the cops.
    From what I read modern cars are fully connected to the manufacturer and
    data (including speed and the local speed limit) are sometimes shared with >> insurance companies...

    At a job some years ago, a young colleague found the insurance as novice >driver was very expensive. He struck a deal by which the insurance
    tracked him with a special GPS on the car, and based on what roads he
    used, they charged. They consider driving on big cities more dangerous,
    so staying out of those, which was easy for him, they charged less. Win
    win. That could be 2010.

    Wow. My insurance company dictates my travels? Scary...

    Another twist. I understand new cars on the EU beep if you speed too
    much for the road, tracking this with a GPS and a map. The next goal
    will be that the car will refuse to speed up over the limit.

    Our Arizona legislature is just now thinking of a law that instead of
    revolking a serious violators drivers license the perpetrater would agree
    to have a governor installed on his car that would NOT allow him to go over
    the speed limit. Sounds dangerous to me. IMO those who don't go with the
    flow of traffic, above or below the speed limit, are the dangerous ones.

    Our Arizona speed law 28-701a is a reasonable and prudent law. The speed
    signs are just a guide. So going with the flow doesn't necessarily break
    the speed law if the flow is faster. And actually the speed signs get
    pretty close to the actual traffic because Phoenix periodically measures
    the traffic flow and resets the speed signs to match if needed. Also
    another incentive is that our stoplights are timed so going the speed limit
    often gets you all greens crossing town...


    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From AJL@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Tue Nov 4 04:50:23 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 11/3/25 7:45 PM, Marion wrote:

    Regarding AJL's point about pointing the gun down and Carlos' point about >reflection, if a huge semi is behind you and you're on a motorcycle, we've >always been told the gun will read the truck more likely than reading you.

    AJL can expound on that, plus for those who don't know about the cosine, it >matters greatly the angle where the cop tries to be head on if possible.

    The semi thing is true. Also if there were 2 cars in the radar field, one
    behind the other, the guns I used usually picked the faster no matter their
    position so I didn't know which car I was reading. And yes I needed to be
    at the edge of the road for a straight shot. Officers took several hours of
    radar training before being radar qualified and all that was taken into
    consideration. In a good spot (we called them fishing holes) I didn't need
    to mess with the close or questionable ones anyway. In fishing holes I
    often gave 20 or 25 over the posted limit before giving a citation. I never
    messed with the close or questionable ones. First while I was writing one,
    much better catches would be whizzing by. And second I hated going to court
    and many close ones thought they wern't guilty and went to court. But the
    way way over the limit ones knew they were guilty and just paid the
    ticket...

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Andy Burns@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Tue Nov 4 09:57:33 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    AJL wrote:

    Our Arizona legislature is just now thinking of a law that instead of revolking a serious violators drivers license the perpetrater would agree
    to have a governor installed on his car that would NOT allow him to go over the speed limit.

    All new cars that meet the latest EU regulations are required to beep at
    you when you exceed the speed limit, they don't actually prevent you
    speeding, and the beeps are allowed to be turned off ... but give it a
    few years.

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Andy Burns@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Tue Nov 4 10:05:02 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Marion wrote:

    In the USA, radar jamming is illegal because you can't transmit on licensed frequencies, but you can receive and decipher the signals on those frequencies.

    In France it's illegal to use devices that detect radar or laser speed measuring equipment; smartphones can't even use GPS to inform you of
    speed camera locations ...

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Carlos E.R.@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Tue Nov 4 11:43:51 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 2025-11-04 03:59, AJL wrote:
    On 11/3/25 6:19 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
    On 2025-11-04 00:24, AJL wrote:
    These days perhaps I should worry more about my insurance than the cops. >>>  From what I read modern cars are fully connected to the manufacturer
    and
    data (including speed and the local speed limit) are sometimes shared
    with
    insurance companies...

    At a job some years ago, a young colleague found the insurance as
    novice driver was very expensive. He struck a deal by which the
    insurance tracked him with a special GPS on the car, and based on what
    roads he used, they charged. They consider driving on big cities more
    dangerous, so staying out of those, which was easy for him, they
    charged less. Win win. That could be 2010.

    Wow. My insurance company dictates my travels? Scary...

    Well, the alternative is pay the way higher fee for travelling on the
    nation capital city, even if you are hundreds KM away. As he was a
    novice driver, he saved about half of the fee or more.

    It is your choice :-)


    Another twist. I understand new cars on the EU beep if you speed too
    much for the road, tracking this with a GPS and a map. The next goal
    will be that the car will refuse to speed up over the limit.

    Our Arizona legislature is just now thinking of a law that instead of revolking a serious violators drivers license the perpetrater would agree
    to have a governor installed on his car that would NOT allow him to go over the speed limit. Sounds dangerous to me. IMO those who don't go with the
    flow of traffic, above or below the speed limit, are the dangerous ones.

    Our Arizona speed law 28-701a is a reasonable and prudent law. The speed signs are just a guide. So going with the flow doesn't necessarily break
    the speed law if the flow is faster. And actually the speed signs get
    pretty close to the actual traffic because Phoenix periodically measures
    the traffic flow and resets the speed signs to match if needed. Also
    another incentive is that our stoplights are timed so going the speed limit often gets you all greens crossing town...

    Seems sensible.
    --
    Cheers, Carlos.
    ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Carlos E.R.@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Tue Nov 4 11:46:55 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 2025-11-04 10:57, Andy Burns wrote:
    AJL wrote:

    Our Arizona legislature is just now thinking of a law that instead of
    revolking a serious violators drivers license the perpetrater would agree
    to have a governor installed on his car that would NOT allow him to go
    over
    the speed limit.

    All new cars that meet the latest EU regulations are required to beep at
    you when you exceed the speed limit, they don't actually prevent you speeding, and the beeps are allowed to be turned off ... but give it a
    few years.

    I have issue with people driving at 180 when the limit is 120. It is
    dangerous for the rest of the drivers (surprises). It would also be
    dangerous for our commodity cars to drive at 180, they are not actually designed for that.
    --
    Cheers, Carlos.
    ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From AJL@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Tue Nov 4 16:21:08 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 11/4/25 3:43 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
    On 2025-11-04 03:59, AJL wrote:

    At a job some years ago, a young colleague found the insurance as
    novice driver was very expensive. He struck a deal by which the
    insurance tracked him with a special GPS on the car, and based on what
    roads he used, they charged. They consider driving on big cities more
    dangerous, so staying out of those, which was easy for him, they
    charged less. Win win. That could be 2010.

    Wow. My insurance company dictates my travels? Scary...

    Well, the alternative is pay the way higher fee for travelling on the
    nation capital city, even if you are hundreds KM away. As he was a
    novice driver, he saved about half of the fee or more.

    It is your choice :-)

    I guess it would depend on how broke you were letting it affect your life
    that way.

    My insurance is charged by where I live. It is higher because I live in the
    big city (5th largest in the US) and like your colleague's insurance they
    consider driving in the big city more dangerous. But for me it was an
    advantage. If they didn't have all those accidents the city might not have
    hired me to (among other duties) investigate them. And then I couldn't have
    fully retired at age 50. So living in the big dangerous city does have some
    monetary advantages (sick huh)... :-/


    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From AJL@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Tue Nov 4 16:31:42 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 11/4/25 2:57 AM, Andy Burns wrote:
    AJL wrote:

    Our Arizona legislature is just now thinking of a law that instead of
    revolking a serious violators drivers license the perpetrater would agree
    to have a governor installed on his car that would NOT allow him to go over >> the speed limit.

    All new cars that meet the latest EU regulations are required to beep at
    you when you exceed the speed limit, they don't actually prevent you >speeding, and the beeps are allowed to be turned off ... but give it a
    few years.

    My cars have that capability. Also it beeps if it thinks I'm following too
    close to the vehicle ahead. Also if a car is in a blind spot when I turn on
    the blinker to change lanes. It warns me to check the back seat when I
    leave. On and on. It won't be long before it drives itself. Wait, one of my
    kids has one of those already. Scary...


    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Tue Nov 4 09:48:26 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    AJL wrote:
    The semi thing is true. Also if there were 2 cars in the radar field, one
    behind the other, the guns I used usually picked the faster no matter their
    position so I didn't know which car I was reading. And yes I needed to be
    at the edge of the road for a straight shot. Officers took several hours of
    radar training before being radar qualified and all that was taken into
    consideration. In a good spot (we called them fishing holes) I didn't need
    to mess with the close or questionable ones anyway. In fishing holes I
    often gave 20 or 25 over the posted limit before giving a citation. I never
    messed with the close or questionable ones. First while I was writing one,
    much better catches would be whizzing by. And second I hated going to court
    and many close ones thought they wern't guilty and went to court. But the
    way way over the limit ones knew they were guilty and just paid the
    ticket...

    Thank you AJL for your insight (maybe we should add alt.law.enforcement :)

    Back East, where speed traps are a revenue machine (the town gets the
    money, not the state, whereas, I'm told out here, the state gets the money
    so the town has no special incentive), the radar detector was de rigueur.

    I always wondered though what would happen in court if I had contested a ticket, but the radar detector must've worked well enough as I did drive
    faster in those heady days of my youth (now I drive like an old lady).

    I always wondered, for example, if the cop was reading a different vehicle, which perhaps was more reflective in terms of signal strength - but how
    would I prove it? It'd be impossible in those days of no dash cams.

    Also, we were told to ALWAYS force the cop to produce his calibration certificate, which was just a hurdle that he might not be able to show the judge and then the judge would throw it out of court.

    Also, we were told, that we should dispute every ticket, given sometimes
    the cop doesn't show - but I doubt that would work as they'd just schedule another case and only college kids have enough time to waste for that game.

    In my experience, nobody ticketed me ever for just ten miles, but one copy
    said he'd "give me a break" for dropping it below 30 over the limit.

    Again, that's not bragging. I drive like a little old lady now.
    But then... I was young... and invincible...
    --
    What's nice about Usenet is that there are people around the world who know more than you do who are just as purposefully helpful and good hearted.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Tue Nov 4 10:12:00 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Andy Burns wrote:
    In the USA, radar jamming is illegal because you can't transmit on licensed >> frequencies, but you can receive and decipher the signals on those
    frequencies.

    In France it's illegal to use devices that detect radar or laser speed measuring equipment; smartphones can't even use GPS to inform you of
    speed camera locations ...

    Now that is interesting. How could a smartphone NOT use GPS to inform you
    of speed-camera locations? Does Google serve a *different* Waze/Maps there?

    OK. I looked it up (apparently they have cameras also on the guns now.)

    While the UK is rare among the repressive regimes of Europe in that both
    radar detectors and GPS speed-camera alerts are legal, as in the USA, the oppressive regimes on the continent haven't learned the lessons taught to
    all of us who know history of Nazi Germany & Vichy France radio repression.

    The US laws are similar to the states with respect to jammers though.

    In France it is illegal to use or even carry devices that detect radar or laser speed traps, and GPS systems or smartphone apps are not allowed to display the exact locations of speed cameras. Instead, they can only show broader danger zones.
    <https://travelpander.com/are-speed-camera-detectors-legal-in-france/>

    Since 2012, the French Code de la Route (highway code) has made it strictly forbidden to possess or use radar or laser detectors in a vehicle. This applies even if the device is switched off.
    <https://www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover/european/driving-in-europe/speed-camera-detector-france>

    To comply with the law, companies like Garmin and TomTom modified their software so that in France, speed cameras are shown only as �zones of
    danger� covering several kilometers, rather than pinpointed spot
    <https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=H6pcgLDeXb9uHVp3hLYVZ6>

    I think freedom is one component of human rights that the USA is centuries
    far ahead of Europe, where apparently Germany & Switzerland also suffer similarly oppressive regulations against free speech (yes, receiving radio communications is a component of free speech in the USA).

    Apparently in Austria, Spain & Italy, only the radar detectors are banned
    but not the map warnings.

    Apparently apps like Google Maps and Waze comply by disabling precise
    camera alerts in those regions, instead showing only broad danger zones or removing the feature entirely.

    I think oppressive regimes in Switzerland went too far overboard as in Switzerland, even reporting a speed trap on Waze is illegal, apparently.

    Don't quote me on this but apparently the apps automatically adjust based
    on your GPS location. If you cross into France, the app switches to the compliant mode.

    Note that in the oppressive regimes, there are even camera alerts issued to the VEHICLE OWNER whereas in the USA, moving violations require the driver
    to be positively identified (it's a basic human right most of Europe never learned from the days of the kings and queens - but the USA learned it).

    Note that I could be very wrong on any of this as I only just now looked it
    up given I was surprised about what Andy had said (but he was correct).
    --
    It's not as important to be right as it is to always strive to be correct.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Tue Nov 4 10:18:53 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    AJL wrote:
    Wow. My insurance company dictates my travels? Scary...

    I looked it up.

    Apparently, in the U.S., insurance companies can offer GPS-based tracking programs to high-risk drivers. This is often those who have been convicted
    of driving offenses. It's a way to potentially lower premiums, but participation is typically voluntary.

    They even have a name for it!
    It's called usage-based insurance (UBI) or pay-how-you-drive plans.
    <https://oraclelawfirm.com/risks-of-using-car-insurance-tracking-devices/>
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Tue Nov 4 10:31:57 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Marion wrote:
    We could dig up the story as it was infamous at the time it happened.

    Actually, it was a "cell phone jammer", so I was wrong about the frequency. <https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/man-put-cell-phone-jammer-in-car-to-stop-driver-calls-fcc-says/>

    Humphreys, it appears, was frustrated with people making cell phone calls
    in their cars. This despite it being perfectly legal in his Florida.
    (Texting and driving is illegal, unless you're stationary.)

    So he allegedly did what few right-thinking people would have done. He allegedly put a cell phone jammer in his car. Yes, all the time. For 16 to
    24 months.

    The Federal Communications Commission says it only caught up with him after Metro PCS reported problems with a cell phone tower on Florida's I-4. The darned thing kept failing every morning and evening.

    The FCC thought this odd too. So its operatives did what you've seen in a
    lot movies: they organized a stakeout.

    However, they weren't looking to catch someone in a bedroom or a bar
    handing over wads of cash or meeting with unseemly types.

    No, they just tried to monitor the waves. What they found was a "strong wideband emission." What they found was that these waves were being emitted from a blue Toyota Highlander.

    Indeed, they felt sure something was amiss here, because when sheriffs
    stopped the car in May last year, their own two-way radios gave out.

    The FCC says there was a jammer in Humphreys' car and he allegedly declared that he simply didn't like people talking on their phones in cars.

    He also allegedly said he thought the jammer would only work over a radius
    of around 30 feet.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From AJL@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Tue Nov 4 17:40:36 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 11/4/25 9:48 AM, Marion wrote:
    AJL wrote:
    The semi thing is true. Also if there were 2 cars in the radar field, one
    behind the other, the guns I used usually picked the faster no matter their >> position so I didn't know which car I was reading. And yes I needed to be >> at the edge of the road for a straight shot. Officers took several hours of >> radar training before being radar qualified and all that was taken into
    consideration. In a good spot (we called them fishing holes) I didn't need >> to mess with the close or questionable ones anyway. In fishing holes I
    often gave 20 or 25 over the posted limit before giving a citation. I never >> messed with the close or questionable ones. First while I was writing one, >> much better catches would be whizzing by. And second I hated going to court >> and many close ones thought they wern't guilty and went to court. But the >> way way over the limit ones knew they were guilty and just paid the
    ticket...

    Thank you AJL for your insight (maybe we should add alt.law.enforcement :)

    Yep. I know its off topic. But I'm posting with an Android newsreader. Does
    that count?

    Back East, where speed traps are a revenue machine (the town gets the
    money, not the state, whereas, I'm told out here, the state gets the money
    so the town has no special incentive), the radar detector was de rigueur.

    I always wondered though what would happen in court if I had contested a >ticket, but the radar detector must've worked well enough as I did drive >faster in those heady days of my youth (now I drive like an old lady).

    I've been beat in court radar tickets. The law says reasonable and prudent
    and the judge thought 20 over was reasonable for the conditions. You never
    know what a judge will do...

    I always wondered, for example, if the cop was reading a different vehicle, >which perhaps was more reflective in terms of signal strength - but how
    would I prove it? It'd be impossible in those days of no dash cams.

    How would you even know it. Your GUESS wouldn't likely get you far in court.

    Also, we were told to ALWAYS force the cop to produce his calibration >certificate, which was just a hurdle that he might not be able to show the >judge and then the judge would throw it out of court.

    We checked calibration before and after each working location. Then
    testified that we did so in court. And if the ticket was for 20+ over, and
    the gun a few miles off (it wasn't) what difference would it make anyway...

    Also, we were told, that we should dispute every ticket, given sometimes
    the cop doesn't show - but I doubt that would work as they'd just schedule >another case and only college kids have enough time to waste for that game.

    If the cop didn't show the ticket was dismissed. I missed a few court days
    over the years. One, I went down on my motorcycle on the way to court. No
    serious injury but a bloody uniform. And one of my daughters was born
    during court time.

    In my experience, nobody ticketed me ever for just ten miles, but one cop >said he'd "give me a break" for dropping it below 30 over the limit.

    It never hurts to be cordial to a cop. Cops are human too, though some would
    disagree.

    Again, that's not bragging. I drive like a little old lady now.
    But then... I was young... and invincible...

    Me too. I would be forever ribbed by family and friends if I got a ticket...
    8-O

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Tue Nov 4 10:27:40 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Marion wrote:
    Back to jamming, there are famous stories of people jamming on their daily commute where the government spent weeks finding them so it's not easy.

    As I recall, there were complaints from a local utility about an
    unauthorized interference, and then when the FACC investigated, it happened at the same commute time every day of the week except weekends. :)

    We could dig up the story as it was infamous at the time it happened.

    I looked up that infamous Florida-commuter radar-jammer FCC tracking case.

    Radar jamming is illegal in the USA:
    <https://www.fcc.gov/general/jammer-enforcement>

    This is the official FCC ruling against Jason R. Humphreys, who used a
    jammer for up to two years on Interstate 4.
    <https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-fines-florida-driver-48k-jamming-communications>

    Here's a summary of what happened back in 2013 and 2014 as I recall...
    1. A local wireless provider noticed repeated interference on a specific stretch of highway during morning and evening rush hours.

    2. The interference disrupted not only personal calls but also emergency communications.



    3. The FCC launched an investigation and used direction-finding equipment
    to trace the source.

    4. After weeks of tracking, they discovered a man commuting with a powerful cellphone jammer hidden in his vehicle.

    5. The FCC fined the individual $48,000 for illegal use of a jamming
    device.

    News stories on the case...
    <https://www.motorbiscuit.com/florida-man-fined-48k-jamming-phones-distracted-driving/>
    <https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/man-put-cell-phone-jammer-in-car-to-stop-driver-calls-fcc-says/>
    <https://incompliancemag.com/florida-man-fined-48000-for-blocking-communications-during-his-commute/>
    --
    Posted out of the goodness of my heart to disseminate useful information
    with the hope that other kind-hearted adults will add further useful value.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Carlos E.R.@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Wed Nov 5 21:19:56 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 2025-11-04 18:27, Marion wrote:
    Marion wrote:
    Back to jamming, there are famous stories of people jamming on their daily >> commute where the government spent weeks finding them so it's not easy.

    As I recall, there were complaints from a local utility about an
    unauthorized interference, and then when the FACC investigated, it happened >> at the same commute time every day of the week except weekends. :)

    We could dig up the story as it was infamous at the time it happened.

    I looked up that infamous Florida-commuter radar-jammer FCC tracking case.

    Radar jamming is illegal in the USA:
    <https://www.fcc.gov/general/jammer-enforcement>

    This is the official FCC ruling against Jason R. Humphreys, who used a
    jammer for up to two years on Interstate 4.
    <https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-fines-florida-driver-48k-jamming-communications>

    Here's a summary of what happened back in 2013 and 2014 as I recall...
    1. A local wireless provider noticed repeated interference on a specific stretch of highway during morning and evening rush hours.

    2. The interference disrupted not only personal calls but also emergency communications.



    3. The FCC launched an investigation and used direction-finding equipment
    to trace the source.

    4. After weeks of tracking, they discovered a man commuting with a powerful cellphone jammer hidden in his vehicle.

    Ah, not radar jamming. Nut case.


    5. The FCC fined the individual $48,000 for illegal use of a jamming
    device.

    Good.


    News stories on the case...
    <https://www.motorbiscuit.com/florida-man-fined-48k-jamming-phones-distracted-driving/>
    <https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/man-put-cell-phone-jammer-in-car-to-stop-driver-calls-fcc-says/>
    <https://incompliancemag.com/florida-man-fined-48000-for-blocking-communications-during-his-commute/>
    --
    Cheers, Carlos.
    ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Chris@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Wed Nov 5 21:44:10 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Andy Burns <[email protected]> wrote:
    Marion wrote:

    In the USA, radar jamming is illegal because you can't transmit on licensed >> frequencies, but you can receive and decipher the signals on those
    frequencies.

    In France it's illegal to use devices that detect radar or laser speed measuring equipment;

    That's likely true, but...

    smartphones can't even use GPS to inform you of
    speed camera locations ...

    ... I was literally in a car last week in France where waze was beeping whenever there was a speed camera.

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Wed Nov 5 15:29:11 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Carlos E.R. wrote:
    4. After weeks of tracking, they discovered a man commuting with a powerful >> cellphone jammer hidden in his vehicle.

    Ah, not radar jamming. Nut case.

    Yeah. It was about a decade ago, and while my memory is generally fantastic (you cannot possibly earn technical degrees without an excellent memory),
    even my astoundingly fantastic memory is not infallibly perfect.

    The guy just didn't like people talking on their phones, so he jammed them. Even the sheriff who pulled him over had his own police radio jammed.

    5. The FCC fined the individual $48,000 for illegal use of a jamming
    device.

    Good.

    I dug as deeply as I could and it turns out the FCC "proposed" a fine of
    48K and the guy never responded it to they "imposed" the fine.

    But I searched for quite a while to find out if he ever paid that fine.
    I can't find any indication that he paid it.

    He was so far to the left that he'd fit in perfectly here in California.
    Not so much in Florida, as Democrats are always taking away your rights.

    Republicans are not better, but they do seem to let you keep your basic
    human rights whereas Democrats aim to destroy the Bill of Rights.

    Republicans just don't care about us.
    Democrats only care to control us.

    I wish there were sensible people in between.
    Sigh.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From AJL@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Tue Nov 4 04:05:58 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 11/3/25 7:35 PM, Marion wrote:
    AJL wrote:
    Just as a test I factory reset my latest toy, a 7" ONN Android tablet. I
    then started it from scratch. The first few screens were welcome and WiFi >> connection. Then came the sign in to Google page. It won't go past there
    without signing in. IIRC my other Android toys were the same but I'm not
    going to factory reset all of them just to see for sure... 8-O

    And I admit that I really can't speak for the other 1000+ Android gadgets
    out there.

    Every Android I've had for, oh, I don't know, ten or more years, I haven't >signed into a Google Account on it. You just have to find the skip button.


    Even Google says you don't need to have an account to use Android.
    <https://support.google.com/android/answer/7664951>

    But Google didn't manufacture my toys. The Chinese and Koreans are the ones
    who made the decision to lock my stuff to Google.


    Yes, it's the fault of the bad guys too, but privacy is like personal >>>hygiene where we have to stay clean every moment of our working day.

    I don't worry about privacy if you're talking about bits and bytes on a
    server somewhere. WE (you and I, and most all of us) have none of that kind >> of privacy anyway.

    I agree with you that the worst thing they get is pictures of our pets.
    But the point about hygiene is apropos that privacy has to be practiced.


    It's also disgusting to me that Google & Apple throw mud on our hygiene.
    For example, they hoover up our Wi-Fi access points without asking us.

    Not sure what you mean here. Hoover up the WiFi?


    For example your doctor records, tax records, car
    registration, home registration, bank records, etc,etc,etc, are all on a
    server somewhere available for access.


    What pisses me off, is when the Capitol rioters were being apprehended, the >government used license databases which is, to me, an abuse of power.

    When I was working, when I pulled over a car I called in the plate. That
    checked several local and national databases. More than once over the years
    it came back with a wanted felon, or stolen car, etc. With that info I knew
    to wait for a backup before making a felony arrest, perhaps saving me
    injury or worse, had I approached the drivers window alone without that
    database info. So not surprisingly I'm a fan of databases...


    I'm not defending the rioters, but I don't like the fact they looked up a >database which contains me, and I had nothing to do with those riots.

    Whatever the database you were likely just one of millions. Had you lived in
    Arizona you would be in several databases, all available to law
    enforcement.

    They abuse privileges, e.g., your SSN is used in places that have nothing
    to do with social security payments. It's abuse. Rampant abuse. It irks me.

    In recent years I've refused to give my SSN when requested. No problems so
    far. Some sites demand my phone number which I prefer not to give but won't
    let me go on without it. Surprisingly they've all accepted me entering all
    zeros so far. Dumb programming?

    And if you're worried about a human
    looking at them you have a much bigger chance of a doctor's secretary
    looking at your really personal stuff than I do having a human picking me >> out of billions of Google accounts to look at.

    See my recent comment to Carlos, where I'm in my 80s and I seem to be >spending more time at the doctor's office than at the local pool hall.


    The receptionist today assured me that the medical records will be kept >private when I objected that they asked for information they didn't need.

    Yup. My doc too. But they accepted my refusal of the SSN.


    But bottom line we're all in
    the cloud big time. The best one can do is try and stay safe. That's one
    reason I use this Google Chromebook for sensitive stuff. It currently has >> the best reputation for security among the competition...

    Well, most of us have had loans for homes, so bingo. You're in it forever.

    My house is paid off and I'm still in the database...

    I always give them a bogus phone number, for example, which I've used for
    so long it may as well be my phone number. But if I change it, I'd forget >what it was.

    If they stop taking zeros for my phone number I may try that. I just don't
    want to give out a real number and cause somebody a hassle...


    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Carlos E.R.@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Thu Nov 6 12:33:53 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 2025-11-05 23:29, Marion wrote:
    Carlos E.R. wrote:
    4. After weeks of tracking, they discovered a man commuting with a powerful >>> cellphone jammer hidden in his vehicle.

    Ah, not radar jamming. Nut case.

    Yeah. It was about a decade ago, and while my memory is generally fantastic (you cannot possibly earn technical degrees without an excellent memory), even my astoundingly fantastic memory is not infallibly perfect.

    The guy just didn't like people talking on their phones, so he jammed them. Even the sheriff who pulled him over had his own police radio jammed.

    5. The FCC fined the individual $48,000 for illegal use of a jamming
    device.

    Good.

    I dug as deeply as I could and it turns out the FCC "proposed" a fine of
    48K and the guy never responded it to they "imposed" the fine.

    But I searched for quite a while to find out if he ever paid that fine.
    I can't find any indication that he paid it.

    He was so far to the left that he'd fit in perfectly here in California.
    Not so much in Florida, as Democrats are always taking away your rights.

    Republicans are not better, but they do seem to let you keep your basic
    human rights whereas Democrats aim to destroy the Bill of Rights.

    Republicans just don't care about us.
    Democrats only care to control us.

    I wish there were sensible people in between.
    Sigh.

    Over here, what the guy did fits as typical American. Taking justice
    into his own hands with disregard for the society. Similar to entering a school or church and shooting everybody in sight. Or a policeman
    disregarding due process and killing the alleged bad guys disregarding
    bosses and courts and with no repercussions, as seen in thousands of
    American movies. Nothing to do with being Republican or Democrat.
    --
    Cheers, Carlos.
    ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Thu Nov 6 07:22:54 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    AJL wrote:
    Even Google says you don't need to have an account to use Android.
    <https://support.google.com/android/answer/7664951>

    But Google didn't manufacture my toys. The Chinese and Koreans are the ones
    who made the decision to lock my stuff to Google.

    I have to say that I've never seen an Android device that required a Google Account, but of course, I am not an Android expert so they may exist.

    But if you feel you were forced to have a Google Account, I don't wish to
    be argumentative. I just find it extremely hard to believe that's the case.

    But it might be so.

    It's also disgusting to me that Google & Apple throw mud on our hygiene. >>For example, they hoover up our Wi-Fi access points without asking us.

    Not sure what you mean here. Hoover up the WiFi?

    Most people don't realize that I could track you (if I was a bad guy who
    knew enough) from anywhere in the world, simply by your Wi-Fi fingerprint.

    You can't track me. But I can track you. Anyone can track you.
    Worse. You're the problem. Not me. I'm not the problem. You are.

    It's a looooong story, so just let me provide a few links about it.
    (And when I say "you", I mean people who don't know what I know.)

    These were collected for an article I'm writing for the Apple
    newsgroups, but it applies just as well to the Android newsgroups.
    <https://cybersecuritynews.com/apples-wi-fi-positioning-system/>
    <https://arxiv.org/html/2405.14975v1>
    <https://www.darkreading.com/endpoint-security/apple-geolocation-api-exposes-wi-fi-access-points-worldwide>
    <https://www.ndss-symposium.org/ndss-paper/deanonymizing-device-identities-via-side-channel-attacks-in-exclusive-use-iots-mitigation/>
    <https://www.theregister.com/2024/05/23/apple_wifi_positioning_system/>

    What pisses me off, is when the Capitol rioters were being apprehended, the >>government used license databases which is, to me, an abuse of power.

    When I was working, when I pulled over a car I called in the plate. That
    checked several local and national databases. More than once over the years
    it came back with a wanted felon, or stolen car, etc. With that info I knew
    to wait for a backup before making a felony arrest, perhaps saving me
    injury or worse, had I approached the drivers window alone without that
    database info. So not surprisingly I'm a fan of databases...

    Oh, I undertand. But my main point is government abuse.
    I've made complaints about police abuse myself. Long story. Years ago.
    But it's people abuse. But really bad when the police are those people.

    Remember the "furious gunfight" against the Boston Marathon bomber?
    How can you have a furious gunfight when the guy was cowering unarmed?

    The police outright lied.
    I studied that event, so I know it well, and summarizing as "the police outright lied" is too short of a summary but it's what happened.

    They lied.

    I'm not defending the rioters, but I don't like the fact they looked up a >>database which contains me, and I had nothing to do with those riots.

    Whatever the database you were likely just one of millions. Had you lived in
    Arizona you would be in several databases, all available to law
    enforcement.

    Heh heh heh... I've been investigated for murder.
    I'm well aware of databases. Innocent people get involved all the time.

    They asked for my DNA. I first consented, but talked to a lawyer.
    The lawyer told me to refuse.

    When I refused, the police turned from nice guy to asshole in a second.
    It was on a Monday. THey said they'd be back by Wednesday with a warrant.

    I haven't heard from them.
    And that was so long ago I don't remember the actual year.

    HINT: I guess I didn't commit that murder after all. :)

    Funny story. My kids were young then. They were with me. They learned how
    the police turned from "nice guy" to "asshole" in a split second. Just
    because I stood on my rights.

    A different sergeant called me up, and in those days we had land lines, so
    my kid picked up the phone, and he overheard the sergeant asking me to stop calling all his detectives 3rd-graders (which was my kid's age).

    I retorted "When they stop acting like 3rd graders, I'll stop calling them
    3rd graders." My main point was I didn't commit the murder, and I knew
    that, so I knew any time they wasted on me was not spent fruitfully finding
    who did it. And worse, they asked the same stupid questions many times over
    (in slightly different ways) as if they're so clever that they'll "trip me
    up".

    It was like talking to 3rd-graders for a week. Sigh. And I was the RP.
    They really should not abuse the RP like that. I'll never report another
    crime for the rest of my life. That's how much of a stain they left on me.

    They abuse privileges, e.g., your SSN is used in places that have nothing >>to do with social security payments. It's abuse. Rampant abuse. It irks me.

    In recent years I've refused to give my SSN when requested.

    Heh heh heh... I gave a certain state the wrong SSN. ANd that lasted for
    years. Until I accidentally gave them the correct SSN. Heh heh heh.

    If you're gonna lie, you have to remember the damn lie! :)

    No problems so
    far. Some sites demand my phone number which I prefer not to give but won't
    let me go on without it. Surprisingly they've all accepted me entering all
    zeros so far. Dumb programming?

    I used to give as a SSN 123-45-6789 but they were on to that.
    So that's why I have a fake SSN that I remember now. Lesson learned.

    The receptionist today assured me that the medical records will be kept >>private when I objected that they asked for information they didn't need.

    Yup. My doc too. But they accepted my refusal of the SSN.

    Legally they must in some states. It's state law in California, but that's
    only recent as of, oh, since around 2005 or so (as I recall).

    What bothers me is I fought the SSN with my company and my health plan for years, and finally, when the STATE made them do it, they wrote this nice
    letter to everyone saying they won't use the SSN "because they care about
    my privacy". Bullshit. They did it because they were forced to do it.

    I'm allergic to bullshit.

    Well, most of us have had loans for homes, so bingo. You're in it forever.

    My house is paid off and I'm still in the database...

    Yup. I said most of us "had" loans. We're in the database forever.

    I always give them a bogus phone number, for example, which I've used for >>so long it may as well be my phone number. But if I change it, I'd forget >>what it was.

    If they stop taking zeros for my phone number I may try that. I just don't
    want to give out a real number and cause somebody a hassle...

    Yeah. The bogus phone number I'm using has been used by me for so many
    decades, it may as well be my real number at this point. :)
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Thu Nov 6 07:34:27 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Carlos E.R. wrote:
    I wish there were sensible people in between.
    Sigh.

    Over here, what the guy did fits as typical American. Taking justice
    into his own hands with disregard for the society. Similar to entering a school or church and shooting everybody in sight. Or a policeman disregarding due process and killing the alleged bad guys disregarding bosses and courts and with no repercussions, as seen in thousands of American movies. Nothing to do with being Republican or Democrat.

    All of what you say happens. For sure. It happens. In the USA anyway.

    My kids are all grown up now, and they have kids themselves, but we all
    agree school shootings are hyped by the Democrats for political purposes.

    The Germans hyped all the crimes by the Jews in the 1930s the same way.
    Hearst hyped the blowing up of the Maine for the same reasons.

    While it happens, it's all political bullshit blown out of proportion.
    Same as Covid was. Where's Covid now for example?

    The Covid of the past was Democrat party hype.
    But don't get me wrong, as the Republicans hype different stuff.

    Hell, Trump hyped immigrants eating pets and he still got elected.
    Politics is sleazy all around.

    Out here, there's really very little difference between a Democrat and a Republican simply because in the USA we don't disagree all that much.

    So much of what is their "agenda" is simply think-tank bullshit.
    Anyone who believes their agenda fully, is a parrot.

    Their agendas don't even make any sense.

    For example, one party wants to ban guns to save lives.
    That same party wants to kill babies so mothers can have choice.
    ... yet...
    The other party wants to restrict the right of killing babies...
    and yet, doesn't want to ban guns.

    You'd think there'd be a party that had consistent goals:
    Save lives by banning guns, and,
    Save lives by not killing babies.

    Logic doesn't exist in politics.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From AJL@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Thu Nov 6 17:24:28 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 11/6/25 7:22 AM, Marion wrote:

    Most people don't realize that I could track you (if I was a bad guy who
    knew enough) from anywhere in the world, simply by your Wi-Fi fingerprint.

    My internet/WiFi provider tracks me. Google tracks me. My car tracks me.
    License plate readers track me. My credit card company tracks me. Numerous
    cameras track me. The businesses I shop at track me (through my credit
    card). My insurance company tracks my medical procedures. On and on. I
    don't think it's a secret that folks are being tracked these days. I
    suppose it's the price we pay for our modern electronic living. I'm
    currently reading a book on world history and so far haven't found a period
    I'd rather live in, even with no tracking. Perhaps ancient Egypt for you...
    ;)



    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Thu Nov 6 17:11:07 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    AJL wrote:
    Most people don't realize that I could track you (if I was a bad guy who >>knew enough) from anywhere in the world, simply by your Wi-Fi fingerprint.

    My internet/WiFi provider tracks me. Google tracks me. My car tracks me.
    License plate readers track me. My credit card company tracks me. Numerous
    cameras track me. The businesses I shop at track me (through my credit
    card). My insurance company tracks my medical procedures. On and on. I
    don't think it's a secret that folks are being tracked these days. I
    suppose it's the price we pay for our modern electronic living. I'm
    currently reading a book on world history and so far haven't found a period
    I'd rather live in, even with no tracking. Perhaps ancient Egypt for you...

    I get it where my main sagacious point to the newsgroup is that suicide (actually, privacy suicide in this case) is the easy way out of effort.

    I can't help but fully understand that privacy suicide is easy.

    I'm an avid reader of history, where I agree with you that there never was
    a golden age, since if we take the golden age of any society, it was at the expense of another society that was taken over.

    The Islamic Golden Age lasted from the 8th-13th century, ~472 years, but
    then the Mongols kind of ended the Abbasid Caliphate rather suddenly in
    1258.

    Then there was the Han Dynasty Golden Age from about 206 BCE-220 CE, ~426 years, which collapsed under revolts such as the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

    For Europe, there's the Pax Romana (27 BCE-180 CE, ~200 years) which ended pretty much at the death of Marcus Aurelius as then the Germans took over.

    For Africa, the Mali Empire (c. 1235-1600 CE) & Great Zimbabwe (1100-1450
    CE) the Songhai Empire (c. 1464�V1591 CE), all of which declined, mostly
    from the Moroccan's.

    For some strange reasons, German barbarians (huns) and Moroccan barbarians
    and Mogol barbarians (more huns) seem to be the worst people on earth for civilizations... they're kind of akin to Google/Apple/M$ on privacy.

    For SE Asia there was the Gupta Empire Golden Age (320-550 CE, ~230 years) which was ended by Marcus the White Hun invasions.

    For China, there was the Tang Dynasty Golden Age (618-907 CE, ~289 years) which kind of fell into disrepair after the An Lushan Rebellion of 755-763.

    Surprisingly, the Inca Empire was short lived from about 1438-1533 CE,
    where Fraqncisco Pizarro and Lady Smallpox had a deleterious effect.

    The little-known Moche Civilization (100-700 CE) was apparently wiped out
    by climate shocks (or so they say), while the Tiwanaku (500-1000 CE) lasted almost as long, but again, "they say" climate change did them in.

    For your favorite of Egypt, the Old Kingdom (2686-2181 BCE) lasted fifteen hundred years, which is a record, and it simply slowly fell apart. It's
    Middle Kingdom (2055-1650 BCE) didn't last nearly as long, but it too fell apart, this time from the Hyksos invasions until the New Kingdom (1550-1070 BCE) arose, which itself was weakened by the "mysterious sea peoples".

    In general, Germans, Mongols & Moroccans fuck everything up eventually.
    Just like Apple/Google/Microsoft do in terms of invasions of our privacy.

    The Spanish aren't all that great either. :)
    Don't even think of asking what Belgium did in Africa in 1185 to 1908.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From AJL@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Fri Nov 7 02:05:40 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 11/6/25 5:11 PM, Marion wrote:
    AJL wrote:
    Most people don't realize that I could track you (if I was a bad guy who >>>knew enough) from anywhere in the world, simply by your Wi-Fi fingerprint. >>
    My internet/WiFi provider tracks me. Google tracks me. My car tracks me.
    License plate readers track me. My credit card company tracks me. Numerous >> cameras track me. The businesses I shop at track me (through my credit
    card). My insurance company tracks my medical procedures. On and on. I
    don't think it's a secret that folks are being tracked these days. I
    suppose it's the price we pay for our modern electronic living. I'm
    currently reading a book on world history and so far haven't found a period >> I'd rather live in, even with no tracking. Perhaps ancient Egypt for you...

    I get it where my main sagacious point to the newsgroup is that suicide >(actually, privacy suicide in this case) is the easy way out of effort.

    I can't help but fully understand that privacy suicide is easy.

    I'm not sure about suicide but your privacy murder has already happened.
    Your life IS online. The bits and bytes are there. You cannot avoid it
    unless perhaps you break the law or live in a cave. Various government
    agencies alone have quite a stash on you. And of course there are your
    recent medical additions. And I won't repeat the numerous day to day stuff
    that we all do that contributes to our online files. In most cases humans
    can and do have access to them. I'll bet Google can even find some stuff on
    you... 8-O

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Thu Nov 6 19:45:45 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    AJL wrote:
    I'll bet Google can even find some stuff on you...


    Often my tutorials are on the front page of Google search hits.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Eli the Bearded@*@qaz.wtf to comp.mobile.android on Fri Nov 7 04:44:28 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    In comp.mobile.android, Marion posting as <[email protected]> with
    reply-to <pusvul@getTjewytR4so+mqe2.invalid> wrote:
    AJL wrote:
    I'll bet Google can even find some stuff on you...
    Often my tutorials are on the front page of Google search hits.

    It doesn't seem that they are at facts.com. Is that really your site?
    You have some serious web config issues if it is.

    http://facts.com/

    403 - Forbidden: Access is denied.
    You do not have permission to view this directory or page using the
    credentials that you supplied.

    Elijah
    ------
    doesn't like people stealing email addresses from other people's domains
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Carlos E.R.@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Fri Nov 7 13:11:28 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 2025-11-07 03:45, Marion wrote:
    AJL wrote:
    I'll bet Google can even find some stuff on you...


    Often my tutorials are on the front page of Google search hits.

    Where?

    <https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-e&channel=entpr&q=Arlen+tutorials>

    Nope...

    <https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-e&channel=entpr&q=Marion+tutorials>

    Nope...
    --
    Cheers, Carlos.
    ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Chris@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Sat Nov 8 13:30:06 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Marion <[email protected]> wrote:
    Carlos E.R. wrote:
    I wish there were sensible people in between.
    Sigh.

    Over here, what the guy did fits as typical American. Taking justice
    into his own hands with disregard for the society. Similar to entering a
    school or church and shooting everybody in sight. Or a policeman
    disregarding due process and killing the alleged bad guys disregarding
    bosses and courts and with no repercussions, as seen in thousands of
    American movies. Nothing to do with being Republican or Democrat.

    All of what you say happens. For sure. It happens. In the USA anyway.

    My kids are all grown up now, and they have kids themselves, but we all
    agree school shootings are hyped by the Democrats for political purposes.

    It's not hype. It's objectively a stain on US society. Nowhere else in the world is this tolerated.

    The Germans hyped all the crimes by the Jews in the 1930s the same way.

    You've gone full Godwin, early...

    Hearst hyped the blowing up of the Maine for the same reasons.

    While it happens, it's all political bullshit blown out of proportion.
    Same as Covid was. Where's Covid now for example?

    The Covid of the past was Democrat party hype.

    That's full-bore right-wing propaganda you're regurgitating.

    But don't get me wrong, as the Republicans hype different stuff.

    Hell, Trump hyped immigrants eating pets and he still got elected.
    Politics is sleazy all around.

    Out here, there's really very little difference between a Democrat and a Republican simply because in the USA we don't disagree all that much.

    Lol. You make latin american politics look sane at the moment.

    So much of what is their "agenda" is simply think-tank bullshit.
    Anyone who believes their agenda fully, is a parrot.

    Their agendas don't even make any sense.

    It's called corruption.

    For example, one party wants to ban guns to save lives.
    That same party wants to kill babies so mothers can have choice.

    Again, RW/GOP bs. You can't kill something that isn't viable.

    ... yet...
    The other party wants to restrict the right of killing babies...
    and yet, doesn't want to ban guns.

    No. They want to control women (i.e. 50% of the population) under the guise
    of "protecting" a bunch of cells. They don't care one single bit about children. Child welfare in the US is terrible by international standards.

    You'd think there'd be a party that had consistent goals:
    Save lives by banning guns, and,
    Save lives by not killing babies.

    You have no appreciation of reality. There's no need to ban guns - decent controls are sufficient. No-one is advocating to kill babies.

    Logic doesn't exist in politics.

    Logic does not exist in the US. Period.



    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Chris@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Sat Nov 8 13:30:09 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Marion <[email protected]> wrote:

    Most people don't realize that I could track you (if I was a bad guy who
    knew enough) from anywhere in the world, simply by your Wi-Fi fingerprint.

    Go on, then. I dare you.

    Where am I currently (city and country will do)? And where have I been in
    the last two weeks? I've moved around a fair bit so will be a good test.

    What wifi fingerprint information that's in the public domain do you need?
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Marion@[email protected] to comp.mobile.android on Sat Nov 8 10:28:18 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Chris wrote:
    Most people don't realize that I could track you (if I was a bad guy who
    knew enough) from anywhere in the world, simply by your Wi-Fi fingerprint.

    Go on, then. I dare you.

    I said "if I were a bad guy" and I said "if I knew enough", Chris.
    Remember, your BSSID tied to your GPS is uniquely you. By name.
    (If you own the home, your name/address is in public USA databases.)

    Where am I currently (city and country will do)?

    Bear in mind two things I can say about you (which is the same for most).
    1. You are in the database; I'm not.
    2. You are rudely contributing to the database; I'm not.

    And where have I been in the last two weeks?

    There are "bad guys" who "know enough" to tell you, and we know this
    because there are "good guys" who "know enough" who have published how.

    See references below:
    Outlets like The Register and Cybersecurity News reported that
    Apple's WPS could be abused to track people around the globe
    by tying their home routers' BSSIDs to precise GPS coordinates.
    <https://www.theregister.com/2024/05/23/apple_wifi_positioning_system/>
    While the published work focused on Apple's system, Google's operates
    on the same principle as Android devices upload BSSIDs + GPS coordinates,
    so the same vulnerabilities apply.

    I've moved around a fair bit so will be a good test.

    I repeat for effect: Your BSSID is you (by name even) & address.
    If you take your router or bluetooth devices with you, they followed.

    What wifi fingerprint information that's in the public domain do you need?

    Note the references below where the "good guys" proved how unprotected
    Apple's system is, but they said, by extension, Google's system is similar.

    Apple's Wi-Fi Positioning System abuse
    (2024, University of Maryland)
    Researchers showed that Apple's crowdsourced Wi-Fi database
    could be exploited to track Wi-Fi access points and their
    owners globally. By querying the system, they amassed a worldwide
    snapshot of BSSID geolocations in just days, proving that an
    attacker could surveil households at scale.
    <https://cybersecuritynews.com/apples-wi-fi-positioning-system/>

    "Surveilling the Masses with Wi-Fi-Based Positioning Systems"
    (2024, University of Maryland)
    This academic paper demonstrated that Wi-Fi positioning systems
    can be abused to create a global privacy threat. They showed how
    an unprivileged attacker could harvest millions of BSSID-location
    pairs and use them to track movements or identify households
    <https://arxiv.org/html/2405.14975v1>

    Specifically: <https://arxiv.org/pdf/2405.14975>
    1. Researchers Erik Rye and Dave Levin demonstrated that Apple's
    Wi-Fi Positioning System (WPS) could be queried at scale to
    harvest hundreds of millions of BSSID-location pairs worldwide.
    2. They showed that an attacker could map and track Wi-Fi access
    points globally, even if the owners never used Apple devices
    themselves.
    3. The paper explicitly warns that this enables mass surveillance
    of households, since each BSSID is tied to a fixed home location.

    Deanonymization research
    (NDSS Symposium, 2021)
    Work presented at the Network and Distributed System Security Symposium
    showed how device identities can be deanonymized via side-channel
    attacks on wireless protocols, including Wi-Fi. While not focused
    solely on Google's database, it highlighted how BSSIDs can be
    leveraged to track and identify users <https://www.ndss-symposium.org/ndss-paper/deanonymizing-device-identities-via-side-channel-attacks-in-exclusive-use-iots-mitigation/>

    Researcher Erik Rye presented how he was able to map hundreds of
    millions of access points in days using Apple's API, without
    needing special privileges.

    This proved that the system could be exploited by anyone with
    developer access to Apple's geolocation services.
    <https://www.darkreading.com/endpoint-security/apple-geolocation-api-exposes-wi-fi-access-points-worldwide>

    REFERENCES:
    <https://cybersecuritynews.com/apples-wi-fi-positioning-system/>
    <https://arxiv.org/html/2405.14975v1>
    <https://www.darkreading.com/endpoint-security/apple-geolocation-api-exposes-wi-fi-access-points-worldwide>
    <https://www.ndss-symposium.org/ndss-paper/deanonymizing-device-identities-via-side-channel-attacks-in-exclusive-use-iots-mitigation/>
    <https://www.theregister.com/2024/05/23/apple_wifi_positioning_system/>
    --
    The real problem is the combination that almost all iOS & Android users are incredibly rude people, coupled with Google & Apple hoovering your privacy.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2