Car/Desk Mode magnet trigger. - Moto X General

So, after about a month the charging port on my car dock broke out of the dock, making it pretty much useless. I figured I'm going to try to just find a cheap dock somewhere else that I can use and can just plug a normal charger into the phone. The one thing that the official car dock does, which isn't done on cheap universal docks was that it had a magnet which would trigger car mode in the phone. After a bit of searching, I finally found the spot using a small magnet that I found at work. What is most interesting about the magnetic trigger is that based on the polarity of the magnet, it can activate either the car dock or the desktop dock. Right now I've just got one magnet, and I don't know the polarity on it, but it works. I have uploaded a picture with a small piece of tape on the spot where the trigger is. I'm not sure how strong the magnet needs to be, but it may need to be a bit stronger than the average refrigerator magnet. I'm probably going to go buy a few and some super glue and see what I can do as far as a homemade dock.

Good find
Sent from my XT1058 using Tapatalk

Also seems to he a magnet at the upper right hand side too, many times I have pulled my moto out of my pocket with a dime stuck to the back side
Sent on my Moto X

flashallthetime said:
Also seems to he a magnet at the upper right hand side too, many times I have pulled my moto out of my pocket with a dime stuck to the back side
Sent on my Moto X
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the speaker, they've got strong magnets in them.
Sent from my XT1058 using Tapatalk

linuxgator said:
That's the speaker, they've got strong magnets in them.
Sent from my XT1058 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol
Sent on my Moto X

flashallthetime said:
Also seems to he a magnet at the upper right hand side too, many times I have pulled my moto out of my pocket with a dime stuck to the back side
Sent on my Moto X
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
US coins are not magnetic...there's no iron in them.

kjl512 said:
US coins are not magnetic...there's no iron in them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well they are in Canada (I think). And there is a Richmond Hill in Canada.
EDIT: And @flashallthetime is from Canada.

Speaking of car mode, anyone able to activate car/dock mode simply by touching their Moto X in a certain way? Sometimes I'll pick it up or simply shift/change hands and some type of mode is somehow activated where the screen darkens and displays a clock. It happens somewhat infrequently and I'm never able to replicate it... I don't even own a car or desk dock, let alone put it in one... it always happens by hand and always accident.

fury683 said:
Well they are in Canada (I think). And there is a Richmond Hill in Canada.
EDIT: And @flashallthetime is from Canada.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol, not only do we have iron in our coins, our paper money is no longer made of paper but plastic, just lost a C note(100) today, stupid money is slippery as hell
Sent on my Moto X

flashallthetime said:
Lol, not only do we have iron in our coins, our paper money is no longer made of paper but plastic, just lost a C note(100) today, stupid money is slippery as hell
Sent on my Moto X
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's funny....I'm from Canada....and found a new $100 Bill today.
Sent from my Moto X cell phone telephone.....

I have a moto skip and can easily put the phone into car or desk mode with it.. If you line the end of the skip up with the sim card tray and put the small magnet just past the edge of the phone, smooth side activates desk mode, suede side turns on auto version.

Looks like this can be done with any magnet. Just tried with a random one I had laying around and it enabled car mode.
Sent from my XT1053 using xda app-developers app

Doesn't Moto Assist automatically switch to car mode when it detects that you are in a moving vehicle?
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cannondale0815 said:
Doesn't Moto Assist automatically switch to car mode when it detects that you are in a moving vehicle?
Sent from my XT1053 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think it does. Assist will announce incoming calls and texts, but that's not the same as car mode. I don't see any real benefit to car mode any longer since android no longer changes the behavior of the home button when in car mode.
For me, I don't see the benefit of desk mode either, since Motorola insists on ignoring the orientation sensors and displaying the clock in portrait mode regardless of the device orientation. I had the opposite problem with my Bionic - in the car dock it would only display in landscape orientation, even if the phone itself was in a portrait orientation.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

Doesn't car mode keep the screen on?
Sent from my XT1058 using Tapatalk

murso74 said:
Doesn't car mode keep the screen on?
Sent from my XT1058 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it does.
Car Mode can also auto-launch a Car Home application (such as Car Home Ultra); unfortunately, as mentioned, Android will not relinquish control of the home button to a Car Home Launcher, which limits the usefulness of such a UI.
I am really excited to learn about these magnet sensors. That's really cool. I hope that Motorola creates their own docks. And if they don't, I certainly will create my own.
Thanks for the information.:good:

Put a Neo button magnet on the back of my Slip grip car mount and it works great. Now I have an NFC tag stuck to the mount for unlocking the phone and the magnet turns car mode on. I also found the old OG Moto Droid car mode apk and I'm using that instead of Car home Ultra...I like the simplicity of the old car mode.

I bought some 1/8" by 1/16" Warhammer magnets on eBay and cannot for the life of me get Car Mode to activate. Anyone have any issues or know what I might be missing?

Wish we could set something up to allow us to launch a certain app when moto assist activates the driving mode. Silly, you can launch a music app but no app of choice. That would allow us to eliminate the magnet all together.

gsk3rd said:
Wish we could set something up to allow us to launch a certain app when moto assist activates the driving mode. Silly, you can launch a music app but no app of choice. That would allow us to eliminate the magnet all together.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have thought of a way, at least for me and how I use it, as a workaround that hasn't been tested, but should work fine.
With Tasker, I was going to setup a profile that 2 things have to happen to trigger it. One, phone is plugged into car charger. Two, headset is plugged in (my aux input on my car). Once these 2 things have happened together, not just separately, I will trigger Car Mode to activate, which will then run Car Home Ultra. I think this will work out great for me with how I use it.

Related

System setting for smart cover on/off?

I bought a smart cover off ebay, one reviewed here. I cant get that part to work. If there a system setting to enable it?
Thanks
I don't think so. Mine from Amazon just works.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
The Nexus 7's lid sensor is on the bottom left about a 1.5" half up.
Check your cover's lid for a magnet in the same spot. Either the magnet isn't in the right spot, too weak, or just isn't there.
You can check the N7's sensor by holding a magnet over it.
you could get a paperclip and test the magnet on the smart cover as well :silly:
most likely there's mags on your fridge or shower curtain, easy enough to check
Landara said:
most likely there's mags on your fridge or shower curtain, easy enough to check
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so that's how the light in my fridge knows to turn off...
rudeguy said:
so that's how the light in my fridge knows to turn off...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nahh, there's a switch. Mines towards the top
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Yea, it's just a crappy cover. If I pull it like 2 millimeters it works properly.
One thing I have to hand it to iDevices over android, third party accessory support. One iPhone 4S - one hundred android phones and tons of tablets.
rudeguy said:
so that's how the light in my fridge knows to turn off...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:laugh:

Official MOTO G Flip Case, messes up google maps!!! [UPDATE]

I bought the official flip case. It has a magnet in the front. Unfortunately Moto have used a rather powerful neodinium magnet. So, your phones magnetometer will follow the edge of the case around rather than true north!!!! This doesn't matter for gps navigation, but for on foot travel, and any augmented reality apps that use the compass this case will make the behave oddly.
I don't know what the long term effect on the phones compass will be, but I don't expect it to be good.
In addition, but for me I think it is a small risk, this magnet will be capable of damaging some computer storage mediums and possibly, wiping swipe card data...
I have no idea why they chose to use such an aggressive magnet. I can hang the phone from a metal bar with it, no problem.
Just thought I would share....
helppme said:
I bought the official flip case. It has a magnet in the front. Unfortunately Moto have used a rather powerful neodinium magnet. So, your phones magnetometer will follow the edge of the case around rather than true north!!!! This doesn't matter for gps navigation, but for on foot travel, and any augmented reality apps that use the compass this case will make the behave oddly.
I don't know what the long term effect on the phones compass will be, but I don't expect it to be good.
In addition, but for me I think it is a small risk, this magnet will be capable of damaging some computer storage mediums and possibly, wiping swipe card data...
I have no idea why they chose to use such an aggressive magnet. I can hang the phone from a metal bar with it, no problem.
Just thought I would share....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good to know, i had my worries about this as well. Putting a magnet over the phone 24/7 didn't seem like a good idea
jaramigo said:
Good to know, i had my worries about this as well. Putting a magnet over the phone 24/7 didn't seem like a good idea
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its great for storing your phone on the fridge door though.. wtf were Motorola and google thinking. I think I'm going to complain and see what they say
helppme said:
its great for storing your phone on the fridge door though.. wtf were Motorola and google thinking. I think I'm going to complain and see what they say
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes sir, you should that. It is ridiculous to make such design mistake on an official case. I was about to buy one but after reading your story I am not sure anymore. Keep us posted.
Btw; you can contact Motorola via their official app Moto Care.
Glad to know, that I am not the only one who is concerned about that magnet. By the way there are two magnets. A weak one to trigger the screen on/off and a strong magnet to keep the case closed.
After removing the strong magnet you will be able to use the compass with the cover flipped to the backside.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYiSdys0zYg&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Edit: The strong magnet was on the lower third, where the cut is visible.
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TIL that official Moto accessory screws up Moto phone. But look at the good side: you can now keep it on your fridge door!
JoeSchmoe007 said:
TIL that official Moto accessory screws up Moto phone. But look at the good side: you can now keep it on your fridge door!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
spoke to moto care. sent them screen shots of the magnetometer all messed up. They said they will get back to me, but no one else has reported issues... *cough* bull**** *cough...
I have noticed today that even when I remove the case, the magnetic sensor is all messed up. It seems after a week of use it has screwed up the sensors calibration (probably correctable)..
evidently, part of the cheap price is a lack of proper beta testing of the phone and accessories....
I have ordered one from amazon. Now I will sent it back. I have my concerns too so I wont even try it.
Sent from my XT1032 using xda app-developers app
helppme said:
It seems after a week of use it has screwed up the sensors calibration (probably correctable)..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With GPS Status from Play Store you can force recalibration.
.
I can also confirm this. I have a white flip case but stopped using it after a week as it got in the way. I just put it back on and sure enough my compass was exhibiting the same issue. How did they miss this?
Sent from my XT1032 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Recalibrating the compass with the GPS toolbox app seemed to have fix this issue for me
Sent from my XT1034 using Tapatalk
rec71 said:
I can also confirm this. I have a white flip case but stopped using it after a week as it got in the way. I just put it back on and sure enough my compass was exhibiting the same issue. How did they miss this?
Sent from my XT1032 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there is a small metal square on the inside of the flip cases backcase. I 'think' this is intended to shield the sensor from the magnet when the case is open. It clearly is TOTALLY inadequate to the task. I'm speculating this is what the metal square is for, as it corresponds in position exactly with one of the magnets in the case door, and this metal square is not present on the normal back case..
Simply lazy design and testing... why does it even need a magnet to stay closed :/ its like closing a book with a magnet lol, they get along fine without them!!!!
helppme said:
spoke to moto care. sent them screen shots of the magnetometer all messed up. They said they will get back to me, but no one else has reported issues... *cough* bull**** *cough...
I have noticed today that even when I remove the case, the magnetic sensor is all messed up. It seems after a week of use it has screwed up the sensors calibration (probably correctable)..
evidently, part of the cheap price is a lack of proper beta testing of the phone and accessories....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any update from moto care?
eddiem74 said:
Any update from moto care?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
still waiting. Sent them a chaser..ill update
Thank you for contacting Motorola.
We regret that there is no possible solution. Compasses operate by magnetic field, and any interference with any compass magnet. There is no way around this.
If you are using a Motorola original case, rest assured that will not hurt your terminal. Imam to close the lid affects the compass but not strong enough to damage the terminal or delete any internal memory power. We apologize for the inconvenience.
jlmcr87 said:
Thank you for contacting Motorola.
We regret that there is no possible solution. Compasses operate by magnetic field, and any interference with any compass magnet. There is no way around this.
If you are using a Motorola original case, rest assured that will not hurt your terminal. Imam to close the lid affects the compass but not strong enough to damage the terminal or delete any internal memory power. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't understand, are you saying you work for motorola? was this a response you got from motorola??
Motorola cannot release an OFFICIAL ACCESSORY!! at a premium price (£20) that causes issues for the core functionality of the device. I will press the issue with motorola until they acknowledge their mistake and resolve to provide me with a refund, equivalent compensation or a replacement back cover that doesn't cause these problems.
Imagine if you bought a New car; You bought official seat covers for your car that the manufacturer heavily marketed to you, but they make the satnav useless. Do you think any car manufacturer would ever get away with this??
helppme said:
I don't understand, are you saying you work for motorola? was this a response you got from motorola??
Motorola cannot release an OFFICIAL ACCESSORY!! at a premium price (£20) that causes issues for the core functionality of the device. I will press the issue with motorola until they acknowledge their mistake and resolve to provide me with a refund, equivalent compensation or a replacement back cover that doesn't cause these problems.
Imagine if you bought a New car; You bought official seat covers for your car that the manufacturer heavily marketed to you, but they make the satnav useless. Do you think any car manufacturer would ever get away with this??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the response from Motorola.
helppme said:
....
Motorola cannot release an OFFICIAL ACCESSORY!! at a premium price (£20) that causes issues for the core functionality of the device. I will press the issue with motorola until they acknowledge their mistake and resolve to provide me with a refund, equivalent compensation or a replacement back cover that doesn't cause these problems.
Imagine if you bought a New car; You bought official seat covers for your car that the manufacturer heavily marketed to you, but they make the satnav useless. Do you think any car manufacturer would ever get away with this??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as the flip shell is folded completely over (so it is flush with the back) my wife's compass works flawlessly. It's actually better than my n4. As I only have one sample to go off of I'm not saying this issue is being over hyped but it isn't always an issue
ryan92084 said:
As long as the flip shell is folded completely over (so it is flush with the back) my wife's compass works flawlessly. It's actually better than my n4. As I only have one sample to go off of I'm not saying this issue is being over hyped but it isn't always an issue
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried it this way. If you fold it completely flat, and line it up to the millemeter, the compass works about 50% well. It generally adjusts to north, but it flicks back and forth between north and where the magnet is on the case. You can also see the gauss meter jumping around a lot.
I suspect the magnetic power of the magnets in the case vary a large amount they wont be very expensive ones after all..

I'd like Active Display(breathing) more if it wasn't so sensitive...

It's definitely not a battery issue, but it bothers me whenever the slightest tap sets off the clock popup. I don't think it's a case issue since I use a light-weight one (Poetic slim case). I would like to think that the context-processor responds to the disruption in the magnetic field which is why it's so sensitive. I can't test this though.....Does anyone happen to have a flip cover for the Moto X?
I use an app called uListen so I can stream YouTube videos with my screen off. I've noticed that app makes the active display go nuts.
Sent from my XT1058 using xda app-developers app
It acts when the phone moves simulating you picking it up. When I'm on my recliner it activates every time I move in the recliner. It does what it is meant to do I like it for checking the time and not having to activate the phone.
Sent from my XT1080 using xda app-developers app
Turn the phone over so the screen is facing down. Problem solved.
I love it. I pick the phone up and just swipe to wake. Then with a Nova Launcher gesture (swipe up to toggle Quick Settings) and a custom Sleep tile in the bottom right thanks to GravityBox, I've probably cut my mashing on the power button by probably 95%. I barely have to touch it anymore.
I love the active display but it does annoy me when I'm driving. I stick it in the cup holder and every time the truck moves, the screen turns on and I can see it out of the corner of my eye. And I don't know if anyone else lives in PA, but trying to avoid the potholes and inevitably hitting one keeps the screen on almost the entire time...
I also found I now pick up my Nexus 7 expecting the screen to turn on automatically
mister2quick said:
I also found I now pick up my Nexus 7 expecting the screen to turn on automatically
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hahaha, I've done the same with my Galaxy Nexus and even my wife's Razr Maxx.
PA here too... and the potholes have become unbearable.
I really like the sensitivity... I think its great that it will pop on virtually anytime I move the phone, but not to the point of wasting my battery. I swear there have been times where I could just wave my hand over the phone and it would flick the time and lock up, but maybe it was just in my head.
I hear ya all on the Nexus 7 deal, I do the same from time to time, just expect it to turn on. Would be something easy for Google to add moving forward though.
deathsled said:
Turn the phone over so the screen is facing down. Problem solved.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that just defeats the purpose of the active display
But mine is very sensitive as well. Even when there is no movement I will see it go on . Doesn't really bother me. Only when I use another phone...I end up shaking the phone to get the active display to show
Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk
kbluhm said:
Hahaha, I've done the same with my Galaxy Nexus and even my wife's Razr Maxx.
PA here too... and the potholes have become unbearable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just got back from PA. Shredded my low pro tires
Sent from my XT1053 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
mister2quick said:
I love the active display but it does annoy me when I'm driving. I stick it in the cup holder and every time the truck moves, the screen turns on and I can see it out of the corner of my eye. And I don't know if anyone else lives in PA, but trying to avoid the potholes and inevitably hitting one keeps the screen on almost the entire time...
I also found I now pick up my Nexus 7 expecting the screen to turn on automatically
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you Assist app for driving? I've noticed that after I'm driving for a couple minutes the phone must turn down the active notifications as it won't turn on with little bumps. Sometimes it won't even turn on when I pick it up.
But sitting in my house, it'll turn on every time I bump it.
Cover the proximity sensor and it'll assume it's face down or in your pocket.
The proximity sensor is on ALL the time, and it is used in conjunction with the accelerometer to turn on the screen. If you don't want it to turn on in certain situations, do the above.
I cover it with my microfiber screen wiping cloth sometimes when I want it face up but without AN.

Magnet turns screen on/off

I put a magnet to the back of my N6 to see if one of those magnetic mounts would work out of the box and was surprised to see that it turned the screen off when in contact and back on when removed. I'm guessing this would be for a book-style case? Kinda interesting...
Billy
Sent from my Nexus 6
One case I've seen already utilises this http://orzly.com/manufacturers/google/nexus-6/multifunctional-wallet-cases-for-nexus-6-black.html
I have a imagnet cradle, it only shuts off by the moto logo. As long as your not putting the moto logo on the magnet it should be fine.
JeepFreak said:
I put a magnet to the back of my N6 to see if one of those magnetic mounts would work out of the box and was surprised to see that it turned the screen off when in contact and back on when removed. I'm guessing this would be for a book-style case? Kinda interesting...
Billy
Sent from my Nexus 6
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did the magnet mount work?
lordhamster said:
Did the magnet mount work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope.
Sent from my Nexus 6
however, this totally borks "touch to transfer" when trying to transfer files via nfc from nexus 6 to nexus 9... seems like quite an oversight by google.
Is there any way to turn off this feature?
Karine said:
Is there any way to turn off this feature?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not by conventional methods. Its called "hall effect" and there is not a setting to turn this sensor off
This is something that has been long implemented in phones.
For instance my old OG Droid. If you bought the car dock that Moto made for the phone. It had a thin magnet in the cradle that was used to tell the phone to enter Car Mode. Or if you had the charging desk cradle. It would enter the Clock mode.
Is there any way to disable this? (kernel or rom?
JeepFreak said:
I put a magnet to the back of my N6 to see if one of those magnetic mounts would work out of the box and was surprised to see that it turned the screen off when in contact and back on when removed. I'm guessing this would be for a book-style case? Kinda interesting...
Billy
Sent from my Nexus 6
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol :laugh::silly:
---------- Post added at 22:14 ---------- Previous post was at 22:12 ----------
bump
Also works great with sleeves that have a magnet for a pullout strap. Although it also turns on the screen when you slide the phone in.
This is how the official flip case from Google works.
When I put it near my GoPro mount it turns the screen off.
Once xposed is working on the n6, there's a module called MagnetOff

Magnetic Sensor Locking/Unlocking

Okay, so:
I've had this phone for five or six months. The first case I ordered was a wallet case, and I was heartbroken to find that the phone didn't lock or unlock magnetically.
Since I purchased the phone pre-rooted and it already had AICP installed, I thought “Hey, maybe it's just a glitch with this ROM.” However, many ROMs later, I concluded Motorola cut the feature to keep the price down (which was odd, considering my 2014 Moto G had the functionality). It just wouldn't work.
Until today.
Randomly, while watching a YouTube video, one of my earbuds fell out of my ear and made brief contact with my screen... and the screen locked. Perplexed, I try to duplicate this and was promptly able to. It locked when the earbud hit the left side of the screen, and not the right side.
Suspecting this was the magnetic lock I thought I didn't have, I go to my bedroom and find my old wallet case that I haven't been using for about a week now. I hold the magnet in the case over the left side of my screen (contrary to where it—and all wallet cases I've ever encountered for that matter—would normally fall; on the right side) and it locks/unlocks my phone flawlessly.
So I was just wondering; is this a huge mistake made by Motorola in all MXPEs, or did they just mess up the placement with my particular unit?
Sent from my XT1575 using XDA-Developers mobile app
Just tried it on mine... no dice.
jaysus145 said:
Just tried it on mine... no dice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Running frankenclark by chance? I think it might disable the hall sensor.
jason2678 said:
Running frankenclark by chance? I think it might disable the hall sensor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know you weren't asking me, but I'm running Frankenclark and the sensor works fine (aside from, y'know, being on the wrong side).
Sent from my XT1575 using XDA-Developers mobile app

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