What is the simplest and most robust way to get th

Question

The LocationManager API on Android seems like it's a bit of a pain to use for an application that only needs an occasional and rough approximation of the user's location.

The app I'm working on isn't really a location app per se, but it does need to get the user's location in order to display a list of nearby businesses. It doesn't need to worry about if the user is moving around or anything like that.

Here's what I'd like to do:

1. Show the user a list of nearby locations.
2. Preload the user's location so that by the time I need it in Activity X, it will be available.
3. I don't particularly care about accuracy or frequency of update. Just grabbing one location is sufficient as long as it's not way off. Maybe if I want to be fancy I'll update the location once every few mins or so, but it's not a huge priority.
4. Work for any device as long as it has either a GPS or a Network Location provider.

It seems like it shouldn't be that hard, but it appears to me that I have to spin up two different location providers (GPS and NETWORK) and manage each's lifecycle. Not only that, but I have to duplicate the same code in multiple activities to satisfy #2. I've tried using getBestProvider() in the past to cut the solution down to just using one location provider, but that seems to only give you the best "theoretical" provider rather than the provider that's actually going to give you the best results.

Is there a simpler way to accomplish this?

Answer 1

Here's what I do:

1. First of all I check what providers are enabled. Some may be disabled on the device, some may be disabled in application manifest.
2. If any provider is available I start location listeners and timeout timer. It's 20 seconds in my example, may not be enough for GPS so you can enlarge it.
3. If I get update from location listener I use the provided value. I stop listeners and timer.
4. If I don't get any updates and timer elapses I have to use last known values.
5. I grab last known values from available providers and choose the most recent of them.

Here's how I use my class:

LocationResult locationResult = new LocationResult(){
    @Override
    public void gotLocation(Location location){
        //Got the location!
    }
};
MyLocation myLocation = new MyLocation();
myLocation.getLocation(this, locationResult);

And here's MyLocation class:

import java.util.Timer;
import java.util.TimerTask;
import android.content.Context;
import android.location.Location;
import android.location.LocationListener;
import android.location.LocationManager;
import android.os.Bundle;

public class MyLocation {
    Timer timer1;
    LocationManager lm;
    LocationResult locationResult;
    boolean gps_enabled=false;
    boolean network_enabled=false;

    public boolean getLocation(Context context, LocationResult result)
    {
        //I use LocationResult callback class to pass location value from MyLocation to user code.
        locationResult=result;
        if(lm==null)
            lm = (LocationManager) context.getSystemService(Context.LOCATION_SERVICE);

        //exceptions will be thrown if provider is not permitted.
        try{gps_enabled=lm.isProviderEnabled(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER);}catch(Exception ex){}
        try{network_enabled=lm.isProviderEnabled(LocationManager.NETWORK_PROVIDER);}catch(Exception ex){}

        //don't start listeners if no provider is enabled
        if(!gps_enabled && !network_enabled)
            return false;

        if(gps_enabled)
            lm.requestLocationUpdates(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER, 0, 0, locationListenerGps);
        if(network_enabled)
            lm.requestLocationUpdates(LocationManager.NETWORK_PROVIDER, 0, 0, locationListenerNetwork);
        timer1=new Timer();
        timer1.schedule(new GetLastLocation(), 20000);
        return true;
    }

    LocationListener locationListenerGps = new LocationListener() {
        public void onLocationChanged(Location location) {
            timer1.cancel();
            locationResult.gotLocation(location);
            lm.removeUpdates(this);
            lm.removeUpdates(locationListenerNetwork);
        }
        public void onProviderDisabled(String provider) {}
        public void onProviderEnabled(String provider) {}
        public void onStatusChanged(String provider, int status, Bundle extras) {}
    };

    LocationListener locationListenerNetwork = new LocationListener() {
        public void onLocationChanged(Location location) {
            timer1.cancel();
            locationResult.gotLocation(location);
            lm.removeUpdates(this);
            lm.removeUpdates(locationListenerGps);
        }
        public void onProviderDisabled(String provider) {}
        public void onProviderEnabled(String provider) {}
        public void onStatusChanged(String provider, int status, Bundle extras) {}
    };

    class GetLastLocation extends TimerTask {
        @Override
        public void run() {
             lm.removeUpdates(locationListenerGps);
             lm.removeUpdates(locationListenerNetwork);

             Location net_loc=null, gps_loc=null;
             if(gps_enabled)
                 gps_loc=lm.getLastKnownLocation(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER);
             if(network_enabled)
                 net_loc=lm.getLastKnownLocation(LocationManager.NETWORK_PROVIDER);

             //if there are both values use the latest one
             if(gps_loc!=null && net_loc!=null){
                 if(gps_loc.getTime()>net_loc.getTime())
                     locationResult.gotLocation(gps_loc);
                 else
                     locationResult.gotLocation(net_loc);
                 return;
             }

             if(gps_loc!=null){
                 locationResult.gotLocation(gps_loc);
                 return;
             }
             if(net_loc!=null){
                 locationResult.gotLocation(net_loc);
                 return;
             }
             locationResult.gotLocation(null);
        }
    }

    public static abstract class LocationResult{
        public abstract void gotLocation(Location location);
    }
}

Somebody may also want to modify my logic. For example if you get update from Network provider don't stop listeners but continue waiting. GPS gives more accurate data so it's worth waiting for it. If timer elapses and you've got update from Network but not from GPS then you can use value provided from Network.

One more approach is to use LocationClient http://developer.android.com/training/location/retrieve-current.html. But it requires Google Play Services apk to be installed on user device.

Answer 2

This is the way I am requesting User Permissions.

Outside your application tag in AndroidManifest.xml add these permission requests.

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />

Then add Google's Location dependencies in the App Gradle file.

implementation 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-location:15.0.0'

Now declare some Global variables.

private lateinit var mFusedLocationProvider:FusedLocationProviderClient
private lateinit var mLocationCallback: LocationCallback
private lateinit var mLocationRequest: LocationRequest
private var mLocationPermissionGranted:Boolean = false

In OnCreate method of your Activity (I was not able to Format the Code Properly, Apology for that)

mFusedLocationProvider = LocationServices.getFusedLocationProviderClient(this)

//Location Callback
mLocationCallback = object: LocationCallback(){
 override fun onLocationResult(p0: LocationResult?) {
  if(p0==null){
     //todo(request user to enable location from settings then remove return)
     return
  }else{
      getDeviceLocation()
       }
  }
}

//Location Request
mLocationRequest = LocationRequest.create()
mLocationRequest.priority = LocationRequest.PRIORITY_BALANCED_POWER_ACCURACY
//Set the Interval for Latest Interval Update
mLocationRequest.interval = 5000
//Set How Many Location Updated you Want
mLocationRequest.numUpdates = 1

getLocationPermission()
getDeviceLocation()

Now create both the functions.

 private fun getLocationPermission() {

            val permission:Array<String> = arrayOf(android.Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION,android.Manifest.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION)
            if(ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(applicationContext,Constant.FINE_LOCATION)== PermissionChecker.PERMISSION_GRANTED){
                if(ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(applicationContext,Constant.COARSE_LOCATION)== PermissionChecker.PERMISSION_GRANTED){
                    mLocationPermissionGranted = true
                }
            }else{
                ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(this,permission,Constant.LOCATION_REQUEST_CODE)
            }

    }

Second Method

private fun getDeviceLocation() {
        try{
            if(mLocationPermissionGranted){

                mFusedLocationProvider.lastLocation.addOnCompleteListener(this,{task: Task<Location> ->
                    if(task.isSuccessful){
                        var currentLocation: Location? = task.result
                        if(currentLocation!=null){

                            Log.i("Location","Latitude is ${currentLocation.latitude} and Longitude" +
                                    "${currentLocation.longitude}")
                        }

                        else
                            mFusedLocationProvider.requestLocationUpdates(mLocationRequest,mLocationCallback,null)
                    }
                })
            }
        }catch (e:SecurityException){
            Log.e("Error", "Security Exception ${e.message}")
        }
    }

For Constant.kt

class Constant{
    companion object {

        //Location Request Settings
        const val SET_INTERVAL:Long = 2000
        const val NUM_UPDATES:Int = 1

        //Location Permission
        const val FINE_LOCATION:String = android.Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
        const val COARSE_LOCATION:String = android.Manifest.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION
    }
}

Answer 3

Before I answer, I just want to be upfront about the fact that I’m affiliated with Neura. Now to your question. So, instead of wasting your time behind coding to get your user’s location, you can use our SDK. It takes less than 30 mins to integrate. Neura provides you with your user’s location/activity,and you can configure your application accordingly to perform certain tasks after you receive the data. Here’s a few reasons to use Neura over other Activity recognition API’s:

1. No need to code tons of lines to understand your user.
2. Gives you accurate results.
3. Consumes less than 1% of your battery.

Answer 4

It requires lots of things in place to get location updates in android, requires lots of bolierplate code.

You need to take care of

• Google Play services availablity Check,
• Update Google play Service if it is old or not available
• Dialog Creation of GoogleApiClient and its callbacks connected,disconnected etc.
• Stopping and releasing resources for location updates
• Handling Location permission scenarios
• Checking Location services are On or Off
• Getting lastknown location is not so easy either
• Fallback to last known location if not getting location after certain duration

I have created Android-EasyLocation (small android library) which will take care all this stuff and you can focus on business logic.

All you need is extend EasyLocationActivity and this

requestSingleLocationFix(easyLocationRequest);

or

requestLocationUpdates(easyLocationRequest);

Checkout sample app and steps needed here at https://github.com/akhgupta/Android-EasyLocation

Answer 5

Simple and best way for GeoLocation.

LocationManager lm = null;
boolean network_enabled;


if (lm == null)
                lm = (LocationManager) Kikit.this.getSystemService(Context.LOCATION_SERVICE);

            network_enabled = lm.isProviderEnabled(LocationManager.NETWORK_PROVIDER);

            dialog = ProgressDialog.show(Kikit.this, "", "Fetching location...", true);


            final Handler handler = new Handler();
            timer = new Timer();
            TimerTask doAsynchronousTask = new TimerTask() {

                @Override
                public void run() {
                    handler.post(new Runnable() {

                        @Override
                        public void run() 
                        {

                            Log.e("counter value","value "+counter);

                            if(counter<=8)
                            {
                                try 
                                {
                                    counter++;


                                    if (network_enabled) {

                                        lm = (LocationManager) Kikit.this.getSystemService(Context.LOCATION_SERVICE);

                                        Log.e("in network_enabled..","in network_enabled");

                                        // Define a listener that responds to location updates
                                        LocationListener locationListener = new LocationListener() 
                                        {


                                            public void onLocationChanged(Location location) 
                                            {
                                                if(attempt == false)

                                                {
                                                    attempt = true;
                                                    Log.e("in location listener..","in location listener..");
                                                    longi = location.getLongitude();
                                                    lati = location.getLatitude();
                                                    Data.longi = "" + longi; 
                                                    Data.lati = "" + lati;


                                                    Log.e("longitude : ",""+longi);
                                                    Log.e("latitude : ",""+lati);



                                                    if(faceboo_name.equals(""))
                                                    {
                                                        if(dialog!=null){
                                                        dialog.cancel();}
                                                        timer.cancel();
                                                        timer.purge();
                                                        Data.homepage_resume = true;
                                                        lm = null;
                                                        Intent intent = new Intent();                              
                                                        intent.setClass(Kikit.this,MainActivity.class);

                                                        startActivity(intent);      
                                                        finish();
                                                    }
                                                    else
                                                    {           

                                                        isInternetPresent = cd.isConnectingToInternet();

                                                        if (isInternetPresent) 
                                                        {
                                                            if(dialog!=null)
                                                                dialog.cancel();

                                                            Showdata();
                                                        }
                                                        else
                                                        {
                                                            error_view.setText(Data.internet_error_msg);
                                                            error_view.setVisibility(0);
                                                            error_gone();
                                                        }

                                                    }   
                                                }

                                            }

                                            public void onStatusChanged(String provider, int status,
                                                    Bundle extras) {
                                            }

                                            public void onProviderEnabled(String provider) {
                                                //Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "Location enabled", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();

                                            }

                                            public void onProviderDisabled(String provider) {


                                            }
                                        };



                                        // Register the listener with the Location Manager to receive
                                        // location updates
                                        lm.requestLocationUpdates(LocationManager.NETWORK_PROVIDER, 100000, 10,locationListener);

                                    } else{
                                        //Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "No Internet Connection.", 2000).show();
                                        buildAlertMessageNoGps();

                                    }



                                } catch (Exception e) {
                                    // TODO
                                    // Auto-generated
                                    // catch
                                    // block
                                }
                            }
                            else
                            {

                                timer.purge();
                                timer.cancel();

                                if(attempt == false)
                                {
                                    attempt = true;

                                    String locationProvider = LocationManager.NETWORK_PROVIDER;
                                    // Or use LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER

                                    try {
                                        Location lastKnownLocation = lm.getLastKnownLocation(locationProvider);

                                        longi = lastKnownLocation.getLongitude();
                                        lati = lastKnownLocation.getLatitude();
                                        Data.longi = "" + longi; 
                                        Data.lati = "" + lati;
                                    } catch (Exception e) {
                                        // TODO Auto-generated catch block
                                        e.printStackTrace();
                                        Log.i("exception in loc fetch", e.toString());
                                    }

                                    Log.e("longitude of last known location : ",""+longi);
                                    Log.e("latitude of last known location : ",""+lati);

                                    if(Data.fb_access_token == "")
                                    {

                                        if(dialog!=null){
                                            dialog.cancel();}
                                        timer.cancel();
                                        timer.purge();
                                        Data.homepage_resume = true;
                                        Intent intent = new Intent();                              
                                        intent.setClass(Kikit.this,MainActivity.class);

                                        startActivity(intent);  
                                        finish();
                                    }
                                    else
                                    {           

                                        isInternetPresent = cd.isConnectingToInternet();

                                        if (isInternetPresent) 
                                        {
                                            if(dialog!=null){
                                                dialog.cancel();}           
                                            Showdata();
                                        }
                                        else
                                        {
                                            error_view.setText(Data.internet_error_msg);
                                            error_view.setVisibility(0);
                                            error_gone();
                                        }

                                    }   

                                }
                            }
                        }
                    });
                }
            };
            timer.schedule(doAsynchronousTask, 0, 2000);


private void buildAlertMessageNoGps() {
        final AlertDialog.Builder builder = new AlertDialog.Builder(this);

        builder.setMessage("Your WiFi & mobile network location is disabled , do you want to enable it?")
        .setCancelable(false)
        .setPositiveButton("Yes", new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {


            public void onClick(@SuppressWarnings("unused") final DialogInterface dialog, @SuppressWarnings("unused") final int id) 
            {
                startActivity(new Intent(android.provider.Settings.ACTION_LOCATION_SOURCE_SETTINGS));
                setting_page = true;
            }
        })
        .setNegativeButton("No", new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {
            public void onClick(final DialogInterface dialog, @SuppressWarnings("unused") final int id) {
                dialog.cancel();
                finish();
            }
        });
        final AlertDialog alert = builder.create();
        alert.show();
    }

Answer 6

Actualy we can use the two providers both. And they just share a public listener:

locationManager.requestLocationUpdates(LocationManager.NETWORK_PROVIDER, 10 * 1000, (float) 10.0, listener);
locationManager.requestLocationUpdates(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER, 90 * 1000, (float) 10.0, listener);

This is necessary because the OnLocationChanged() method always need to be called in time.