I have just solved a trivial but irritating problem.
I use my ‘phone a lot to time things using either the stopwatch or countdown timer functions that seem to be part of the built in Android package. The problem is the ‘phone goes to sleep before the time is up. The clock keeps running but you have to tap some buttons to see the screen again which is not a good idea when cooking with messy fingers.
Of course, you can always go into the Android settings menu and change the time out interval before you start and then go back and set it to your normal timeout interval when you have finished (if you remember).
I came across a small piece of software on Play Store called Caffeine. In the app you set the maximum length of time you want the screen to stay awake. Then, to actually use it, you swipe down the quick start menu and hit the caffeine button. This gives you a onetime instance of keeping the screen awake for the length of time set in the app after which it returns to the normal timeout in the Android settings menu.
The ability to keep the screen active is available in Android. I have a map app (Organic maps) that keeps the screen on unless you turn it off. However, if you try to change focus from the app after the normal timeout has expired, it will ask for login as if it was turned on. If you turn it off and then later turn it on again ir will not ask for a password. It’s very handy when out walking and need the map as you can turn it off and on without a password … as long as the app stays in focus.
I would think there must be a timer app that takes advantage of this.
I’m chuckling at this thread… as I’ve not used an actual timer for many years…
I glance at the clock and judge when “whatever” will be done/be ready for the next step
Yes, the timer keeps running when screen goes off but you don’t want to be touching your phone with messy fingers when you are cooking.
Yes, there are timer apps that will allow you to set them to stay on when timing but that means adding an extra dedicated app.
The example I gave with Caffeine is a generic way to keep your screen alive for a specified time and it can be used in other scenarios.
For example, I use a personal recipe book containing recipe cards which will display as a single page on a phone or tablet. I don’t want the screen to go dark halfway through preparing a recipe so I just switch on Caffeine.
Yes that’s good, but if you read Mik’s post again you’ll see that what he needs is for the timer to continue but also be constantly visible, i.e. no screensaver or screen going blank, so that he can see the progress of the timer without having to “wake it up” by touching it with messy hands.
got one of those sort of thingies somewhere… not seen it for years though.
Basically, I know how to judge time with whatever I’m doing… and if something needs 6 minutes I’ll look at the clock on the wall or the oven and potter with another task until “the time is right” .
Perhaps if it was life-threatingly-important I might stay nearby and anxiously watch the seconds/minutes ticking away… but not got to that situation so far…
That’s what used to do. Unfortunately I will set something cooking, go and read a book and suddenly that 6 minutes has become 60 minutes and the food is ruined.
My phone is blue toothed to my hearing aids so a countdown timer pings in my ear wherever I am and whatever I am doing.
When we came to France I vowed never again to be “at the beck and call of any phone/fax/whatever” the thought of something pinging in my ear is more than I can bear … no… not for me
