Get working Ionic + ngCordova + background geolocation - ios

Question

Goal of the app: get geolocation on each move and log location either when app is in foreground and background.
I've tried so many code and combination but I can't manage to have it working (2 days from now...).
The classic geolocation (getCurrentPosition) is working fine but when we close the app the background geolocation is launched but nothing happen... Function "callbackFn" is never fired.
I'm testing on IOS with xcode > Capabilities Audio & location activated for background activity. I also made working the jQuery sample example given in plugin so I saw it working but never with ionic/angularjs.
Here is the current controller handling the background:
.controller('TestCtrl', function($scope, $timeout, $cordovaBackgroundGeolocation, $ionicPlatform, $window)
{
$scope.lat_geo = "loading lat...";
$scope.long_geo = "loading long...";
//-- Geolocal launch
var options = {
enableHighAccuracy : false,
desiredAccuracy: 0,
stationaryRadius: 1,
distanceFilter: 5,
notificationTitle: 'Background tracking', // <-- android only, customize the title of the notification
notificationText: 'ENABLED', // <-- android only, customize the text of the notification
activityType: 'AutomotiveNavigation',
debug: true, // <-- enable this hear sounds for background-geolocation life-cycle.
stopOnTerminate: false // <-- enable this to clear background location settings when the app terminates
};
$ionicPlatform.ready(function()
{
console.log("[IONIC PLATFORM IS NOW READY]");
//-- First launch a basic geolocalisation to get user acceptance of geosharing ;)
navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(function(location) {
console.log('[GEOLOCAL JS1] Location from Phonegap');
},
function (error){
console.log('[GEOLOCAL JS1] error with GPS: error.code: ' + error.code + ' Message: ' + error.message);
},options);
//-- test adaptation depuis l'app jquery
var callbackFn = function(location) {
console.log('[BackgroundGeoLocation] Update callback: ' + location.latitude + ',' + location.longitude);
};
var failureFn = function(error) {
console.log('[BackgroundGeoLocation] Error: '+error);
};
$cordovaBackgroundGeolocation.configure(callbackFn, failureFn, options);
// Turn ON the background-geolocation system. The user will be tracked whenever they suspend the app.
$cordovaBackgroundGeolocation.start();
//-- Just a timeout to retreive long / lat
$timeout(function()
{
navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(function(location)
{
console.log('[GEOLOCAL JS3] Location from Phonegap');
startPos = location;
$scope.$apply(function () {
$scope.lat_geo = startPos.coords.latitude;
$scope.long_geo = startPos.coords.longitude;
});
console.log("[GEOLOCAL BASIC] OK this time :)");
},
function (error){
console.log('[GEOLOCAL JS3] error with GPS: error.code: ' + error.code + ' Message: ' + error.message);
},options);
}, 3000);
});
//-- End Geolocal
})
I've put all my code (a complete ionic app starter) on github: https://github.com/Jeff86/ionic_ngcordova_backgroundgeo_test/tree/master

Answer 1

I read this article http://ngcordova.com/docs/plugins/backgroundGeolocation/
I see that you should put your code into
document.addEventListener("deviceready", function () { ... });
Do you find any solution?

Answer 2

You definitely don't want to use the std Cordova-geolocation plugin in the bg, it'll kill the battery in no time.
I'm the author of the underlying background-geolocation plugin for Ionic. I've created a New Ionic-based SampleApp.
https://github.com/transistorsoft/cordova-background-geolocation-SampleApp