Location updates in background, for only a fixed amout of time? - ios

Right now, my app is able to receive location updates in the background. However if the user forgets about it, and the app enters background while still receiving updates, it can in theory keep getting updates forever(i think?) until the user correctly turns it off.
Is there a way to set at timer to automatically stop the location manager, in case it is not shut down by the user?

You can use a background task with an expiration.
Read more about it here:
https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/DOCUMENTATION/UIKit/Reference/UIApplication_Class/Reference/Reference.html#//apple_ref/occ/instm/UIApplication/beginBackgroundTaskWithExpirationHandler:

Related

Background fetch regularly

I want to upload the location in background every 30secs to 1min. Is it possible?
I have found that I can set UIApplicationBackgroundFetchIntervalMinimum. But I looked around this constant to tell the device to fetch about every 30mins. Any way to do that? Thanks.
I don't know the exact purpose of yours for uploading location for every 30 secs. It's not recommended to do so. I think you can go for MonitoringSignificationChanges in CoreLocation framework. It will give you update whenever there is a significant change in location. It helps in saving the battery.
Starts the generation of updates based on significant location changes by the following method:
func startMonitoringSignificantLocationChanges()
This method initiates the delivery of location events asynchronously, returning shortly after you call it. Location events are delivered to your delegate’s locationManager(_:didUpdateLocations:) method. The first event to be delivered is usually the most recently cached location event (if any) but may be a newer event in some circumstances. Obtaining a current location fix may take several additional seconds, so be sure to check the time stamps on the location events in your delegate method.
Fore more info: Apple Docs
Your approach has multiple problems. Most apps are not allowed to run continuously in the background like you want to do. You get ~3 minutes of background time, and then your app gets suspended. Navigation apps are an exception. If your app is a navigation app you are allowed to run continuously in the background.
Polling the GPS every 30 seconds is also a bad idea unless you're a navigation app. You'll quickly drain the user's battery.
Likewise uploading the user's location every 30 seconds will keep the cellular/WiFi radio on the phone powered up nearly constantly, which will drain the user's battery quite rapidly.

iOS 10 update location when app is terminated

I'm making an app where I am showing the User's distance from other users. I'm able to update user locations when app is open and when app is in background HOWEVER I can not figure out how to update the location when app is terminated. I have been told that this is not possible but I believe it is possible because Life 360, Facebook, etc update the location in terminated state. Any help on how to achieve this is greatly appreciated!
To do this you need to use:
myLocationManager.startMonitoringSignificantLocationChanges()
From the docs:
"If you start this service and your app is subsequently terminated, the system automatically relaunches the app into the background if a new event arrives."
Unfortunately from extensive testing the significant changes when they start to come through are very inaccurate so you may wish to switch on normal location updates at the point you receive a significant location change in the background.
myLocationManager.startUpdatingLocation()

Initiate location capture at a particular time even if the app is in background or not running

Is there any way in latest iOS to initiate location capture at a particular time each day (say morning and evening ), even if the app is in background or not running.
You should read Background execution. Background jobs are actually not recommended:
An app might move to the background because the user launched a different app or because the user locked the device and is not using it right now. In both situations, the user is signaling that your app does not need to be doing any meaningful work right now. Continuing to run in such conditions will only drain the device’s battery and might lead the user to force quit your app altogether.
As for getting user location check this answer How can I get current location from user in iOS

Implementing Periodic Location Updates in iOS even if app gets terminated

My application requires periodic location updates (every 10 minutes). In foreground and background (app not terminated) the application is working correctly. But the problem starts to occur when the app is terminated by the user.
I tried using this tutorial http://mobileoop.com/getting-location-updates-for-ios-7-and-8-when-the-app-is-killedterminatedsuspended .
It works only when user's location is changing because of startMonitoringSignificantLocationChanges. But I need locations in terminated state even if user is not changing its location.
Also, I have tried most of the stackoverflow questions but most of them gets satisfied with startMonitoringSignificantLocationChanges. But in my case it won't be enough to fulfil the application needs.
If a user terminates the app the system no longer grants it the same privileges. Background fetch operations and background location will not get executed until the user decides to start up your app again. The system recognizes this a user choice to not have this app running in any way again.
This isn't like the world of Android where an app can do as it pleases. Apple prefers user choice over what an app developer wants. This is of course good and bad as a developer. You need to provide the user with useful information about what your app is doing in the background so that they will allow it to run without terminating it. If they do terminate it, there is nothing that you can do.

Frequent background location updates in Swift

I am creating an app that's using a CLLocationManager to track my position and update it to a database with a Google Map. The sole purpose for this app is to stay in the background and continue to update your location as long as you've logged in and set an Available key to true.
The app works fine in the foreground and it updates my location every minute, but when it's in the background it stops after 15 minutes as the app suspends (I suspect). I've implemented the startMonitoringSignificantLocationChanges() method, but if I stay in one place for too long without opening the app manually after 15 minutes, the updates stops and my map only plots your location for so long without you updating and resetting the lastLogged timestamp.
Is there any way I can force-activate the app to a background state without actually opening the app itself? As the plan is for many people to start using this app, opening the app every 15 minutes is going to be a massive bother and I would love for some way to do this automatically.
Thanks for any help!
PushKit allow you to send messages directly to the people who have installed your app, even when the app is closed on a device or in background.
Its a new framework in iOS 8, is the new push notification mechanism which silently launch your app into the background without the need of user interact with the app.
Here is link in Apple:-
https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/NetworkingInternet/Reference/PushKit_Framework/

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