Difference in current time between iOS and Android simulators - android

It looks like there's a small difference (milliseconds) when getting the current time in iOS and Android.
Swift: Date().toMillis()
Kotlin: System.currentTimeMillis()
Check the following example (left is iOS, right is Android):
The current timestamp in iOS (first message sent) is 1595158104237, while the current timestamp in Android (second message sent) is 1595158098388, with the Android one being 5849ms earlier than the iOS one even if it was sent later.
Is that something that can only happen in emulators, or also in real devices?
Is there a way to get the "same" current timestamp on both systems?

Because it local device timestamp, if you change system date in the device it will change the timestamp as well
If you want, you can get timestamp from a server so it will be same for all device and OS

Related

Timesync across different devices (iOs and Android)

I am building a web app using Vue and Socket.io.
The app is divided into two: A Host (Hosting a party) and the guests.
It's a party game and the people participating will be guidede to do stuff simultaneously so syncing between devices is crucial.
Every body (including the host) will be asked to download an audio file. Once everybody has downloaded the audio file the Host can then start the playback on all devices using socket.io.
The Host emits an event "startAllAudio" to the socket.
socket.emit("startAllAudio");
When the socket gets the event it emits a new event "startAudio" with a timestamp set 3 seconds ahead in time.
const startDelay = 3000;
var now = new Date().getTime();
io.emit("startAudio", {
timeToStart: now + parseInt(startDelay),
});
All this works like a charm on iOs devices. But on android it does not. After debugging a lot I found that the internal clock on the Android devices is out of sync with (Or at least not the same as) the iOs devices. I have two different relatively new Android phones for testing and even they are not in sync with each other. I have 10+ various iOs devices for testing and the all sync perfectly.
I made a javascript clock with milliseconds and put it on the web app for debugging. And you can clearly see that the two Android phones are different from each other and from the iOs devices which are the same (within reason). The difference in time matches the audible difference in playback.
var interval = window.setInterval(() => {
const date = new Date(Date.now());
this.time = date.getHours() + ":" + date.getMinutes() + ":" + date.getSeconds() + ":" + date.getMilliseconds();
}, 500);
So finally we get to the actual question(s):
How would you go about fixing that?
Can you force the android devices to timesync? Maybe even to a specific time server?
I thought about "probing" the responce time between the web app and the socket.
i.e. sending 3 emits and time the respons time and the take an average of that and use it with the timestamp on the Android phones to adjust the timeToStart value sendt from the socket. But it does not seem like a bulletproof method.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

How can we get current date and time (IST) without system, server and Network provider in android?

We are developing an android application in which we need current date and time.
We do not get Date and Time from server because user may not have Internet connection most of time.
And We cannot use system's date and time for it. Because user can change the date and time for device.
I even checked for network provider for same. It is providing in case of SIM available. Its not working in case of Wi-Fi device only.
Is there any way to get current date and time ?
Thanks in Advance.
The GPS should have it. It is based on calculating tiny differences between the time multiple satellites send, so the actual time is known to it too.

How to synchronize two Android Phones Clock (upto msec)? or Get EXACT difference?

People! I thought to include it in original question but didn't.
WHILE VOTING, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO COMMENT WHY DID YOU VOTE?
Please use it to enable learners get theirs things done and convey their thoughts/issues to others better way. Not everyone knows what you think. Thanks
In Short:
I need to synchronize clocks of two Android Phones (placed close to each other OR not; both cases) with each other AND with up to an accuracy of a few milliseconds (10, 20 ms max).
Either sync the clocks
Or get an offset of one from the other
What I am Doing:
I have a developed app that I am using to measure different GSM network statistics. I am using telephony manager to get three states (OFF-HOOK, IDLE, RINGING). Phone A calls phone B. Both phones are running an app that is saving the time-stamps with regards to the states mentioned above. After making many calls I export the time-stamps in a data file and analyze them to get different network stats.
What is my Issue:
I have to cross-match the time-stamps to get stats. Now the problem is that if the phones' clocks are not synced then I will not be able to get exact stats (e.g. how much time it takes to get phone B in ringing state after phone A initiates a call?).
What I have Tried: So far I have tried to sync clocks with NTP, GPS or atomic clock. I have used ClockSync (Android app) to get offset of both phone clocks from atomic clock. The issue is that this offset depends on RTT of network packets from my phone to server. I gives my difference of up to 100 ms when I check offset two times (tap refresh two times consecutively). The offsets at both phones can lead to error of up to 200 ms which is unacceptable for me.
All other syncing apps/methods have same issue.
Possible way forward: (What I think). I may develop an app that
takes the time-stamp at phone A
transfers that to phone B via Bluetooth or WiFi (connected to same router),
B then compares that time-stamp with its own clock, calculates offset,
And I run my original app, run experiments and,
Use the offset to correct time-stamps before processing data
Your Comments/Suggestions: How to do it? And comments on the method described in last part..

SMS not received...only in certain cases...Carrier/Country?

I have a technical issue that I can't resolve because the problem only happens on the other side of the planet that I'm on.
So I am hoping someone with a lot more Experience with these technologies can suggest an alternate approach or path to take in order to rectify it, or possibly right out "RECOGNIZE" the source of the problem.
THE SCENARIO :
I have developed an application for the Samsung Gear2 that sends SMS messages using its host companion android application.
In all tests I perform with the app pair, everything works as expected.
Messages are sent by the android device's SMS manager and received by the recipient no problem, even when adding and removing the leading 1.
10 and 11 digit numbers to and from the USA, with and without the leading + sign all pass.
However, when sending the apps to Samsung for review and testing, they keep having problems sending certain numbers. As far as I can tell the only thing different between the numbers that send and the numbers that fail is the fact that the first has a leading 0 and the second does not.
This would have to be coupled with the fact that they are testing this functionality
in a different Continent/Country than the 1 where my tests are being done(USA).
As my tests succeed to send and receive the messages regardless of whether
the number is a 10 digit version or 11 digit version of the same number.
Also discrepancies surfacing from the use of different Carriers (possibly Telecom in Asia) other than the one that I am testing with(Bell - USA)...
To be clear, I am simply composing messages via the Gear2 app and sending it to the android device via Samsung's Accessory Protocol which works flawlessly.
From there I use the basic implementation of the standard
Android's SMSManager
getDefault()
and
sendTextMessage(String destinationAddress, String scAddress, String
text, PendingIntent sentIntent, PendingIntent deliveryIntent)
with all null values exept the "destinationAddress","text",
and the "sentIntent".
THE QUESTION(s) : in order of most to least important
1. IS THERE a specific "routine" SMS app developers use to maximize the
success rate
of sent sms messages no matter what Country or Carrier the user sends the message from or to, and no matter if the entered number contains the leading exit and Country codes?
(ie: Adding or removing a plus(+) sign, per-examining the Locale
being used and adjusting the number accordingly using some sort of
"SMS Numbering Standard", Altering the Service Center Address / SMSC
Address (AT+CSCA), ect...)?
2. IS THERE some sort of information source detailing general "GOTCHAS" to look for
dependent upon the various Cell/SMS service providers/Carriers? (at least 4 that I know of).
3. Why would Android's SMSManger report "SMS Sent" if the message wasn't actually delivered.
NOTE: I realize that one can also listen for the "second" broadcast android sends
confirming that the message was "actually" received by the recipient, but that raises questions concerning how to rectify that situation, if it's at all rectifiable (at least from a programmatic perspective.)
4. Should my app, which is actually a Samsung Gear2 app integrated with an android app,
and merely delegates the responsibility of sending the messages to the android devices SMSManager, be held responsible for the message not being sent?
NOTE: I can't help but feel that Samsung is requiring me to handle
issues outside the scope and unrelated to the apps intended
functionality, Albeit , I do understand that at least part of the
issue has to fall back on me by Default, being the nature of the Gear2
apps dependance on the android device to complete the intended action
started by the Gear2 app, but how far must I go to ensure the standard
SMS abilities of a users android device beyond giving helpful feedback
as to what the underlying problem may be. I have to assume this
problem would exist using the device itself to compose the message
instead of the Gear2 app, given the exact same address/number .
5. Assuming that the app is being tested in Asia (South Korea, Samsung's Headquarters)... And assuming that the carrier being used to test SMS is SK Telecom
(Which I think is South Korea's top Carrier)...
Is it Mandatory to start all numbers with a zero in order to successfully send an SMS within the same Country? And if so is that the same in all Countries besides the USA and Canada(Which seem to work either way)?
6. Is this a common issue to deal with generally when developing sms applications, or can I single this particular situation out from the rest based on the unique variables introduced by Samsung's over diligent testing practices along with there unfamiliar
Telephony Service Providers and even more unfamiliar Geo-location/Country-code and numbering schemes.
THE PROBLEM *(only happens during Samsung testing) :
TEST 1:
Send SMS from stored contacts with number 010-6627-xxxx (11 digits)
Result:
SMS is reported by android's SMSManager as sent. The recipient
immediately receives SMS message.
Conclusion:
SMS delivery success.
TEST 2:
Send SMS from manually entering number 10-6627-xxxx (10 digits) (same number as previous without first 0)
Result:
SMS is reported by android's SMSManager as sent. However, the
recipient never receives SMS message.
Conclusion:
?
Unable to duplicate this problem (at least not in the USA) as both :
11 digit numbers (leading 1) AND 10 digit numbers
(no leading 1)
Successfully send the message as expected.
The problem only happens during device testing/certification by Samsung's app testing
department, and seemingly only when manually entering the destination address/number.
Stored Contacts (for some reason) always work.
After being denied certification of an otherwise "GOOD TO GO APPLICATION" 3 times by Samsung for issues UN-recreatable in my own testing environment I find myself turning the good folks at SOF with this "HAIL MARY PASS".
I do not change anything at all about the numbers that are sent to the SMSManager, But I'm wondering if maybe THAT'S the problem.
EXTRA INFO :
All devices used are using android 4.2 and higher.
My tests were all done using T-Mobile Galaxy phones and sometimes google/Gmail/GoogleVoice
sms/mms service From North Fla. USA.
ON A SIDE NOTE ABOUT SAMSUNG...
Samsung's testers are very sparse with the details of their testing enviroment including what may possibly be the issue from their standpoint which is unfortunate because I'm becoming certain that this issue is Trivial at best and probably easily fixable with a basic understanding of your own Country/Carriers methods for sending successful SMS messages.
It seems they are not even making an effort to enlighten me or TO make any neccesary
adjustments to their test numbers as any user would do in order to have a successful result.
ANY INSIGHT INTO THIS ISSUE WHATSOEVER WOULD BE IMMENSELY APPRECIATED!!!
Interesting question. I understand that the Samsung testing process can be quite rigorous.
From reading your info .. have you tried including that leading "0" yourself? E,g when a person manually enters 10 digits without a leading 0, you detect it and add this "0" . Also, how are this digits entered on a gear 2 device ? Do you implement your own keypad and ensure it captures the right digits ?
I guess that would be a starting point ..
V.

Estimating Delay in WiFi Using Android

I have a simple and clear question: Is it possible to send a set of data packets, one packet at a time after the acknowledgement signal from the access point is received using an Android device? The type of signal is not important just the total time passed into the process( within a resolution of ns or us suits my application) is important for me and I don't know a thing about Android, but if such a task can be pulled off in Android, I will learn Android.
Thanks
You can send a System.nanoTime() value to the other device and then substract...the thing is if the 2 devices dont have exactly the same hour, this value will not be real... Anyways, you can sync. both devices sending a "test package" from a fixed distance, sou you can measure the difference according to the test package.

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