GoKawiilAndy Walker / Android Authority
NFC is a smartphone feature that isn’t nearly as appreciated as it should be. It’s not as flashy as UWB nor as integral as Wi-Fi, but NFC powers some of the simplest tools that help me plow through the mundanities of the day.
A few months ago, I picked up a bunch of NFC tags for a specific Android Auto automation project I was working on. I needed just two tags for that, so needless to say, I had plenty of spare chips that needed a purpose. And boy, have I found perfect uses for them!
Using these tags stuck to various locations in my house and car, Samsung’s Modes and Routines app powered up by the Routines+ Good Lock module, and a sprinkle of imagination, trial and error, and inspiration from others online, I can now tap my phone to smooth out the most fricative tasks in my life.
And what’s exciting is that you can too.
How often do you use NFC tags in your daily routine? 226 votes Daily. 8 % A few times a week. 3 % Occasionally. 7 % Rarely. 20 % I don't use NFC tags. 62 %
Why NFC tags are underappreciated and underutilized
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
Firstly, I want to highlight the prerequisites for this project. You’ll need some spare NFC tags. They don’t need to be able to save information, as they’re merely triggers for my use case. Then you’ll need a Samsung phone. In theory, you can use any Android device with an automation tool like Tasker or MacroDroid, but that’s beyond the scope of this article.
Next, why NFC tags? They’re incredibly cheap. I picked up a pack of 10 for just $6, and given the myriad use cases, that’s an awful lot of value. They’re even cheaper in the US, where you can get a stack of 50 for just under $9.
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