Tasker for Android

The Direct-Purchase version offers a 7 day trial period before any payment is necessary, and you can purchase the Direct-Purchase or Market version (delete the trial first for the Market version) when it expires.

If you feel that 7 days isn't long enough to evaluate Tasker, you can just delete it and reinstall to start a new trial.

Should I buy the Android Market version or the Direct-Purchase version ?

The two versions are nearly identical. The Android Market version has the advantages:

install may be easier e.g. you don't have to enable the 'Unknown sources' setting
you don't need to enter a validation code
you can simultaneously install on multiple devices with the same Google account

The Direct-Purchase version has the advantages:

it's cheaper
it supports file encryption
you can choose to use Paypal or Google Checkout
you don't have to deal with typical Market 'authorization failure' etc problems

Note: you can't update the direct-purchase version with the Android Market app, but it does have it's own configurable update mechanism.

What is Validation ?

Validation is the process of confirming that the Tasker app running on your device has been purchased (not pirated).

Direct-Purchase versions need a key to do this, Android Market versions can do it without a key by talking to the Android Market servers.

Tasker will attempt to validate automatically without bothering you. If it hasn't managed after a few days, it will ask you to attempt it manually.

Isn't this validation business evil DRM ?

Only in the very loosest sense.

It's a one-time check (per install-life of the app) that the app has actualLy been paid for. There is no limitation at any time of your 'Digital Rights'. The app is not in regular contact with some shady server somewhere and monitoring or controlling your usage.

How long do I have in order to validate Tasker ?

7 days from the time of installation.

Do I need to pay for updates ?

No, all updates are free.

Where can I ask questions ?

There is a contact email in the application under Menu / Info / Support (for ordering/validation questions only please!)

Android Market Version

Why do I need to validate it ?

This is an anti-piracy measure to prevent a copy of Tasker running if it was never actually purchased. Piracy is rife for Android Market apps due to historical lack of validation possibilities.

Why does the Android Market version not support encryption ?

It is distributed by servers situated in the US and so is subject to their encryption export laws.

What information does Tasker send during validation ?

That's unknown, the validation is performed by Google.

Can I switch to the Direct-Purchase version ?

Yes:

backup your profiles to SD with Menu / Profile Data / Backup

delete the Market version with Android Settings Manage Applications

download the Direct-Purchase version from the Tasker website
enter your 15-digit Google order number in Menu / More / Order Validation.
Note that sometimes Google presents a much longer order number (which is actually the developer number), you need to find the Google one, please look further in the order details.
restore your profiles from SD using Menu / Profile Data / Restore

If you get an error 'unknown order code' or similar, you will need to contact the develeloper to make sure the order code has been properly setup (include the order code in your email!)

My card isn't accepted for payment, what can I do ?

This could be because Tasker is listed in GBP (Google won't allow a listing in $ for a non-US developer). Sometimes you just need to contact your credit-card company and ask them to authorize international purchases.

You could also try the Direct-Purchase version, which lets you pay via Paypal if that helps (you can then pay in $US with your credit-card, or use your paypal balance / eCheque).

Be sure to have a look at the differences between the two versions first.

What can I do about other downloading/authorizing/installing issues ?

Problems with download e.g. 'authorizing purchase', and payment are always the result of a problem within Android Market and/or Google Checkout (the market payment processor). A developer has no control over these issues.

You could try first:

go to Android's App Management screen (Menu / Settings / Applications / Manage Applications), select Running, click on Market, click Clear Data
repeat for the Download Manager application
reboot the phone

Some problems can be fixed by simply cancelling the order and trying again with a new purchase, though that might mean you can't cancel the 2nd purchase if you don't like the product.

Finally, please refer to Google's Android Market Support service. There's a specific page on resolving download problems and many relevant posts on Downloading, Authorizing and Installing.

If you find it's not possible to install via Market, you could try the Direct-Purchase Version.

What if I have to reinstall Tasker from scratch ?

If you have a completely new device, you should be able to download Tasker again without paying if you use the same Google account with the new device.

Tasker should should revalidate itself automatically (with an Internet connection) after around 20 minutes. If it doesn't manage after a few days, it will start asking you to do it manually.

If I buy the Cupcake version, can I get the other version for free when I upgrade my phone or OS ?

Unfortunately that's not possible via the Market because it sees them as completely different items.

What you can do is switch to the Direct-Purchase Direct-Purchase Not-Cupcake version.

Can I move Tasker to a different Google account ?

The developer is not able to move a Market version of Tasker to a new Google account, only Google can do that.

However, you could switch to the Direct-Purchase version of Tasker, which does not care about your Google account. There is no cost involved. The Direct-Purchase version has its own auto-update mechanism and includes file encryption as a bonus.

If that doesn't appeal, the only option left is to make a new order on the new account and send both order numbers to the developer, who will then cancel the old order.

What is internal error in Market ?

Order processing for Android Market is extremely error-prone. In many cases, an order will be cancelled with the status internal error in Market and no further explanation is available.

Google have not responded to developer queries about this.

When it happens, the payment is sometimes taken from the customer's bank account even though they still cannot download the application onto their device. In such cases:

the developer cannot refund the money because Checkout (Google's order processing system) thinks that no money has been paid

the customer needs to contact Google's Market support
Market support might say 'contact the developer and ask for a refund'. It needs to be made clear to Market support that this is not possible and that the error lies with their order system.

If the order is cancelled without payment, it may still be possible to order Tasker by first clearing Market and Download caches and trying again.

Direct-Purchase Version

How do I pay ?

In the Tasker application, go to Menu / More / Order Validation and click Buy Code.

You will pay for an item called 'Tasker Code XXXXXXXXXX'. That code will be automatically filled into the validation screen in Tasker.

You will not receive any special email from the developer, since you already know what your code is (and will receive confirmation from paypal/checkout).

Can I buy a code from my PC ?

Yes, click here. You'll pay for a randomly generated code.

Once you've bought the code, just put it into your Tasker app at Menu / More Order Validation. Don't press the Buy Code button, just put the one you bought with your PC in there and then press Validate.

Where is the email with my validation code ?

There's no need for an extra email, the item you purchased is the code you use to validate Tasker, it will be described as 'Tasker Code XX1XX1XX1XX1'.

If you purchased on the phone, you should find it already in the box at Menu / More / Order Validation.

Otherwise you can find it in the email purchase confirmation you receive from Paypal or Checkout.

Can I validate 'offline' ?

Currently that's not possible, sorry.

Will I be notified of updates ?

Yes, the Direct-Purchase version has it's own version checking mechanism. You can set the frequency of update checks in Menu / Prefs / More / Update Check Frequency.

What if I have to reinstall Tasker from scratch on the same phone ?

After download and install, Tasker should should revalidate itself automatically (with an Internet connection). It should be able to retrieve the order code from the SD card.

Is Tasker transferrable to other devices ?

Each order code is valid for one device at one time. If you know you are moving to a new device, you can 'release' your order code via Menu / More / Order Validation / Release Code. The code will then be free to be entered in Tasker on your new device.

This is one of the disadvantages of the direct-purchase version.

What if I have a new phone ?

If you still have the old phone:

release your code with Menu / More / Order Validation / Release Key
backup your profiles to SD with Menu / Profile Data / Backup



On the new phone:


	download and install Tasker
	
retrieve the code if you don't know it
	
put the code in the box at Menu / More / Order Validation.
	
if you have revalidated Tasker on any device within the last 30 days and didn't/couldn't release
the code on the old device, you will need to contact the developer to get the code released
(include the code in your request!)
	
restore your old profile (if saved): Menu / Profile Data / Restore




And what if I upgrade my ROM ?

It's unlikely that a change of ROM will change the Device ID. Just in case, you may wish to temporarily release your
code via Menu / More / Order Validation / Release Code, and then revalidate after the upgrade.


If you had an SD card in the device when you validated, Tasker should have remembered and restored your key the first
time you start the UI after the ROM change.




What information does Tasker send during validation ?

Order code, Device ID, Tasker Version, Android version.



How do I install the Direct-Purchase version ?

Please see the Download / Install page.



I don't know my code anymore, how can I find it ?

If you no longer have your purchase email, you should still be able to find your order code from your Paypal or Checkout account, it's part of the item description. If you paid via the
Market and don't have a checkout account, please write to the email given in Menu / Info / User Support with
your postcode so the developer can locate the order.



I get 'The server reports an internal error' when validating, what can I do ?

The most likely cause of this error is  a 'proxy' server in-between Tasker and the valiadation/market server.
It's probably not actually the validation server returning the error.


Several users have gotten around this by using a wifi connection to validate instead of a Mobile Data connection.





If I buy the Cupcake version, can I get the other version for free when I upgrade my phone or OS ?

Sure:


	save your profiles via Menu / Profile Data / Backup
	
delete the Cupcake version
	download and install the other version direct
	
put the 15 digit Google order number in Menu / More / Order Validation to validate it
	
restore profiles via Menu / Profile Data / Restore





Why is Tasker suddenly complaining this it's not validated / Why is my update check failing ?


If you had previously successfully validated, the most likely reason is that you've used
a backup program recently which has not correctly restored all of the data.



Have a look in Menu / More / Order Validation. If no code is shown in the box, you
should update to the latest Tasker version.


Now you need to enter your validation code and click the Validate button (which will appear
once you start entering the code).

If you can't remember the code, have a look here.




Can I switch my Direct-Purchase licence to a Market version ?


Sorry, no. The only way to get a Market licence is to purchase via Market.



It's not even possible for you to make the purchase and then have the developer refund it, because
the licence will stop working after the refund.


However, if you bought the direct-purchase code in the last 2 months, you can:



	buy a new copy on Market
	send the developer:
		
				the Paypal transaction number/Checkout order number of the old order
				
the new Checkout order number
		



The older order can then be refunded.