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Ask HN: Why isn't light/dark mode triggered based on ambient light sensor?

1 points by eveningtree ↗ HN
I have to set the theme manually all the time.

Triggering system theme based on time is useless for something like a phone, that moves across lighting environments.

And triggering based on actual light is such an obvious thing to do.

Am I missing something?

7 comments

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PaulHoule
Many Garmin GPS unit will switch between light and dark modes based on the time of day and known day-night status.
Comevius
Because most people prefer either one of them regardless of the lighting conditions. I prefer light mode, although I don't read in pitch dark.
flat-pluto
Which device are you talking about?

I know of several Android phones that have this feature (it is off by default though).

version_five
I had a vehicle that would switch to night mode, with a lag, every time I drove under a bridge. So just as I was coming out from under a bridge, the nav screen would flash to black background before realizing it wasn't night and flashing back to normal. Manual or time based is better imo
byoung2
My car has this feature but there is a sensitivity setting...high sensitivity and it behaves as you describes, orbon cloudy days the night mode comes on...low sensitivity and it takes a few minutes of darkness before it activates. It is even phased so that when it is a little dark the lights come on, then when it is even more dark the dash gets brighter, and then when it is definitely night time the nav screen changes.
pestatije
My Android Google maps does this