I am new to WM and I love all of the customization that can be done. I am looking at a few different apps to run along with SPB Shell and I can't decide what to do. I have three apps I am looking into all with pros and cons. If anyone can help point me in the right direction that would be great. Thanks!
Phone Extension
The main thing I like about this app is the fact that it has a dialer. Dialers seem to be few and far between on the Omnia (WQVGA). Everything else here is good but doesn't really jump out and grab me like the other two. When scrolling through the contacts it tends to get jumpy somtimes.
PocketCM
I love this app (especially with the htctoucher gloss theme) but it is missing two key components: a dialer and a call log (I know you can look at it along with sms, but I would like a separate one). My favorite part has to be the SMS feature. It looks so professional and I love the text bubbles. It does have a tendency to jump around and not run as smooth as the Resco Contact though. With a dialer and a call log I would definitely go with this (if I could get it to run a little smoother that would be better too). I saw that Htctoucher has a gloss dialer that goes well with the contact manager but it doesn't work in WQVGA.
Resco Contact Manager
This program runs the best of the three but I would like for it to be skinable or at least have another color option. It definitely runs the smoothest of the three, but it also is missing a dialer. I like how it has a threaded read of your text messages but I wish it had one that functioned more like PocketCM's. One that had the look with the text bubbles, and one that allowed you to type right at the bottom of the screen while still seeing the other messages. This program does run with two flaws though. The phonepad doesn't stay up when I hit the button sometimes and the taskbar displays at the top over the program.
In all I am looking for an SMS app that looks like the one in PocketCM, very professional and lets me type while seeing my old messages (I tried out SmileySMS but it's not nearly the same). If possible I would like that to be integrated into a contact manager with pictures in the contact list and a call log to show all incoming, outgoing, and missed calls. And finally a dialer that goes along with the other two. Oh and if you could get all of that to run smoothly together that would be amazing.
Thanks!
(I am know I am being picky, but I figure I would see what thoughts others had. Thanks in advance!)
Welcome to xda-devs! Glad to have you with us. I'm just telling you before the mods yell at you, you need to post all questions in the Q&A section.
Zoltair Wright said:
Welcome to xda-devs! Glad to have you with us. I'm just telling you before the mods yell at you, you need to post all questions in the Q&A section.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry about that, I told you I'm new right
Thanks!
No problem, just thought I'd warn you.
BTW, have you checked out iDialer and iContact? They're seperate programs that have been programmed to work very well together. I don't know if they support WQVGA but it might be worth taking a look.
The SMS thing is harder to do. I've been wishing for a better SMS interface for a while, the best I've seen is unfortunately not freeware, it's made by VITO.
Anybody have any ideas?
Hey trib,
How about broadening your reach by using that creative, artistic flair to make themes or skins for QVGA devices? It may be fun and if you can find a niche in that market you can work your way into the other screen sizes as well. You have good roms already, you could create different new looks to keep them fresh since they are stable enough to use over long periods without re-flashing.
Another idea, just create icon sets for devices. Any creative idea like these could land you a lot of compliments, or better yet, donations, from those that like to freshen up their phone a bit without having to re-flash. On that note, have you figured out a way to skin the WP7 blocks that open the hubs? I have seen many screen shots, real and fake, that show a background image within the weather, calendar, etc, blocks on the main screen. I am still using your Trib7 rom and I really don't mind the HTC green that I have going now but was curious if you or another developer has figured out a way to alter the hub look without an additional 20 lines of code to do so.
Anyway, glad to see your new job isn't keeping you from xda. Good luck with whatever you decide to create.
nice topic, i got it
nice topic, i got it.
When I have some time, I think this sounds like a great idea. Thanks.
Hi,
This is the first time for me to post a Request, and since my Samsung Intrepid isn't on the list below, I'm posting here. I hope it's not out of order, if it is, then Admin please do not delete, but just move it to the appropriate place and email me as to new location.
I'm running Titanium, and one thing I've been looking for high and low, on this and other forums, is an app that allows me to put the day of the week, in addition to time & date on the taskbar.
Haven't found one yet, which is surprising. Anyone know of one that'd work on Titanium WM 6.5, or can create one?
I'd also like to be able to put the day of the week on the cclock panel on the Today screen, or else have a separate panel that shows time, date, day of week.
Now, I know you can alter the .cpr file, BUT unfortunately I'm not a developer, and don't know what to put in the Titanium xxxx.cpr's at the various resolutions. Also, I'm rather nervous about experimenting here, since these files are in the ROM, and if I screw up my phone in the process, my warranty may be voided.
So, to make a long story short, I'd just like to be able to install another panel, or whatever, something like a Titanium plugin, like notifications, that I can install/uninstall w/o touching the ROM.
Again, I'm rather surprised there isn't anything like these apps to place the day of the week on the taskbar & Today screen. And leave it to MSFT to leave something like this out, ESP since they had it for the previous WM OS's. 8(
Well, that's why I'm posting here. The Xda forum is an invaluable resource, and I've learned a lot lurking and reading thru some of the incredibly long threads.
Any help for my 2 requests would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
No response?
I'm surprised there isn't any response or interest.
Well, I found battclock, Zuinige's excellent program, to take care of the day on
the taskbar, but nothing for on the Titanium Today screen.
There is canalog clock, but it's way too big fot my blackberry sized screen on my wm samsung intrepid.
I was hoping someone would have some suggestions, or maybe develop a cclock panel alternative not as huge as canalog, or digital like cclock with thday and date thrown in.
I found coding suggestions for modifying the titanium.cpr, but they're all different and 2 are for the Hero, so that's a deadend.
I know there are a lot of developers on this board; I'm just surprised no one's come up with an "enhanced" cclock.
Anyway, just a request, if anyone'd care to help. Thanks
Hi all,
I'm a noob app developer trying to do it for the first time. I'm trying to create an event calendar app for company's internal purposes. So that everyone in the company (which uses a lot of android phones) can be updated on company events that are coming up.
My approach is to create a database with MySQL for events input, and to use PHP to connect the database which is in a server and to push it to the android devices that are used in the office as that's how I found it in a tutorial from HelloAndroid.
My questions are:
1. is this the best approach to create such app?
2. Can I use Android's default calendar to input these events? if not is there some kind of calendar template that I can use to display the information to the users.
Probably will have more questions as I progress, but please help if anyone is more experienced in these matters than I am.
Thank you very much, and really appreciate the inputs that I'm gonna get
A simple solution would be to use Google Calendar.
By using GC you can add/edit events either from a PC (work or home) or your Mobile anywhere in the World.
All that is required is for someone to first set up the calendar on Google and push it out to all those who you want to see it.
This way you are not isolating anyone who does not have an Android Phone.
that's a really good point. Especially in a closed environment like an office. I didn't think of that before. THank you very much.
However, if let's say I want to try to build an app for that for public use, not just confined to limited numbers of people in a company.
Would that be the best approach or if there's any better way to approach it. I may decide to build the app after all just to learn and gain experience in app development.
thanks again for the feedback, really appreciate it.
I can't really give you advice on developing an App sorry.
All I can say is the method I mention is the one which I use to keep all my Operational Team (Surgeons/Doctors/Nurses/Admin/etc) updated and advised.
There's nothing short in you developing your own Calendar App but you would have to ensure it would be available to all and that includes anyone anywhere regardless of the fact they are at work, home, holiday, with Android or not, have a Phone, PC, Mac, etc... etc...
For that there's already a stable tool by the name of Google Calendar.
If you do develop one I'd still be interested in seeing what ideas you could bring into practice that would have a benefit over GC.
I understand your point of view, and actually you got me thinking, maybe if I really want to do the apps, I can create an app that calls the Gcalendar events, and display it from the app. I can find out the API to do that, and that would be much simpler.
Thank you again for your input, really appreciate i
racdyn said:
I understand your point of view, and actually you got me thinking, maybe if I really want to do the apps, I can create an app that calls the Gcalendar events, and display it from the app. I can find out the API to do that, and that would be much simpler.
Thank you again for your input, really appreciate i
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Click to collapse
No problem.... I wish you well on your venture.
Do please let us all know how you get on.. You never know, if it becomes that good I may even use it myself over the stock calendar App or any of the other's that already link to GC.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ape.apps.forumfiend
So I am the developer of a little known Tapatalk alternative forum reader called Forum Fiend. The app has come a long way since I released it last fall. The reason for my post is that I have noticed XDA is the #3 site accessed through Forum Fiend, so there might be a couple of users around here. Was wondering if people could share their issues with the app or provide feedback on how to make it better. My goal is to provide a fully functional and superior forum browsing experience vs Tapatalk.
Thanks in advance for your input!
Sent from my SM-P600 using Forum Fiend v1.2.5.
Update 20150112 - v1.3.1
Addressed bugs from Google Play error console
Added "Timeline" view and start page option
Added the ability to rename servers on the main screen
Improved server-detection methods
Removed old unused libraries
Forum owners can now collect Google Analytics data through Forum Fiend
Forum owners can now use their own Mobfox ad banners to monitize through Forum Fiend
Update 20141217 - v1.3
All new theme settings screen with real-time preview
Added quick reply on post pages
Brought post pagination stuff out of the menus/actionbar
Can now customize the forum start page
Active Users sidebar can now be turned off for tablets
Inbox/Mail layout updates
Layout updates to sliding drawer menu
Added support for https servers
Now supports Android v2.3 Gingerbread devices
Added Material theme support
Bug fixes
Update 20141128 - v1.2.14
Slight layout changes
Bug fixes
Update 20141123 - v1.2.13.1
Quick bugfix release for Lollipop devices
Update 20141122 - v1.2.13
Increased mail service timer again to further reduce server loads
Slight theme changes
Added a circle border around user avatars
Update 20141111 - v1.2.12
Theme updates for Lollipop devices
Other random slight theme updates
Update 20140930 - v1.2.11
Bug fixes
Update 20140829 - v1.2.10
Increased the mail service timer to reduce loads on servers
Added Meme Maker!
Added user online status indicator to posts
Slight layout rearrangments on posts and topics
Slight layout changes to Chat screen
Added the option to save post pictures to SD card
Update 20140803 - v1.2.9
Addressed bugs from Google Play error console
App now renders smileys
Added support for
Code:
tag
[*]Added a views indicator for topics
[*]Added 'Open in Browser' and 'Share Topic' options for phpBB systems
[*]App now handles file attachments
[/LIST]
[B]Update 20140609 - v1.2.8[/B]
[LIST]
[*]New Theme Options - Forum theme options have been greatly expanded. You can now alter the accent color, background color, text color, forum element color/visibility, forum wallpaper, and turn on/off forum icons/avatars.
[*]App can now be installed/moved to SD card
[*]Kit Kat(+) devices now tint the status and nav bars with forum theme color
[*]Added Favorites list (bookmarks) for forums.
[*]Added more functionality to forums viewed in the Web View (non-tapatalk forums)
[*]Various bug fixes
[/LIST]
[B]Update 20140507 - v1.2.7[/B]
[LIST]
[*]Non-Tapatalk forums can now be added to the app. If you enter a URL that does not work with Tapa, the app will ask if you want to use the forum in a WebView instead.
[*]Added a post preview option to the new posts screen. Also added a select all, and a clear all feature. Find them by pressing the menu button on the new post screen.
[*]Various other bug fixes and layout updates
[/LIST]
[B]Update 20140430 - v1.2.6[/B]
[LIST]
[*]You can now add a direct link on the homescreen to any of your forums. It will behave just like having a stand alone forum app, completely bypassing the forum listing screen. This required the Install Shortcut permission.
[*]Forum elements now have sort of a shaded box theme to them. I think it looks a little nicer, but if people don't like it I can revert back to the old look, or make it optional.
[*]Got rid of the cartoon looking default avatar icon.
[*]Improvements to post link, quote, and other BB code handling.
[*]Forum topics listing now has an infinite scroll (at least until there are no topics left), kind of like the news feeds in Facebook and Twitter apps
[*]The left slideout menu has been rearranged and now contains navigation links such as forum index, subscriptions, unread topics, etc
[*]Added a quick popup tip on how to log in when you enter a forum as a guest
[*]Changed the language on the forum listing screen input box to make it more apparent that a URL is the required input
[*]Forum settings have been moved out of the sliding menu and on to their own screen.
[/LIST]
I just tried it and it's a good start. It needs some work like labelling. Right now, it's just a box with the word "Add". Need a tutorial or something to guide the user into what or how to get into a forum. Right now, I had to guess and put the entire web address in the box. The key at the bottom needs a label. Even something as simple as "login" or something. I'm no IT/Tech expert but I can get around and figure stuff out. Not everyone is tech savvy so they need a little guidance.
Need a way to access favorite forums. XDA, for example, is a large forum. People don't like to scroll through every phone or tablet to find their forum.
Hopefully, this helps a little. I don't want to sound critical but these are things you need to know.
Taptalk is the gold standard right now but I like competition so good luck.
tube517 said:
I just tried it and it's a good start. It needs some work like labelling. Right now, it's just a box with the word "Add". Need a tutorial or something to guide the user into what or how to get into a forum. Right now, I had to guess and put the entire web address in the box. The key at the bottom needs a label. Even something as simple as "login" or something. I'm no IT/Tech expert but I can get around and figure stuff out. Not everyone is tech savvy so they need a little guidance.
Need a way to access favorite forums. XDA, for example, is a large forum. People don't like to scroll through every phone or tablet to find their forum.
Hopefully, this helps a little. I don't want to sound critical but these are things you need to know.
Taptalk is the gold standard right now but I like competition so good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THANK YOU this is the kind of feedback I'm looking for
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Forum Fiend v1.2.5.
I've been looking for something to replace Tapatalk, and I've looked at FF a few times. Figuring out how to get a forum loaded was confusing. The only way I figured out how to get on to XDA was happening to see it on the Play Store pictures. Logging in was a bit awkward too. When I saw the key at the top, I figured it was a link to purchase a pro version or something.
Most of all though, the look of it kept me from switching over. It feels dated. From the default cartoon avatars before logging in to a forum and icons, to the font and colors, it just feels a little off, although the action bar looks fine. I also feel like the slide out navigation is sort of wasted on the settings menu and active users, neither of which I use much. They might be better suited for faster navigation, search, showing subscribed forums/topics.
The number 1 reason, though, that I am looking for a Tapatalk replacement is the ability to bypass the forum selection page since I only use XDA. If it could detect that only one forum is present and automatically enter that one when opening the app, that would be legit.
Sorry to seem like I was going on and on. I think it has good potential, and some easy-ish fixes can make a world difference.
Jesellers88 said:
I've been looking for something to replace Tapatalk, and I've looked at FF a few times. Figuring out how to get a forum loaded was confusing. The only way I figured out how to get on to XDA was happening to see it on the Play Store pictures. Logging in was a bit awkward too. When I saw the key at the top, I figured it was a link to purchase a pro version or something.
Most of all though, the look of it kept me from switching over. It feels dated. From the default cartoon avatars before logging in to a forum and icons, to the font and colors, it just feels a little off, although the action bar looks fine. I also feel like the slide out navigation is sort of wasted on the settings menu and active users, neither of which I use much. They might be better suited for faster navigation, search, showing subscribed forums/topics.
The number 1 reason, though, that I am looking for a Tapatalk replacement is the ability to bypass the forum selection page since I only use XDA. If it could detect that only one forum is present and automatically enter that one when opening the app, that would be legit.
Sorry to seem like I was going on and on. I think it has good potential, and some easy-ish fixes can make a world difference.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, this is good feedback. I have read other comments in the market also saying the interface looks dated, but I am not entirely sure what a more modern interface looks like. Do you consider the general look and feel of Tapatalk to be a good example of modern, that I can use as a guide to work off of?
As for automatically going to a specific forum, that would certainly be easy to add. I was thinking of letting users place icons for their specific forums on their homescreen, so they could launch each forum just as they would a stand alone app. They would probably be widgets technically, but could look just like a normal app icon.
bastecklein said:
Thanks, this is good feedback. I have read other comments in the market also saying the interface looks dated, but I am not entirely sure what a more modern interface looks like. Do you consider the general look and feel of Tapatalk to be a good example of modern, that I can use as a guide to work off of?
As for automatically going to a specific forum, that would certainly be easy to add. I was thinking of letting users place icons for their specific forums on their homescreen, so they could launch each forum just as they would a stand alone app. They would probably be widgets technically, but could look just like a normal app icon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A holo interface would be nice keeping in time with current Google design and the majority of apps that currently being published.
Sent from my N800 using Tapatalk
Added to Wishlist and will take a look at it when i get time and hello Kansas City from Springfield,MO
bastecklein said:
...I have noticed XDA is the #3 site accessed through Forum Fiend...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you pleae explain what else is tracked and how?
I appreciate the fact you asked for the voice of community. I guess it's somewhat vital for application's life, if anything else for gaining people's attention. Anyway, first thing I noticed when I installed Forum Fiend (yeah, I installed Forum Fiend now for the first time) was the fact that you need to manually enter forum server's URL. It's not a major PITA, but perhaps it would be nicer if it was done the Tapatalk way. The design is quite up-to-date IMHO, but as Jesellers88 said, default icons are cute, but kind of unprofessional, I'm afraid.
Also, BBCode support is a quite handy feature which Tapatalk does not offer (kudos!), but a full-fledged editor with preview, code and other stuff depending on what each forum allows would be even better, though Tapatalk offers nothing.
To summarize: Forum Fiend is quite a nice application, but above mentioned suggestions (mine and from others in this thread) would bring it to perfection, I suppose. This post was intended to be a constructive critique and in no manner something intended to offend your work. I'm not an application developer or anything alike so this is my two cents .
Seems really interesting. Will certainly keep an eye on this project.
nice work. one issue encountered: app crashes when using "Last Page" function on a 1 page post. probably want to handle that better.
rolling56 said:
Added to Wishlist and will take a look at it when i get time and hello Kansas City from Springfield,MO
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks!
Sent from my SM-P600 using Forum Fiend v1.2.6.
defim said:
Can you pleae explain what else is tracked and how?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes sure, I use Google Analytics to track page views, and also I track an event each time a server connection is made (server URL only, no other information is tracked).
I also send server connection information (again, URL only) to a database at my website, so that in the future I can implement a "most popular" forums section.
I see someone saw my comment.
Thank you thank you thank you. I can't stand the Tapatalk app. You have my thanks and full support!
moorkai said:
I appreciate the fact you asked for the voice of community. I guess it's somewhat vital for application's life, if anything else for gaining people's attention. Anyway, first thing I noticed when I installed Forum Fiend (yeah, I installed Forum Fiend now for the first time) was the fact that you need to manually enter forum server's URL. It's not a major PITA, but perhaps it would be nicer if it was done the Tapatalk way. The design is quite up-to-date IMHO, but as Jesellers88 said, default icons are cute, but kind of unprofessional, I'm afraid.
Also, BBCode support is a quite handy feature which Tapatalk does not offer (kudos!), but a full-fledged editor with preview, code and other stuff depending on what each forum allows would be even better, though Tapatalk offers nothing.
To summarize: Forum Fiend is quite a nice application, but above mentioned suggestions (mine and from others in this thread) would bring it to perfection, I suppose. This post was intended to be a constructive critique and in no manner something intended to offend your work. I'm not an application developer or anything alike so this is my two cents .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the feedback. A preview mode for the BBCode editor would certainly be easy to accomplish, so I will probably be adding that in there.
The primary reason I do not have a forum listing/browsing option like Tapa, is that I do not have access to Tapa's massive forum database (at least, not that I know of). I agree that it sucks having to manually type in the server address though. To try to somewhat get around this, I have been logging which servers are being accessed from the app (server address only, no personal info), and plan on adding a "most popular servers" list, or some other way to browse. It is the best I can come up with for the time being though :-/ If anybody has suggestions on better ways to implement this though, I am open to any ideas!
AbhishekS said:
Seems really interesting. Will certainly keep an eye on this project.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, with time and work I hope to be able to rival or surpass the quality of the official app.
natezire71 said:
I see someone saw my comment.
Thank you thank you thank you. I can't stand the Tapatalk app. You have my thanks and full support!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. The reason I started this project, and the reason I lost faith in Tapatalk, is because I had previously bought their "pro" app. Then they downgraded it to a free app and released another paid pro version. I wanted something that works without getting nickeled and dimed!
bastecklein said:
Thanks. The reason I started this project, and the reason I lost faith in Tapatalk, is because I had previously bought their "pro" app. Then they downgraded it to a free app and released another paid pro version. I wanted something that works without getting nickeled and dimed!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't mind paying if it works. Tapatalk is awful.
skokielad said:
nice work. one issue encountered: app crashes when using "Last Page" function on a 1 page post. probably want to handle that better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oops, agreed!
Definitely need some sort of tutorial. Like how do I go about subscribing to a thread?
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk