Android Version of the BBM - Android Apps and Games

Okay so here's the deal. I'm a BlackBerry to Android convert and I miss my BBM. So my new project is a BBM for the Android. I won't promise that I'll actually get it to work but I have every intention of it. So here's what I want to know: What do you all want in it?
What do you think would be a good name? The more professional the better obviously. I want the messenger to be taken seriously. (I'm pretty much clueless here, I suck with names. Read my screen name, you'll understand.)
What functions do you want to have? (EX. Location parameter where the messenger tells you when you're close to a friend.)
Let me know what you want out of it. For the moment I'm creating an outline of the functions that I plan for it to have which are as follows:
Messaging
- Sent over Internet connection not via text message
- Threading (Bubbles, divisions)
- See sent/delivered/read status
- Group Chat (Without Invite)
- Group Chat (With Invite)
Contacts
- Ability to add standard contacts
- Unique Pin to each divice
- - Barcode Scanner to add contacts
Status Updates
- Ability (Choice) to sync with twitter/facebook
- Show current music selection
- Show Busy/Available Orb
- Sync Busy/Available Status with Google calendar
Location Settings
- Update/Share Location with other contacts
- Ping/Alert of Contacts near you
- Show all contacts on map
Maybe Added
- Video Chat
(I don't really have a way to test this since I only have a Droid Eris but I'll see what I can do after I get a nice stable app.)
What other suggestions do you have?
And yes I'm aware of the messengers like pingchat and Hello so stop telling me to use those please.
Current Suggested Names:
A2M - Android - Android Messenger (A^2 M. When it was explained to me it was like A squared (A^2 = AA))
ADM - Android Messenger
ARC - Android Relay Chat
DMA - Droid Messenger App
DAM - Droid Alert Messenger (probably won't be used because of abbreviation)
DRC - Droid Relay Chat
ADM is the obvious choice but I was hoping for something more unique/catchy...whatever. Please keep suggesting names. I'm working on the app every free moment I have.
In most likely hood the first beta will be on my Droid and those of my friends so I can see it first hand (how it behaves, speed, battery drain etc.) and not release a defective pile of code. Pretty much everybody will see this on the market rather than me posting it here but I may do both. I don't know. We'll see when that time comes. For the mean time I'll make a beta list anyway.
Beta Test List:
Pretty much anyone that asks
As for those who have said that they hope I go through with this: I will. It's going to take a while. I work full time and I'm a full time college student. This may not happen soon but it will happen.

Oh this would be awesome! I would use it.

Not trying to be a downer, but don't we already have this... gtalk?

phantomzer0 said:
Not trying to be a downer, but don't we already have this... gtalk?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I suppose, but personally, I'm just not a fan of Gtalk.
I may sound conceited saying this but, I liked then fact that BBM was pretty much exclusive to the BlackBerry. I miss that exclusivity. Everyone can use Gtalk.
Plus Gtalk doesn't have all of the features that I intend to add.
But you're not the first person to say that I and do see the point

I'd definitely give it a try too. I was a die-hard blackberry addict as well and BBM was a great tool to have. One major benefit was how fast it was (unless BB servers were down) In your app I'd hope to see high speed from phone to phone. Good luck!

i dig it.
im all for it.

maxxve said:
I'd definitely give it a try too. I was a die-hard blackberry addict as well and BBM was a great tool to have. One major benefit was how fast it was (unless BB servers were down) In your app I'd hope to see high speed from phone to phone. Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The reason BBM was so fast was that it totally bypasses the public Internet and goes straight through RIM's servers.
Honestly, Talk/Latitude. Without a private network such as BIS, there is zero practical advantage to such a system. Building an exclusive club just to feel special is childish and a waste of talent.

ConstantineXVI said:
The reason BBM was so fast was that it totally bypasses the public Internet and goes straight through RIM's servers.
Honestly, Talk/Latitude. Without a private network such as BIS, there is zero practical advantage to such a system. Building an exclusive club just to feel special is childish and a waste of talent.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Everything is a matter of perception I suppose. You see it as a waste of talent, I see it as putting a talent to use. If you read the comments, there are several in favor of the idea. Maybe they along with myself simply just don't know better, but it doesn't hurt to try does it?
If I can use what I have to make a useful tool then I will. I'm not promising anything from this. It may work and it may not. I simply want a messenger that has as much functionality as the BBM. It's not totally about exclusivity. I freely admit that if it were solely for that reason, it would be a childish motive, but it's about having something that can increase productivity as well.

uhhh you might want to check out hellomessenger. It's already available for blackberry and iPhone (even supports BIS on the blackberry), and a public beta for Android should be out soon...
anyways just my two cents. I wanted to write the same thing till I found out about hellomessenger. No point reinventing the wheel
*EDIT* errr my bad.. you already know about hellomessenger.

I would use this!!!! I love this idea!

Write an app that supports Yahoo, AIM, MSN, and Jabber (GTalk, Facebook, etc) and STAYS CONNECTED and doesn't use a boatload of data/battery. I don't care about much else as long as the client itself is designed decently.
I'd just use a Jabber client with connectors but Jabber still isn't very mobile friendly in terms of data usage, therefore battery usage.
And to stay connected and not use a lot of data almost requires a central server which proxies the connections.. Even if you lose connectivity on the phone for a moment (or minutes) your stay online and get connections.. And the central server handles all of the ping/pong, presence, all that nonsense that moves significant data.
I still miss Verichat on PalmOS. It was almost perfect.

kwazi said:
uhhh you might want to check out hellomessenger. It's already available for blackberry and iPhone (even supports BIS on the blackberry), and a public beta for Android should be out soon...
anyways just my two cents. I wanted to write the same thing till I found out about hellomessenger. No point reinventing the wheel
*EDIT* errr my bad.. you already know about hellomessenger.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha Yup
I already know but it's still a valid point

khaytsus said:
Write an app that supports Yahoo, AIM, MSN, and Jabber (GTalk, Facebook, etc) and STAYS CONNECTED and doesn't use a boatload of data/battery. I don't care about much else as long as the client itself is designed decently.
I'd just use a Jabber client with connectors but Jabber still isn't very mobile friendly in terms of data usage, therefore battery usage.
And to stay connected and not use a lot of data almost requires a central server which proxies the connections.. Even if you lose connectivity on the phone for a moment (or minutes) your stay online and get connections.. And the central server handles all of the ping/pong, presence, all that nonsense that moves significant data.
I still miss Verichat on PalmOS. It was almost perfect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you trying to say you want a multi-chat client which stays connected all the time but doesn't use a lot of data/battery?
Having the data network connection or wifi connection will drain battery... So having it connected all the time will drain "boatload" of battery...
Thats why apps have a sync option... where they sync every x minutes or hours... the more time between syncs the less data and battery life used.
Simple.

The latest beta of the WhatsApp uses Android Push (C2DM) ... It does not poll
So yes, it does not drain battery "unless" a message is pushed
sintaku said:
Are you trying to say you want a multi-chat client which stays connected all the time but doesn't use a lot of data/battery?
Having the data network connection or wifi connection will drain battery... So having it connected all the time will drain "boatload" of battery...
Thats why apps have a sync option... where they sync every x minutes or hours... the more time between syncs the less data and battery life used.
Simple.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Ok not to be the one who really is a downer here but if you are a talented app dev I would spend your time elsewhere, for all those on this thread, I read about an app that does this the other day. Delivery/Read icons, group chats, send files, images etc. Called PingChat. Reviewer says main issue is getting people on it. This is cross platform as well. I can't post a link yet so look up pingchat

sintaku said:
Are you trying to say you want a multi-chat client which stays connected all the time but doesn't use a lot of data/battery?
Having the data network connection or wifi connection will drain battery... So having it connected all the time will drain "boatload" of battery...
Thats why apps have a sync option... where they sync every x minutes or hours... the more time between syncs the less data and battery life used.
Simple.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nonsense. An idle data network connection = No drain. Wifi I don't use. I already have K9 Mail, Weather, etc syncing...
What I was asking for, which I thought was abundantly clear, was one which filters most traffic and only talks to the client or the client talks to the server as necessary and the server side otherwise handles the bulk of the normal traffic.
And there are IM apps with a "sync" option? Really? Name one.

as long as is compatible with bbm pin #

raul1905 said:
as long as is compatible with bbm pin #
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Click to collapse
RIM won't like that
They wan't BBM to stay exclusive on BB's ofcourse. I know it's bull****, but that's the way they sell so they won't ever give up the rights to BBM. If you wan't to connect with BB users, you have to make this app cross-platform like pingchat or whatsapp.

so if there is already pingchat and whatsapp.. then why make another one?

raul1905 said:
as long as is compatible with bbm pin #
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Won't happen. BBM is closed protocol and goes over RIM's servers....nothing else can connect to it. Otherwise someone would have made an app with this functionality already.

Related

Android and why I want WiMo back

For almost 2 years I used a Touch Diamond. While WiMo is far from perfect in todays world with a bit of tweaking and some extra software I had a device that did what I wanted it to do. Sure, WiMo isnt what you´d call fast but as said, it did what it had to do.
For the past few days I´ve been using android with my new htc legend. I heard a lot of good things about android and that is why I decided to switch. But even after a few days I´m already having a feeling of regret. While android is very fast and finger friendly the OS/apps itself just don't cut it compared to WiMo. About 75% of the things I did on a daily basis with my phone just don't work (properly) on android.
Syncing mail with hotmail is a *****. It for example does not sync read messages so everytime I login with my pc I still have to click all new messages while I already read them on my phone. This worked perfectly with WiMo.
No automatic 3g disconnect. Now this isnt default on WiMo either but there are apps that just disconnect a idle data connection. Now android has a whole bunch of apps like juicedefender but they just dont work properly and are overcomplicated. Just disconnect if I don't use it. Thats all I want. Let apps and whatever connect when they want to and kill the connection when they are done. Simple you'd think but impossible on android it seems.
Youtube is a epic fail. In the exact same place, with the exact same simcard I just can't load a movie. They all stop after 3 seconds and don't load further. Also there is no option for always having HQ. The WiMo app had this and I could always load HQ movies without trouble.
But it gets even worse when it comes to much more practical things. The browser won't save exchange webmail login info. So now I'm expected to loging like 5 times a day to my uni mail by typing my info every time? Not nice.
And what about displaying agenda items? can't do that on the lockscreen. There are apps to do this but not on the htc sense one as far as I've seen. So I have to manually check my agenda which is just a ***** because I'm just to seeing things come up on the homescreen.
Also I can't login to the uni website. You should get a login popup but the android browser doesnt seem to be capable of this. Ofcourse this was no problem at all with a 2 year old browser... So now I can't check schedules and all.
Also there is no way to stream my favorite internet radio station.
Basically I pay 10 euro's a month for internet on my phone but all apps I regulairy use with internet don't work or only work a bit on android.
Don't get me wrong, I love the speed and all but what good is speed to me if I can't use most of the functions that are important to me? What is even more disturbing is that non of the things I want to do are very special. This should all just work but it seems to be far above what android is capable of.
Basically to me android is a disfunctional OS. If the above things would work, I'd love it but now all I got is speed, but no way of doing the things I want.
Nice try, but not quite it.
sjaak1234 said:
Syncing mail with hotmail is a *****. It for example does not sync read messages so everytime I login with my pc I still have to click all new messages while I already read them on my phone. This worked perfectly with WiMo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's hardly Android error - it just seems to be a bug in the mail client app. Maybe yry another one?
No automatic 3g disconnect. Now this isnt default on WiMo either but there are apps that just disconnect a idle data connection. Now android has a whole bunch of apps like juicedefender but they just dont work properly and are overcomplicated. Just disconnect if I don't use it. Thats all I want. Let apps and whatever connect when they want to and kill the connection when they are done. Simple you'd think but impossible on android it seems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not as simple as it sounds - android has to have an active data connection to enable IM messages as well as gmail imap notifications. Unlike POP3 e-mail accounts where you have to querry the server for new e-mails once in a while, gmail actually sends information to your phone when you get an email. And this wouldn't be possible if the connection was turned off.
And if you don't want to use gmail or gtalk, just disable background data in android's data sync settings and the 3g module won't eat your battery when unneeded. Don't worry, android is much smarter with power management than winMo and the fact that you didn't disable something by hand doesn't mean that it's eating your battery.
It's like GPS - even if it;s turned on in options/on power control wigdet the module isn't physically powered up until an app requests to use it. And when it's done the module powers down again. But still you see people disabling gps support in options after exiting maps believing that it will save some battery, or even requesting an app that would disable the switch on power control wigdet.
So just remember - it's a different OS, it has different rules and the fact that you did something by hand in winMo doesn't mean you have to do it here.
Youtube is a epic fail. In the exact same place, with the exact same simcard I just can't load a movie. They all stop after 3 seconds and don't load further. Also there is no option for always having HQ. The WiMo app had this and I could always load HQ movies without trouble.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again, this seems to be a problem with your rom/app version. I (and many other people) don't have any trouble with YT on android.
As for the HQ, it's turned on automatically when you're on wifi, on a gsm connection it defaults to standard quality. Personally i like this behavior but i agree that there should be an option to change that for people with huge/unlimited data plans.
But it gets even worse when it comes to much more practical things. The browser won't save exchange webmail login info. So now I'm expected to loging like 5 times a day to my uni mail by typing my info every time? Not nice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Weird, but also not android bug, just the browser. You might want to try some alternatives (like dolphin, skyfire, opera mini)
And what about displaying agenda items? can't do that on the lockscreen. There are apps to do this but not on the htc sense one as far as I've seen. So I have to manually check my agenda which is just a ***** because I'm just to seeing things come up on the homescreen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, and since when does WinMo display the agenda without any additional software? But i agree, htc really should make some "upcomming events" widget, and default android could use one as well. For now i use "CalWidget" and i know of "pure calendar widget" (paid). I don't know it they're compatible with sense but it may be worth a try
Also I can't login to the uni website. You should get a login popup but the android browser doesnt seem to be capable of this. Ofcourse this was no problem at all with a 2 year old browser... So now I can't check schedules and all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again, hard to blame android for that. Some alternative browser might help (maybe opera mini?).
Also there is no way to stream my favorite internet radio station.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no way to do that or maybe you just don't know a way to do it? Try DroidLive (it might even have this station in its database) or StreamFurious. Both have usable free versions.
Don't get me wrong, I love the speed and all but what good is speed to me if I can't use most of the functions that are important to me? What is even more disturbing is that non of the things I want to do are very special. This should all just work but it seems to be far above what android is capable of.
Basically to me android is a disfunctional OS. If the above things would work, I'd love it but now all I got is speed, but no way of doing the things I want.
Nice try, but not quite it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, seems to me that you don't really have a problem with android but you just got screwed by HTC and their customized version of android
If i were you, i'd just look for an unofficial rom. It might actually fix all your problems.
Also, part of your woes seems to be the fact that you knew winMo, knew the tweaks and apps you needed to make the device do what you want. Going over to android is a fresh start where you have to find out everything again. I know, i had similar feelings on a stock rom on my G1 after being a hardcore winMo user But after some research and grabbing a new rom and few extra apps android is way more functional than winMo for me and i don't feel like ever going back.
Just give it a chance and do some research.
Android platform has to mature a lot.
WM without xda is a hell.
You really need to find a new ROM. I've never had one single issue you're talking about.
Edit: And I'm using a myTouch running 1.6.
mr_deimos said:
That's hardly Android error - it just seems to be a bug in the mail client app. Maybe yry another one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could be, though I doubt that. But I might try a different one.
It's not as simple as it sounds
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know all that. But for me it does not seem to work perfectly. If I disable data connection always on (I never actually completely disable it), it still leaves it open. I checked overnight compared with just totally disabling it and it made a clear difference in the battery charge left. Its not like GPS where the icon actally dissapears when you don't use it but this doesnt happen with 3g so far as I can see it, it still uses more power than when disabling it.
I understand all the google stuff needs it, but I don't use any of it so for me its rather useless.
Again, this seems to be a problem with your rom/app version. I (and many other people) don't have any trouble with YT on android.
As for the HQ, it's turned on automatically when you're on wifi, on a gsm connection it defaults to standard quality. Personally i like this behavior but i agree that there should be an option to change that for people with huge/unlimited data plans.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did some more reachers on this and the problems seems to exist on a lot of different models/rom versions. I got the latest 2.1 rom for legend so I should have the latest (v1.5 I believe).
Weird, but also not android bug, just the browser. You might want to try some alternatives (like dolphin, skyfire, opera mini)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I reacherd a bit more and it seems to be a IIS and android problem. Wm and Iphone have the same problem but they just ignore the IIS message and continue. I tried Opera and it has the same problem. Btw, I think Opera on android is a long way off from Opera on WM. Still missing lots of functions I think.
IIS problem for the website login btw. Not sure why the exchange site doesnt save credentials but that seems to be misconfiguration. For example it wont even work on most desktop browsers either.
Okay, and since when does WinMo display the agenda without any additional software? But i agree, htc really should make some "upcomming events" widget, and default android could use one as well. For now i use "CalWidget" and i know of "pure calendar widget" (paid). I don't know it they're compatible with sense but it may be worth a try
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes ofcourse with extra software I will try the apps you posted. Thanks.
There is no way to do that or maybe you just don't know a way to do it? Try DroidLive (it might even have this station in its database) or StreamFurious. Both have usable free versions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats the problem. They work with their own databases. I just want to load a .pls or m3u file in a player and have it connect.
Well, seems to me that you don't really have a problem with android but you just got screwed by HTC and their customized version of android
If i were you, i'd just look for an unofficial rom. It might actually fix all your problems.
Also, part of your woes seems to be the fact that you knew winMo, knew the tweaks and apps you needed to make the device do what you want. Going over to android is a fresh start where you have to find out everything again. I know, i had similar feelings on a stock rom on my G1 after being a hardcore winMo user But after some research and grabbing a new rom and few extra apps android is way more functional than winMo for me and i don't feel like ever going back.
Just give it a chance and do some research.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe you are right. I know everything about WM and for me android still has a lot of things beneath its skin I don't know. If the apps I want exist I could fix some of my problems.
But some problems are just android related. The whole website thing is a combination of android and IIS configuration that don't play nice. Nothing HTC can do about this, nor can any custom rom. Its something google needs to fix. Ofcourse, if my uni would change their IIS settings it could also fix the problem but I don't think I can get them to change settings just for me.
For me that really needs to work because its a daily function for me.
Also I wonder if some things can be done. For example in WM you can just select to only use your provider. I still havn't found a way to completely disable roaming on android. Fortunatly its easy to prevent data roaming.

[APP] Executive Assistant - for anybody whose inc is an office phone too

Holy guacamole! Has anybody else seen or used this app? I am amazed - its spectacular. It is a 1 stop widget for email / calendar / tasks / sms / missed calls / voicemail / facebook / twitter / google reader.
I just downloaded and installed the free version of the app from market and various add-ons and am positively blown away. Will be buying the paid version to get rid of ads when i get home.
I have been searching for something like this for weeks and found a reference on droidforums or something like that. My stupid, stodgy, underpowered, small low res screen, bad browser, no apps, no customization blackberry can now safely be consigned to the trash can! My d-inc will be my new work phone and with this app and the widgets I have absolutely everything I needed.
A few things to note:
1. Set up took a small bit of time for me but once set up properly it is great.
2. Editing any incorrectly entered settings is confusing since the menu button keeps pulling up general phone settings. You have to click inside the widget and then press the menu button to get the app settings. They should make that better.
3. The widget app does not seem to support exchange email - just gmail including google apps and other IMAP/POP accounts such as yahoo, hotmail - you need paid accounts for those last 2 I believe. I guess for my exchange account i will use the htc widget (strangely though the app does support exchange calendars).
4. There are countless settings - spend the time to figure them out. Font size, color, background - way too many things can be changed.
5. I confused myself by using it on the lockscreen - when you switch on the screen, you dont see screen unlock - you just see a summary page of the emails / calendars etc etc. - you have to click the home button to get the slider to unlock your phone.
6. http://www.appventive.com/executive-assistant is the app site but there is not a helluva lot of info there. You are a bit on your own in figuring out the settings etc.
7. I have 2 google emails - 1 personal, 1 office g-app and of course google voice. It did not like that and would not login into all my email and voice till I entered their passwords properly instead of letting the app gather that from the device settings.
8. I have not tested battery drain yet but I suspect it will lead to some since it seems to pull the emails rather than just polling the android apps.
For anybody who wants to use their droids as work related phones - this is by far the best thing I have ever come across.
not that I'm cynical, and it does look interesting, but this post sure sounds like developer pumping his app
corefile said:
not that I'm cynical, and it does look interesting, but this post sure sounds like developer pumping his app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hahahahaha. check my other posts - u will see i am a noob tinkering around - not a dev or anything like that - probably sound too excited because i finally got an app which makes my bberry (useless junk i was forced to use since the iphone is bad too) replaceable. am a private equity guy - i know financial statements not java or whatever android is written in.
PS: there is 1 more drawback - if u try to use multiple widgets, 1 setting applies to all. So u cant have 1 widget for SMS/Twitter/Facebook and 1 for email - maybe i am doing something wrong but thats what it seemed like.
Does not support exchange = fail.
Hatman41 said:
Does not support exchange = fail.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 That is the only mail that I check on a daily basis. Double Fail!!
Devildog8791 said:
+1 That is the only mail that I check on a daily basis. Double Fail!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
triple it, it a deal breaker for me, great idea though. would buy it if it was able to read from the exchange mailbox (i don't want yet another mailbox checking or recieving, its already downloading the email, just read that inbox?)
If anybody can recommend anything better, I would love to try that. I suggested this only because there is nothing better than this out there - at least I have not found any. Even without exchange, there is no consolidated widget for all the things in 1 screen.
I have a JB iphone 4 too and I use lockinfo (cydia app). That's the best implementation of a launchpad for various items (calendar, weather, email, missed calls, sms, voicemail, notifications, tasks, twitter) and so on... So far no such widget/app seen on the android platform. This one is close but as you can see from my comments too, its not perfect.
I have Executive Assistant and I must say it's very useful.. if you're looking for something else that also displays all information you might want to try Slidescreen and Slidescreen Pro. I'm not sure if you can read exchange mail through them but they're very clean and professional looking.. they act as a new home though.
Good find!
Checkin out the free version now, no exchange support isn't an issue for me as I don't use it, but if the rest of the app is solid and the dev has enough of a following, I think it's safe to say that exchange support can be expected down the pipeline (Here's hoping since I know a lot of folks use it!)
OK, bought full version, dude SWEET find! Been looking for something like this!

[Q] Any simple/no-frills gps tracker which sends data to own website?

Hi,
Does anyone know if there's any GPS Tracking software which can send httppost data (or other form of data transfer) to a custom website?
I want it to send the regular gps data, such as Date/Time, Longitude, Latitude, Height, Speed and Heading (or whatever is available).
I can write my own web software in php/mysql - but I haven't got a clue about how to write my own android app.
I don't want any fancy maps displayed, I just want the software to acquire gps fix, and send it at user set intervals (example every 1 minute) to my own custom web application.
I had previously been using software on my old Nokia 5800 which sent it to a 3rd party server and I could import the data via xml (see here: http://madstu.net/tracker/ ) but I haven't found any such solutions for Android yet.
Any help would be appreciated
Stu.
You could probably do this very simply with one service and an activity to set the interval and some status. You should look at some android tutorials and you can probably do it in less than an hour.
thanks, yes this is what I've been learning. I created a hello world app by following a tutorial, but I'm afraid that might just be my limit!
Sent from my Defy using Tapatalk
You can use Run.gps for your job.
You can customize it to send data to custom server. In section 6.2.1 in the manual explains how you do it.
Regards
Thanks, I've been trying this since this morning and it seems to work on and off, I will continue to trial it though until I find something better/simpler
Never heard of run.gps, but I do this exact thing in Tasker. I am a long time user of TrackMe, a Windows Mobile tracking client, however I didn't really use the client that much but I've made extensive use out of the web server that went along with it. Data goes into it from several possible sources, and I have several things that extra data out of it (Google Earth to visualize, even geotagging photographs, etc).
I have a long outstanding "offline mode" that's missing from its functionality, ie: you don't want to upload, or it fails to upload so it stores the data for later and uploads it when it can. I really want to put this in some day, but it's semi-complicated and honestly editing complex tasks on my phone is tedious Otherwise it's fully functional and for me works great. Let me know if you're interested.
Yes I'd be very interested in this, please.
Like you said, the "offline mode" would be awesome too, I'd previously used Viewranger on my old Nokia 5800 which had this offline option and worked well.
Cheers
MadStu said:
Yes I'd be very interested in this, please.
Like you said, the "offline mode" would be awesome too, I'd previously used Viewranger on my old Nokia 5800 which had this offline option and worked well.
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you using the TrackMe web server? Otherwise, what I have won't be of all that much use.
khaytsus said:
Are you using the TrackMe web server? Otherwise, what I have won't be of all that much use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, But I have my own server. How is the data sent? I can customise my web software to receive whichever variables are sent.
MadStu said:
No, But I have my own server. How is the data sent? I can customise my web software to receive whichever variables are sent.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fairly straightforward, API calls.. Not really documented anywhere I'm aware of, but here's an example.. But it could be easier to adapt the Tasker profile rather than your softwae?
/trackme/requests.php?a=upload&u=user&p=password&lat=dd.ddddddd&long=dd.ddddddd&do=2011-02-06%2009:10:00&tn=Tripname_Date&sp=0.0&alt=279.0&ang=0&db=8&comments=Optional%20Comments&bs=98
So while it's not difficult, I'd say if you already have a POST/GET type API there, it's probably easier to adapt the Tasker profiles. If you're still interested, I'll export and sanitize and put 'em here.
Yeah I could just edit to match mine. I'm very interested in your sanitized profile(s) though. I've been playing with it and can't get it to work.
Thanks
After some more playing I've done it
Thanks for letting me know about this. Works well and I've got to start automatically when I open up the awesome MM Tracker app

[APP REQUEST] Tablet-to-Phone integration (see post)

There's been similar App requests before but mine is a little different.
I want my phone to seemlessly with one app (ideally):
- Tether my phone's 3g with my tablet
- Allow me to browse my phones files with my tablet:
- See photos in the gallery off my phone​- Listen to music files on my phone's SD card on my tablet​- Be able to make phone calls off my tablet through my phone including contacts integration​- Have documents written on my phone or tablet be saved on both, so if I only have my phone on me I still have all my important documents/homework with me.​
I could go on and on, but I think this tight integration with smartphone and tablet is the future, especially with the Transformer since its more of workhorse and the phone is more of a personal organizer.
I want my phone to seemlessly with one app (ideally):
- Tether my phone's 3g with my tablet​
Enable Wifi Tethering on your phone. Easy.
- See photos in the gallery off my phone​
Easy, make sure you sync/upload all your camera pictures to Picasa Web Albums (All Google account come with it) And it'll show up on the Transformer in the stock Gallery app. You can use a program like Pixelpipe to auto upload every picture you take on your phone to upload to Picasa. Or you can do it yourself, check mark all your photos, share, select Picasa.
- Listen to music files on my phone's SD card on my tablet​
Why store music to your sd card? Get Amazon Cloud Drive (Free 2 gigs, buy an album and you get 20gigs free), upload your music to Cloud Drive, and use the Amazon MP3 app to listen to your music! Or, run AudioGalaxy on your computer, point it to your mp3 folder, and use AudioGalaxy to listen to your computer's music on your tablet/phone.
- Be able to make phone calls off my tablet through my phone including contacts integration​
Contacts integration is already done with Google Contacts, auto syncs as long as your Google account is logged in. Making phone calls on your tablet? Seriously? Just grab your phone. This is sorry, but a stupid request
- Have documents written on my phone or tablet be saved on both, so if I only have my phone on me I still have all my important documents/homework with me.​
Keep your documents on Google Docs. Download the Google Docs app on your phone/tablet and you can have it on both.
Or better yet, Get DropBox also free. works on phone/tablet/pc/mac/everything. Modify one, and it comes across EVERYWHERE.
I could go on and on, but I think this tight integration with smartphone and tablet is the future, especially with the Transformer since its more of workhorse and the phone is more of a personal organizer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All the stuff you want to do is already doable and easy to do. Most important thing is moving away from local storage to cloud storage, that's the future and we're seeing already with Amazon/Google/DropBox.
What I'd like is to be able to control the tablet with my phone. Especially now that I have Plex, as being able to link my tablet to the tv and stream video with plex but sit on the sofa with my phone as a remote would be awesome.
AFK_Matrix said:
What I'd like is to be able to control the tablet with my phone. Especially now that I have Pled, as being able to link my tablet to the tv and stream video with plex but sit on the sofa with my phone as a remote would be awesome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This would be a very useful function...
What I'd like is an application to send/receive SMS/MMS from my tablet through my phone.
YES, I have Google Voice, but using that sends from your GV number. I'd actually like the sending and receiving to be done by my Droid X, but have a client application on the tablet that can interface with the SMS client on my phone.
FrayAdjacent said:
What I'd like is an application to send/receive SMS/MMS from my tablet through my phone.
YES, I have Google Voice, but using that sends from your GV number. I'd actually like the sending and receiving to be done by my Droid X, but have a client application on the tablet that can interface with the SMS client on my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Port your number to Google Voice. I did, love it. Also no contract line with T-Mobile.
I suggest that you might have more luck posting this request in the general Android apps forum here.
You might also give an indication of how much you'd be prepared to pay for such an application!
Regards,
Dave
nxt said:
Port your number to Google Voice. I did, love it. Also no contract line with T-Mobile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those of us not in the US have issues with that though :-(
It should be easy for Google to do though, as they could route all SMS as data to a phone on your Google account, then send it as SMS from there using the phone's regular contract.
An SMS app for the tablet that meant I could recieve texts on it and reply whilst keeping the phone in sync with what's being sent and received would easily be worth a fiver. And that's Stirling, too
nxt said:
All the stuff you want to do is already doable and easy to do. Most important thing is moving away from local storage to cloud storage, that's the future and we're seeing already with Amazon/Google/DropBox.​
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The thing with your suggestions is that its a ton of different apps and lots of hoops to jump through.
I want one. single. app.​
nxt said:
Port your number to Google Voice. I did, love it. Also no contract line with T-Mobile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That only circumvents the problem partially... then if I want everyone who has my (current) cell number to txt me directly to my phone (I can't hear the notifications I set in GV on my DX worth a crap!), I'd need to give them another number.
I think a client/server type thing that would let me interact remotely with the SMS app on my phone would be ideal.
FrayAdjacent said:
I think a client/server type thing that would let me interact remotely with the SMS app on my phone would be ideal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try this out.
I think what the OP wants is definitely coming. But, read all of the posts by the OP on the thread I posted for the Sync SMS app and you will see some of the difficulties placed on the devs for such a project. Add in the large number of device manufacturers(custom software implementation b/c they refuse to use vanilla android)/different hardware (DroidX for example doesn't support infrastructure Wifi - only ad hoc) and types of connectivity (BT/WiFi/Cellular/USB) and it will become a very complicated project. I'm not saying it won't be done... I think it will be done. But, it is just a little ways farther off from happening. It'll take awhile for the software devs to work out the kinks and with Android/Honeycomb constantly evolving/constant hardware changes.... It makes this a daunting project for a single dev/small group.
Also, when it does come battery drain (constant polling for change in data) and data usage (carriers moving to tiered data plans) issues will have to be addressed. Many of the push API's are being figured out by devs so that will decrease the polling - but, data usage is only going to go up. I only had my TF for one day and I was having to watch my data over 3G because I knew if I continued to use it without worrying about getting onto Wifi I would go over my 2GB cap.....
The Sync SMS app dev has some good ideas and has been hard at work. I suggest reading his posts to better understand the difficulties.
@OP - it'll come with a little patience. In the meanwhile you can do what the second post suggested and use multiple solutions.

[Q] Triumph, Google Voice, and mac basic questions

I've put off getting a smartphone as long as possible, but did enough research that I think the Triumph on Virgin's $35 plan with Google voice is a smart way to go. I still have some questions about this new OS, programs, and environment, and really like the smart people on this forum, and hope you won't mind a few questions.
-What’s the best VOIP app for working with Google Voice? I've come across GrooVe IP, but would like reassurance whether it's the best option. I'd like to make calls over wifi, but I'd also like to know whether Virgin Mobile's 3g coverage is fast enough for voip (generally...). I wouldn't want to do this routinely as I'd be afraid they'd throttle me. But I would like someone who knows to share their opinion.
-How do I find out my wifi signal strength? 3G strength? GPS strength? Or even just where I can learn what the icons on the top bar stand for, and what their range is? There must be a good app for this, and I'd love a recommendation.
-If I wanted the option, how (specifically) would I switch from making a voip/data plan outgoing call to the regular phone cell plan? Would Android be smart enough to do this automatically without a wifi signal? Or would I need to change a setting in Google Voice? Any thoughts most appreciated.
-How do I find what apps are running (in background?)? Percentage of system resources, and how to kill them? I’m guessing there are apps for that. Does Android kill a process when you return to home screen? What are some of the general rules?
-I have a mac. I’m guessing most of the programs that let you manage files, root the phone, install Cyanogen mods, etc, are PC based. I found Android File Transfer, but am not clear on it's limits. Are there better options? What will the AFT program be good for? [Emulating PC’s is a pain I would rather avoid, but I have been thinking of running virtual box to donate some processing time to the Large Hadron Collider, so I might be able to run some of these PC programs]. Any advice most welcome.
-Any skins or options to turn the google apps into light text on dark background? (I'm aware of and have used the option in Gmail). I hate black text on white background. I'm kooky that way.
This Android phone is good looking, the plan costs much less than a thousand a year (which I refuse to pay), and I LOVE the Google voice options to turn your text and calls into computer files which you can archive as you wish. The Google voice activation / text / search is far superior to iAnything, voip/wifi is the balls, and I think a lot people who've been holding off from getting a smartphone will jump on this combo, and this thread may help them. Many thanks...
dcnblues said:
-How do I find out my wifi signal strength? 3G strength? GPS strength? Or even just where I can learn what the icons on the top bar stand for, and what their range is? There must be a good app for this, and I'd love a recommendation.
-How do I find what apps are running (in background?)? Percentage of system resources, and how to kill them? I’m guessing there are apps for that. Does Android kill a process when you return to home screen? What are some of the general rules?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With respect to these questions, I'm not an expert, but I'll provide a list of programs I use.
For WiFi signal strength, I'd recommend Wifi Analyzer from the Market. For 3G strength, I'd recommend Cellumap. For GPS Strength, GPS Status + Toolbox or GPS Test.
The manual for the phone can be found on either the VMUSA or Motorola web site. It will explain some of the icons. Although when using the phone, I often see stuff not explained in the manual.
For examining the phone's processes, I recommend SystemPanel from the Market (paid for version has history), and/or Android Status.
There are people that tell you NOT to kill anything on the Android OS manually. I use 1Tap Cleaner and Advanced Task Killer from the market if I see the phone behaving a bit sluggish. Android OS loads stuff in memory readying it for future use. How it does so (intelligently) I don't know. I see stuff being partially loaded I never use. I have never had a problem using either program.
YMMV
GrooveIP works great over 3g...I dunno how much we will be able to use it once they start capping data..bastards
dcnblues said:
-What’s the best VOIP app for working with Google Voice? I've come across GrooVe IP, but would like reassurance whether it's the best option. I'd like to make calls over wifi, but I'd also like to know whether Virgin Mobile's 3g coverage is fast enough for voip (generally...). I wouldn't want to do this routinely as I'd be afraid they'd throttle me. But I would like someone who knows to share their opinion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GrooVe IP is actually the only thing i've bothered to use because it worked well enough, I havn't put it to test over 3g... In the future, you can root the phone and update it to sprint PRL (Their towers instead of VMU) - People have reported up to like 6-900kbps doing this... I would suggest to not factor this last suggestion in yet as you won't be extremely comfortable with your first smart phone being messed with (But a possibility nonetheless)
dcnblues said:
-How do I find out my wifi signal strength? 3G strength? GPS strength? Or even just where I can learn what the icons on the top bar stand for, and what their range is? There must be a good app for this, and I'd love a recommendation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i will back the suggestion of wifi analyzer, it will map out locations of wifi/cellular tower, it gave me beef on another phone that ran @ 600mhz but this one is 1000mhz.
dcnblues said:
-If I wanted the option, how (specifically) would I switch from making a voip/data plan outgoing call to the regular phone cell plan? Would Android be smart enough to do this automatically without a wifi signal? Or would I need to change a setting in Google Voice? Any thoughts most appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With grooveip and google voice it will ask you on all outbound calls after you press dial: Would you like to make this call with.... A) non-Google Voice B) Google Voice (same story w/ sending an sms except it will ask when you create the sms because google voice has it's own sms application, keep in mind w/ gvoice you can forward calls to your google chat account (and that's what makes grooveip ring instead of forwarding the call to your cellular number[i think])
dcnblues said:
-How do I find what apps are running (in background?)? Percentage of system resources, and how to kill them? I’m guessing there are apps for that. Does Android kill a process when you return to home screen? What are some of the general rules?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there are tons of application managers and task killers, I recommend to ignore all of them.... Someone brought a Samsung Prevail(Boost mobile Galaxy) into work the other day(Radioshack) - Anytime they killed tasks their touchscreen went out till reboot.... Android is supposed to self manage tasks and processes... realistically you just have to make sure not to leave your bluetooth wifi and gps on all the time... Also taking the screen brightness down a fuzz from max will help batt life tremendously... Android will suspend a process and kill an activity when you return to homescreen.... What I mean by that is that if you're in the browser and you hit home then you go back to the browser, you're on the same page still... but likely not to have any of your text still there if you were in an input field.... (This is probably an inaccurate example due to programmers being able to add a save activity state [this is something that when you for example hit back or hold the home button down to switch applications will store your current information, so when you're editing the text field it will save that data, THEN kill the activity/suspend it so that when you return it is still there, but the process is not draining the battery down at the moment.])
One of androids key attributes is the quick application switching via holding down the home button but some applications like pandora will run 'ongoing' so that you can multitask, while others will suspend so that you can save battery.... Kind of as a rule of thumb, unless it is monitoring or actively outputting it will be suspended.... so apps like pandora and wifi tethering continue to function when you switch applications because tehy'er ongoing whereas a note editor application would suspend itself untill it's brought back to focus because how are you going to type without it forefront?
dcnblues said:
-I have a mac. I’m guessing most of the programs that let you manage files, root the phone, install Cyanogen mods, etc, are PC based. I found Android File Transfer, but am not clear on it's limits. Are there better options? What will the AFT program be good for? [Emulating PC’s is a pain I would rather avoid, but I have been thinking of running virtual box to donate some processing time to the Large Hadron Collider, so I might be able to run some of these PC programs].
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First off nice LHC Mac joke I take it we're running the server edition cause hey, more is never enough.
I honestly can't tell you much from the mac POV other than that it would hopefully work the same as the linux instructions but i kind of expect version/dependency differences... to be fair this triumph is rootable by application ran on the phone (Which you can GMail to yourself and download as attatchment, bluetooth, wifi shared folder, usb mounting, or download directly to the phone..) The custom recovery is installed via drag and drop on USB Removable Disc so it's not nearly as bad as some of the other phones would be,
dcnblues said:
-Any skins or options to turn the google apps into light text on dark background? (I'm aware of and have used the option in Gmail). I hate black text on white background. I'm kooky that way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Feel free to, they exist, I would however suggest against them... I walk to work a lot and it's a pain in the ass to read those emails when you have the sun on the screen; granted everything is harder this was damn near impossible... Nonetheless check for the black apps listed in xda/android/themes and apps... I'll link soon. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1206774
dcnblues said:
This Android phone is good looking, the plan costs much less than a thousand a year (which I refuse to pay), and I LOVE the Google voice options to turn your text and calls into computer files which you can archive as you wish. The Google voice activation / text / search is far superior to iAnything, voip/wifi is the balls, and I think a lot people who've been holding off from getting a smartphone will jump on this combo, and this thread may help them. Many thanks...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would like to point out that with the GVoice extension/app for google chrome
you can continue your SMS conversations that way... I recieved one of the CR48s and this has been AWESOME for me.
As far as voip services, I have found using 3g too slow. That said I do recommend sipdroid. It will setup a pbx account for you using your google voice number. Upon connecting to wifi, sipdroid will start running allowing you to make and receive calls.
Sent from my MOTWX435KT using XDA App
Thanks guys for the very useful help. I'm kind of burned out on all the research, and kind of bummed that this red-hot, billion dollar business seems to be run by such morons. SO many unnecessary complications to offering consumers simple, workable products and services.
This has been a great help.
bigvandal said:
GrooveIP works great over 3g...I dunno how much we will be able to use it once they start capping data..bastards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm actually kind of grateful to Virgin Mobile for the $35 dollar plan. I can communicate via voice to text, for a fair price, so until I have a real problem, I'm not going to call them bastards. Until I have a problem, of course...
I do hate the BS in advertising 'unlimited' plans, but having them smirking in their headquarters as they say to themselves 'but we didn't say at what rate...'
On the other hand, people downloading movies over cell frequencies aren't exactly providing solutions to the problem either...
rubbachicken said:
GrooVe IP is actually the only thing i've bothered to use because it worked well enough, I havn't put it to test over 3g... In the future, you can root the phone and update it to sprint PRL (Their towers instead of VMU) - People have reported up to like 6-900kbps doing this... I would suggest to not factor this last suggestion in yet as you won't be extremely comfortable with your first smart phone being messed with (But a possibility nonetheless)...Android is supposed to self manage tasks and processes... realistically you just have to make sure not to leave your bluetooth wifi and gps on all the time... Also taking the screen brightness down a fuzz from max will help batt life tremendously... Android will suspend a process and kill an activity when you return to homescreen....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude, thanks very much. For this and all the information. Colossally useful.
Groove IP is actually having a problem today due to some change in the Google servers. Hope it's resolved soon as I'd like to get this running.
Quick confirm: Triumph is LCD and not AMOLED, Correct?

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