Need A Little Help/Guidance - Other Tools & General Discussion

I've done mostly android games so I'm not to familiar on the office app scene. I have ideas on what I want and how to do it, but I'm not sure where to start.
So I've been trying to build an app for the place I work. My job (known as a porter) is driving cars in and out of the stalls for the mechanics. When the service managers call out a cars tag number for us to get it, there is a confusion. We either think, "one of the other porters will get it", we just completely forget about it or just don't hear it. I want to try and eliminate that pressure of having a list of cars to get.
Now I want the app to respond to commands sent by a web interface so all of the service managers can use it at their computers. At first, I thought I could use push notifications, but most custom front ends weren't exactly what I was looking for. I want Porters to be able to be able to respond back with the touch of button to the notification that they are getting the car the service managers called or respond with "I'm busy" message. Then that message would be displayed on the web interface for the service managers to see.
I also want this app to have a login and username for each porter so its easy to know who is getting what. Any ideas?

Related

Developer Needed

Hello all.
I am looking for a developer to write an app that I think would be fairly simple. I understand the mechanics of what I want done...just now how to program it for the Android environment.
The program would be for my own personal use...I have absolutely no intention of distributing it or trying to profit from it.
Without giving away too many details, I would basically need a program that keeps a list of URL's, which I can add to as needed via clipboard. Use a string expression to strip bits of the URL off and modify it to create a new URL based on the old one, click on it. Disconnect radio antenna, reconnect radio antenna. Verify new IP, repeat with list.
Get the drift? In a perfect world, I'd ask for a notification icon while it's running to allow quick disabling if I needed to text...or auto-disable on phonecalls...etc.
I have money available...immediately...was hoping to get something for $50, but am willing to negotiate. I can pay up-front via paypal...
And no, this is not for any illegal purposes...I don't want it for DDoS attacks or anything silly like that.
Bonus points if it could somehow be used as an extension with Dolphin or Firefox...add a command to the context menu?
So, that's my mystery tool. My email is d8ahazard at gmail, feel free to hit me up if you are up to the task and want to make some extra money.

[Q] Help me flesh out an idea for new functionality

tl;dr I'm new, I'm not a very knowledgeable developer, I have an idea that I want your opinion about.
Heyo Peoples,
I'm new and I like to think a lot about cool new stuff with mobile devices (web, software, hardware, etc). I've been thinking a lot recently about how people like to use mobile devices, and how we might use them in the near future--thinking past what's being done now, and into what comes next.
I've been wondering for a while why there isn't an existing piece of functionality on mobile devices that allows a user complete control of the device and every piece of information on it. Imagine a GUI except instead of graphics, it's like interacting with a person. (aside: first person to say Siri should be shunned like an Amish girl who went to a movie theater).
Is it outrageous to say that you should be able to pick up your phone and have it find anything, from anytime in the past that you have done with or on it? I know that would take mountains of data, but is it silly? In it's most basic form, this would just be a search feature. In it's most eloquent form it could be an operating system. Imagine being able to ask your phone what you did last Wednesday, or maybe where you were. What if it could recall emails or documents based on date, time, location where you were when you wrote it, keyword, or contact, based on verbal interaction? What if it tracked data usage by application, or allowed you to measure and optimize system performance with a verbal command (ex. "Shut down all apps except for Google Maps" or "How much data am I using per minute").
Is it too early to start wishing for an interface like that computer on Paycheck (horrible movie with Ben Afleck) or Cortana in Halo? Is this type of interface impractical or implausible?
If you were to make something like this, would it have to be a new operating system built from the ground up, or could you develop an app to do this, or could you hack Android to do it? I welcome all of your feedback.
Lots of questions, and I have very few answers.
Jujubes said:
tl;dr I'm new, I'm not a very knowledgeable developer, I have an idea that I want your opinion about.
Heyo Peoples,
I'm new and I like to think a lot about cool new stuff with mobile devices (web, software, hardware, etc). I've been thinking a lot recently about how people like to use mobile devices, and how we might use them in the near future--thinking past what's being done now, and into what comes next.
I've been wondering for a while why there isn't an existing piece of functionality on mobile devices that allows a user complete control of the device and every piece of information on it. Imagine a GUI except instead of graphics, it's like interacting with a person. (aside: first person to say Siri should be shunned like an Amish girl who went to a movie theater).
Is it outrageous to say that you should be able to pick up your phone and have it find anything, from anytime in the past that you have done with or on it? I know that would take mountains of data, but is it silly? In it's most basic form, this would just be a search feature. In it's most eloquent form it could be an operating system. Imagine being able to ask your phone what you did last Wednesday, or maybe where you were. What if it could recall emails or documents based on date, time, location where you were when you wrote it, keyword, or contact, based on verbal interaction? What if it tracked data usage by application, or allowed you to measure and optimize system performance with a verbal command (ex. "Shut down all apps except for Google Maps" or "How much data am I using per minute").
Is it too early to start wishing for an interface like that computer on Paycheck (horrible movie with Ben Afleck) or Cortana in Halo? Is this type of interface impractical or implausible?
If you were to make something like this, would it have to be a new operating system built from the ground up, or could you develop an app to do this, or could you hack Android to do it? I welcome all of your feedback.
Lots of questions, and I have very few answers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is probably not as far off as it seems. The developers of "Utter" have come along way in the right direction. You should maybe approach them with your ideas. Not all of them of course . Save some for yourself.
One problem I see is semantics. "Shut down all apps except for Google Maps" sounds good - but do you really mean ALL apps ? The line that would be walked is one where the developer must train the program to not necessarily do what they ask, but do what they WANT. It gets trickier when you realise that some people who aren't your average users might want to test things and shut down an app (in this case) that an average user would never want shut, where they might mess up their phone beyond their ability to repair if they did.
I think speech is a great tool to interact, though I'm not going to be a person to use it. I don't think speech will ever become a default unless there are other technological advances that change how we interact with the world. It's annoying enough to hear someone gabbing loudly to another human on the phone, do we really want people gabbing AT their phones as a default interface ? I think privacy is a driving factor that will keep sound from being a major interface - perhaps it could work for in home applications, but out in public people may not want to announce to the world who they are calling, what they are looking for, or what site they're logging on to, et cetera. Until there's technology to make voice and sound less "public", I don't see this being the future of phones - it's more of a nice thing to have as an "extra" for when a person is comfortable using it.
But, hey, maybe we'll get used to wearing Google Glass and talking to ourselves all the time - or we'll get in-ear buds or implants where we can choose to hear the outside world or not. Just exploring the possibilities here.
I do think it's a big "outrageous" to have infinite backup. Just take a look at how much data companies like Amazon and Facebook acquire on a per-day basis. Think about how much data you use on a daily basis. I don't have the money or desire to be buying new HDDs every other week. Maybe in the future there will be a technological revolution that allows for mass amounts of data to be stored in even smaller spaces. But current technology in that regard is still very expensive and persnickety - read about high capacity SD cards and how fragile they can be and about data needing to be "refreshed" or they can become corrupt. There are lots of issues that make backing up everything you do impracticable.
And, again - privacy concerns. Do I really want my computer to know what I did last Wednesday and who I was with ? What if someone stole my computer or phone and had access to that information ? If we had the technology to do that, who's to say that current encryption would be "enough" - or that someone wouldn't go ahead and try to hack it anyway if they felt finding out basically everything about you was worth brute-forcing your phone or whatever they'd do in the future ? And have no password or a crappy one - even easier for them to know EVERYTHING about you, now.
Highly visual and talk-activated computers are absolutely great for games, movies, and TV. Why ? They function as narrative devices. They allow the actor to say or explain things they otherwise wouldn't have said out loud for personal, practical, or security reasons. They can become characters in their own right. People like those big screen computer displays where the characters are poking things all over and up and down - it looks cool. But not so cool is having your arms get tired from reaching up and around all the time. Not so cool is having to tell the computer out loud what kind of special images you want to search for when you have house-mates living in the next room over.
Just some thoughts. If you have other or counter ideas, go right on ahead.

Basic N00b advice needed

First, I hope this is the right place where I am posting the question. I am in the fire service and I would like to create an app for droid, that would read a basic text message and display a lookup information from a xls document For instance, the text message would display the address for a call. The app would use the information from the text and display a map page number and a short text phrase (running route to the address). I.e the text message says : House Fire: 101 Main Street. The app would look up that address in the excel document, and display the attached information, which would be 101 Main street: Left of Central Ave, Right on Martin Ave: Map 305. Any ideas on where to start? Or maybe app like this exists already? Thanks in advance!
Hi, it's a very broad question so it is very hard to answer. The answer depends on so many factors:
- Do you have any experience programming?
- Have you experience designing/developing mobile applications?
- Do you specifically need to use xls documents? (what you want is better suited to use built-in maps app. i.e. take the text from the text message, parse it a bit for keywords if you want different actions to be keyed in on, and then pass a search string to the maps app).
If you have no experience with developing mobile apps, I'd suggest going to google and searching for simple mobile development languages and frameworks. Stick to ones which use scripting languages. Or you can go to freelance websites and pay someone to make such an app for you. If its very simple, they shouldn't charge you more than a couple hundred.
slivingston said:
First, I hope this is the right place where I am posting the question. I am in the fire service and I would like to create an app for droid, that would read a basic text message and display a lookup information from a xls document For instance, the text message would display the address for a call. The app would use the information from the text and display a map page number and a short text phrase (running route to the address). I.e the text message says : House Fire: 101 Main Street. The app would look up that address in the excel document, and display the attached information, which would be 101 Main street: Left of Central Ave, Right on Martin Ave: Map 305. Any ideas on where to start? Or maybe app like this exists already? Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what I am understanding here, you want something that will disperse Calls in the form of app alerts, with the two main purpose being alerting the recipient of the location, and also of the directions to said location... Yes?
to start with, figure out what exactly needs to be done and why and put it in writing
The first step would be to write down exactly what you're looking for this app to do and any other pertinent requirements (needs to work offline, speed requirements, hardware to support, etc.).
What you're describing so far sounds like a service provided by major online map providers such as Google, Bing, etc. If you have an address, you just key it in as a destination, and then if you have the fire station pre-filled in as your departure point, you'll get map directions generated right there. Is this what you're interested in? If so, then you can just open a browser when you receive a message and go to Google Maps or to the maps app directly from the phone and do it there.
If some of the details that you've provided are hard requirements (text message being an incoming SMS, .xls data store, precise data requirements, zero downtime tolerance, very fast response times, etc.) then the best place to start would be finding an acquaintance who can write phone apps (maybe some kid from a local high school or college?) and explain/show what you want done to them in detail and have them estimate how complex this work would be. After than you either hire that person to do the work or pressure them to do it for you as community service .
If you don't have the right people in your network or they're unwilling to do the hard lifting, then you should reach out to a contractor and have it done commercially. It's the same approach: explain what you need done exactly, then get an estimate, etc. Based on what you describe, it shouldn't be too complicated or expensive.
I don't recommend you do it on your own unless you have tons of free time and/or are specifically looking to learn how to write apps. You'll end up spending a lot more time than this project costs on the market, and if you're not really into it, it might seem quite frustrating for what seems like should be a very simple thing.

p=p. any one know how it works?

Found something new to me
https://prettyeasyprivacy.com/
Email encryption easy...
Found On fdroid under k9/p=p
Claims it works with your existing email account
But I have not found out how it works yet
Our how the foundation is set up.
And that's the kind of thing I like to know before I install
Anyone have any experience with them?
Personally, if you are looking for encrypted email... I'd choose Proton Mail any day of the week over p=p.
p=p just doesn't seem anywhere near the security of Proton. But that's just my opinion. Test it out and let us know how you like it. It's always nice to have options!
I'm just not at the point where I want my email provider to supply my email program.
Don't get me wrong it's not a bad idea..
(I like that it's open source, that's always good)
But I would much rather have encryption all on me and my device..
And I can pick and choose what provider I'm using.
I don't love the idea of being locked into anything...
nutpants said:
I'm just not at the point where I want my email provider to supply my email program.
Don't get me wrong it's not a bad idea..
(I like that it's open source, that's always good)
But I would much rather have encryption all on me and my device..
And I can pick and choose what provider I'm using.
I don't love the idea of being locked into anything...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hey @nutpants , i know you are more knowledgeable than me (and know how to search.lol) but i did find this link for p=p. you can email them i beleive.
https://prettyeasyprivacy.com/integrate/
"err on the side of kindness"
I found the instructions
https://www.prettyeasyprivacy.com/docs
I wish that people would stop hosting instructions online and include manuals with the installs.I mean seriously how much space will it take?
I will be doing some time reading everything carefully..
But would love opinions from everyone else.
Basically it appears to create extradition keys between users of the app automagiclly and then encrypt everything by default when possible.
Much like text secure was doing for text.
Hopefully things like this will become a standard for email.
(With a common method of encryption so no one it tied to just one particular email app)
And we will see more applications that can be used to encrypt mail.
I'm going to do some testing
Well ive done a little testing.
And honesty I'm looking what I see.
Sure this is in early stages and early days.
But it appears that it is as simple as they suggest.
I could even get my least technical buddies to use this email encryption.
I have not seen it try to contact anything except my mail server.
And it does not require contracts out other erroneous permissions (it asks but you can block it and no crashes(at least for me)
It's works automagiclly.
If you exchange emails with someone who is using pep (I think it's stupid that they have the three lines between the p's why not just have the E)
It figures that out and starts exchange of public pgp keys.
Art that point your messages title bar have a yellow background do you know encryption is taking place.
After you verify the "code words" with your correspondent (by voice so you verify who you are taking to is who you are really taking to(or any other method you desire)
Your messages get a green title bar do you know encryption is going on with a verified user..
So simple even a grandpa can understand it.
It uses pgp for encryption so you know it's good
Right now it's pretty basic and there are few encryption options
But they plan ad more features as time goes on
I'm liking what I'm seeing and I will do more testing and will keep an eye on this to see how fast it matures.
The only real con at the moment it that there is no way to secure the app from running with a password to keep any one who gets their hands on your device from reading everything.
But that's a little minor..
If someone had their hands on your device, you have already broken the golden rule.
This app is simply a fork of K9Mail with a few icons replaced...
It is definitely a fork.
But encryption had been built in, including auto key generation and key exchanges.
K9 is my daily driver.. And I love it.
But pEp makes encryption simple enough for anyone to use..
(As in my grandmother could use it)
When and if it matures to have all the encryption features most advanced users need
(Like easy key import, export, backup, manual key changes)
It may become my daily driver..
Sadly in the world today, encryption is almost mandatory.
And pep is on the way to make that easy for everyone.

EDITED [Q] Why is /u0026 in the names of my apps? How am I being hacked & tracked?!? Total N00b needs help!

Scrolling through the apps installed on my phone, and it is hit or miss on which of the Android and/or Google apps have \u0026 in the middle of their names. Not all, but it seems the important ones do, that downloaded and installed in the middle of the night hours or days after the initial purchase and set up of the phone. Isn't Gmail, Chrome, Android Web View, Device Unlock, Calculator, Device Health Services, and most Google services already installed in Android phones? It's even in some of the apps I installed later on, but not all. I have looked it up, both here and using different search engines. Not too excited with the results, nor do I have the IT brains to understand all the jargon. Would someone here please explain it in layman's terms? BTW, I know I have been hacked/tracked by my ex for a while now. Would \u0026 happen to be a way to remote access and monitor my phone usage?
EDIT: Nothing was synced to old phones, devices, or accounts. This isn't the first new device he has gained access to. There have been several brands and models, phones and laptops. Your guess is as good as mine, and the police, as to how it is being done. Sometimes he leaves "<rooted>" on the screen or turns on 911 only it locks up the phone a few hours after bringing it into the house. He works in the tech industry. No, this isn't my device I've asked this on. This really hasn't been as fun as it sounds.
Thank you all in advance!
I will put my tin foil hat on while anxiously waiting your replies.
(I know, funny not funny. Either has been having to live with his BS.)
Checking back and bumping. There was just one reply on another thread. Please, someone has to know of this Google and Android system hacking apps combo floating around in Google Developer and Firebase. It's a real thing, and my nightmare now. I will not censure if you developed it or are using it on someone other than me. However, I beg you to reconsider if you are. There are days that I feel that worrying about the safety of my kids and if he does show up somewhere I'm at with a grudge to settle is too much to handle. Not everyone has the ability to get through that. I did not deserve his controlling abuse when we were together and there seems to be no way to get out from under his thumb currently. The local cyber cops have been of no help. They either do not believe this happening, these types of apps exist and what they do are possible (One said, "Those kind of things are just in James Bond movies"), or they think there is no imminent threat because there aren't bruises and the little I do have in the bank has not been touched after closing and opening numerous accounts to keep him out. I make just enough to support my kids and myself. Banking, online shopping, and social media are impossible, and the time is now spent trying to end this on my own. Please, help is needed. One of the members on here has to know what the hell this is.
Thank you again.
ripppani said:
\u0026 seems to be the escape sequence of the Unicode character &. \u0026 cannot do any damage by itself, but it can be and probably is a result of incorrect encoding or decoding of text strings, which in turn could be caused by hacking. If you don't know what Unicode is, here is the Wikipedia article.
I am not sure whether the "<rooted>" really represents that the device is rooted, but you generally don't want someone untrusted to root your device, as rooting it allows the one who rooted it to have unrestricted access to the device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He has had remote unrestricted access to my devices. The <rooted> is one of his reminders he is there, as well as <bootloadermode>, or the locking up or turning on 911 calls only. This hasn't been fun, either having it happen en use or waking up to it. I do not allow this. New devices, new Google accounts, never syncing, and never logging into old accounts. However, no one seems to be able to figure out how he gets into new devices once they enter the house. New routers, modems, entire internet accounts, he still weasels his way in. The hacking apps are Google Developer based, this I know. Try getting info on that out of Google without a warrant. Cyber cops have brushed this under the rug since there has been no physical or financial harm, as of yet.
He lived with me when we were dating. Is there a device that may be in my home that could hi-jack my wifi, allow him to sign into my device, and show it as my device while VPN-ing an address even after all the changes? (I seems to travel all over the place on occasion according to my IP addresses that show up) The location tracking and call/text monitoring is real, as he has shown up or had let things said in my private (ha!) conversations with others slip. Of course he has nothing to do with this. (ha! again)
Any help or input on this would be greatly appreciated. I have looked things up at the library until my eyes bled. I can only comprehend so much without an IT background. I do not have the money for a cyber forensic investigator, and I know the local police probably have me on the Crazy Crying Wolf list. Which is just as embarrassing as knowing that having a complete lack of privacy in my life is a total nightmare.
Thank you again.

Categories

Resources