[Q] Accelerometer defect on most GT540? - GT540 Optimus Android Development

According to Android 1.6 specs the accelerometer should be able to log data at at least 50Hz (see page 18 on android-1.6-cdd.pdf)
However, the GT540 sensor rate - number of times per second you can get the sensor values - seems to be stuck to about 10Hz, i.e. just 10 values are gathered per second.
For programmers, the following lines are not producing any effect when registering the listener:
Code:
registerListener(this, sensorAccelerometer, SensorManager.SENSOR_DELAY_GAME);
registerListener(this, sensorAccelerometer, SensorManager.SENSOR_DELAY_FASTEST);
it seems the default value is stuck to SensorManager.SENSOR_DELAY_UI.
This of course should have impacts on applications using the accelerometer other than for just rotating the UI (pedometer, speedometer, nice games,etc...)
I asked other owners to test the accelerometer and so far all the feedback I received are consistent: the GT540 does ignore any settings and always logs data each 100ms...
Example how to test this bug:
1. install the free AccelerometerValues app from market (it is a single word)
2. click Settings: set Log interval (ms) to 50ms, flag "log values to file" and "file format cvs"
3. start the log for 2-3 secs
4. using Astro go to /sdcard/accelerometervalues and open the log file
You'll should see a line each 50ms but...
Any idea? Any hack to enable a faster rate?
Sensor is a BMA150 and is capable to report data at a rate much greater than Android specs...

gspeex said:
According to Android 1.6 specs the accelerometer should be able to log data at at least 50Hz (see page 18 on android-1.6-cdd.pdf)
However, the GT540 sensor rate - number of times per second you can get the sensor values - seems to be stuck to about 10Hz, i.e. just 10 values are gathered per second.
For programmers, the following lines are not producing any effect when registering the listener:
Code:
registerListener(this, sensorAccelerometer, SensorManager.SENSOR_DELAY_GAME);
registerListener(this, sensorAccelerometer, SensorManager.SENSOR_DELAY_FASTEST);
it seems the default value is stuck to SensorManager.SENSOR_DELAY_UI.
This of course should have impacts on applications using the accelerometer other than for just rotating the UI (pedometer, speedometer, nice games,etc...)
I asked other owners to test the accelerometer and so far all the feedback I received are consistent: the GT540 does ignore any settings and always logs data each 100ms...
Example how to test this bug:
1. install the free AccelerometerValues app from market (it is a single word)
2. click Settings: set Log interval (ms) to 50ms, flag "log values to file" and "file format cvs"
3. start the log for 2-3 secs
4. using Astro go to /sdcard/accelerometervalues and open the log file
You'll should see a line each 50ms but...
Any idea? Any hack to enable a faster rate?
Sensor is a BMA150 and is capable to report data at a rate much greater than Android specs...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry to say this but sound like bs cuz it works perfectly fine here

RDilus - I would love if this were bs... , can you a try as described above and post the result? Which Android version are you running?
Make sure to set the interval to 50 or 10ms.
Mine looks like:
Code:
Time;X;Y;Z
80;1.253072;1.0215261;9.602345
173;0.9942854;0.7627395;10.528529
275;1.0623871;0.8036005;10.56939
378;0.9942854;0.8308412;10.147159
480;1.1032481;0.6810174;10.378705
583;1.0623871;0.6810174;10.56939
685;1.0215261;0.7218784;10.378705
788;1.0623871;0.7218784;10.2152605
941;1.0623871;0.6810174;10.446807
...
you can see, I get a value each ~100ms (first column is in ms).
Thanks

gspeex said:
RDilus - I would love if this were bs... , can you a try as described above and post the result? Which Android version are you running?
Make sure to set the interval to 50 or 10ms.
Mine looks like:
Code:
Time;X;Y;Z
80;1.253072;1.0215261;9.602345
173;0.9942854;0.7627395;10.528529
275;1.0623871;0.8036005;10.56939
378;0.9942854;0.8308412;10.147159
480;1.1032481;0.6810174;10.378705
583;1.0623871;0.6810174;10.56939
685;1.0215261;0.7218784;10.378705
788;1.0623871;0.7218784;10.2152605
941;1.0623871;0.6810174;10.446807
...
you can see, I get a value each ~100ms (first column is in ms).
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im runing 2.1
and i dont gonna change some values most stupid thing you can do

RDilus you are missing the point, changing the rate is a functionality of the sensor and it should work in that way...
pls. don't spam on this thread if you don't know what it is about...

gspeex said:
RDilus you are missing the point, changing the rate is a functionality of the sensor and it should work in that way...
pls. don't spam on this thread if you don't know what it is about...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dont tell me what todo lol....
but it seams ur the only one so...
this can be closed or moved anyway

Well my accelometer works perfect, havent seen any problems nor in games nor in Apps. Not going to try that app to test it tho :]

Since most replies you got are way off base, I'd tell you my findings: yup, stuck at 100ms.

corran, thanks a lot for having done the test, this confirms the issue - stucked at 100ms
m4nu4l, you might not realize the problem until you start to use applications that leverage on the accelerometer in a "fine" way. The current behaviour is ok for just rotating the screen, showing a lever, and maybe for some games. But try to use a speedometer or games that are supposed to detect minor movements: the application would seems to work, you would not realize the issue but just the movement detection is 5-10 times less precise that what it should be according to Android specification.
I wrote to LG and they suggested to upgrade to 2.1 as soon as it is released, but from other users, I got the confirmation it does not seem to solve the problem

gspeex said:
I wrote to LG and they suggested to upgrade to 2.1 as soon as it is released, but from other users, I got the confirmation it does not seem to solve the problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Should've mentioned I'm at 1.6 still also.

As i already told you, games run with my axxelomwter flawlesly (nfs shidft, asphalt series... abduction, i just dont understand how better it could be. I cant seem to notice any lag with it nor 100ms delay. Im using 2.1 afterall ...

If it works a-okay for whatever games is not quite the point of this. Google has, as the TS said, required for vendors to comply with
Accelerometer
Device implementations MUST include a 3-axis accelerometer and MUST be able to deliver events at 50 Hz or greater. The coordinate system used by the accelerometer MUST comply with the Android sensor coordinate system as detailed in the Android APIs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is taken from 2.1; if the device don't follow the stated requirements you're not complaint - i e apps, games, and whatever can fail or not work correctly. Thus, it is important to adhere to the "standard", else we will end up with what Steve Jobs called fragmentation - developers can't guarantee anything anywhere.

My 2.1 results:
336
444
541
643
746
So, same here.

@corran, you got exactly the point, I couldnt have phrased it better. Thanks for the message
@m4k4ve1icro, thanks for the test.
Our nice LG phone has a flaw that can limit its usage... you might not realize it now but the next android killer app might not work as expected. Actually the application I was interested on can't run since it has too little data from the accelerometer to compute correctly - and that's why I started the investigation and opened this thread.
What's next? I've been opening support requests to LG but they replied to wait and upgrade to 2.1 when available for my country: I already know it is not working. I replied to pass the request to the tech group but the answer was vague- so I'm insisting again...
If you can, pls. do the same: hopefully LG will realize the issue and patch it.
In the meantime I'm going to contact google to raise the non compliance of the device... this might help as well since google can claim access to Android market if a device does not pass the compliance test.
thanks

I read the Nexus had some issues with the AK8973 stepping in to take the accelerometers role, but at least in the LG Eclair sources all the
#define SMB380_BW_25HZ, SMB380_BW_50HZ, SMB380_BW_100HZ, SMB380_BW_190HZ, SMB380_BW_375HZ, SMB380_BW_750HZ, SMB380_BW_1500HZ
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
seem to be were they should. Luckily I don't use the accelerometer in my little projects
Good luck hunting this down!

Related

Netfron 3.5 Beta (Internet Browser)

http://www.access-company.com/products/netfrontmobile/browser/35_wm_tp.html
Quite fast, easy navigation, good interface and amount of options.
Doesn't support plugins in it's current state though.
Sorry if this is old news (feel free to ridicule me etc.
I haven't seen it before. Have you tested it? I'm looking for something new as Opera doesn't seem to play well with my Wifi.
Hmmm not sure if I like this part tho:
6. Expiry of User License
You may use the Software from the date on which you install the Software to May 31th, 2008. Once this period has elapsed, you must completely delete the Software and, in the case where it has been stored in removable media, dispose of or erase it after rendering it unusable. Furthermore, the evaluation license granted to you hereunder will terminate in cases where you violate this Agreement or where ACCESS notifies you of the termination at its sole discretion, and also in that case, you shall carry out the deletion and disposal processes mentioned above.
mattarse said:
I haven't seen it before. Have you tested it? I'm looking for something new as Opera doesn't seem to play well with my Wifi.
Hmmm not sure if I like this part tho:
6. Expiry of User License
You may use the Software from the date on which you install the Software to May 31th, 2008. Once this period has elapsed, you must completely delete the Software and, in the case where it has been stored in removable media, dispose of or erase it after rendering it unusable. Furthermore, the evaluation license granted to you hereunder will terminate in cases where you violate this Agreement or where ACCESS notifies you of the termination at its sole discretion, and also in that case, you shall carry out the deletion and disposal processes mentioned above.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a free beta of a not-so-free browser. Sure no one likes to pay but opera mobile isn't free either. I don't see how this is a bad thing.
And yeah, I have used it. Thus my comments in the initial post.
For some reason I misread your first post, thought you just found it.
Should have specified Opera Mini hasn't worked for me..
But you're right, if it works good, and the price isn't crazy, then paying isn't bad. Just from my first impression ofthe page it was a free product (just my perception) - then read the agreement and saw the date it will die off. Will go back and read the site again tho. Will install it either way later to test it out.
Cheers,
Matthew
I don't understand the business model of Access for their NetFront browser. The last commercially available version is still 3.3. The technical preview of version 3.4 has been out for ages now. Each time the time limit of the technical preview expires they issue an extended date.
Now we have the version 3.5 while version 3.4 is not even commercially available. I am sure that after 31st May they are going to extend the date again.
Nevertheless an excellent browser so far that I have played with it. I am eager for a commercial version primarily because of so many restrictions Access imposes on its technical preview versions for example no support for Flash.
Tried this and it looks promising. Anyone find that it hogs the CPU? The task manager shows it as running at 100% cpu use even when in the background causing other processes to run at a snails pace.
chaps said:
Tried this and it looks promising. Anyone find that it hogs the CPU? The task manager shows it as running at 100% cpu use even when in the background causing other processes to run at a snails pace.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I discovered the same thing. You definitely need to close it if you hope to do anything else on the phone.
Seems as if I also have stumbled upon the "CPU hog bug".
The first two times I ran this I didn't see it but then after a while my device turned utterly unresponsive and I had to reboot.
yup my phone barely let me open the task manager to close it and i installed it twice.
also when i went on bestbuy's website it kept refreshing the page constantly. maybe this was because i had flash player 7 installed.
I have to say out of all the browsers I've used this one is incredible! It is the only browser I've used that I can get to my banking website with. Once you get used to how it scrolls around it's as close to Safari that I've found. I'd definitely pay money come May, as long as it was reasonable of course.
As far as a resource hog I close the browser every time I'm done with that site so I haven't noticed that either.

cellGPS for Windows Mobile? Upload GSM cell-id on periodic basis to HTTP server?

I'm looking for a simple application that will run in the background, and send the current GSM/UTMS cell-id to a web server on a periodic basis (via HTTP GET).
Basically a program like cellGPS (http://www.vikinggames.hu/product.php?id=11) but for Windows Mobile. I don't really care about GPS info, since that just sucks power (and doesn't work indoors).
What I'm trying to do here is enable my home automation system to know where I am, without sucking my phone's battery to death (especially since GPS won't work indoors). GSM/UTMS cell-id is 'close enough' for me.
The application would just hit a webserver on my home machine with the current cell-id (http://webserver.com/receiver.php?cellid=4233-23) on a definable period. My own app on my webserver would record that data into a database. I can then go back and use that data to let my home auto system know "hey, Justin's almost home, turn on the HVAC, lights, etc".
It needs to be able to run in the background, no annoying icons on the screen, and start up on phone reset.
I figure since it's just sending the cell-id (which is always available), it would be rather efficient and not use much battery power (especially since I usually leave Activesync on "instant" so the data connection is usually up anyway).
Other extensions to this would let my server update twitter/facebook/etc with "Justin's at ... home/work/etc now.".
Any ideas?
wow this would be a great aplication
Two programs come to mind.... Comm Mgr Pro and rk-Location Switch.
I have not really played with these two programs much, but they do Cell tower based switching and might include some of the other features you require (but I do have to admit that they do not have all the features you want).
Dale Lane posted some c# code to programmatically get the cellID of the current tower.
The rest is pretty simple - a place to enter the url and then periodically issue HTTP GET requests.
I guess I could try to cook up something when I have some time.
Well I went and coded a sample app anyway. It just reads the current tower info at the specified interval. Is this the information that you require?
Just extract the zip to the device and run the .exe.
Note: It requires .NET Compact Framework 2.0
this sounds pretty cool. remember that cellid information is good for triangulating to about 1000 meters. you can get "justin's on his way home, turn on the AC" but probably not "justin's in the shower, begin youtube upload"
newb5000 said:
Well I went and coded a sample app anyway. It just reads the current tower info at the specified interval. Is this the information that you require?
Just extract the zip to the device and run the .exe.
Note: It requires .NET Compact Framework 2.0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Works great! even though this topic was supposed to be on logging it to a web database, I am not too keen on that since data charges are expensive. I would be more interested in an internal database where I can simply attach a "friendly name", say the location of the site (ie. corner of main and first st.) to some cell sites (or a group of sites) in the internal database. Similar to what nicetrack used to do on previous WM versions. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=320055
newb5000 said:
Well I went and coded a sample app anyway. It just reads the current tower info at the specified interval. Is this the information that you require?
Just extract the zip to the device and run the .exe.
Note: It requires .NET Compact Framework 2.0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will check as soon as I get my Kaiser back -- I managed to shatter the screen over the weekend. doh. This sounds EXACTLY like what I'm looking for.
Someone else mentioned data charges, which I don't care about, since I'm on unlimited data (AT&T won't even sell the things without the unlimited data plan now).
Actually, I still have my older TyTN somewhere. Let me dig it up and give this a try.
jasonchan said:
Works great! even though this topic was supposed to be on logging it to a web database, I am not too keen on that since data charges are expensive. I would be more interested in an internal database where I can simply attach a "friendly name", say the location of the site (ie. corner of main and first st.) to some cell sites (or a group of sites) in the internal database. Similar to what nicetrack used to do on previous WM versions. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=320055
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a program that sort of does this now, called Trackme -- but it only does GPS as far as I know. Adding DB code would probably add a whole lot of complexity (and CPU power).
I'm sure it's doable, though, but I would hope it wouldn't be in this app. I have enough crap running in the background eating precious CPU cycles.
I wish I had a Windows machine to do development on. I'm Mac/Linux only, and don't have access to Visual Studio anymore.. I wrote an app to do this for the iPhone, but it can't run in the background due to SDK limitations. It's annoying that Microsoft hasn't made the WinMo SDK work on other platforms (although I guess Apple is doing that with the iPhone, so I don't have much room to talk).
The "goal" of this desired application is to be as lightweight as possible and offload all processing to a real computer. My phone doesn't need to do all of the work.
I can't imagine this would use much bandwidth, anyway. Even if you updated every five minutes, that's far less than 50kb per day, assuming a 64 byte URL + all HTTP and TCP headers. It'd add up to around 1.5 megabytes a month. I'd bet it'd be closer to 800-900kb/month. That's nothing compared to email/etc traffic. I would hope EU/etc carriers aren't so bad that 1.5mb a month would put you over a limit...
jasonchan said:
Works great! even though this topic was supposed to be on logging it to a web database, I am not too keen on that since data charges are expensive. I would be more interested in an internal database where I can simply attach a "friendly name", say the location of the site (ie. corner of main and first st.) to some cell sites (or a group of sites) in the internal database. Similar to what nicetrack used to do on previous WM versions. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=320055
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tested it yesterday when driving home from work. Tower changes were very frequent during my drive home. But lets say that a HTTP GET request (depending on the length of the URL) is on average 100 bytes. Lets say in a day you switch towers 200 times. That would result in just under 20 kilobytes of data usage in a day. I actually calculated this for myself because I also initially thought that one would get a large bill at the end of the month for data usage, but it would seem that this isn't the case.
One could also limit the web requests to only "bookmarked" Cell IDs.
I like the idea of the original poster even though I cannot see how I could use it personally, since I do not have a home automation system.
Regarding more friendly names - I remember that I had set it up on one of my first phones to receive cell broadcast messages from the towers which included the tower friendly name. Haven't tried since, though.
The data that is made available in Windows Mobile is the following:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa921533.aspx
Don't see any friendly names of towers though
I thought of adding a "bookmark" button so that one can bookmark the current Cell ID (and possibly assign a friendly name) but this would be very awkward while driving (and the frequent tower changes).
Google has a database with Cell IDs and uses them in Google Maps but good luck getting a copy of their database
norelidd said:
this sounds pretty cool. remember that cellid information is good for triangulating to about 1000 meters. you can get "justin's on his way home, turn on the AC" but probably not "justin's in the shower, begin youtube upload"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hah!
I only need 1000 meter resolution. GPS is definitely more accurate, but it would kill the battery in 6 hours flat.
Maybe when the third generation of GPS sats start going up in a few years, GPS receivers will use less power (since the sats will be much more powerful and supposedly will reach inside most buildings).. but that's 2015 at the earliest. Who knows what HTC/etc will come out with by then.
jmat said:
I will check as soon as I get my Kaiser back -- I managed to shatter the screen over the weekend. doh. This sounds EXACTLY like what I'm looking for.
Someone else mentioned data charges, which I don't care about, since I'm on unlimited data (AT&T won't even sell the things without the unlimited data plan now).
Actually, I still have my older TyTN somewhere. Let me dig it up and give this a try.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only saw your post after I posted mine.
There aren't any web requests yet though, I just wanted to confirm that I was on the right track (through you testing it ). I'm willing to give it a bash because I'll learn something through the process.
Some questions arise:
Should the app dial a connection automatically, or just not send out requests if there is no active connection?
Still need to figure out how to get it to run in the background properly
I'm wondering how it should function if the phone is in standby
newb5000 said:
I tested it yesterday when driving home from work. Tower changes were very frequent during my drive home. But lets say that a HTTP GET request (depending on the length of the URL) is on average 100 bytes. Lets say in a day you switch towers 200 times. That would result in just under 20 kilobytes of data usage in a day. I actually calculated this for myself because I also initially thought that one would get a large bill at the end of the month for data usage, but it would seem that this isn't the case.
One could also limit the web requests to only "bookmarked" Cell IDs.
I like the idea of the original poster even though I cannot see how I could use it personally, since I do not have a home automation system.
Regarding more friendly names - I remember that I had set it up on one of my first phones to receive cell broadcast messages from the towers which included the tower friendly name. Haven't tried since, though.
The data that is made available in Windows Mobile is the following:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa921533.aspx
Don't see any friendly names of towers though
I thought of adding a "bookmark" button so that one can bookmark the current Cell ID (and possibly assign a friendly name) but this would be very awkward while driving (and the frequent tower changes).
Google has a database with Cell IDs and uses them in Google Maps but good luck getting a copy of their database
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tower switching will happen quite fast in big populated areas. That's why I was just going for every few minutes and not "as the tower changes".
It's too bad the towers don't "advertise" their GPS coordinates along with the other tower data. It seems like that would have been really easy to stick in the UMTS standard.
I'm surprised Google hasn't open sourced that database, or at least made an API library for it. Afterall, their users are the ones who discovered it all, not them -- Google Maps just records GPS coordinates + cell IDs and uploads them when you run the Google Maps location. I've seen that app upload several hundred kb during some runs.
Going back to the 'post on switch' thing. That might be a neat option -- to send a GET on every tower switch.. I'm going back and forth in my head on if that's a good idea or not. It'd be interesting to see how that hits battery life, though. (Since I have ActiveSync with "always push" enabled, I bet it doesn't make much of a difference).
First beta
Hi guys,
Apologies for the delay - I've been terribly busy.
I managed to create the app so it's ready for testing.
Attached is the cab file. The app consists of two components - the configuration utility and the service. The service is responsible for making the web requests and is launched at startup. You can use the configuration utility to adjust the settings as well as monitor what the service is doing.
The service will automatically dial your data connection when a web update is necessary, but it can also work via WiFi - although I don't see why you would use it via WiFi. It also supports websites that require Windows Authentication (Kerberos or NTLM should work, but do test it).
I think the app should be pretty self explanatory, but please do post if you have any questions or experience any problems.
FIY - the last error (if there is one) is stored in a log file located in:
Program Files\CellID Updater\cidlog.txt
Hope you like it!
EDIT: An update is available on the next page. I'm leaving this attachment as is just for reference purposes, but you should download the one on the next page.
CommMgrPro is creating a very big database automatically with operatorID-Cell/LAC-GPS coords sent (automatically) by the users (they can track their movements in realtime with googlemaps). Obviously GPS coords are only sent by GPS enabled devices. You can change the URL where the data is posted (HTTP GET) to point your site and I can give you a free license. Currently 3000 cells registed with gps coords and growing as the users moves....
Dani
newb5000 said:
Hi guys,
Apologies for the delay - I've been terribly busy.
I managed to create the app so it's ready for testing.
Attached is the cab file. The app consists of two components - the configuration utility and the service. The service is responsible for making the web requests and is launched at startup. You can use the configuration utility to adjust the settings as well as monitor what the service is doing.
The service will automatically dial your data connection when a web update is necessary, but it can also work via WiFi - although I don't see why you would use it via WiFi. It also supports websites that require Windows Authentication (Kerberos or NTLM should work, but do test it).
I think the app should be pretty self explanatory, but please do post if you have any questions or experience any problems.
FIY - the last error (if there is one) is stored in a log file located in:
Program Files\CellID Updater\cidlog.txt
Hope you like it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey all - my first post.
I must say, it's outstandingly honorable that you share your skills with us. So good.. (haven't installed the tool yet, hope it's no virus or tv-on/off-switcher)
One question @jmat: How do you process the cellid once it is http'd to your server? Is there a webservice that maps cell-ids to gps?
Frouk
frouk said:
I must say, it's outstandingly honorable that you share your skills with us. So good.. (haven't installed the tool yet, hope it's no virus or tv-on/off-switcher)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks and no, it's not a virus / trojan / <insert something bad here>
One thing I forgot to mention is that if the device goes into standby, the service will be "paused". Then, when the device comes out of standby, the service will resume where it left off. I'm not sure whether this is acceptable behaviour for the app, but I considered the alternative - preventing the device from going into standby will drain the battery very quickly. So you would choose when the service should send out updates by taking your device out of standby.
Another thing: you can configure how often the service checks for a new tower and whether it should send out an update if the tower is different or the same since the last check.
I'm still wondering how I can put this app to good use, personally. I don't have a home automation system and I don't need to be tracked by anyone at home. Any ideas on what other uses this app could have?
newb5000 said:
Thanks and no, it's not a virus / trojan / <insert something bad here>
One thing I forgot to mention is that if the device goes into standby, the service will be "paused". Then, when the device comes out of standby, the service will resume where it left off. I'm not sure whether this is acceptable behaviour for the app, but I considered the alternative - preventing the device from going into standby will drain the battery very quickly. So you would choose when the service should send out updates by taking your device out of standby.
Another thing: you can configure how often the service checks for a new tower and whether it should send out an update if the tower is different or the same since the last check.
I'm still wondering how I can put this app to good use, personally. I don't have a home automation system and I don't need to be tracked by anyone at home. Any ideas on what other uses this app could have?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The configuration is just perfect - that way one can decide when to update just by letting the device go to sleep or not. Another thing: am I right that this app will never be as accurate as Google maps "my location"? It uses triangular approximation with more than one cell-id, right? I experienced it to be very accurate, even being on the train it exactly locates my position, amazing.
I personally intend to use such kind of app for reality/virtuality games where website visitors can track something or someone on the web and then go outside into the real world and do something or meet someone.
But jmats' idea is also amazing.
Cell name
Years ago I had Ericsson R320 (BTW great phone). It showed cell name e.g. "city centre" on the screen besides op name. I dug up my eric from the closet and this option still works. It would be great to have this as a today plugin Do you know something like that?
Handy Use of App
newb5000 said:
I'm still wondering how I can put this app to good use, personally. I don't have a home automation system and I don't need to be tracked by anyone at home. Any ideas on what other uses this app could have?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe you could mount a web server in your home pc (pretty simple) and track your device if it gets lost or stolen... It would be nice to recover your $700dlls phone right.

Updated [Dev][App] NoLitez 1.0.28 Dec 17 2008

UPDATE: Dec 17, 2008
older versions are no longer available here, the latest version is in the market under the developer name "snctln"
let me know if you have any problems with it
mpenguin14 said:
so I decided not to abandon development, competition is a good thing, right? and I am going to update the first post with a new build... in this new build there are a lot of improvements
- all 50 levels from the classic lights out, before it only had the first 5
- after level 50 new levels are randomly generated... I believe there are more than 8000 solvable
- added a hint engine... press the menu key and select the "Show Hints" and you will see a small red dot on the keys that you need to press in order to complete the puzzle, updates in real time, you can turn off this feature if you want by going back to the menu and selecting "Hide Hints"
- the state of the application is saved across instances... this way you can continue a game even if you restart your phone
any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
My main question is this: Does this app feel the like it is the sae quality as other apps on the Market? Or does it seem cheap and too simple?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
(mods: if this is not the correct forum to post development of an android app please feel free to move the post or tell me where to move it to)
So I put up a thread a week or 2 ago requesting android app ideas and at first it seemed that games were in demand, so I started working on a simple game...
NoLitez is a simple game that take inspiration from the old simple handheld video game "Lights Out", (wikipedia link)
basically the idea of the game is that all spaces in the gird can either be turned on or off... the goal is to get all of the lights off. When you touch a light, you toggle the state of that light and the 4 lights immediately north, south, east and west of the light
I ran the apk using the latest android for titan build and it worked as I would expect.
So now I am curious if any G1 owners want to be a beta tester for me and tell me if this apk even works for them, and if so what they think of the game.
I only have very basic features implemented, and only the first 5 levels...
This would count as my first android application so please go easy on the criticism, but I am open to hearing all things good and bad
thanks for any feedback
i tried it out, good game. No crashes or hangs, works as described
neerhaj said:
i tried it out, good game. No crashes or hangs, works as described
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cool, thanks for the feedback
Nice. Clean interface and classic gameplay. I remember when they advertised these things on television in the '90s.
On a side note, how's Android running on TyTN? There's not a week goes by that there isn't a new device Android is running on, but it seems that most of the devices still need some spit polish.
jashsu said:
Nice. Clean interface and classic gameplay. I remember when they advertised these things on television in the '90s.
On a side note, how's Android running on TyTN? There's not a week goes by that there isn't a new device Android is running on, but it seems that most of the devices still need some spit polish.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well I have a Titan rather than a TyTN (PPC6800, CDMA device, aka Sprint Mogul vs P4500 GSM aka AT&T 8525 here in the states) [but they do seem to be named the same]... and I have to say that android doesn't run too well on it, I have been able to get android up and running on it since July thanks to dzo's vogue releases but even with the latest editions the touchscreen doesn't work quite right and the button mappings aren't very intuitive to me... maybe I just need to give it more than 5 minutes, but my plan is to buy a Android Dev 1 or some unannounced 2009 android phone so I shouldn't have to rely on testing on an unsupported QVGA device... but I just got laid off last Friday, so it could be a while until I have a proper android device to develop with
Works like a charm, no bugs at all and a pretty fun game! Do you mind if i throw it in my g1 files in my sig?
stats555 said:
Works like a charm, no bugs at all and a pretty fun game! Do you mind if i throw it in my g1 files in my sig?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am glad that you are enjoying it, it is not a problem to put the apk up in your directory, I have a few more things that I want to do before I make a proper release in the android market, but I have a few questions and I am not sure if this is the proper place to ask them
1.) Does this application behave as you would expect it to as far as saving and restoring its state? Like if you get a phone call or have to leave the app for some reason when you restore the app does it save the lights on/lights off state? Does it at least behave as you would expect it to when compared to other G1 apps?
2.) I am not fully sure if this application would be allowed in the market because Tiger electronics has the "Lights Out" game patented... does anyone know if any other game "clones" exist on the market like say a tetris clone?
thanks again for the feedback
There's an app on the Market called 'Lights Out" already...? Seems to be the same game? Not sure who developed it though.
(http://code.google.com/p/lights-out-android)
punkweakling said:
There's an app on the Market called 'Lights Out" already...? Seems to be the same game? Not sure who developed it though.
(http://code.google.com/p/lights-out-android)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow... you are correct, this exact same game already exists for android and I had no idea. Looks like I am going to abandon development unless someone thinks it is good to have diversity in the market, since I don't have a G1 there really is no way for me to test to see the differences that may exist...
I enjoyed putting this together, but I wish there was some way to browse the titles available on the market other than directly from a G1, that way I would have known to work on something different. (and after a quick search my second game that I was planning on making "4NARow" (a connect 4 clone) is already on the market too...
maybe if I pay the $25 and register as an android developer I can see the different apps available in the market?
so I decided not to abandon development, competition is a good thing, right? and I am going to update the first post with a new build... in this new build there are a lot of improvements
- all 50 levels from the classic lights out, before it only had the first 5
- after level 50 new levels are randomly generated... I believe there are more than 8000 solvable
- added a hint engine... press the menu key and select the "Show Hints" and you will see a small red dot on the keys that you need to press in order to complete the puzzle, updates in real time, you can turn off this feature if you want by going back to the menu and selecting "Hide Hints"
- the state of the application is saved across instances... this way you can continue a game even if you restart your phone
any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
My main question is this: Does this app feel the like it is the sae quality as other apps on the Market? Or does it seem cheap and too simple?
posted version 1.0.28 in the market, developer name "snctln", let me know if you have problems getting it or using it.
any other feedback is appreciated
Of course I have problems. One big fat problem - I cannot run it.
Well... I'm using Android on my Titan. So..... I cannot even download and install it...
Magister2k7 said:
Of course I have problems. One big fat problem - I cannot run it.
Well... I'm using Android on my Titan. So..... I cannot even download and install it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Magister, I am using your titan build of android, so I will go over to that thread and post the apk package for this (NoLitez) and my latest game (PingPong), if anyone else wants these apks go to the Titan Linux wip thread in the Titan Forum for the download
mpenguin14 said:
Magister, I am using your titan build of android, so I will go over to that thread and post the apk package for this (NoLitez) and my latest game (PingPong), if anyone else wants these apks go to the Titan Linux wip thread in the Titan Forum for the download
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, Thanks!

[APP] SwitchMe Root Profile Manager needs INCS testers please!

Hi everyone. Im one of the developers of SwitchMe, and app that allows multiple secure logins into separate installations of android on a single device. The pr is after the break.
I really need a few people to check into some issues people on some roms have been experiencing. There are some warnings involved:
- testers must perform a full nandroid backup before using the app, it is not our responsibility if you start getting boot loops
- if you report results or bugs, please use the "Write to us" function in the app whenever possible, and always describe the issue in the header of the logs you send
- if you post here, be sure to include your device type and rom
- if you have apps installed on sd, be sure to mention that as well
--------------------------------------------------------------------
SwitchMe is a unique application for root users that allows you to log in and out of multiple installations of Android just as you would on a desktop computer.
The technology behind SwitchMe saves all of your applications and data, protects it and stores it as a file in memory. You can then log out of an
account and log into a fresh installation of Android or another account with its own unique content.
You may create as many profiles as the memory is capable of holding. Some of these may require very little free memory because they contain few apps,
others will be larger as they contain many applications and lots of cache and data.
Why is this functionality useful?
Privacy - the most obvious benefit is that you can securely share one device among multiple users, which gives you privacy and peace of mind.
Testing - if you are a developer, you can use profiles as clean sandboxes to test your applications and their interaction with the system.
Gaming – with multiple installations of Android on a single device, you can now play online MMOs as different characters.
Speed - the games your kids play slow down your tablet, but with SwitchMe you can easily create profiles without games or instant messengers.
Battery life - when the battery is low but there are important emails or documents to edit later, switch to a profile which only contains these essentials.
These of course are only suggestions - there are plenty of other uses for the functionality SwitchMe offers.
Market link:
https://market.android.com/details?id=fahrbot.apps.switchme
The Lite version allows the creation of two profiles, enough to test on.
Screens:
Just started to test it, created 2 profiles : one main, one for testing the switching. After first switch, loading circle started, remained stuck for 10secs (same happens when switching back), then restarted. New loading screen showed up, first load took about 5-7mins. After all loaded, switchme requested SU perms and new google account interface started.
One possible bug i noticed, usually when new google account interface starts, the mobile data service is started so you would have connectivity. This time it didn't start (i had it turned off in profile 1, then switched to profile 2). Although it works properly, it just didn't start at first startup.
All my installed/downloaded applications are not included in the app drawer, so that works nice.
But a drawback i noticed. If the app is focused on the privacy part of sharing one device, gallery pics&videos are accessible from both profiles, so you might want to think of a way of restricting pics&vids accessibility only to the profile that created them (big challenge from my point of view).
All default installed application seem to work without a problem.
One strange thing i noticed, our custom ROM has Beats audio included - in profile 1 (my default one) switching Beats audio on/off works, but on profile 2 (newly created profile) switching it off makes it stuck on off (switching it back on has no effect on audio).
As i don't have a necessity for this app to run it as a daily profile switcher, can't test more in-depth scenarios, but if you want something tested/have a scenario, write it up here or send a PM. Good luck with the development.
Using Nik IncredibleS Trinity SensationXL4.0 ROM (2.3.5 android with 3.5 sense) with included 2.6.35.14 RCMIX VIVO kernel (with my HTC Incredible S S710e).
SwitchMe 1.2 has been rolled out and now includes a lockscreen replacement:
1.2
Added lock screen for logging in and out
More stable Fast switch implementation
Reworked UI colors
Now, its very important that we get some feedback on how this big new feature works, so please read up on it in the help and post your thoughts!
1.2.2 - HOTFIX 2
Reworked widget on qHD+ displays
Fixed widget text on HC and ICS
Fast switch improved on older devices
So guys, anything to report?
1.4.3.7
Fixed device specific switch screen crashes and issues
Fixed UI bug in switch screen preferences
If anyohe had problems with superuser before, this should fix them. Please let me know if that is the case, its important we get some feedback here!
Anything to report regarding yesterday's release?
By the way we released a new app today some of you might also find useful, you can find it here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1538222
PLEASE CHECK IT OUT AND BE KIND
Touch Blocker Beta - a simple but useful app that makes holding and using your device easier
There are two basic functions:
- create dead zones where touches do not register
- filter the screen when reading in low light
We are already in a relatively stable Beta release - whats left now is adding new features and making it all look pretty. You can follow this process at the thread here.
Please be sure to write suggestions - we are looking forward to engaging the community and building a useful and nifty application that many will enjoy!
Market link
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=fahrbot.apps.touchblocker
Screens
Debugging
If you experience issues, the best way to help is by reproducing them and then clicking "write to us" - be sure to include a description of your error or we may not read the logs.
1.5.3.1
Fixed issue with lock on boot
Fixed some rare crashes on lock screen
Fixed MIPS and X86 Key compatibility
Is the latest version working well?
I take it everything is fine?
1.5.3.8
Fixed issue switching profiles (One X and others)
Fixed rare crash on adding/ removing profiles
Fixed many device specific issues from user logs
- Only bug/or maybe a feature I noticed is The app itself have different settings between logons. I mean If I optimize in one logon, I must made the same changes in other account too. Its sometimes frustating.
- And the setting "logout automatically" not worked correctly. When I speak to someone on phone and proximty turn of the screen, and I remove phone from my ear, It shows the logon screen, everytime.
Seems like everything worked flawlesly. But I have a question. What happens if I uninstall the program?
Özgürce said:
- Only bug/or maybe a feature I noticed is The app itself have different settings between logons. I mean If I optimize in one logon, I must made the same changes in other account too. Its sometimes frustating.
- And the setting "logout automatically" not worked correctly. When I speak to someone on phone and proximty turn of the screen, and I remove phone from my ear, It shows the logon screen, everytime.
Seems like everything worked flawlesly. But I have a question. What happens if I uninstall the program?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lets use our brains to think logically. If it was possible to disable any security by calling the phone, what would be the point of any security at all?
ftgg99 said:
Lets use our brains to think logically. If it was possible to disable any security by calling the phone, what would be the point of any security at all?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You didnt get my point. This is happen when im on the phone with someone. I need to logon an account to hangup and this take time. If you think logically; I must be already logoned to a profile before starting to speak someone.
Sorry for my bad English.
Sent from my HTC Incredible S using XDA
Özgürce said:
You didnt get my point. This is happen when im on the phone with someone. I need to logon an account to hangup and this take time. If you think logically; I must be already logoned to a profile before starting to speak someone.
Sorry for my bad English.
Sent from my HTC Incredible S using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah now i see what you mean. However, my logic is still right. You are using it on a phone, and phones are not well suited to automatic log off. I mean just how often do you need to switch profiles? Surely you should be doing it manually...
thank you for sharing
Sent from my HTC Incredible S using xda premium
How can I join switchme developers?
huazvi said:
thank you for sharing
Sent from my HTC Incredible S using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK enjoy!
kabukinimo said:
How can I join switchme developers?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you saying you want to work for us?

[APP] - TrackUrSelf -[U]- 16 Jul 2012 1.21 (Fixed)

Name: TrackUrSelf
Having been an avid user of windows phone and a GPS enthusiast, I have always wanted to create an application which use this technology. rather than develop an map application, I decided to use the background agent of windows phone 7 and create an application which tracks your movement. This is very useful for hiking/trekking adventures as well long drives.
This application only tracks the location and displays it on the viewer. The locations are never sent out (other than skydrive backup), so this is not a stalker app
I would welcome your views and feedback on this application.
Changelog:
+ Aerial mode added
+ KML Export/Backup to Skydrive added.
+ Added Live tile with back tile info
+ Background image for the app and skydrive page.. looks better now
+ Fixed a bug, which was not letting you a take a backup without quitting the app.
+ Filename has Date&Time appended, which would enable multiple backups being stored in your skydrive (should have been there in the first place)
+ Fixed crash bug while updating live tile through background services. Forgot about cross access thread exception.
+ Implemented crash log reporter
You would need a developer unlock phone to sideload the application, it does NOT need any interop unlock or full unlock to launch it.
Source: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1655712
Download Link: Attached XAP file
Hi darthveda,
Looks like a nice app, but I wonder how this app will influence your battery life? When hiking you generally do not have wall-plugs at your disposal to charge your battery when needed.
How often does the app store your position?
it's 30 minute interval, pre-defined by WP7. It's a periodic task. I am running it on my system for over 2 weeks now, haven't had major power usage due to this.
Posted new version
Updated with the newer version
The app looks interesting. Is there a way to export the data that is generated?
fabKalix said:
Hi darthveda,
Looks like a nice app, but I wonder how this app will influence your battery life? When hiking you generally do not have wall-plugs at your disposal to charge your battery when needed.
How often does the app store your position?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dont be so sure of that , if your serious about hiking then dont leave home without this:
http://www.biolitestove.com/
I waited 7 months for this to be released and I can tell you it works , its actually amazing and could be a life saver , this app might just help people considerably with rescue as well!!
psyh0e said:
The app looks interesting. Is there a way to export the data that is generated?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At this point, NO. The reason is for privacy reasons but will look into implementing this feature in the next update.
As of 1.1, you can now track your position whenever you want apart from 30 minutes interval. And I have made sure not to store the location if it is same as before. Regarding battery usage, I don't have major impact on my battery usage.
Well can store the positions as a log file , and possibly upload the log files , i think it would be incredibly useful to be able to log the coordinates , whether its every 30 minutes or more (less) , just thinking how usefule this info could be!
Ok will implement it, I am not sure if wp7 allows me to write word files if it does then i will write a table in that itself
else a normal csv file would do i guess.
Also, adding the map modes as an option, right now it is street, will enable hybrid, satellite modes as well. This was a suggestion in marketplace reviews
Thanks for the suggestions guys, keep it coming
i used this app yesterday on a small scale , just a few miles and I have to say I like i will continue to test it as this is a unique kind of app!
Thanks Vintage144.. am waiting for MS to approve the app update, don't know why they take so long to do that. After that I will work on 1.2 with the new features requested.
Hi Guys, For Spain winning the euro 2012 , here is my treat.
I have updated the app to 1.2 with the following features:
1. You can now change the map view to Aerial mode and revert back
2. You can now update the tracked locations to a KML file and store it in your skydrive.
Please check and let me know if anything didn't work or you have any suggestions to be made
Size of 1.2 XAP is 0kb upon download mate, might need to re-upload for us? :good:
Size of 1.2 XAP is only 0kb
I downloaded the 1.2 version and it was 550kb, i have re-uploaded the version again with the suffix new in it. Let me know if you still have the problem, will upload on skydrive and share link.
very good....
darthveda said:
I downloaded the 1.2 version and it was 550kb, i have re-uploaded the version again with the suffix new in it. Let me know if you still have the problem, will upload on skydrive and share link.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Works for me. Thankyou
Few days back, I started learning about shelltiles and have implemented a live tile update with a back tile info as well.. (yeah, that's how i learnt WP7 programming, through my apps )
Can you guys tell me if it sounds a good idea and looks good?
Fixed a critical crash bug while updating the tile through background service, forgot about invalid cross acces exception. Because of the crash WP7 was disabling the background agent. Nice feature by the phone took me a while to recognize why it was behaving the way...
Please install the fixed XAP version.

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