Native Android control client

[pgpg]

Thanks Luke. I will try it.
How close is the final release?

[HTLuke]

I had hoped the code for 2.0 would be done and an app pushed yesterday, but I managed to uncover a few UI issues and bugs that I'm still working on. Given that I've got a busy week this week I'm fearing I may have to push my plans all the way to next Sunday, though I will most likely push a 1.9.99 test release out with most release features in place earlier.

Docs are coming along well, as are several good examples, though they will both be trailing the 2.0 app release by a week or so, trickling out iteratively on andreapp.com.

[HTLuke]

I wanted to share that version 2.0.1b has been released to the Google Play store this evening. This app release is 2.0 feature complete. One or two more builds will be released to bundle the new demo/example config and catch any last-minute bugs over the next week or two. A new on-device help/tutorial system is in place which describes each area of the app. New detailed documentation will see its first release on the wiki at andreapp.com soon as well.

With 2.0.1 I've enabled hardware acceleration for newer devices and while I've tested it on as many devices as I can, I wanted to call it out specifically so if anyone experiences any crashes or odd behavior (particularly visual glitches) it's probably due to this change, and I'd like to know about it so I can debug it and/or revert the change.

Also in the last two versions there have also been the last of the 2.0 syntax changes that users should be aware of.

First, references to Entities by pageId/EntityId have changed (for Button Triggers, Parameters that set Entity Attributes, etc.). Traditionally the payload required Page ID and Entity ID separated by the pipe delimiter (e.g. myPageId|myEntityId|otherStuff...). For more flexibility, now EntityId/PageId are passed as one element, and the pageId is optional. The new format is: entityId[@pageId]. When the pageId is not supplied, then the currently active page is used. This allows for Entities to be page-agnostic and work wherever they are created.

Example:

Parameter setEntityAttribute

Old: pg_test|btn_aButton|margins|0,15,0,15 (works specifically for the Button on page pg_test)
New: btn_aButton@pg_test|margins|0,15,0,15 (works specifically for the Button on page pg_test)
Or: btn_aButton|margins|0,15,0,15 (works on whatever page is currently visible, assuming there is such a Button on that page)

The other change is for all assets (fonts, sounds, images, etc.). The XML attribute 'url' has been changed to 'uri', as it can refer to web or local file system resources. BrowserEntity still uses 'url' for its attribute name since it refers distinctly to a web address.

I'd also like to call attention to the community Entity sharing features that are now fully functional. If you enable Edit Mode and select 'Add New Entity' from the menu, you'll enter the local Entity Gallery. While in the Gallery you can press Menu and select 'find more entities' to browse the new online community gallery. This allows you to import new Entities created by others into your own gallery for use in your layouts. Once you've linked your device to an AndreApp.com account, you can long-press your own creations in your Gallery and share them through the community gallery too.

I've cleaned and re-opened the support forums at andreapp.com too, for any issues that may arise.

[davedave1234]

Any documentation yet? I have been following this for a while now and purchased it at least 6 months back but never did anything with it. I was waiting for a example or documentation before I started with it but felt I should support it at the time. I would really like to start using it but I would need at least an example.

[davedave1234]

I guess I can take that as a no.

[rkirmeier]

I know Luke is working hard on the samples and documentation. I think most of us that started using Andre from the beginning have been communicating with him through alternate means so that is the reason for his absents here. I'll ask him to check in..

As for getting started there is a sample config that come with it and a ton of info in this thread... I have a pretty advanced Andre config that I have been using for over year now and just love Andre!

[HTLuke]

Hi Dave,

Sorry I didn't see your comment sooner, I'm not sure why I don't always get notifications when someone posts to the thread. Since I've been working with current beta users mostly via email at this point and this thread has gone mostly silent, I don't check it frequently unless I get the notification. I'll have to check my spam settings and see if they're getting caught.

To answer your question, I have an up-to-date configuration example/demo that I'm working to complete right now. It is much more comprehensive than the old stuff and acts as a starting point for creating your own configurations. I got stuck about half-way with some nasty force-close bugs another beta user was having, and I had some non-Andre commitments steal away a good chunk of my time the last couple of months, but I'm back on the config work and hope to release it soon.

Additionally, I've added some in-app help capabilities to guide people through some of the menu options, on-device editor capabilities, etc. They're in the app now if you re-install from scratch. You'll see pop-ups with introductions to each feature with some tips and explanations. I'll be adding more meat to this too as things progress.

Finally, I've been setting up the wiki at andreapp.com to prepare to dump in the first round of updated documentation, which will include a comprehensive getting-started tutorial, a lot of specific server/device example configs, and details on the higher-level conceptual features. I'll be adding to this continually, building out a syntax reference for those still wanting to edit the config via XML vs. on-device, and more.

Also I should note that the community gallery for sharing pieces of configuration is done and working, and already has a few examples of real-world implementations (e.g. Buttons set up to communicate to Girder or Global Cache hardware), and I'll be putting more in as I create them. Other users are able and invited to expand this gallery as well.

If you're looking to get started with your own config, I will make a best effort to release the current version with the new demo config which will give you a decent starting point. I'm also much more responsive to direct emails (luke at andreapp dot com) and am very happy to help answer questions and guide you through the config creation process.

[mcu]

Any chance I can try this? I would love to see if I can integrate with my Russound system and JRMC

[HTLuke]

The beta is essentially over, all releases have been moved to the Market as of several months ago.

However I'm preparing to release the (free) trial version to the Market hopefully this weekend, if I can get the demo config layout done (which is waiting on one bug). This trial is fully functional aside from an occasional nag message when you're actually using the interface. That means you can use Edit Mode completely to design your layout, write scripts, etc. just like the full version, and testing is just hindered by a trial reminder every couple of uses, but is also otherwise fully functional.

I'll post here one that's been released to the Market. I'm probably not going to sleep until it's up, I'm that close.

[mcu]

any luck? Would I be able to control zones of my Russound RNET system?