Showing posts with label track site. Show all posts
Showing posts with label track site. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

TrackSite : backup

A new backup activity (screen) has been introduced in Track Site. It allows :
  • a local backup where the backup file is stored on the SD card
  • a remote backup where the backup file is sent to an email account as an email attachment. It's not a cloud-based backup, but the idea is to use the mailing box as a secure place to keep the backup and a way to provide ubiquitous access to the backup when needed

The remote backup automatically makes a local backup then sends the backup file as an attachment.

Some instructions are given in the email :
IMPORTANT :
keep the attachment file in a safe place as it may content private information

TO RESTORE :
1) save it on the target phone SD card, at the root (not in a directory),
2) then in Track Site, use restore (Menu -> More -> Restore)

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Track Site's rating in the Android Market

I've rated my Track Site app at the « Teen » level according to the guidelines that have been supplied at Android Market Help Center http://market.android.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=188189.

The specific rules that have made me rate my Track Site app « Teen » instead of « All » is the section
User Generated Content and User to User Communication

Apps rated “All” should not host any user generated content or enable communication between users. Apps that focus on allowing users to find and communicate with each other should be rated “Teen” or above.
and more specifically the first sentence :
Apps rated “All” should not host any user generated content or enable communication between users.

As Track Site allows users to enter a description on each bookmark and send their bookmarks by emails or by texting (SMS), I just can't rate it « All ».

Friday, November 12, 2010

Track Site : permissions that are asked for

Permissions have been reworked : Track Site doesn't ask anymore for READ_CONTACTS and SEND_SMS permissions.

Nevertheless it's still possible to send a bookmark by email or by text (SMS), as Track Site passes control to the stock communication apps (Gmail, Email, Messaging, ...) to do the job. Those stock communication apps already have been granted the required permissions (to read contacts and to send SMS /texting) by the user when they have been installed.


Permissions that Track Site previously asked of



Permissions that Track Site now asked for



Here is a screenshot of how permissions appears on the Android Market now

Friday, October 29, 2010

Track Site : how to backup and restore your bookmarks

Before changing Android phone or making a factory reset, you need to backup your Track Site bookmarks before, in order to restore them on your new Android phone or after the factory reset.


1) Backup the bookmarks

To backup, go to "Menu" --> "More" --> "Backup".



The "track_sites.ini" file is created at the root of the SD card. The backup erase any file with the same name.


2.1) Factory reset

If you just make a factory reset, keeping the same phone, you don't have anything more to do, as long as you don't erase your SD card or format it : proceed with the factory reset, then restore your bookmarks following the instructions of section 3) below.

If you want to change your SD card or format it, you need to keep the backup (the "track_sites.ini" file) in a safe place before changing your SD card or formatting it, and then follow the instructions in the next 2.2) section


2.2) Transfer to a new phone

If you change your Android phone or your SD card or format your SD card, you need to transfer the "track_sites.ini" file from your old phone to the root of the SD card on your new Android phone.

This can be done in 2 ways :
  1. The easiest way (recommended) is by connecting your phone to a desktop computer (PC / Mac / Linux) and mounting it as an USB drive.

    This is direct on Mac.
    You need a driver on Windows.

    You just have to copy the "track_sites.ini" file from your old phone phone to the new one (or to a safe place on your computer if you want to format your SD card or change it).
    Then, unmount or disconnect the new phone from USB in order to be able to access the SD card contents.
  2. Developers can use the adb tool (see 2.2 bis) below).

3) Restore the bookmarks

To restore your bookmarks, go to "Menu" --> "More" --> "Restore"
The "track_sites.ini" file is read from the root of the SD card and it's content is loaded in the Track Site app.

Be aware of not loading the file multiple times as file bookmarks are added to the ones that may already exists.



2.2 bis) The adb (hard) way for the developers

The "USB debugging" option should have been activated on both phones ("Settings" --> "Applications" --> "Development" --> "USB debugging").

The full file path is /mnt/sdcard/track_sites.ini

And here is how to get it and transfer it :
  • a) ensure your phone is available

    mac:~ $ adb devices
    List of devices attached
    xxxxxxxxxxx6 device
  • b) ensure the file is where you think it is

    mac:~ $ adb shell
    # ls -l /mnt/sdcard/tra*.ini
    ----rwxr-x 1 system sdcard_r 30719 Oct 28 12:57 /mnt/sdcard/track_sites.ini
    # exit
    mac:~ $
  • c) then go to the directory where you want to download the file (Downloads in the following example) and pull it

    mac:~ $ cd Downloads/
    mac:Downloads $ adb pull /mnt/sdcard/track_sites.ini
    847 KB/s (30719 bytes in 0.035s)
    mac:~ $
  • d) then connect the new phone as in a).

    Ensure the old phone is disconnected from your system or you end up with 2 devices (2 lines) with the adb devices command.

    mac:Downloads $ adb devices
    List of devices attached
    xxxxxxxxxxx6 device
    yyyyyyyyyyy9 device
    mac:~ $
  • e) remove any /mnt/sdcard/track_sites.ini file from the destination.

    mac:Downloads $ adb -s yyyyyyyyyyy9 shell
    $ ls -l /mnt/sdcard/track_sites.ini
    ----rwxr-x system sdcard_rw 1241 2010-10-29 11:03 track_sites.ini
    $ rm /mnt/sdcard/track_sites.ini
    $ ls -l /mnt/sdcard/track_sites.ini
    /mnt/sdcard/track_sites.ini: No such file or directory
    $ exit
    mac:~ $
  • f) push the track_sites.ini file to its final location /mnt/sdcard/track_sites.ini.

    mac:Downloads $ adb -s yyyyyyyyyyy9 push track_sites.ini /mnt/sdcard/track_sites.ini
    1505 KB/s (30719 bytes in 0.019s)
    mac:~ $

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Track Site 1.02.44 - adding support for QVGA (240x320) screen devices (Xperia X10 Mini and the likes)

Following Shantanu's post on QVGA screen (240x320) devices support (Android Dev Tip: App Not Showing on X10 Mini Marketplace), I just release a new version of Track Site (1.02.44).

Some screenshots from the emulator :





The screen is tiny but it works fine :

Drop me an email or add a comment (better) to let me know how it's behave on a real device.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Track Site 1.02.42 - an improved user interface

Track Site user interface has been improved a lot over the last releases. Here is a review of the improvements.

The main screen

On the upper part of the main screen are, from left to right :
  • the bookmarks import button, which allows to import bookmarks from the stock Android browser. Just touch it and the bookmarks that have been defined since the last import will be imported into Track Site under the tag « imported »
  • the multiple tags filter display, which shows the tags on which the bookmarks are filtered on
  • the multiple tags filter button, which allows to set the multiple tags filter
The filtered bookmarks are displayed bellow.


The multiple tags selector screen

This screen appears when the multiple tags filter button has been touch. Here, you can :
  • sort the tags alphabetically ; please note that selected tags have a green check on the right and that checked tags are grouped before unchecked tags to allow for better understanding
  • just touch a tag to check or uncheck it ; please note that the bookmarks will be displayed only if they are tagged by all the bookmarks that are in the filter
  • the clear button uncheck all the tags in one touch
  • the cancel button allows to return to the main screen without changing the tag filter
  • the Ok button activates the new tag filter


The bookmarks editor screen

This screens allows to edit bookmarks information :
  • edit bookmark's information : the name, the description, the URL, the tags (touching the button displays the tags management screen)
  • save your changes, making them permanent
  • delete the bookmark : a confirmation dialog appears to confirm your decision as deleted bookmarks can't be undeleted
  • just return to the main screen, discarding any change that can have been underway

There are 2 ways to get on this screen :
  • using the menu button and choose the « create » or « edit » menu items
  • by long pressing on the bookmark, then touching « create » or « edit » items on the contextual menu that appears above the screen


The multiple tags management screen

This screen allows for bookmark's tag management :
  • selecting one or more tags
  • defining new tags ; created tags are automatically checked

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Track Site 1.02.34 - french language localization

French language support has been introduced in the version 1.02.34 of Track Site.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Track Site 1.02.32 - import bookmarks from stock browser

This new release of Track Site (v1.02.32) introduces the import of stock browser's bookmarks. Import is accessible through « Menu », then « More » and finally « Import browser's bookmarks ». Bookmarks that have been created since the last import are imported and tagged with « imported». Bookmarks are imported into Track Site whether they already exists or not.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Track Site - 1.01.31 - now build for Eclair (Android 2.1)

The 1.01.31 version of TrackSite is now build for Android 2.1 (aka Eclair). It may still work on Android 1.6 (Cupcake) devices.
This version introduces a local database to store the bookmarks and the additional infos — the description and the tag list. More to come on this side as the stock browser's bookmarks are also stored in a database.
Introducing a local database make the app working even when the SDcard has been removed.
Existing bookmarks from /sdcard/sites.ini file are automatically loaded into the database at first launch.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Track Site - the QR code

Track Site can be found on the Android Market using it's QR-code directly from the Android phone.



The Barcode scanner app should be installed on the phone, as stated by PointGPhone site.

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Track Site - list font size preference

Just added a list font size preference to let the user adjust the font size to his/her needs and to the device screen size and density.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Track Site - improved portrait layout for small screens

The UI has been reworked in version 1.01.25 to be more usable on small screens in portrait mode. Here are some screenshots of the new UI in portrait mode.




The edit screen has also be reworked to give more space to the entry fields, both in portrait and landscape mode.



The version 1.01.25 is available on Google's Android Market and Archos's AppsLibs market.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Track Site - description of the goal and functions

Do you ever want to add a note to an article you just read while crawling the web ?
Or just add a mark on an article to remember to read it later ?
Or wonder what is the best folder to store a new bookmark ?
Or can't remember the login you used to register on a website ?
Or the mail address you used to subscribe to the site's newsletter ?
...

Most browsers does not allow to add meaningful notes on bookmarks !
So here is the "Track Site" app.

This App allows for sites's bookmarking, giving them a name, adding an optional description, and optionally adding some tags.
Those information are stored in a plain text file ("/sdcard/sites.ini").
A html file of all bookmarks can be generated ("/sdcard/track_sites.html").
And bookmarks can be shared with others by email or SMS.

Look for "Track Site" on Google's Android marketplace and on Archos's AppsLib marketplace.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Track Site - approved on Archos's AppsLib

TrackSite, the application I've submitted for the Archos's Developer Contest, has been approved on AppsLib.

I'm happy since it's my first Android application. It a strong encouragement that helps me continue making improvements on Track Site and continue my learning journey on Android.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Track Site - my app for Archos developers contest

A developer's contest was organized by Archos for the Archos 5 IT's launch, as it's Archos's first Android device.

I have submitted the Track Site app whose goal is to allow more information to be associated to site's bookmarks than just the name. Track Site provides support to add an optional description and any number of tags.

Here are some screenshots :