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.

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.

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.

Aldiko - the free ebook reader on Android (epub format)

Aldiko is a great Android App to read your ebooks right on your mobile phone.

You can import the epub ebooks you already own from the sdcard. Non epub format DRM-free ebooks can be converted to epub format using Calibre software.

As editors like O'Reilly, Manning, Mark Murphy's CommonsWare have started to release their books in DRM-free ebook format, the mobile as an ebook reader is becoming more and more a reality.

The QR-code to access the Aldiko app on the Android Market is here.

The app is also announced to be available on the alternative SlideMe app market on the Aldiko blog post but I can't find it.

BlogAway - how to post on blog from Android devices

This post is made from BlogAway, a client app that allows posting and viewing posts on blog directly from an Android device.

From the app, you can publish a new post, save a draft online or on the phone, add links, add photos and movies.

My first user experience was rather tough as I lost the post I wanted to make. I think there should be more confirmations when user actions may end by some lost of content.

But overall, this app is a very good idea that goes in the good direction.

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.

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 :

Archos's solution to ADB connection bug with Mac OSX since 1.4.xx firmwares

Archos support proposes a solution to the bug on ADB connection mode with Mac OSX 10.6.2 with firmwares updates since 1.4.07 to the latest 1.4.16 :

You actually need to modify or create the adb_usb.ini file

In terminal, you need to type :
echo "0x0e79" >~/.android/adb_usb.ini
Then
./adb kill-server
and
./adb start-server


I just modify the first command in order to preserve the original contents of the ~/.android/adb_usb.ini file by issuing the following command
echo "0x0e79" >> ~/.android/adb_usb.ini


Here is the result :

$ adb devices
List of devices attached

$ adb devices
List of devices attached

$ more ~/.android/adb_usb.ini
# ANDROID 3RD PARTY USB VENDOR ID LIST -- DO NOT EDIT.
# USE 'android update adb' TO GENERATE.
# 1 USB VENDOR ID PER LINE.
$ echo "0x0e79" >> ~/.android/adb_usb.ini
$ more ~/.android/adb_usb.ini
# ANDROID 3RD PARTY USB VENDOR ID LIST -- DO NOT EDIT.
# USE 'android update adb' TO GENERATE.
# 1 USB VENDOR ID PER LINE.
0x0e79
$ adb kill-server
$ adb start-server
$ adb devices
List of devices attached
A5S-xxxx0004-xxxx0000-0403xxxx-1500xxxx device


All works perfectly.

Archos 5 IT - driver ExtFS for Mac OSX

I just install the Paragon ExtFS for Mac OS X driver.

The driver doesn't work if MacOSX 10.6.2 kernel starts in full 64bit mode : there's nothing in the Finder and Disk Utility shows an Archos device but the filesystem is grayed (not available).

After restarting Mac OSX kernel in 32bits mode, the Archos device becomes visible in the Finder.

First tests copying small files to / from the Archos 5 IT seems to work properly but sometimes it seems to take a long time to prepare to copy ... a little bit strange behavior.

Archos 5 IT - firmware 1.4.16 - bug on ADB with MacOSX still exists - driver ExtFS for Mac OSX

Le nouveau firmware 1.4.16 ne corrige toujours pas le bug dans la connexion en mode ADB sur Mac OSX 10.6.2

« adb devices » ne trouve pas l’A5IT

Bug déjà signalé sur la 1.4.08 (http://www.jbmm.fr/2009/11/26/2-firmwares-sinon-rien/) et la 1.4.09 (http://www.jbmm.fr/2009/11/28/et-hop-un-firmware-archos-5it/)

Avant de décider si je repasse à nouveau en 1.3.07, je vais tester le driver Paragon ExtFS for Mac OS X signalé par ArchosLounge.net dans son article Archos 5IT et le Mac : LA solution !


---------------------- English version -----------------------

The new firmware 1.4.16 still doesn't solve the bug in the ADB connection mode with Mac OSX 10.6.2

« adb devices » doesn't discover the A5IT device

Bug has been signaled on 1.4.08 (http://www.jbmm.fr/2009/11/26/2-firmwares-sinon-rien/) and 1.4.09 (http://www.jbmm.fr/2009/11/28/et-hop-un-firmware-archos-5it/) firmware versions

Before deciding to reinstall the 1.3.07 firmware, I will make a try with the driver Paragon ExtFS for Mac OS X which has been reported by ArchosLounge.net in Archos 5IT et le Mac : LA solution !

Archos 5 IT and Mac OSX - when it comes to connecting in ADB mode

The filesystem used by the Archos 5 IT is ext3 as stated in the FAQ

As MacOSX does not support anymore, one way to connect the Archos 5IT to the Mac is by using ADB - Android Debug Bridge. Here are the Archos 5IT support instructions.

As stated, everything works directly with MacOSX, nothing to install.
To make a check :

• connect the Archos 5IT to the Mac using the USB cable
• open a Terminal (you'll find it in /Application/Utilities)
• go to the directory where the Android SDK has been installed, and from here, go to the tools sub-directory (you better add the Android SDK's path to your PATH)
• just do an « adb devices » command
• the answer should be something like
  
List of devices attached
0123456789ABCDEF device

  where the device is the Archos 5IT
  

Instructions to use ADB can be found on Android's Developers site and on Android wiki. In short, exec a « push » to put a file on the device and a « pull » to get a file from the device.

Using ADB, you can even access the full Archos 5IT filesystem.


ADB support bug in the Archos 5IT latests firmwares

The 1.4.09 and 1.4.08 Archos 5 IT firmwares both have a bug in the ADB support that makes the device not be found and ADB mode not working at all.
You have to stay back on Archos 5IT 1.3.07 firmware in order to use ADB connection mode on Mac OSX.

Archos 5 Internet Tablet

I purchase an Archos 5 IT 32 Gb device and it's nice.

The 5 inches display makes web browsing a real pleasure. And the device is really nice for it's multimedia capabilities, one strength of Archos. Internet access based on wifi b/g/n is very fast.

The device comes with Archos versions of Android 1.5 Cupcake. Everything works well, but the integration with the other parts of the system needs to be improved. Which will probably be done with the coming Donut 1.6 upgrade.

books on Android from Mark Murphy (CommonsWare) available in ebook format

Mark Murphy from CommomsWare makes he's 3 books on Android available in ebook's MOBI format (Kindle).

The books are :

• Android Programming Tutorials v1.1, supports SDK 1.6/2.0
• The Busy Coder's Guide to Android Development v2.8, supports SDK 2.0
• The Busy Coder's Guide to Advanced Android Development v1.2, supports SDK 1.6r1

book : Unlocking Android available in mobi and epub format for eBooks

Manning has the very good idea to make it's books available not only in PDF format, but also in EPUB and MOBI format, allowing to read them on eBook readers.

Manning publishes a book on Android : Unlocking Android. It covers the SDK 1.x.

Archos and Android - Archos 5 IT - Developer contest

Archos proposes a new version of it's Archos 5 PMP based on Android : the Archos 5 Internet Tablet.

As the device is based on Archos's version of Android 1.5 Cupcake, Archos has setup it's own version of the market : AppsLib.

And to help developers to adapt their applications to the Archos 5 IT device, a developer contest was organized.