Froogloid

a2b Now Supports Voice Navigation for 1.6 Users

Google recently rolled out an update to Google maps which now supports voice turn by turn directions.  Finally REAL GPS on my phone!  Since a2b leverages google maps for turn by turn directions this means we also benefit from this update. Unfortunately, the google maps update is only available for 1.6 firmware users.  If you’re not sure which firmware version you’re running go to settings > about phone > firmware version.  If you haven’t done so already make sure you go the android application marketplace and download the latest latest build of google maps (3.2.1 or higher).   Search “google maps” in the marketplace.  After you’ve updated you should be good to go!  I’ve provided screenshots below on how to trigger navigation via your saved location in a2b.  More »

a2b for Free!

That’s right you can now get a2b for free!   We recently released a free trial version of a2b that will let you use the application unrestricted for 20 uses!  Try before you buy with no strings attached!  Go ahead and check it out and let us know what you think.   Oh, and here’s a special offer have for the next five downloads…. More »

How to Design an Android App Podcast

If you’re interested in learning how to design you’re own android application or hearing about the pros/cons of being involved with android, you might want to check out this podcast.  Randy and Suzanne from Motorola development ask me a series of questions and I provide Froogloid’s honest feedback.  It’s a thriller… check it out :)

Link to podcast

Enjoy!  If you have any questions, comments or your own experiences, post em up!

MOTODEV Podcast Featuring Froogloid

Hi everyone, quick heads up ~ Froogloid will be featured on Motorola’s development podcast tomorrow 4/22 morning.  If you have any android / Froogloid related questions feel free to post them here and I’ll make sure Motorola is aware.    

Here’s link to podcast info:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/motodev/2009/04/22/MOTODEV-Android-Podcast-1

Date:  4/22/09

Time:  11:00 am cst

How to design your very own android application

Occasionally I receive an email asking if it’s hard to design and build android applications and what’s the best way to get started.  So, I figured it made sense to post a quick how-to on our blog on how to make a design.  Unfortunately, I’m not a developer so I’ll only be covering the design aspects of the process.  With that said, stay tuned for future dev how-to’s from Froogloid’s master android developers.

First, chose an application idea that’s do-able.  For example, don’t try to invent a time traveling mobile application your first time out the gate :)  Once you have your idea, do some research to see who else is offering a similar product.  If someone has already built an application that’s very similar to your idea, don’t be discouraged.  The reality is, your idea is probably not an original.  Study what other people have built and figure out a way to add additional features and streamline the apps usability.  Often times it’s better that someone has already built a product similar to your idea so that you can learn from their design shortcomings.

Now that you have your idea, let’s get started with the design.  First, if your not familiar with the Microsoft office application “visio”, I HIGHLY encourage you to learn. It’s a simple application that will allow you to create screenshot designs very easily and fast.  If you’re a newbie check out the visio how-to video’s on youtube.  Here’s one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmDjmm0btO8 Here’s the best part…. a company by the name or artbitfuls has created a custom visio stencil specifically designed for android UI creation.  You can download the stencil here and also see some of the designs they’ve created using visio.  Keep in mind that visio is very helpful in regards to designing your layout and picking which android widgets to use.  However, visio is not a great tool to design custom buttons and graphics.  I would strongly encourage you to use photoshop for this.  When designing, don’t try to reinvent the wheel. The android SDK has provided a wealth of existing widgets to use in your design.  USE THEM!  Trust me, it will make your life so so so much easier!  The previously mentioned visio stencil provides graphics of most of the widgets however, go here for a complete list.

When I make design I try to focus on one thing ~ “make the application as user friendly and intuitive as possible”.  Here’s a tip:  try to find the most non-techie person you know, in my case it’s my girlfriend, and without telling them anything about the application you’ve designed ask them to review the screenshots and provide a play by play on what the application does and how the user will interact with it.  If you’ve designed, let’s say, a bowling game and they think you’ve designed a baseball game you’ve got a problem :)  It’s best to change your design as early in the process as possible.  Otherwise you’ll have a very angry developer :)

Here’s a couple before and after screenshots of a2b.  You’ll notice the layouts are very similar but the actual graphics are different.
Visio Designs:

Built Application:

HTC Dream ~ Someone has it…. or do they?

In the latest a2b release, v1.1.0, we included a small bit of code from flurry analytics that allows Froogloid to monitor a2b’s usage etc. Don’t worry, it does not give us access to sensitive user information such as who’s using the app, where they’re using it etc. It mainly provides a way to monitor what devices are using the app, which countries, # of sessions, and # of errors experienced in the app. Think of it like google analytics but not NEARLY as detailed…
Yesterday I was surfing around the analytics report and noticed something interesting…. there’s a new device using a2b :) That’s right, someone who owns an HTC Magic, aka G2, has purchased a2b! First of all, I have to say I’m quite flattered that one of only a few people in the world that owns the HTC Magic has decided to purchase a2b. Almost brings a tear to my eye :) Second, you know what this means right? The launch of the G2/HTC Magic is getting extremely close! Finally, android will become a multi-device operating system. Although, I use that term loosely considering the HTC Dream is bigger brother of the G1. I’ll get really excited once I see an android device released from another manufacturer.
Here’s a screenshot of the analytics report:

Welcome Germany and Austria!

We knew it was coming, we just didn’t know when! Austria and Germany now have access “paid” apps in the adroid market.
How do I know? Well, I just checked Froogloid’s google checkout account for a2b and we have received sales from both Austria and Germany! 3 European countries now have paid apps support ~ UK, Austria, and Germany.

Latest a2b Updates

Hey everyone, I’ve been meaning to post about this for some time now but Chris P, Simmone, and I have been heads down lately with Key Ring and some other stuff.  The good news is Key Ring is moving right along :)  For those of you that downloaded a2b via the android market, you likely saw an email I sent last week explaining some of the new features. This post will expound upon on that email and will include screenshots. Enjoy :) 

On a related note, thanks to everyone who provided positive feedback on the android market regarding the latest update.  Your feedback is VERY APPRECIATED!  THANK YOU!

Manually enter location. Select “save location” => “map” tab => menu => “manually enter location”.   

GPS Settings.  You can now configure GPS to automatically turn off when you exit the application.   Go to the home screen => menu => “settings”

New Home Screen Background Graphic.  We wanted more contrast between the save and find buttons and the background. Hopefully this new background will do the trick :)
 

Turn by Turn / Driving Directions. You’ll now have the option to navigate to your saved location using turn by directions. Unfortunately it’s against google’s terms of service to integrate turn by turn directly within a 3rd party application otherwise we would have a built a custom view. Nonetheless, google maps seamlessly integrate with a2b. Select “find location” => select the location you’d like to navigate to via the list => find “map” tab => menu => “Driving Directions”

Email Saved Location. Once you’ve saved a location you can share it with anyone you’d like via email. If you’ve taken a picture and/or created a free text note this will also be sent when emailing the location. Select “find location” => select the location you’d like to share via the list => find “map” tab = menu => “email saved location”

Update Menu.  When you download an updated version of a2b you’ll now be able to reference what updates were made.  Go to the home screen => menu => “updates”

Several UI Enhancements.  Progress circles between screen transitions, pop up toast for playing audio, background color for find map tab distance, manage application description, and various other tweaks.