FrontlineSMS for Android

[Mathias Lin]

There were many comments on the Android screenshots I posted, so I would like to move the discussion into the forum.

I am currently working on an Android port of \o/, which at the moment is in an early stage, the open source project is on github at https://github.com/mathiaslin/frontlinesms-for-android/wiki. Developers, testers, translators are welcome to join :)

 

I welcome any feedback and ideas while the development is progressing, especially:

• who could/would be interested in using an Android based version (which has the basic functionality, but would not have any plugin support in the beginning).
• info on concrete use cases (field of usage, location, availability of Android devices)
• which features are mostly demanded
  • how important is scheduled execution of actions (reply, forward, etc.)
  • how important is it to be able to execute multiple actions for one keyword - or do you mainly just execute one action per keyword

I myself am based in China, getting Android devices is not much of a problem here. I have no experience on Africa myself (yet, unfortunately).

 

As mentioned, the project is still under development, and open issues / ToDo's are listed here.

 

Any comments can be posted into this thread.

 

[Jorge L. Alonso G.]

Mathias: Thanks for your quick reply. Yes, I hit the icon, not just the label, and it works very well. I tried to download the 0.2a apk but the link is dead. Might you fix it, please? Jorge.

[Mathias Lin]

Please try again, http://www.metahealthcare.com/dl/frontlinesms-for-android-0.2a.apk

[Peter Chin]

Hi Mathias,

Good work with the \o/ Android app. I installed it today on my HTC Android phone here in Canada. I'll be trying out the different features soon.  I was wondering if the FrontlineSMS staff are providing any software development assistance or are you the only one doing all the development for this app?

[Laura Walker Hudson]

Hi Peter

Mathias did all the dev on this one - we are releasing SMS Sync support early this year, if that helps?

Best wishes

Laura

[Jorge L. Alonso G.]

Hi Mathias:

I downloaded succesfuly the 0.2a apk to my smartphone. However, when I try to send a SMS to my family group, nothing happens and after repeatedly pressing the button "Send message", the following message appears:

FrontlineSMS application (process netfrontlinesms. Android) stopped unexpectedly. Try again.

Obviously the family contacts are properly registered in my google account. What is wrong?

Saludos

Jorge

[Mathias Lin]

Yes, I saw your crash in the error log. Should be fixed now, please check http://www.metahealthcare.com/dl/frontlinesms-for-android-0.3a.apk

 

btw: I added small release notes to the wiki page on https://github.com/mathiaslin/frontlinesms-for-android/wiki/Downloa...

 

I noticed - visual feedback needs to be improved on that screen, after message has been sent (or not). Added to the ToDos.

[Jorge L. Alonso G.]

Hi Mathias: A question: If I make changes in my Gmail groups, I would supose that those changes are reflected in my mobile app when I use it on Wi-Fi..... but that is not happening. How can I to synchronize the information between Gmail account and my mobile app?

[Mathias Lin]

The sync should happen automatically in Android. Make sure the sync is activated. You can check when the last sync has happened in the Android settings / Accounts&sync / gmail account. Make sure the sync is turned on, click on the gmail account and make sure the checkbox "sync contacts" is checked there. When pressing the menu button here on that screen,you can also trigger the sync manually, but usually the sync should happen automatically.
On my home screen I usually have the Power Control widget installed, so I always see the current status of wifi, sync, etc.
The FSMS app itself doesn't do anything itself about syncing, it just uses the native contacts and groups as a datasource, but the actual syncing is done by the adapters that come with the google contacts.
Let me know if it still doesn't work after you've checked above mentioned settings.

[Jorge L. Alonso G.]

Thanks Mathias! Great explanation. I will test it in this way. The Power Control app sounds good. I will download it tomorrow morning. Saludos. Jorge.

[Mathias Lin]

I mean the standard widget that's already on every phone by default usually, see screenshot (add to home screen via long press, then select widget / power controls).

 

[Jorge L. Alonso G.]

Hi Mathias: I want to test the app in a small group of university students and go gradually increasing the number of them according to the impact of the app over their communication habits. Can you recommend me a minimum/maximum number of students to include in the pilot test? Thanks for your help. Jorge

[Mathias Lin]

Hi Jorge,

 

I haven't had the chance to stress test the app as I don't have a test group with multiple recipients (sim cards) at hand. So I can't tell the min/max yet. Really needs to be tested at all.

What's your use case for the app? How large is your group (from-to)?

 

btw: there's a minor update version 0.4a available, incl. 

• integrated Google Analytics (can be enabled/disabled in Settings)
• fixed search functionality issues

https://github.com/mathiaslin/frontlinesms-for-android/wiki/Downloa...

 

Mathias