High Tech But Smart

Tips and tricks: how to use the layer transition function

2012-01-30T10:48:00.000+01:00

Magic Doodle on Kindle Fire

2012-01-05T21:47:00.003+01:00

Google makes great efforts to reduce the problem of Android platform fragmentation.

2011-07-26T18:20:00.000+02:00

Despite a hudge number of daily device activations (550,000), Android Market doesn't seem to attrack massively developers. One of the complaint is about a too large number of different versions of the OS, different devices, and different firmwares. This fragmentation (atomization ?) damages heavily the developers and users experience.

To improve the Android Market, Google has launched a new feature for developers called « multiple APK support ».

Until now, a developer uploads only one version of his app to the Market, and this version is supposed to universally run with all brands, types and firmwares. Which is very virtual. As the market atomization progresses, developers receive more and more crash reports, and users are often surprised that an app they played with for a while, suddenly doesn't work properly with their up to date devices. Sometimes doesn't launch any more.

Now, with the multiple APK support, developers are able to upload several versions of their apps within the same app's name. Each one adressing a different subset of devices, recognizing different OS versions, screen sizes, memory, etc... Then, when a user downloads an app, according to his device's specifications, Android Market automatically chooses the right app version to deliver. Users only see one version of the app on the market.

This solution is not perfect for anyone. Just temporarily moves the fragmentation problem on developers' heads. It should be better to have an OS version which runs with all devices, Google promises that the forthcoming Ice Cream Sandwich platform will deliver an universal OS, without crashes for any devices.

Really hope this comes true.

Painted by whilce1234 with Magic Doodle on Galaxy Tab

2011-06-06T22:57:00.001+02:00

Understanding Android Operating Systems

2011-03-03T01:57:00.002+01:00

Apple mobile device users are running the same operating system (OS) in different models and versions. All are using the Apple iOS. In one word, an OS is a software interface between the hardware (device) and the applications, and we use the apps to make what they pretend to make (ie paintings, games,…).
But with Android OS, things are more complicate. Users can make more choices between different devices’ manufacturers. Each manufacturer has integrated his own firmware into the device. A firmware is a small software used to pilot the hardware in order to be implemented with the OS.
It’s good news for Android users to have more than one choice, but it’s also bad news because the different choices are not obviously compatible. The best painting app you’ve just downloaded from Android Market maybe is not the best for your Android phone. If you are still running Android version 1.6 Donut, and the apps need some functions from version 2.2 Froyo, they could freeze, or force close, or totally block your device.
Since the beginning Android platform has been upgrade very (too) frequently, this is a good thing because the users can get better version of the OS. But newer versions added new functions which are often not compatible with older versions. This problem is not specific to Android, iOS also meets incompatibility between different versions, but with Android this problem is more important and more frequent.
Android OS naming convention made in (desserts) alphabetical order:

Android version 1.5: Cupcake
Android version 1.6: Donut
Android version 2.0: Éclair
Android version 2.2: Frozen Yogurt (Froyo)
Android version 2.3: Gingerbread
Android version 3.0: Honeycomb
Android version 4.0 or 2.4 ? : Ice Cream

But, when the users try to run an application on their devices they found many bugs and problems. Why ? I cannot imagine a serious developer releasing some unchecked or untested apps on the Market. He knows that users’ feedbacks will not be eulogistic and he will not gain any credit on the Market.
In fact, Android users are facing 2 sources of problems:
1/ A same OS with different upgrades needs different sets for a same application. Adding more features between different OS versions will bring less compatibility, a same app will not be totally compatible with all the OS versions. To do so, for a same app the developer must release one version for each Android OS version. Then managing 4 or 5 versions of the same app is totally crazy, mostly for their updates.
2/ Each manufacturer has developed his own firmware. Which makes their devices unique and then different from the other competitors. But the small differences between firmwares can generate unwanted bugs and malfunctions to an app.
Apple and Microsoft are also facing this question, both have made their OS binding. Specially the last Microsoft OS (Windows Phone 7), with the same configuration than Android, has provided the same unique OS and firmware to the different manufacturers.

Drawing along with your child.

2011-02-15T17:34:00.000+01:00

Drawing along with your child is most grateful and funny for both of you. Even you are using the simplest drawing tools, children can express themselves with colors and forms.

Very young children draw what they feel. Painting is their natural expression way. Every child have his or her own style, depending mainly on their perception of the familiar environment. Every style should be encouraged.

Whatever a child will draw, he will enjoy a lot his work. Will have real fun when he can experiment different painting tools and colors. Parents should provide the most large painting experience for their children, then opening up the world to them.

When drawing along with a child you don't need to be good, you just need to be there.

Preschool (up to 5 years old)

At this age children still need demonstration, you have to apply some bright colors on a sheet of paper (or on your iPad screen). Your baby will quickly understand the process and enjoy to make it himself, with his own fingers.

At the beginning one primary color is enough, even black color can be used. After few sessions your child will be able to change colors and paint some easy recognizable forms. Of course, you don't have to care about the proportions of the reproduced objects, they mainly depend on the child's environment preception.

Drawing at the same time with your children will provide them a model. They'll probably paint faster than you do.

Some useful tips:

Your child will prefer certain colors and don't like others
Your remarks don't have to be critical. Your baby don't need to produce some masterpieces.
Wide brushstrokes are best up to 2 or 3 years old.
Children of 4 or 5 can have more accuracy and will produce some amazing works. Show them more tools and colors.
You may check websites on internet for ideas. By looking at other children's works, your child can get some inspiration.
Post your children's work on internet (Drawing Box has a public group on Flickr devoted to it's users paintings and drawings). They'll be very excited to see their own paintings on the Web.
Don't always try to influence your child's expression style. Painting for a child is supposed to be funny, not another kind of “homework”.

MWC2011 will see the "mobile revolution" ?

2011-01-26T20:40:00.000+01:00

Mobile World Congress 2011 Barcelona

MWC2011 will be held in Barcelona, Spain, on February 14^th-17^th, 2011. This is known as the big show for mobile devices after the CES2011 Las Vegas.

The major mobile devices manufacturers will be there to show their future products based on existing or future technologies. But the mobile device revolution is hard to come from the industrial device aggregators, it's more surely from new technology creators.

Since CES 2011 in Las Vegas, Nvidia seems to become an important actor of the “mobile revolution” with its new Tegra series chips. The Tegra 2 dual core has been first integrated by LG in a smartphone, and all the tests showed that it works much more faster than other devices.

During the CES 2011 all devices integrating a dual core chip were the most viewed. And Motorola has won 3 awards with the Xoom tablet and the Atrix phone, both running with Tegra 2.

For the coming MWC2011 in Barcelona, Nvidia will surely show its most powerful chips the Tegra 2 3D (duo core 1Ghz) and the Tegra 3 (quad core 1.5Ghz) . These 2 CPU will make tablets and smartphones much more powerful, then speed and responsiveness will not be a problem for them.

Hereunder is the chart about the Tegra chips:

Future Android mobile devices will be incredibly powerful. Consumers will have lots of choices, which is good news. Because prices will drop shortly. Then price will be crucial for the success of Android devices. It'll be the competitive lever, and only the pricing policy will make the difference between successful manufacturers... and the others.

But with the actual average price for an Android tablet ($700 - $800), the way is still long to a popular device. If you want to invest into the best Android tablet, just wait several months more. Personally, I'll not think about any purchase before the end of fall 2011.

Why my drawing skill gets worse when I'm older ?

2011-01-23T01:47:00.001+01:00

How many times we said that: “I used to draw great when I was a child, but I'm not able to make a good pencil stroke when I got older”

The reason lies on the word “practice”. Indeed, when we were young we spent more time on drawing and painting, children used to draw naturally and also learn how to draw at school. Adult people usually haven't drawn since their secondary school.

Drawing and painting are like every thing, they need to be practiced. Imagine that you haven't written a simple word since years, what should be your writing skill today ? The lack of drawing practice can be corrected easily. And it's never too late to start your art learning because you can surely draw. Digital painting will give you more easy to use tools.

You can make a dot, a circle, a triangle, a square, a line ? Sure you can draw. Everything is a combination of simple forms and lines. You have the ability to mimic them, and practice will give you the ability to reproduce and control them.

You are drawing for yourself first, for your own pleasure. So, forget criticism and judgement of your skill. There's no “good or bad” stroke. Only their position and form count.

Drawing is an ancient art, its principles and techniques are easy to learn.

Here are some practical tips to progress in drawing:

A/ Sometimes less is better. You don't need to draw every detail you see. Just try to reproduce things with enough detail.

B/ Don't take on too complicated subjects at first. This could discouraged you when the drawing isn't good as you expected.

C/ Draw what you see in the subject, not what you already know about it. Your observation is fundamental.

D/ Practice quick sketching. Warm up your mind with free hand drawing. Experiment your digital painting tool.

E/ Keep your mobile drawing device with you wherever you go. It's always ready for you. Drawing on a phone screen is more discreet than a canvas or a piece of paper. The more often you draw, the more your observation get accurate.

F/ Don't throw out your drawings, mostly the ones you don't like. Keeping them is an excellent way to measure your progress.

G/ Focus more on your subject more than on your drawing.

H/ Practice often the contour drawing technique: just draw the outline of your subject, without shading.

I/ Practice the hatching technique: use the parallel or cross lines to create the appearance of value.

J/ Practice the upside down drawing technique: by turning a picture head down, it becomes abstract and unrecognizable. This forces you to draw only the lines you see, and not rely your drawing on what you already know about the subject itself.

Learning to draw what you really see, not what you think.

2011-01-21T23:55:00.000+01:00

The most common problem encountered by the beginners is the difficulty to reproduce correctly the subject they are drawing. Just because they are not drawing what their eyes are seeing, but what their brain is “seeing”.

If you have the same difficulty to draw, it means that you are thinking too much about “theory” when you draw. In other words, you are not drawing the things as your eyes see them, but as you think they should be. For example you want to draw a chair, your brain tells you that you are actually drawing a chair, not only making lines and shadows (which are really what you are seeing). Then you are not drawing what you see, and the result is boring.

The solution is stepping your brain down and simply draw with your eyes and your hand. Start with one line, and a second correctly positioned next to the first one... and so on...

Many people made remarkable progress in only 2 days, just by drawing what they see. Hereunder are some exercises you can practice (any of them in any order, or all of them):

EXERCISE 1

Reproduce a picture or a painting head down. Simply put your model head down and then start to draw it with one line, 2 then 3....4... Your drawing is also head down, exactly like your model. I bet that you'll be surprised by your first head down drawing.

EXERCISE 2

Draw simple objects...without looking at your paper (or screen). So that you have to focus exclusively on the lines your are drawing. The purpose is synchronizing your eyes and your hand.

EXERCISE 3

Drawing a complete subject without lifting your pen (or finger) from the paper (or screen). So every line will count for the final result, and erasing is not allowed. This way of scribbling is also fully relaxing.

You can find other similar exercises in painting websites and continue to practice your skill.

The art of sketching

2011-01-19T22:56:00.002+01:00

Sketching was always practiced by artists, it's a helpful exercise for beginners to improve their drawing skill. Sketching with the purpose to obtain a sketchy appearance doesn't require any specific skill.

Everybody has its own sketching habit, but if your are an absolute beginner, the following tips could be helpful for making quick progress:

TIP 1.

Decide on the subject you want to sketch. Observe it and start to draw the great outlines with light lines. Just beware of their angle, length and position.

TIP 2.

Try to draw long lines as you can. Because short lines will be used for shading and grading.

TIP 3.

Keep the eraser away from you. Sketching is not supposed to use eraser, it just messes up your work and your self confidence. You could consider that mistakes will highlight the raw aspect of your drawing.

TIP 4.

Don't spend too much time on one sketch, finish it as quickly as possible. The more you get into the small details, the longer it will take for you to finish. And you'll be bored with it... then loose your inspiration and natural strokes.

TIP 5.

To build up the forms, use the basic shapes. Draw shapes with light strokes, and add details with bold strokes. Even this, try not to make very heavy strokes as they lead quickly to a mess.

TIP 6.

Practice, practice, practice.

Asus could open its own app store.

2011-01-15T00:16:00.000+01:00

According to a post published on Jan 14^th, 2011 by the Inquirer (UK), Asus may open its own app store to give access to Android apps to its users.

The reason is that Asus is not sure to reach Google's requirements for running Honeycomb 3.0 platform in its tablets.

Despite of its declarations during the CES 2011, Asus will probably produce tablets with Gingerbread 2.3 OS, which is supposed not totally suitable for tablets.

Toshiba and Archos have both already opened their app store. Specially Archos has now reached about 20,000 apps in its Appslib store, but it took him quite a year to provide such number of apps. The reason is probably due to the fact that developers are not enthusiastic to publish their apps on third party stores, it's economically not profitable because the number of downloads is still poor.

Why Asus don't redirect its customers to some popular third party stores, such as SlideMe or GetJar ? It's more easy for everyboby.

Android platform fragmentation (again)

2011-01-13T00:19:00.000+01:00

The future Android tablets coming this year will reach high hardware requirements for running Honeycomb 3.0 platform. But during the CES2011 four days, we have also seen some tablets still using Froyo 2.2.

How about the Android smartphones versions ?

Sources from Google (Jan 4th 2011):

Android 1.5	=	4.7%
Android 1.6	=	7.9%
Android 2.1	=	35.2%
Android 2.2	=	51.8%
Android 2.3	=	0.4%

It seems that smartphones will be upgraded to Ice Cream 2.4 and not to Honeycomb 3.0.

So the two platforms 2 and 3 will coexist in 2011: one for smartphones, and one for the tablets. But there will also have a middle zone of smartphones running Honeycomb 3.0 (the higher-end devices with duo-core chips) and tablets integrating platform 2.4 (middle-end devices).

In the other hand, Google will limit the access to Android Market to devices which don't meet certain hardware guidelines. Specially tablets might have duo-core chip and high definition screen display. This will make Android Market unreachable for mid-market tablets. Thus creating a high complexity for both app developers and consumers.

Android tablets and display problems

2011-01-11T23:21:00.000+01:00

CES 2011 has just ended, and all we are waiting for the coming Android tablets. The devices presented during the CES have reached a kind of standardization, and we can figure out the typical tablet we can have in our hands this year:

- Capacitive 7" or 10" screen size, with high definition (600 x 1024 dpi). We can notice that the 5" screen has quite disappeared. Personally I find it more like a big smartphone than a small tablet, and in the both cases the usability is poor.

- Processor: duo-core (most of them will integrate the Nvidia Tegra 2 - 1Ghz), or at least a simple chip 1Ghz.

- At least 512Mo RAM, more commonly 1Go, and better with 2Go.

In other words, Android tablets have to provide high speed and responsiveness. And the top 4 manufacturers should be Motorola (of course), Samsung, LG and HTC.

But there is still an unsolved question about the adaptation of the hundred thousands apps in Android Market to the tablets large screen size (scalability).

So far, all these apps have been developed for smartphones with a screen not larger than 480x854 dpi. The tablets have usually higher definition (600x1024 dpi). About this topic, it's better to talk about screen definition than screen size. Indeed, a high definition screen (480x800) can have a small screen (3.2" for instance), when the density is high.

Developers usually build their apps according to the definition of the screen and place pictures, buttons and other features exactly where they want. But with the large tablets' screens (and sometimes low density) the user interfaces will be changed more or less. And anyway don't look exactly like the original one on the smartphone. Oh, it's just "a little ugly", but very boring in long terme use.

How to solve this problem ? Developers cannot imagine what their apps will look like on a tablet's screen. We can extrapolate roughly for big screens, but it'll never be scientifically exact.

When Samsung has launched the Galaxy Tab in 2010, the developers can download their SDK (software development kit) which included a tablet simulator reproducing its screen and features. This is smart from Samsung technical department, because developers don't have the opportunity to test their apps on a real tablet, but at least can avoid great errors.

So far, with the coming 2011 tablets, developers have not received any information about SDK from manufacturers. I hope to get some news soon, otherwise the apps will have some displays inconveniences.

CES2011: Motorola the glorious come back

2011-01-10T01:44:00.000+01:00

CES2011 last day, the awards were presented by CNET. And the winner is....

Motorola took 3 awards:

1/ Best of show: Motorola Xoom
2/ Smartphones: Motorola Atrix 4G
3/ Tablets: Motorola Xoom

Motorola was one of the first mobile phone manufacturers since the 70's. But have missed the smartphones grown up.

With the Droid, Motorola integrated Android platform with success. And now the tight cooperation with Google seems promising and fruitful.

Hands down for the come back !

CES2011 visitors named Motorola Xoom best tablet

2011-01-09T02:01:00.000+01:00

Before the last day show, visitors in CES2011 Las Vegas have voted for the best tablet, and the Motorola Xoom was named the best.

Some specs:

- The first tablet running Honeycomb 3.0 platform
- Duo core Tegra 2 processor 1Ghz
- 10.1" capacitive screen 800x1280
- Double camcorder
- Full 1080p HD video playback
- 1Go RAM
- 10 hours video playback battery life
- 32 GB inbuilt memory with microSD Card slot

video tutorial: how to use layer transition

2011-01-08T21:35:00.003+01:00

Magic Doodle video review

2011-01-08T21:32:00.002+01:00

video tutorial: how to use symmetry and shapes

2011-01-08T21:29:00.000+01:00

Geinimi trojan infected Android devices

2011-01-08T01:41:00.000+01:00

Beware if you download apps from third party apps store. Some popular paid and free apps integrated Geinimi Trojan.

This virus sends all your personal data to a distant server. It also can install and delete apps into your mobile device.

According to Lookout Mobile Security, the malware is actually infecting Chinese third party apps stores. But so far, we don't know about its proliferation capability. This new trojan has a high degree of complexity, the first having botnet functions.

Apps downloaded from the official Android Market are clean.

Magic Doodle welcomes 2011 Android tablets.

2011-01-07T19:22:00.001+01:00

CES2011 Las Vegas is an Android tablets festival, 80 to 100 devices will be unveiled. 2011 will be the Android tablet year.

The tablet phenomenom was launched in 2010 by Apple with the iPad, then Android device manufacturers has followed the movement. But Android mobile device users are still waiting for the iPad alter ego. Samsung was the first really competitive tablet to be marketed, we also remind about the quick and short appearance of the 5” Dell Streak.

Mobile graphic tablets are the best for fingerpainting, mostly because of their larger screen (compared with a mobile phone) and a more powerful CPU.

Mobile art is usually associated with Apple products and apps. Painting apps on Android Market just started to be known by a larger public, mostly since the launch of Sketchbook (by Autodesk) in December 2010.

Besides the simple and easy to use apps, some other painting apps can be used for artistic works: Canvas (surely), Paint Joy (less versatile), Peintureroid, Doodledroid (the oldest), etc...

Magic Doodle has a specific position, it's approach is totally artistic. It offers a wide range of brushes (47 effects) and pens with realistic simulation. Launched on February 11^th, 2010, it's one of the precursor painting app on Android Market with full features. With a full featured painting app, users can test and enjoy their Android tablets.

CES2011 Las Vegas: the tablets show.

2011-01-06T22:30:00.002+01:00

CES 2011 in Las Vegas has started today. 80 to 100 tablets will be unveiled to consumers. Each (main) manufacturer will introduce at least one, and the majority of them will run under Android platform.

The Android OS Honeycomb 3.0 is supposed to be totally devoted to tablets. And already a controversy arised on it.

The question is about hardware requirement for running Android 3.0. Many people state that it needs at least a duo core chip, with 1Ghz each. So that the tablets already launched on the market, but not equiped with a fast duo core chip, will be obsolete quickly. I think about the Samsung Galaxy Tab and Archos Tablets (actually running under Froyo 2.2 and supposed not upgradable to Honeycomb 3.0).

Should their price drop dramatically in the next weeks ?

In the other hand few apps developers maintain that Honeycomb 3.0 do not require a duo core chip. So tablets with a single (but strong) CPU will work smoothly.

Anyway, all the tablets showed in CES2011 (theorically) offer quite the same specifications: duo core chip 1Ghz, 7" or 10" capacitive screen, 512Mo to 2Go RAM, at least 8Go of storage space (expandable with memory cards), connectivity with other devices.

Personally, I think that a 7" tablet is more versatile and mobile than a 10". It can be put into a pocket of your jacket. But a 10" screen offers more comfort for fingerpainting, but often stay home.

Maybe the best choice is a 8.5" capacitive screen, 1Ghz duo core chip, 2Go of RAM, 64Go of storage, high memory card slots, large connectivity (at least micro USB, HDMI)... and of course an aggressive public price.

Android tablets and fragmentation

2011-01-05T19:49:00.004+01:00

Android tablets from the main manufacturers are not yet on the market, but they already face the fragmentation problem.

The latest Android OS (Honeycomb) is supposed to be fully compatible with tablets. But it requires powerful CPU (duo core 1Ghz highly recommended). The logical consequence is that older devices will not be able to upgrade to Honeycomb 3.0. Thus they will remain for a while on the market because their price will automatically drop.

The question is now about the price of the future duo core tablets. Too high, they will not attract consumers, low enough they will kill older obsolete tablets.

In any case, older and newer tablets will coexist on the market during a pretty long period. Developers have to adapt their apps for Android tablets for different OS, sizes and firmwares... Good luck guys !

Download free templates for Magic Doodle.

2010-12-31T00:43:00.004+01:00

Click here to download

Android Market applies the new refund conditions

2010-12-25T22:33:00.001+01:00

The purchase refund period is now 15 minutes for the buyer.

This was announced to developers 2 days ago.

Magic Doodle Premium discount for Christmas and New Year

2010-12-24T00:22:00.003+01:00

Christmas 2010: toolbar backgrounds take new color !

New version 2.9 updated with a new feature: geometrical shapes. The empty shapes and line reproduce the brush size, form and opacity. The filled shapes have their own lines.

Filled shapes opacity can be adjusted only with the quick adjustment button:

The symmetry button have been redesigned, and the settings have new interface. Now we have 2 parts: one for the canvas symmetrical drawings (vertical, horizontal and diagonal), and the second for the shapes.