MobileOSS

Barcode Reader for Book Review - first step

mobileoss — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 03:14:03 +0000

The most used open source bar code engine is zxing. I do not want to dwell into the details of zxing. Please go to the site to know more. It is used by almost all platforms (except Windows Mobile?).
I downloaded the version 1.3 from there and compiled it for Android. I followed the instructions to the dot and still it did not work. Compilation of ZXing threw several unreported IOException errors. I added IOException handling in two files CameraManager.java and CaptureActivity.java and it went away. I also changed the build.properties at the top level of zxing folder for correct path settings and the compilation was finally successful. Then I figured out that these changes had been made in the svn repository The compilation is complete and has no errors, now, what next?
Watch this page for the updates

Sentiment analysis for a book

mobileoss — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 02:34:23 +0000

Android phone and I are inseparable ever since I bought it. As the experience is phenomenal, I mindlessly used it for all my social web activities and the data charges really burnt a hole in my pocket
Good thing about my jailed version of Android, I believe, is that it allows me to get my hands wet in writing applications for Android; otherwise, I will download applications from market and will never have the urge to try something which I never had done before. My jailed version does not have market application.
I love books and I buy them if the cover is attractive or if the write up in the backpcover is good. I now have become a little wise and stopped buying and I feel I probably miss good ones. I decided to write an application for Android which I can use to scan the code and find reviews of books while I am still in the book store. I want to use the bar code at the back cover and find reviews about them in the Internet.

I hear you shouting, “buddy, there are plenty of applications out there”. I know, but it is nothing like doing it yourself and in the process learn something new. I have the curiosity of a toddler and I believe that its my strength.
This is what I am planning in a nutshell.

And I promise, I will publish the source and the apk and most of all my learnings

What else, but HelloWorld

mobileoss — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:48:19 +0000

I am trying to understand the android’s building block - the activity, intent and intent filters, intent receiver and content providers.

I wrote the first helloWorld program. Looked at the HelloWorld from this perspective and pretty interesting. My first HelloWorld.apk was installed on my machine and it worked

I will post my understnading on these four in the upcoming blogs.

Got my Android phone

mobileoss — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:15:14 +0000

I got my Android HTC mobile last week.

I loved my KJAM and have been using it for more than 2.5 years and it worked well. I was not in a mood to buy iPhone or any Android phone. I was thinking of buying a Windows Mobile before I saw the beauty in a shop and fell in love. It is an Airtel locked phone without market application. I am able to download any Android application from Android and install it in my machine.

I installed Nav4All to check the GPS and it works. HTC Magic GPS is able to pick up up to 8 satellites in my location. The Compass is cool. I will write a separate blog entry on Nav4All. Try swinging the mobile and the G moves above 0g in the accelerometer.

I am playing with it and checking out all features.
I am able to connect to my office using ActiveSync and sync up with all my contacts, emails and calendars. One important feature is missing in the email client - it does not show URL as clickable and there is no way I can copy/paste the link in the browser

Otherwise, I love my new HTC Magic. I am not planning to try rooting process until I am fed up with the current setup

I am also in the process of writing a puzzle game and would post it pretty soon

Android - my first dip into it

mobileoss — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:07:05 +0000

I am back.

And I have been thinking for a while.

Why am I struggling with Linux kernel for all these devices?

All mobile companies, recently Motorola, announced that it would woo the developers to create applications for their upcoming Android smart phones.

I do not need to set up the platform while biggies are brining it out.

No regrets though, as I had fun in understnading the kernel for these small devices. I do not think there is any point in working with this kernel and slog it out to develop a kernel for any ARM phone, rather, it is wise to spend time in creating applications on Android.

I will not develop any more versions of vairam, but I will focus on creating applications for Android platform.

While I have tried Android SDK earlier, now I am going to start seriously to work on Android and will focus in developing puzzle games, mostly for Android and iPhone.

Watch this space for more on this