Android apps by Dave Truby

Phone Explorer

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 03:12:08 +0000

Phone Explorer displays all communication hardware, sensors, devices and configuration values found on a Android Smart Phone or Android Tablet. Supported communication hardware are: NFC, USB, Bluetooth, WIFI, Cell, DHCP configuration and Network connections. Supported sensors are: gps, light, proximity, barometric pressure, gyroscope, accelerometer, magnetometer, orientation, rotation, linear accelerator and gravity. Supported devices are: camera, vibrator, keyboard, display, cell context, cell phone call status, cell phone number, cell carrier, cell phone sim, battery, file system, SD memory card, memory, cpu and audio (speaker and microphone).

The application provides options to list paired bluetooth devices, scan for bluetooth devices, list defined WIFI access points, scan for WIFI access points (including signal strength), list cell towers, list gps satellites, use the flashlight and view the camera (front and back). Many of the devices have options to view and change the device configuration. The app displays all configuration settings found on the device. A number of these settings are not displayed anywhere on the phone. Please be careful changing the configuration settings as some can have undesired side affects.

The application supports user preferences. The application provides multi-language (English, Spanish and Chinese) support. To switch languages, open the standard "Settings" application, select the "Language & Keyboard" item and then select the "Select Locale" item.

By making a small purchase within the app (uses the Play Store), the application provides a premium feature that does not display of ads. To upgrade, when running the app, open the menu and select "Upgrade".

Recent changes:
Upgraded support to Jellybean 4.2.
Changed theme and UI metaphors to match published Android style.
Converted views to use fragments.
Increased minSdkVersion from 5 (2.0) to 8 (2.2).
Increased targetSdkVersion from 8 (2.2) to 16 (4.1).
Added support for NFC and USB communication devices.
Enhanced pressure sensor value to have more detail.
Added sensor and WIFI bar graphs for visual reference.
Added premium upgrade support that disables the display of ads.

Power Alarm

Sun, 05 May 2013 03:13:02 +0000

Power Alarm is an free anti-theft application for Android devices (phones and tablets). It provides a special level of security when charging your phone in public places (airport, hospital, office, etc.). When the alarm is activated, if your Android device is unplugged from its power source, Power Alarm vibrates and sounds an alarm. The app can also be used to notify you of a power outage. You would need to be within hearing distance for this to be useful. There is a version of the app (Power Alarm SMS) that will send a text message and/or email when power is disconnected and connected. The app can also be used to notify you (short sound) that the device has become fully charged. There is also a paid version of the app (Power Alarm Pro) that does not display ads.

Features:

Power Alarm has two alarm states:
Enabled (red) - removal of power sounds the alarm.
Disabled (green) - removal of power does not sound the alarm.

Power Alarm has two battery charge notification states:
Enabled (red) - when fully charged, a short sound is produced.
Disabled (green) - when fully charged, no notification is produced.

The Power Alarm app does not have to be running for the alarm to sound. The alarm will sound even if the Android device is sleeping (screen is off). While sleeping, when the alarm is tripped (power removed), the device will wake up and display the unlock screen. Having an unlock password provides an added level of security.

The app displays power connection state (connected or disconnected). The state displays if the device is connected to a computer (USB) or wall outlet (AC). Many Android devices charge at reduced rate (1/2 amp) if connected to a USB source and at a faster rate (2 amps) when connected to AC (wall plug).

When the alarm is tripped, the Power Alarm app is shown automatically (after unlock) and displays the 'Silence' button. If you have set a password (in the settings), it must be entered correctly for the alarm to silence. While the alarm is sounding, the device's sound volume is set at max and cannot be lowered or muted. When the alarm ends, the original volume is restored.

While the alarm is sounding, reconnecting power stops the alarm (most likely action by a thief after unsuccessfully trying to lower the volume). The alarm can be enabled while power is not connected and the alarm will not sound (until power is connected and then disconnected). The alarm's enabled state is maintained even if the device is powered off (and rebooted). After reboot, if the alarm was previously activated and power is not connected, the alarm will sound. Note: some phones and versions of Android do not automatically sound the alarm unless power is connected and then disconnected after reboot.

The alarm can optionally (highly suggested) have a password set so silencing the alarm requires the entry of the password. This password is in addition to the wake up unlock password if present.

The alarm has a sound start delay setting where after the phone vibrates the alarm does not sound for the specified delay setting. If you forgot that the alarm is enabled, this enables you to re-connect power and stop the alarm from sounding.

The alarm has a duration setting after which the alarm ends without any other action. Other than the sound nuisance, stopping the alarm saves from the battery being drained.

There are 4 alarm sounds:
Voice (a human voice saying "Power Alarm" repetitively)
Siren 1
Siren 2
None (no sound)
The alarm always vibrates the device.

When the alarm is active, an indicator is displayed in the notification at the top of the screen. You will find this feature helpful to remind you that the alarm is active and not trip the alarm yourself. The notification feature can be turned off to provide additional stealthiness.

You can adjust the percent battery charge that triggers the charge complete notification. Note that many phones do not charge to 100%.

Recent changes:
Android permission settings required by Power Alarm:
Internet - required by the ad company.
Access Network State - required by the ad company.
Read Phone State - required by the ad company.
Vibrate - so the app can turn on the vibrator.
Notification of boot complete - so the app can reactivate the alarm after reboot.
Write to SD Card - activity logging of alarm state. You can view the log to analyze when the device is connected and disconnected from power (regardless of alarm state).

FRC Dashboard

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 03:22:02 +0000

FRC® Dashboard is used as a status dashboard for a FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC®) Robot. Robot status includes commands running on each sub system (drive, shooter, etc) and component (sensor, state, etc) state. This app also records the values over time. You can also drive the robot from the app.

This app has no value outside of a FRC® robot environment (a robot is present on the same network).

FIRST®, FIRST® Robotics Competition, FRC®, Tech Challenge, and FTC®, are registered trademarks of FIRST® (www.usfirst.org) which is not overseeing, involved with, or responsible for this activity, product, or service.

The app mimics some of the features of the FIRST® provided Dashboard that runs on the control station computer. This app does not provide the enable/disable or watchdog features of the FRC® Dashboard - and the FRC® Dashboard is required to run the Robot.

Features:

* Automatic discovery of a robot present on the same network (see the settings section for the required setup).
* Automatic discovery of the robot's subsystems and components (sensors, devices, etc.).
* Records all data in the local database including the date and time.
* Real-time display of all values.
* Drive the robot.
* Initiate a robot action (fire frisbee in the 2013 setup).
* View the commands running on each sub system. Example sub systems for the 2012 season: Drive, Shooting, Beaching (extending the mechanism to lower the ramp), Gathering, Camera and Scheduler.
* View of the Robot's sub systems' activities (commands over time) from the recorded file.
* View of the Robot's components' statuses.
* View of the Robot's components' activities (state over time) from the recorded file.
* List of robot program log records (requires you to program this in the robot as detailed below).
* Recorded data collected to a comma delimited file that can be imported into a spreadsheet for further analysis.
* A set of settings to control the behavior of the app.

Recent changes:
Please view the help on the app's web site to get started.

Updated to support the 2013 season (FRC made NetworkTable changes).
Changed main view to look like the Network Table Viewer application.
Added ability to drive robot and fire button commands. Added detail view. Improved performance.

FRC Robot Simulator

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 03:22:02 +0000

FRC® Robot Simulator is used to test a FRC® Dashboard for a FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC®) Robot and the FRC® Dashboard android app.

FIRST®, FIRST® Robotics Competition, FRC®, Tech Challenge, and FTC®, are registered trademarks of FIRST® (www.usfirst.org) which is not overseeing, involved with, or responsible for this activity, product, or service.

The app mimics some of the features of a 2012 FRC® robot.
You can also playback a file created by the FRC Dashboard App.

Recent changes:
Updated for the 2013 season (FRC made NetworkTable changes).
Added playback from file. The file is created by the FRC Dashboard app.