StatusBar+ Data Backup

As our applications become more complex and more customizable and users have multiple devices we realize that there is a need for additional, behind-the-scenes work on our applications. Applications like Launcher7 already have such features as they have been around now for almost a year. On the other hand, fairly up-and-coming applications like StatusBar+ are becoming more and more complex and yet users do not have a means to synchronize or back up their settings. As we look toward ways to improve user experience one thing is key: these tasks must occur beyond the user’s perception.

This is not to say that we are tricking our users, just making the processes automatic. The next releases of some of our applications with utilize a feature new to Android 2.2 Froyo called Data Synchronization. This means that every time you install our applications on your other devices they should be exactly where you left off with the same colors, positions, etc. Moreover, we are working on external storage data backup which gives users complete control over their data. You can copy & paste the file(s), share them with friends, store them in the cloud, and so forth. You can then keep copies of your settings at given times and this return to a previous state with ease!

We hope that our users will appreciate our efforts to make our applications just work! To us, user experience is our number one priority. As always, we welcome your feedback and hope that you look forward to some new updates soon.

As we continue to revamp StatusBar+ and all of our applications we are trying to find creative ways around complex problems. Signal strength detection has long been an issue that has plagued StatusBar+ as OEMs make decisions to further fragment Android and change stuff behind the scenes. These changes occur completely transparent to users, but developers like in constant fear of a force close, or sometimes worse: elusive bugs! Issue 16862 is one such example where OEMs made the decision to remove the ability for applications to properly obtain signal strength for certain devices.

A few months back we created Signal Strength Detector. It was meant to solace some of the issues surrounding detecting signal strength by collecting a large set of data regarding the possibly routes to detect signal. This proved effective… to a point. It seems that many OEMs have different standards for calculating signal, completely throwing official standard bodies to the wind. These devices cannot display proper signal strength in third-party applications without the developer going on a case-by-case basis to alter calculation for each device.

That is where SignalSense™ comes in! We are proud to announce a new technology to be featured in our application that lets your device do all of the work for you. Instead of calculating signal strength within our applications. SignalSense™ leverages your devices hidden information to dynamically adjust itself based on a certain set of predetermined parameters. The end result is improved signal detection on every device that automatically adapts itself, and for the most part an accurate signal on almost every Android device!

WP7Lock with ZPlayer Integration

There are no shortages of custom lockscreens for Android, but few work without a hitch for every user, rooted or not. That is where WP7Lock comes in. We recognize that it has been quite some time since the last update, six months to be precise. However, this is because we have been planning a major update making WP7Lock the next-generation custom lockscreen!

Among the new features are integration with ZPlayer, StatusBar+, improved translations, better performance and memory management, and Google calendar synchronization. Oh, and don’t forget the new features that really separate WP7Lock from the competition: a zero-second delay for all users, rooted or not, and disabled Android 4.0 ICS software buttons. Head over to our Google+ page and our forum for more screenshots and information, and don’t forget to check Google Play for the update.

Update: after taking a glance at PlatLogoActivity it has been determined that after three successful displays of this easter egg the Nyandoid Activity is started. Now we know where we will be seeing this hidden extra in Google’s next iteration of Android.

Have Google and Samsung successfully enticed you with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) and the Galaxy Nexus? While there is no doubt that the guys at Mountain View are hard at work, you know easing Android OS fragmentation and what not, what’s to stop the developers from having a little fun. In Android 2.2 Froyo it was the isUserAMonkey() and wtf() (What a Terrible Failure) methods that brought us laughs. Come Honeycomb they added fyiWillBeAdvancedByHostKThx().

While snooping around the latest Galaxy Nexus system dump it appears that those Google guys have done it again, this time with everyone’s favorite Nyancat! Interestingly enough it has found its way into the Android Platform in the form of Nyandroid.java, a class found in the package com.android.systemui which can be located in SystemUI.jar as well as a nyandroid_anim.xml file in the resources directory. There is no telling where this will show up, but it should be noted that a dozen Android’s in Ice Cream Sandwich PNG images were also found in SystemUI and that Nyandroid.java inherits from Activity, so it will likely be an easter eggs displayed perhaps by clicking a setting a number of times or something. As you look forward to all of the new features of Android 4.0, keep on the lookout for Nyandroid and if you just cannot wait until the end of the month check out the Nyandroid Live Wallpaper in the Android Market.