OpenCPN for Android Alpha test 4.1.409

[bdbcat]

Ahoy 'droids....

The initial Alpha test release of OpenCPN for Android is available for download now.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/p120g521j0...1.409.apk?dl=0
the .apk is about 19MB in size.

Release Notes:

1. The object of this Release is to validate the basic operation across the widest possible variety of platforms. There are plenty of known bugs, and lots of design issues remaining, so we should not consider this Release suitable for daily use. But it should install and run on virtually any Android phone or tablet.

2. Best performance will be seen on relatively modern devices with at least 1 GB of RAM, although it will run on 512MB devices. I am mostly testing on a 1 GB smart phone.

3. Charts: Charts are loaded installed in OCPN from internal device storage, or external SDCard. The actual location of the chart directories changes from device to device, depending on the android version, and some other mysterious factors. A typical location is /mnt/sdcard, but you may find that the SDCard is at /mnt/extsd.

4. Logfile: The logfile is re-initialized at each program startup, to make it a bit easier to see what has just transpired. You will want to get and install some sort of file browser/viewer to look at the logfile occasionally. There are many choices at the Play store... The logfile will be at /mnt/sdcard/.opencpn/opencpn.log

5. GPS, etc. There are three choices for positioning data, all found in options->connections->Add Connection.
a) Internal GPS, if your device supports it. You must enable the GPS in the device "Settings" dialog before starting O. Of course, most devices do not have a very good GPS antenna, so GPS signal reception will be poor indoors or down below. I find this not very useful....

b) Bluetooth, if available on your device. If there is a Bluetooth GPS receiver within range of your device, you may pair with it and get location support in this way. Please discover and pair with the GPS receiver before starting O.

c) Wifi. If you have a local Wifi router/AP which is somehow supporting UDP/TCP NMEA service, you may connect to that source for NEMA data. This is the only practical way of getting multiplexed AIS data into O on android. It is what I use for testing.

6. User Interface. This Alpha Release is essentially "standard" OCPN adapted minimally for android. There are clearly some things in the UI that need adjusting for the limited screen real estate available on small devices. Further, there are some tools and menu options that make no sense on a tightly constrained mobile device at all, e.g. "Print tool". But I have not made any of these types of changes yet, and expect some vigorous discussion about these points as we proceed. Bring it on...

The Plan:
I plan to run a standard Alpha/Beta test series on O for android, hosted on this Forum. It will take a while to get through all of the issues that will arise relative to cross platform support, and the UI design issues will require some extensive iteration.

Ultimately, when ready for Release, I will offer OCPN for android on the Google Play store in order to reach the broadest possible user base. There will be a nominal fee charged for the download.

I look forward to the lively discussion about O on android, and thank you in advance for your patience in installing and testing this beast.

Thanks
Dave

[Wrong]

Great news Dave. Downloading and beginning test shortly.

Dave,

Doing a file search in Dropbox for opencpn_4.1.409.apk is returning nada.

Also, I am not prepared to "install" anything from Drop Box on my device. So, if this is a requirement, I won't be testing.

[nohal]

Wrong...
Search for what? The link above takes you directly to the download of the APK.

Pavel

[Wrong]

Dave,

Following your link does not enable downloading the file directly. Requires creating an account, done.

Then, attempts to follow your link once signed into Drop Box dumps me into a ADM browser. Then into Drop Box where I'm expected to log in. But, I'm already logged into DB. So, I log in again. No download starts. Try a file search for opencpn_4.1.409.apk. Returns nothing...

I've used 4Share without experiencing all of this.

Don't see how I can help having to use DB.

[nohal]

Don't see any problem, apart from not having any Android device...
No Dropbox account here. Clicked on the Download button, refused to create an account, clicked again, the download started without any issue.

[transmitterdan]

I see same as Pavel. When the login box pops up just click X to get rid of it. Then click the Download button which was hidden behind the login box.

[Wrong]

Originally Posted by transmitterdan

I see same as Pavel. When the login box pops up just click X to get rid of it. Then click the Download button which was hidden behind the login box.

Did that. Dumps me iinto the browser where I get a "you're not supposed to be here" message and option to log in. Logged in I get the same circuitous treatment. I'll try a different browser than Firefox for Android.

[Wrong]

Requesting "desktop" site stops at 48k on first attempt using stock android browser. 24k second attempt. If downloading from DB on android tablets won't work I'm not lugging my laptop to get this done.

[nohal]

Wrong...
Thanks for your help

[Wrong]

Originally Posted by nohal

Wrong...
Thanks for your help

Yer welcome. How about putting the file on 4Share where I know folks with androids can download files. This is after all an android application...

[LeaseOnLife]

Originally Posted by bdbcat

Ahoy 'droids....

The initial Alpha test release of OpenCPN for Android is available for download now.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/p120g521j0...1.409.apk?dl=0
the .apk is about 19MB in size.

great start here!

Test on Nexus 7 2013 Android 5.0.2

Downloaded apk with Chrome on Nexus, installed apk. started opencpn, set GPS to 'built-in'. Works!

More later, need to get some charts on the Nexus.

Dirk

[curl]

Great effort!
Samsung galaxy tab S WQXGA (2560×1600) Memory: 3GB RAM

D/Qt (26276): /home/dsr/Projects/opencpn_sf/opencpn/src/androidUTIL.cpp:545 (bool androidDeviceHasBlueTooth()): Android Device has internal Bluetooth
D/Qt (26276): /home/dsr/Projects/opencpn_sf/opencpn/src/OCPNPlatform.cpp:1102 (static bool OCPNPlatform::hasInternalBT(wxString)): androidDeviceHasBluetooth true
D/Qt (26276): /home/dsr/Projects/opencpn_sf/opencpn/src/androidUTIL.cpp:374 (void androidShowBusyIcon()): Showit
D/Qt (26276): /home/dsr/Projects/opencpn_sf/opencpn/src/androidUTIL.cpp:396 (void androidHideBusyIcon()): Hideit
F/libc (26276): Fatal signal 11 (SIGSEGV) at 0x00000000 (code=1), thread 26276 (opencpn.opencpn)
I/DEBUG ( 2284): pid: 26276, tid: 26276, name: opencpn.opencpn >>> org.opencpn.opencpn <<<
I/DEBUG ( 2284): befc6384 7883f17c /data/dalvik-cache/data@app@org.opencpn.opencpn-1.apk@classes.dex
I/DEBUG ( 2284): befc6388 799cc570 /data/app-lib/org.opencpn.opencpn-1/libopencpn.so (Java_org_opencpn_OCPNNativeLib_processNMEA)
W/ActivityManager( 2841): Force finishing activity org.opencpn.opencpn/org.qtproject.qt5.android.bindings.QtActivity
V/SmartFaceService - 3rd party pause( 2841): onReceive [android.intent.action.ACTIVITY_STATE/org.opencpn.opencpn/pause]
D/CrashAnrDetector( 2841): pid: 26276, tid: 26276, name: opencpn.opencpn >>> org.opencpn.opencpn <<<
D/CrashAnrDetector( 2841): befc6384 7883f17c /data/dalvik-cache/data@app@org.opencpn.opencpn-1.apk@classes.dex
D/CrashAnrDetector( 2841): befc6388 799cc570 /data/app-lib/org.opencpn.opencpn-1/libopencpn.so (Java_org_opencpn_OCPNNativeLib_processNMEA)
D/CrashAnrDetector( 2841): processNamerg.opencpn.opencpn
D/CrashAnrDetector( 2841): broadcastEvent : org.opencpn.opencpn SYSTEM_TOMBSTONE
I/LocationManagerService( 2841): remove 44ab6eb8 by org.opencpn.opencpn
I/ActivityManager( 2841): Process org.opencpn.opencpn (pid 26276) (adj 9) has died.
I/WindowState( 2841): WIN DEATH: Window{44d9fa30 u0 org.opencpn.opencpn/org.qtproject.qt5.android.bindings.QtActivity}
W/WindowManager( 2841): Force-removing child win Window{440db680 u0 SurfaceView} from container Window{44d9fa30 u0 org.opencpn.opencpn/org.qtproject.qt5.android.bindings.QtActivity}
W/WindowManager( 2841): Force-removing child win Window{44b04f98 u0 SurfaceView} from container Window{44d9fa30 u0 org.opencpn.opencpn/org.qtproject.qt5.android.bindings.QtActivity}

[Gilletarom]

Hello Dave, Hello to all,

Fantastic! I just got a touch pad with two OS: Android, and W 8.1

I am not at my home and I have a very bad internet access. That said, I managed, with great patience, download the Android version of O.

No problem for the installation. Starting with no problem.

But first difficulty: + zoom function does not work well. The screen is reproduced identical to itself many times.

Sorry, I do not know yet make screenshots.

[bhecla]

Downloaded and installed on Nexus 5, android 5.1, will install on test on my nexus 7 (second gen) tablet with 5.1 later this evening.

Edit: Uploaded charts no issues, GPS working, let me know if there are any specific items you would like tested on Nexus devices.

[transmitterdan]

Originally Posted by Gilletarom

Sorry, I do not know yet make screenshots.

How to take a screenshot on Android phones - PC Advisor

Method one: There are two main ways that you can take a screenshot on Android devices running Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0 and above. The first and easiest way to take a screenshot on Android 4.0 and above is to simply press and hold your smartphone's power and volume down button at the same time for 1- to 2 seconds.