WiFiLine Editor is updated

New version of WiFiLine Editor has been just submitted to Google Play. It includes minor improvements and bugfixes. If you use a limited WiFiLine app (without editor capabilities) I suggest you to switch to this fully functional version. I know some people would prefer to get something brand new and special, and I would do so as well. But unfortunately it takes some time for redesign, refactoring and implementing new features. Stay tuned.

OFF: Android 5.0.1 is off

You may have noticed that WiFiLine project is in the shade of other side projects I'm trying to experiment with. I have some ideas for WiFiLine's future, but at this time I'd like to share first thoughts about new Android version - 5.0.1 - which I received with an Over-The-Air update.

I did not do much testing so far, but here are the points that just strike the eye.

• standard font size is too small; I was compelled to change system settings for using "Huge" fonts (this is maximum), only after this the texts in dialogs and notifications became as much readable as before (with standard font size);
• the settings dialog is now organized into 2 columns, which is very unconvenient and hard to read in comparison with the previously known streamlined list;
• standard keyboard is almost unusable in its "modern" flat design; luckily, there is an option to select a "Holo" theme for the keyboard, so that it brings back conventional look and feel;
• the last annoying thing is a mess with system statuses and notifications - I'll put the details below, outside the list;

As you know there is the status bar in the upper part of the screen. On the left side notification are shown, on the right side system information about connectivity, battery power etc. is shown. In previous versions of Android swipe down gestures worked separately for the left and the right sides, that is they open either notification list or a dropdown box with quick access options. Now they are combined! No matter where you perform the swipe down - on the left or on the right side - you see the same picture, and the dropdown box is shown in the center. This is very unexpected and inconsistent. Also this does not impove usability in any way, because the options are now buried under notifications: you need to perform 2 swipe down gestures in a row - first to open the dropdown, and the second - to move notification underneath - only after this the options appear.

I hope functional improvements in Android 5 are not designed in the same counterproductive manner as with appearence and usability.

The site is back

I'm happy to inform you that www.weborienteer.com is back - now at the OpenShift cloud. As usual the backend does not only provide you with WiFiLine documentation, but also host the map database. Searching through the base is again available from WiFiLine apps. The number of examples is still limited, but you can share your works and help in populating the base.

Site problems

Unfortunately, my Internet provider cancelled operation of the servers, where the sites weborienteer.com and weborienteer.ru were hosted, without a warning and replacement. I'm going to move the sites to other location, but this may take a while. Please, contact me directly if you need some info about the programs. As search on the servers does not work in the app anymore, I advise you to move to WiFiLine Editor instead of  WiFiLine, if you did not do it already. WiFiLine Editor allows you to create, load, save, and test local files with navigation maps. If you need example maps, request them via e-mail, and I'll send them ASAP.

Droidcon Moscow 2014: r-evolution of wearables

Today I'm going to post some thoughts on a subject which may seem offtopic here, but only at a first glance. Indeed, it's about Android ecosystem, and thus embraces Android-based applications, including those related to indoor, outdoor, or whatever-else-door positioning.

The main news is that I attended Droidcon Moscow 2014 today. There is no surprise that current trends were covered: wearables, augmented reality, virtual presence, and context awareness.

Among all evolving products, which comprises these technologies, one is most noticable: glasses.

Google glasses are definitely the most widely known and promoted example. They are surrounded with enthusiastic boom and provide a truly new user experience. Yet I have some critical considerations.

First of all, I don't completely agree with Google's design. Their decision was to make the active part of glasses as a single eyeglass. The working area covers only a little part of visual field, and a user must squint in order to read info. I know this was the deliberate decision to not distract user from reality. The problem with this approach is that "real reality", augmented reality, and virtual reality are combining too fast and displaying virtual information over real world becomes a real, most important, value. As for distracting user from reality - this is just a matter of switching one display mode or another (such as completely transparent). Anyway, I'd prefer to have a glasses with both oculars and see them in front of eyes.

The second thought about Google glasses concerns another point: the glasses are actually a thin client (UI) for server-based apps. The apps which the glasses are capable of running are very lightweight. It's not possible to code somewhat computationally complicated, because the glasses discharge quickly and become hot (at your face's skin).

The third point is that Google glasses require special coding. The apps for the glasses are not plain old Android apps. On the other hand, if I have, for example, an Android application for augmented reality which runs on phones and tablets, I'd like to port it to glasses with minimal or even no efforts.

All that said, it's time to introduce another glasses - Epson Moverio BT-200. This gadget presents full-fledged, so to speak, glasses with two active oculars. Moreover, they are powered with real Android OS and can run native Android apps. This is good news. The bad news is that they made of 2 parts: the glasses themselves and a "system block" with touchpad, connected by a pretty thick wire. My user experience was not so good. It feels really unnatural to move fingers over the touchpad (somewhere in "background") for cursor control. I'd prefer that an eyemovement detection would have been built into the gadget. It does exists in other products and fits into such glasses metaphor very well - cursor just follows sightline.

Ok, let us admit that the outboard "system block" is the only solution possible nowadays to support full power of an Android device, but the touchpad, as a primary control, is inappropriate. As long as this block should exit due to current technical limitations, I'd made it as a normal Android device with touch screen. So, it can be used as is without glasses. And if glasses are connected, they use all the power of the device and adds new eye-tracking control experience, including movements, winks, etc. And as you may notice, this sounds like the (Epson) glasses could be implemented as stand-alone detachable gadget, which could be plugged into any Android device! That would be nice. But this is not all the story.

Even if the eye-tracking would be incorporated into the glasses, there is something more that could add next level of control and interaction. When I'm looking at the glasses, the brain-computer interface comes to my mind. For example, Emotiv devices just asks to be embedded into the glasses. Structurally all we need is to add some contacts on the inner side of the rim. Software part is not a problem at all.

Bottom line. I think the advent of virtual glasses is exciting as phenomenon, but existing models lack many features which could dramatically improve usability, and more importantly, all this is doable right now. So, I'm waiting for the evolution or revolution, as you like. Hope it'll happen soon.

WiFi + Direct + Dating

I know some of you are waiting for news about WiFiLine and this post may look like this but it is actually not. I have just released a brand new Android application - DirectDating. As you might guess from the name the app has nothing in common with navigation. Yet it's somewhat related to WiFiLine, and not only because of the author, but because it also uses WiFi technology. Specifically, it is based on the new WiFi Direct (Peer-to-Peer), and its WiFi Direct Service Discovery feature.

It was a challenge and very interesting task. And I'm glad I made it. I invite you to probe the app and share it with your friends. You may find the app in the Google Play.

Через WiFi напрямую к знакомствам

Я знаю некоторые ждут новостей о WiFiLine, и этот пост может показаться именно такой весточкой, но это, к сожалению или счастью, не так. Я только что выпустил новое приложение для Андроид - DirectDating. Как легко догадаться из названия, оно не имеет никакого отношения к навигации. И все же оно связано с WiFiLine, и не только тем, что у них один автор, а потому, что также использует технологию WiFi. Более конкретно, оно построено на основе нового стандарта WiFi Direct (Peer-to-Peer, т.е. напрямую между устройствами) и его функции обнаружения сервисов (WiFi Direct Service Discovery).

Это была сложная, но интересная задача, и я рад, что с ней справился. Я приглашаю вас попробовать новое приложение и поделиться им со своими друзьями. Вы можете найти приложение в Google Play.