Android App Release: SetNote – Note Taking Simplified

SetNote has been released on Google Play.

Operating system
Android 4.2+

Development environment
Xubuntu
Intel XDK
PhoneGap
Android SDK
jQuery & jQuery Mobile
PhoneGap Build

Testing device
OnePlus One

Status
Released

The application
Developed under the name SetNote, this application consists of a digital notebook, in which you can save information as notes and send them to other people via email. The native device email clients are utilized for this functionality, so you can choose your daily driver without any hassle.

SetNote was developed using PhoneGap and jQuery Mobile as hybrid single-page application, and it makes use of HTML5 local storage in order to store notes in device storage. SetNote doesn’t currently offer cloud backup. While developed mainly for phones, the app should also work well on tablets.

HTML5 local storage, which is extensively used by SetNote, has had issues with Android Lollipop 5.1 in regards to the stored content actually staying in storage. It’s probably not such a common issue, but it should considered when using Android 5.1 or newer.

Background
I’m publishing SetNote under the GNU General Public License (version 3) as a part of my thesis, in which I examined the benefits of PhoneGap and the techniques enabled by it in terms of hybrid Android application development.

Source code & signed APK
You can find the signed APK and source code here (Google Drive).

Screenshots

About
This document can be copied and edited according to the GNU General Public License (version 3 or newer). http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html

Hot Air Balloon Game Released on Google Play

Hot Air Balloon Game has been released on Google Play.

Operating systems
Android 4.0+

Development tools
Eclipse
PhoneGap
Android SDK

Testing devices
LG Nexus 5
HTC One X

Status
Released

Hot Air Balloon Game – Description
Hot Air Balloon Game is played by keeping the hot air balloon level, not letting the altitude get too low or too high, and making sure that the balloon stays within the game zone during different wind speeds. Game over happens at too high or too low altitudes, or when the wind pushes you out of the game zone (to the far left or far right).

The player can control the altitude of the hot air balloon by tilting their phone backward, forward and sideways. Note: keep the screen pointing upward. Points are rewarded for the total time the you can keep the hot air balloon in the air. By flying higher you can gain double points. The wind speed increases over time, which makes it harder to keep the hot air balloon level. There is a vibrate alert when this happens – watch out for it!

Have fun playing, and feel free to rate the game and comment on Google Play or this blog!

Developed for Android 4.0+
Android 4.4 KitKat Support
Hot Air Balloon Game was developed in collaboration between Janne Varis and Kim Stenberg.

ScreenShots

Source code
The Hot Air Balloon Game source code is available here.

References
Accelerometer Javascript Test (http://www.albertosarullo.com/demos/accelerometer/)
Cordova API (http://cordova.apache.org/docs/en/2.9.0/)
Openclipart (http://openclipart.org/)
Nikkonen, Sebastian (http://sebastiannikkonen.wordpress.com/2013/09/22/mobiilituotekehitys-4-viikko/)
Karvinen, Tero: Lessons 2013-12-5, Mobiilituotekehitys [Mobile Application Development] (http://terokarvinen.com/2013/aikataulu-%E2%80%93-mobiilituotekehitys-bus4tn008-3-syksylla-2013)

About
This document can be copied and edited according to the GNU General Public License (version 3 or newer). http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html
Based on a course by Tero Karvinen, http://www.iki.fi/karvinen