Database Users

Android...whats the big deal?

Hey Hero users, I have a HD2, its my first win mob phone, the phone itself is amazing, the os is...meh. Every person iv spoken to loves Android, i myself have never used an Android handset, whats it like? is it really that good? whats the big deal about it?
I was going to get the Hero, until i saw the HD2.
Anyways hope to hear your responses.

Hi,
i'm a former Windows Mobile user who migrated to Android. I could write a long answer, but since i wrote a 6 part series about me switching from Windows Mobile to Android i might as well just give you a link. You can see my impressions there:
Switching from Windows Mobile to Android: Roundup

More complicated than you think - or is it ?
A key question here is wether or not the O/S in and of itself is exciting ? Many geeks, for inexplicable reasons, tend to find the O/S in and of itself perhaps overly interesting - let's pose a question: Is watching a decent film with good codec support that is abstracted from you by being already built in to the O/S more interesting than drilling three menu's deep to view I/P configuration ? For me being able to just get on with the film is more interesting. Does endlessly testing music playing software and moaning about the relative strengths and weaknesses of each appeal more to you than just listening to some good music ? A clock is a clock is a clock, right ? Not so here - in this bizzare world the relative merits have to be dissected ultimately ending in a non stop moaning about ... everything. Personally, I don't get too excited by O/S's - they are just what is says on the tin - a system allowing you operation - something which facilitates - it's the support for your hardware (i.e. good software) that's important. When buying a PC you're not too interested in what the O/S does, rather what it will allow - this is a combination of hardware and software - so, for a gamers a decent graphics adapter and drivers is important, for audiophiles, good sound card and software, for porn lovers - just a decent enough browser - horses for courses my son.
The naysayers and haters here (they are legion I'm afraid) will attempt to convince you it's incredibly important - like most things in life - it's only the case if you allow it. Android's fine - more intuitive, verbose and graphically 'clean' than Windows (fonts used, menus etc). Key questions should be - what can I do with it ? Perhaps that's the question you should have posed - the answer to that is - a lot - and even more when HTC pull their finger out of their arse and release the 2.1 Update to Android. I think they're just holding it back as a windup to all the small fools winding themselves up on here - I know I'd hold it back and it's given me no end of pleasure to see these insects moan - Ho Hum !!
Hope this is of service,
Simon xx

gabrieltit1 said:
A key question here is wether or not the O/S in and of itself is exciting ? Many geeks, for inexplicable reasons, tend to find the O/S in and of itself perhaps overly interesting - let's pose a question: Is watching a decent film with good codec support that is abstracted from you by being already built in to the O/S more interesting than drilling three menu's deep to view I/P configuration ? For me being able to just get on with the film is more interesting[...]
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go get an iphone.
no seriously, go get an iphone. you want something that just works, and you don't care that the manufacturer forces you to do everything his way. you are not a geek that wants to compile his own kernel and brew his own rom, you want a fancy multimedia device that does everything as promised. you will be lucky with an iphone. correct me if i am wrong, i am not trying to **** with you here.

kendong2 said:
go get an iphone.
no seriously, go get an iphone. you want something that just works, and you don't care that the manufacturer forces you to do everything his way. you are not a geek that wants to compile his own kernel and brew his own rom, you want a fancy multimedia device that does everything as promised. you will be lucky with an iphone. correct me if i am wrong, i am not trying to **** with you here.
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this guy is not interested in anything phone related. He has been banned for 4 times now on xda-devs, and keeps coming back to tell people how stupid it is that they waste their time waiting for 2.1 updates (which wouldn't be wrong, if there actually would be people which are not doing anything else than waiting for the update), and that they should look at the moon every night...which makes much more sense and has so much more value according to his logic. Still i don't understand why he keeps wasting HIS OWN time and OURS by registering again and starting the whole discussion all the time...that's really a waste of time.

Prepare for a correction, son
The clue was in the reference to Apple as crApple - they have mastered the art of illusion it would seem - but, as Hamlet said "Seems, I know not seems" -you are wrong on so many counts I don't know where to start - multitasking or lack of it is as good a place as any - proprietry ties everywhere - unbelievably overpriced - poor design (battery changing) - poor design - I for one don't physically like it both externally (body) and internally (overall designs, icons etc) - customer paying for their marketing - and the list goes on and on - itunes blah blah blah - not everyone wants to live in a world where the corporation cynically dupes the customer and what's worse - the customer colludes - no ta. Perhaps I didn't explain my sentiments as clearly as I could have (time and space constraints, but mainly effort or lack of it) - I like the Hero very much but see the flaws and feel they are relatively easily addressed. Of course, the more intelligent amongst you may have spotted the glaring fact that HTC colludes with Google who have provided Android as freeware which ultimatley will alllow them to cynically exploit you through their core business (advertising for the idiots) - ah the joys of the macro and micro views of modern business and the consumer.
I hope this goes someway to providing an answer. In short: Hero = Good but flawed, Iphone = Style but no substance - do you need it spelling out ? Apple may state over 100,00 apps available - do you know what percentage of these aren't used ? 96 % You're easily fooled my son
Simon xx
To the idiot above me, let's get one thing clear: there has been a MASSIVE amount of truly unimportant whingeing on here - how many posts in the 2.1 Update thread have told people to shut up and stop moaning. So I pointed out both your (you're a key moaner) and others folly crapping on all the time - its boring and not becoming of an 'adult' - I offered some alternatives along the lines of do something else, an example being have a look at the moon of a night (it is beautiful, it doesn't involve whingeing - when you've got three kids, son - maybe you'll appreciate pointing out nature's bounty etc etc) - I come on here for the same reasons as you - it's your actions as I have repeatedly pointed out that have ALLOWED me to both get to you (let it go son !) and caused much mirth - appologies for pointing out you're an idiot but - you're an idiot - feel better now ?
S xx

gabrieltit1 said:
To the idiot above me, let's get one thing clear: there has been a MASSIVE amount of truly unimportant whingeing on here - how many posts in the 2.1 Update thread have told people to shut up and stop moaning. So I pointed out both your (you're a key moaner) and others folly crapping on all the time - its boring and not becoming of an 'adult' - I offered some alternatives along the lines of do something else, an example being have a look at the moon of a night (it is beautiful, it doesn't involve whingeing - when you've got three kids, son - maybe you'll appreciate pointing out nature's bounty etc etc) - I come on here for the same reasons as you - it's your actions as I have repeatedly pointed out that have ALLOWED me to both get to you (let it go son !) and caused much mirth - appologies for pointing out you're an idiot but - you're an idiot - feel better now ?
S xx
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hmm...seems like we just found your soft spot with the whole 'moon' example....calm down...take a look at the moon tonight, and you'll feel better...i hope.

You've 'found' nothing chief - the puerile allusion to my 'soft' side etc etc - what's really got your goat is someone mercillessly pointed out the truth, that being :
You're not quite as bright as your own self image tells you
You're insights reveal .......... nothing
You are easily distracted and miss the point in a spectacular manner
There's plenty more but then we'd start getting into fees and perhaps 6 sessions of exploratory councelling - what with you living in the land of the Hun, that may prove difficult
I've let it go now, I suggest you do the same
S xx

gabrieltit1 said:
You've 'found' nothing chief - the puerile allusion to my 'soft' side etc etc - what's really got your goat is someone mercillessly pointed out the truth, that being :
You're not quite as bright as your own self image tells you
You're insights reveal .......... nothing
You are easily distracted and miss the point in a spectacular manner
There's plenty more but then we'd start getting into fees and perhaps 6 sessions of exploratory councelling - what with you living in the land of the Hun, that may prove difficult
I've let it go now, I suggest you do the same
S xx
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quod erat demonstrandum

I would say if you have to ask what's the big deal then your interest in phones is not strong enough to need to know!

gabrieltit1 said:
You've 'found' nothing chief - the puerile allusion to my 'soft' side etc etc - what's really got your goat is someone mercillessly pointed out the truth, that being :
You're not quite as bright as your own self image tells you
You're insights reveal .......... nothing
You are easily distracted and miss the point in a spectacular manner
There's plenty more but then we'd start getting into fees and perhaps 6 sessions of exploratory councelling - what with you living in the land of the Hun, that may prove difficult
I've let it go now, I suggest you do the same
S xx
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Wooooottt? No idea what gay Simon is talking about. I guess he's gone full retard.

I sometimes despair at this forum and the people who populate it. A noobie asks a simple and perfectly reasonable question and the next thing you know it all kicks off. Have you all been on the electronic equivalent of Newcastle Brown??
Why not lets get back to helping somebody (for those that are unclear of the definition look it up in the OED).
To rizla316. I much prefer Android because it is user friendly. As you have suggested WM is not. It is almost as user friendly as the iphone without all the problems - like being locked in tight to the great satan Apple. I also like the capacitive screen, which I think you have on the HD2. However Android really brings out how good that type of screen is.
Just my personal opinion, given in order to try to answer your original question. Now watch me getting flamed for having it and sharing it
BTW if you want a friendly Android forum try here

Certified Software Engineer (Concurrent Enrollment/ High-school project)

Hello there folks. Let me begin by introducing myself and my situation. My name is Damian, I am in the twelfth-grade and I am currently enrolled in my high-school's concurrent enrollment program with one of the local universities in which I have to write a paper concerning the field of software engineering.
I started this post with the intention of finding and asking certified software engineers a few questions concerning their professions.
I came to this particular forum because of the many brilliant folk here, and my assumption that certainly a portion of the active members are certified software engineers.
-Many thanks in advanced for your replies and imput,
-Damian

damiandarkwater said:
Hello there folks. Let me begin by introducing myself and my situation. My name is Damian, I am in the twelfth-grade and I am currently enrolled in my high-school's concurrent enrollment program with one of the local universities in which I have to write a paper concerning the field of software engineering.
I started this post with the intention of finding and asking certified software engineers a few questions concerning their professions.
I came to this particular forum because of the many brilliant folk here, and my assumption that certainly a portion of the active members are certified software engineers.
-Many thanks in advanced for your replies and imput,
-Damian
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I can answer questions in this field as I am a Software Engineer. I would be happy to give a young person such as yourself advice.
I actually didn't go into college right after high school, I wish I had but I incountered allot of hardship around your age. When I was 22 I went back to school and payed my own way through college, slept in my car in the college parking lot and lived off of peanut butter and jelly sandwhichs.
Honestly its your first job in software thats the hardest to get, but if your persistent you'll get it after that if your perform its pretty much smooth sailing. A good example is how everybody lately has had a hard time finding jobs (bad economy), and even I was laid off from a job where the company was doing great and then went south and I went on the market looking around and recruiters were calling non-stop and I had 2 jobs (one short term getting paid insane amounts of money for 200 hours of work, and then a long term contract after that), I took a vacation to vegas, paid of credit card debt and then started my long term contract.
So ask away!
Edit:
Oh I currently work for a large telecom company where I work ont here provisioning software. My main expertise is Java (j2se, j2ee blah blah) I also write reports (crystal, jfree and actuate), I also have alot of side skills like jsp, ajax, jquery. I actually have wirtten code professionally in all the major langs like c, c#, j# asp.net. As a software developer you constantly need to evolve and progress. I aslo done graphics professionally and If I had it my way I write videos games if I could but alas the life of a programmer is allot less glamorous than most people no.

Many thanks, I'm sorry to hear about your tough times, but I'm glad to hear things have settled out.
I want to say its great that your able to help me and thank you for your tux theme and scripts.
I am actually looking into dealing with my computers as a profession after collage.
So I begin (thanks again):
What courses and or certifications do you need.
What is a typical day in your job like?
Do you enjoy your job?
And you can tell me anything else that you believe to be important that I may have missed.
-Thanks again
Damian

damiandarkwater said:
Many thanks, I'm sorry to hear about your tough times, but I'm glad to hear things have settled out.
I want to say its great that your able to help me and thank you for your tux theme and scripts.
I am actually looking into dealing with my computers as a profession after collage.
So I begin (thanks again):
What courses and or certifications do you need.
What is a typical day in your job like?
Do you enjoy your job?
And you can tell me anything else that you believe to be important that I may have missed.
-Thanks again
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Click to collapse
My tough times where years ago. I've been in the field for almost 10 years.
The first thing you want todo is get a bachelors degree in computer science. Take as many courses as you can in which you will get exposed to writing software, understanding logic and being able to solve problems using logic. But the most important thing is have a specailty something that you know above all other things, be it a certain language or software... good expample is SAP, I have a friend who is a project manager for a very very large electronics manufacturer. they are paying a contractor to do SAP programming and they pay him 500$ dollars an hour... yes 500$ and hour now its not a permanent job but he's making more in a month than most people make in a couple of years. Thats his specailty and its a hard one to break into.
So once you get your degree you can concentrate on what your specailty will be this is where certs come in. Certs are great but don't pay for them, get a job in the field and get them to pay, this is because most of them expire and you usually have to renew them every couple of years. But the look good on your resume especailly if a company pays as this gives the impression that you are a go getter and that the company beleives in you. Your specailty might relate to your degree major or it might be what your first major job is, this is just luck of the draw.
So a typicaly day, wow its hard to say. Sometimes its go go go and I'm writing code like crazy. Other days its talk talk talk and meetings. Sometimes I spend days writing tech specs or documents to give overviews and estimations on software that needs to be written. Think office space it really is allot like that. One thing alot of people don't know about being a software developer is that you not only need to understand how to write software (ie solve problems) but you also need to undersand the industry in which you write software for. This means you need to understand the business process. So think if you were writing software for a burger company, you need to understand how orders are processed, how iventory is processed and used blah blah. This is where probably the hardest part it almost a second job.
Do I like my job.... as someone who had mowed lawns and dug ditches for a living making money that wouldnt even feed one person, yes I actually love my job. I worked hard to get where I'm at I make pretty good money, my wife doesn't have to work, My kids have more than I had as a little kid and the work I do is satisfying.
If there one thing I could stress when it comes to this line of work. You have to love software, so much so that you willing to work long hours and then come home and write more software as a hobby (maybe i did atleast). Or when you hit college start a pet project and see it through. These are the things that will set you apart from other developer coming out of college. Especailly when you don't have much on your resume, and honestly these are the question potential employers ask (hobbies, personal projects).
How bout this... I give you an hour by hour blog for the next week on what I'm doing at work.
I'm currently working on a rewrite... code fix for code that the company I work for now decided to outsource. This code ended up being terrible and was somethign I was thrown into when I arrived here about 8 months ago. I just started this project about 3 weeks ago and before that I spent about 4weeks evaluating and writing custom testing suites to produce metrics scores for this software compared to the previous version of this software (ie compare say version 5 to version 6). I was the one who found all the bugs and areas of concern and gave estimates on hours of work to fix these things.
So I might be off tomorrow, if I am I will report so. If not then I will start the hour by hour blog if you like.

Such a blog would be amazing (and id read up hourly for updates trust me, this sounds fascinating!)but I wouldn't want to detract from your life anymore then I already have, you work hard and I imagine that you would want to have time to yourself for your hobbies and your family.
Thank you very much. I could ask a million more questions, but again, I don't want to take away to much time. Thanks a billion

No really i want to answer them I wish I had been in you're shoes when I was your age. I didn't have some one telling that I could do it... computer were different back then hell I didn't own my own computer till I was in my twenties.
Ill do the blog for you... one if the perks of being on a computer. Like I said just at work tho. When I get home I can't promise when I be able to post.
So ask question one at a time since I tend to be long winded... it makers it easier... honestly when I retire I plan on teaching at a tech college... but thats about 20 years away. But I love to answer question about these things.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

Great
Well what was learning your first programming language like
Do you think knowing a markup language helps or would help in the learning process?
What do you think the software engineering world will be like in a few years?
Is there any particular aspect of the computer world you like most?
Do you still keep in contact with any of your professors or colleges?

Hey Asimmons, thanks for helping damian out. I'm in the same boat he is, and I'm finding this really useful! Thanks a lot!

Glad I can help I was in you guys shoes once. And know that feeling of uncertainty... ill answer more tomorrow for you guys and start the blog.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

I know I've said it tons, but I mean it, thank you ASimmons. And I'm glad this post can help others

damiandarkwater said:
Great
Well what was learning your first programming language like
Do you think knowing a markup language helps or would help in the learning process?
What do you think the software engineering world will be like in a few years?
Is there any particular aspect of the computer world you like most?
Do you still keep in contact with any of your professors or colleges?
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Mark up languages are very important, but I wouldn't focus a career on them. Languages like html, dhtml or xml are skills you will pickup along the way, understanding how these langs are parsed and used by other languages are very important and is a valuable skill to have. Especially in Java and with the emergence of real time web applications that uses technologies like ajax, jquery and now html5 it is more important to understand the usage and capabilities of these languages rather than focus on just knowing how to write a webpage.
The future of software will be more and more web based and mobile application. as we have seen in the corporate world for the last 5 or so years application that were once only possible on the desktop have moved entirely to web based app. This makes deployments and updates easier to maintain, version control easier, and with technologies like html5, ajax used in conjunctions with SOA and SAAS these apps perform just as well or better than the app you use to see run on your desktop. Take MS Office 365 and their cloud software for this, this is essentially an SAAS (software as a service) you lease the software it doesn't run locally anymore and the software and its worries and maintenance are pushed to the software vendors, we start to see this more and more. Google has been at the for front of this, and expect to see computers in the near future that are just dummy terminals that run only the basics and all your important software is pushed to a corporate cloud. I'm not saying desktop pcs will disappear but downloadable software will begin to especially in the corporate world.
I pretty much like anything that has to do with technology. I love the history of computers since I grew up and pretty much watch the birth of the home pc and remmeber when the 486dx came out and it was considered the best computer you could get. I remember using the trs-80 in typing class and the atari 2600 (still have one) kelico vision and then the nintendo (still have that to).
And yes I do stay in contact with the department head from my old college. I still use her as a reference from time to time since I worked in college for a little as a tutor (best job to get.. I recommend this if you can). College is about learning in large part but secondly its about contacts and networking. Make sure your networking in college, know your peers and previous alumni. Introduce your self and make sure to attend functions, since the will be potential co-workers or bosses.
So its mondays... I going to maybe do every couple of hours every hours might be to much. But I'm about to dive in to a ton of spaghetti code and try and make some since of it. This is especially ORM (look this up) code for an oracle database, and I'm trying to fix what is broken without having to actually rewrite the whole thing (if it was up to me I would). Be back in a couple of hours.

So its just after 2 and I've had to switch task to help another developer. This is pretty common and as a developer you have to be able to multi task.
So I'm working in creating a way for dynamic where clause can be built or just passed to and object DAO class.
The implementation I'm trying to fix is currently building them in a very static and non reusable way. When you design code it has be thought out and designed in such a way so that things like maintenance on said code is taken into account, and that repeatable processes are written in such a way that the can be reusable. This seems to have non of that.
If your looking at a package or program and see common re-occuring methods then this would be considered bad (imo) and should be re-evaluated and or rewritten so that this process can be written in one spot and referenced be other, this way if bugs or changes need to occur in this process you only have to change it there, this is the most common principle in OOP design but you be amazed at how much it is abused.
While you might be saving time up front your creating time on the back end for thing like code maintenance, upgrades or bug fixes.

It's about 5 for me and I just got home from school. I was at a friends house trying to understand a virus her computer contracted. (smart engine, annoying little thing, but its all better now.)
I'm looking into ORM as I type this. Interesting o:
I ask about the markup languages because ill be taking an html5 course next term. Makes sense that id learn about them along the way.
Sounds like you can handle quite a bit all at once, does that develop with time?

Html 5 is not like the previous htmls. So yeah this will be the next big internet language think web apps and pages that are totally dynamic. Good choice.
The multi tasking can be learned... good habits and time management... mostly learning the most basic of issues there's probably 5 or so and how the efficiently solve the problems and with what tools. Tools are very important every thing from ant or scripts to automate task to custom libraries.
Here's one, it's sort of a snarky developer joke.
You can have software.. done fast, done cheap and done right. You can only choose two though.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

Hey Sorry
Sorry I been super busy. There small a small re-org in my department and I changed cubicals (this office space) and now I sit next to the "I've done it all programmer". The I've done it all programming can do everything, and its was always easier.
So hows the paper going?

Done!
It was a pleasure to write after talking with you, thank-you.
I get my grade sometime next week.

Thank you Simmons I am in 9th grade and am in a it trade school and I have thinking of going more for software thank you for all this I will finish reading these when I get home
sent from one ba hero

Towerdefense Game Development

I want to make an Game with somebody, I can design However, I am not good at coding )= Thats why I am posting it here on xda.
I would like to make a Tower Defense game, If that is possible. Or something else.
If the game will cost money, then we will split the revenue. I already have an Android Developer account, so don't worry about that. I have also made a few simple apps that is on the market.
Hope I get some answers on this

Hey,
i've actually just made my first app with appinventor, and i realize its very limited. (so i need to figure out how to program the legit way)
I do have a pretty deep background in java (however im not going to say i remember half of it after not doing it for 2-3 years).
I actually was thinking of making a SWEET defense game for my first app. I suck at graphics (so im assuming your good), and am a decent coder..
email me @ [email protected]
I wont be able to start helping till after finals this week though.
If you hear my ideas i think you'll see i have one of the most creative TD games ever in mind. (Considering im pretty much unstoppable at TD and have thought of many ways to create a very basic AI to counter me, and my friends).
I've made TD's before on the computer, but not through android. Hit me up dude
@MSU_DHill also if you wanna twitter me

Hey, I wouldn't mind getting involved. I've wanted to develop an Android app but I don't know much about coding.
I could design parts of the application. I'm pretty good in Photoshop.
PM me if you want to take me up on my offer

interests me, although I've never done a complete game, but I have much experience programming for Android

So one of the developers left me )= Anyone who wants to help me with this? I really want a Tower defense game ;D

Send me a PM & talk about
Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk

Thoughts on [email protected]?

http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/10/google-announces-android-at-home-framework/
I understand this is a bit off topic (not directly Evo related), but I thought I'd still throw this out there because it may help me. I am working on a competitive analysis report in home automation and wanted to see if anyone had thoughts on this technology. With the announcement of [email protected], this went straight to the top of the list.
Do you think developers are excited to get their hands on this technology? Google mentions the creation of an alarm app that slowly turns the lights on to wake you up, etc. Although the company I just started working for is a few years ahead of Google in this aspect, the robustness and amount of resources available to Google has us wanting to keep a close eye on them.
I personally think that they do have potential here with these ideas, but it would require a lot of effort which they may or may not be willing to do.

I am by no means an expert in this field but what I do think Google's role in this field will be a large one. Having a big name in that arena can help propel smart home technologies in a way that is beneficial to all companies that are in sector.
I think at the end what they will bring is unity just how they did in the smart phone arena.

I'd be all for it. The more things I can eliminate and replace with my phone (which is a must-have anyway), the better.

My question is is Sony going to team up with Google Sony wanted to do this with the ps3 before it came out but I don't think it worked out so well or they cut that idea out of the plan lol
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I am in full support of it...I love the idea and concept.
This epic reply brought to you by none other than my roxx'd out Evo.

I'd like to see this come to fruition, but I'm also intersted in what microsoft is doing with home automation. They have some pretty cool ideas that they are working with.

I could definitely see something like this being a benefit. A novel, but not entirely surprising, idea for more control / automation. +Tasker support and this could pwn.
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teh roxxorz said:
I am in full support of it...I love the idea and concept.
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I have to agree with you. I have been thinking of some great use cases that may be possible with this technology.

I like this technology idea, however I don't think it should be limited to just Android but should include iOS/Windows, etc.. and be an open spec. I think there are a few things that are stunting this technology growth which I will go over here in this long sleepy thread, which was the only one I could find on XDA in search. This highlights my first point very well.
1. Interest:
There is simply not enough interest for this technology that could be so amazingly cool. First people have to be interested in smartphones and then they also have to be interested in home automation. I have been ever since I've head of Gates's "smart house" and even before then when many of these ideas were covered in sci-fi flicks of the past.
2. Price and Practicality:
Let's face it, anyone who wants home automation right now will pay through the nose for it. This will also lock out many, I mean why pay money to turn on a light remotely when you can just walk over there and do it yourself. What practical purpose does it serve? The disabled is an obvious market that would benefit from such technology but generally most things I see for the disabled cost an arm and a leg because I think they expect people to gouge their insurance companies for the cash.
3. Implementation:
Most people are idiots and can't even figure out how to wire in a light socket, let alone a smart one where you can adjust it remotely from thousands of miles away. They would have to hire a contractor to install/upgrade things/run any wire (more secure than wireless,) etc... which also costs that money thing.
4. Fragmentation:
There are already quite a few competing technologies for home automation. x10 is probably one of the more obvious ones. That's why I say it shouldn't be [email protected], it should be [email protected] or something like that and work across as many mobile devices/computers as possible.
Why am I writing this now? Yesterday my space heater shorted out on me, so at the moment I'm using my dad's spare to keep warm. I'd like to shut it on and off when I'm not at home, specifically to turn it on 30 minutes to an hour before I get home so it's not absolutely frigid when I do. I can't find any home automated space heaters online, anywhere. These should be a thing.
Why here? I love XDA, more specifically I love the people who are developers. If an open standard were to be developed where anyone could modify hardware to work with it I'd expect you guys to come up with the most amazing stuff, especially on the phone/controller end. Also I'm hoping that when this gets big enough that the mods will give mobile home automation a separate subforum as well.

Sony had wanted to do this a long time ago I don't really seeing this going anywhere as dude above said most people can't figure half their crap out nor want to drop money in their house if everything works
Sent from my PC36100 using xda premium

I know cost is a bit high but I work with a supplier in this field. Name is Crestron with an app in market https://market.android.com/details?id=com.crestron.mobile.android.free that already does controllers and systems that work within a home. I work in audio visual in regards to these systems that can be controlled with a phone or touch panel. Pretty cool stuffs.
Sent from my EVO

Can you explain the difference between free and pro (for $100!) Just wondering.
There is also autom8 but the server is for windows and I use linux :/
It would be nice if there was a complete list of apps/information on this somewhere.

I haven't specifically looked at the paid vs free Creston apps, but in order for you to use the app you need to first own a Creston system. And per the point made earlier, cost is definitely a limiting factor. $100 for the app is nothing compared to the system. A good whole home Creston automation system (excluding their low end prodigy line) would probably run you over $100k. There are cheaper options out there, but cost is still a big issue which is exaggerated by the fragmentation of the industry.
I have not heard much more about Androids home automation system since the initial announcements. Since then apple has also made plans to enter the arena. Many companies have tried in the past...like ibm...but most fail. Goggle has already suspended it's energy division which is closely related to automation. It will be interesting to watch this market grow as I'm sure it will...

Yeah I remember at Google IO all the lights and stuff they showed off and said a company(forget who exactly) would have some out in the later year but this obviously never happened.
Regardless to do automation you have to change out a ton of things in the home and it gets costly like others have said. Prolly the cheapest is getting stuff like zwave devices switches and controling stuff that route.
I looked into crestron here but it was deff costly. Wouldn't be the 10k you said since my home isn't huge but it was not cheap in the very least still.
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Yes, super expensive. But some times you can piece together the systems to get a result you'd love. Guy I work with got the main control unit for 200 bucks. Sounds expensive but its typically a ton more than that lol. Having the Ethernet version of the controller allows him to use his home network and his EVO to send out these commands like turn on tv and at same time turn on surround sound. Or when dvd player is turned on also turn on tv and dim the lights. Just little things like that.
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I think they would be do to the fact that we always want one remote for everything rather then the 4 I have now. I think they will come out with alot of things that will be pretty cool.

Q - Incredible App Idea - What Now?

Hello All,
I have an idea for an excellent app. It is an app that I see having the ability to generate mass amounts of money. I have been waiting for an app of its type to come out for a long while now, but have not seen any. I do not have the skills to create said app, and want to know what my best bet to get in with a dev team would be? Anyone know how to get in touch with the Big Boys of the app world to get this thing going? It is not a question of if, I KNOW this app will be successful. Please help and thank you for taking the time to respond.
- Ron

learn how to code is my best advice

Just find a developer here at xda or on the market that has an app that looks similar to or at least looks like they have the ability to produce something like what you would want, then send them an email.
Sent from my MIUI SCH-i500

Give us a hint on the type of app: theme-based, music, RSS reader, e-mail, SMS, Global Thermonuclear War for Android
I'm sure a lot of developers are busy and would just like to see if your app falls in their skill set/schedule.
Thanks,
Roots

The low down...
Well first off thank you all for your replies.
The app is a game though. The best part about it is the potential to touch many people with its genre and simplicity. Its a sports game that has no other game in its category, but that literally everyone on the planet knows of it. It would have the ability to be a head to head type game, online. It would also have a offline single player side, that would allow the user to earn "achievements" and enhance their player. Think of it as Homerun Battle 3D, but for a different sport. I really do see it as a more broad range of money earning potential because of the sport and how much of it kinda relies on the in game character. So upgrades like clothing, hair, jewelry, etc... would be more sought after, just to be different, when facing other players.
Which is why I think World Championship (Name Here)... has the potential to get mass amounts of attention. Im thinking Cross platform love. Maybe cross console...
I honestly wish I had the ability to do this, but starting from the ground up, it is kind of a big project for someone in my shoes. I have everything written out for the app... just looking for some execution.

Probably you already know - but I'll mention them here anyway:
a) In startups, people get a share out of the company [as they spend a lot of time risking that nothing will come out of it].
Maybe you are extremely convinced that you'll strike gold, but is still to be seen how the market will react. Good luck anyway
b) You need to hire some lawyers to protect your IP, before signing NDA agreements.
c) Write a business plan, start pitching, get the money from investors to start it up.
Then hire a good company to create it for you and invest in ads, etc.
You need all these, as if you do it wrong, then the game won't take off. But if somebody with more resources [which can afford very good devs] sees the opportunity, they might create a better version.

Well ask any developers here or if u know java try learning android

Well, I'm out! LOL I don't do games.
However, good luck to you!!

If you want to develop a game, be informed that aside from Java you also need to learn some C++ and OpenGL so it can take serious amount of time.

RonnyT24 said:
Well first off thank you all for your replies.
The app is a game though. The best part about it is the potential to touch many people with its genre and simplicity. Its a sports game that has no other game in its category, but that literally everyone on the planet knows of it. It would have the ability to be a head to head type game, online. It would also have a offline single player side, that would allow the user to earn "achievements" and enhance their player. Think of it as Homerun Battle 3D, but for a different sport. I really do see it as a more broad range of money earning potential because of the sport and how much of it kinda relies on the in game character. So upgrades like clothing, hair, jewelry, etc... would be more sought after, just to be different, when facing other players.
Which is why I think World Championship (Name Here)... has the potential to get mass amounts of attention. Im thinking Cross platform love. Maybe cross console...
I honestly wish I had the ability to do this, but starting from the ground up, it is kind of a big project for someone in my shoes. I have everything written out for the app... just looking for some execution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So that's badminton
.......
Android blog: blackbearblanc.tumblr.com
Twitter : @jeppefoldager
Google+ : gplus.to/jeppefoldager
Rock band : thedeadradio.dk

Two options hire someone to make it. Or write it yourself...that's pretty much it lol.
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk

viulian said:
Probably you already know - but I'll mention them here anyway:
a) In startups, people get a share out of the company [as they spend a lot of time risking that nothing will come out of it].
Maybe you are extremely convinced that you'll strike gold, but is still to be seen how the market will react. Good luck anyway
b) You need to hire some lawyers to protect your IP, before signing NDA agreements.
c) Write a business plan, start pitching, get the money from investors to start it up.
Then hire a good company to create it for you and invest in ads, etc.
You need all these, as if you do it wrong, then the game won't take off. But if somebody with more resources [which can afford very good devs] sees the opportunity, they might create a better version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. I like the way to think. I have been doing most of the things said here. Contacted a group from a newly popular app in the store and got some "feedback". Not on the app itself but what it would take to get them to even sneeze at it. Blah... So say I had someone with money to back this... I have been looking around and it appears its impossible to patent or even block people from copying the app down to the most minute of changes making them different. Apparently its easier to get something done about it in the App Store but cheaper and easier to get an app in the Android Market. Before anyone snaps, I hate apple (I use to love them but after the 3gs/Ipad came out and I realized it would be the same incremental updates forcing me to buy new every year just like the Iphone/3g, I have hated them sense).
I just wish I could get EA or someone big like that to even respond to my emails. There really arent that many sports apps worth a damn. This one would open the whole thing up. Actually using multi-touch to do more than button spam. A game where being ranked against the world wouldn't depend on how often you play but, actual win/skill pct. I havent even played the game an I already love it hah.
WTF DO I DO!?!?!

Going after EA or a UbiSoft is going to be damn near impossible. You have to have "name" power (think Tiger Woods or Peyton Manning name power).
They PAY people $70,000 a year to come up with game ideas and then spend millions and 5 years developing it..can you say "Diablo 3"? LOL
Odds are your app is a "been there, done that" concept or is not a viable market opportunity in their eyes.
Now, don't get me wrong; I'm just expressing my opinion. I hope you can market your idea and make millions! I'm trying to do that with every month, every day and every line of code I write.