Android

N1SH · May 10

Not sure what to say other than, been working on an Android client for Flexradio. I've made a short YouTube video of my work-in-progress. Have a look —> Glass Radio MVP 2024/05/09.

As mentioned in the video, this is super early work. Receive audio is working but not transmit, that is the next major milestone. Much of the user interface is still incomplete, the flex has a ton of settings that all need on-screen elements. The back-end is there, just not all wired up. There's also performance tuning that needs to happen. My hope is it will run smoothly on older tablets. Very old, as in Android 7 old. I had hoped to have much of that done by Hamvention but alas, early spring snow in the northeast took out my antennas.

I'm happy to respond to inquiries here. I'm curious how many folks are really interested in an Android client — and willing to perhaps pay for it.

I'll be in-person at Four Days in May and Hamvention next week (2024). I'll have plenty of time then if we bump into each other. As you might notice though, I'm not super-active on forums. I'd rather be spending the time working on the app! I'll try to post updates here as things progress.

Also, watch the video to the end, there's sort of a bonus scene and reveal there.

73,Stephen, N1SH

Please don't send me private messages asking about the status or when you can get it, I likely won't answer them. Not being mean, just realistic.

KD0RC · May 10

WOW!! This looks great Stephen! Many of us have been hoping for an Android client. I know what it takes to build something like this, so yes - I would be willing to pay for it.

I have an Android phone and would be willing to do any beta testing you like. I can also proof-read any documentation that you might create.

The surprise at the end of the video is really cool! I won't spoil it here, but that was TOTALLY unexpected!

Trucker · May 10

Very nice! How are you interfacing to the radio? Are you using the ethernet api to control the radio? There was a ham that converted the Flex Library API so he could connect to it with an application he wrote for Linux. But, he never shared his code. And I haven't seen any posts from him in a very long time.

Very impressive work. Looking forward to seeing where you end up with this. Walmart has some cheap Android tablets. I may even have one around here somewhere!

James

WD5GWY

David Decoons, wo2x · May 10

this is great news Stephen. Continue on.
“If you write it, they will buy it”

One hurdle with Android is so many flavors of it with each manufacturer loading their **** on top. When I carried an Android phone for work, I would make sure to have a phone where I could hack it to load the base Android OS without the extra stuff. Big difference in performance.

Good luck with it. I have a 7” Android tablet with cellular and would pay for the client.

I’ll miss Dayton this year, recovering.from a heart procedure and the complications of having the flu right after the procedure. Hospitals are perfect place to get sick.

73 Dave wo2x

Mike-VA3MW · May 10

Thanks Steve, nice work!

If you are reading this, I know you'll have 100 ideas of what it should and shouldn't do. What devices it will work on and what flavours of Android phone it will work on (just like Dave said).

Hold your thoughts (or post them here). As someone who is bombarded by 100's of emails, please refrain from doing the same for Steve so he can focus on getting a product he wants to release. This is a hobby for him. Don't scare him away. LOL

You really have to sit on this side to understand. Mike va3mw

WX7Y · May 10

GREAT News Steven, This has been needed for such a very long long time.

I would buy it in a heart beat!!!

The ONLY Reason I still have my OLD Ipad and IPhone is so I can run SmartSDR portable but if the Android version works out I would JUMP back to android as soon as I could get my hands on SmartSDR_Droid.

73's and good luck.

Bret / WX7Y

N1SH · May 10

A few answers;

Uses a custom implementation of the Flex API built with Kotlin and Jetpack Compose (the "modern" way of writing Android). Though I'm still working on the performance of Kotlin vs a native C/C++ API implementation and things like OpenGL vs Jetpack Compose components. I looked at running Flex's library on Android directly but not sure that will perform well on older devices. The API is relatively well separated from the user interface, hopefully making either bit (more) easily swappable.
Tablets are my primary target though I have considered phones, cars, and TVs all within the Android ecosystem. I do have a few older Android phones (pixel phone) but have not tested nor explicitly designed the UI for them yet. And, if you watch to the end of the video you might get an additional hint as to potential targets.
I had read some discourse a while back about the cost of the iOS app, hence my putting that up front. I continue to evaluate what parts might end up open source and what parts might not. Frankly, I don't want to get too ahead of things though. There needs to be a release product before its a relevant question and I'm a ways from that.
Yes, I will eventually need testers. I'll let you know when.
Yes, happy to use this forum for the conversation, have at it! Some helpful thoughts might be:
- What devices; high-end, low-end, screen sizes, Android versions? Would you buy a new tablet or want to use an old one
- What are the most important flex features for v1? multiple radio configurations or just one, diversity reception vs CW keying. Maybe your top 10 features? Which are your bottom 10 that can wait to v2 or v3?
- Connectivity? Dave mentioned over Cell connection, is that a common use-case? Are folks using the iOS one over cell?
- I've minimally coded in to use a keyboard for some things, is that just a me thing or is that useful to others?

Stephen, N1SH

P.S. Mike is right, I do have a day-job. Thank you for accommodating, my work will be most appreciative.

P.P.S. Dave, be well. Will miss you at Hamvention, you will be there in spirit!

VE7FM · May 30

Looks amazing so far!

otisw · May 31

This looks quite good so far. I have an older iPad and SmartSDR to use with the Flex but I'd much prefer to run on my Samsung A9+, Samsung S23 Ultra etc. I have no problem paying for it at similar cost to SmartSDR considering all the work it will take to do this right. 73's de WA2N!