Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

L18L · Last edited by L18L on Thu 31 Oct 2013, 13:29; edited 1 time in total

Edited_time_total

gcmartin · Joined: 14 Oct 2005 Posts: 6730 Location: Earth

@L18L???

I can see how our departure of findings on the non-Android's (LightHouse and Ubuntu) use of "touch" could be viewed by some as derailing. So my entry(s) is removed so as not to offend.

But, Android is an OS that centers around "touch" to manage applications serving the user interface. And, more and more purchased x86 CPU systems today, have touch screens.

The concern is if anyone has a touch x86 device, it seems appropriate that Android-x86 provide same-simliar functionality with the built-in hardware of the PCs that Android does on hand-helds.

Would you agree or do you disagree with that? <=== (this question is not to engage in argument, but to try to see whether our view of Android should be about smart devices or about our traditional look at operating systems prior to smart devices.) Any help, from you on this question, helps

I appreciate the sharing of knowledge this thread brings.

Here to help
P.S. I do understand that the mouse presents a substitute for finger touch. But smart devices (including Android devices), today, center around users touching it.

nancy reagan · Joined: 22 Jan 2009 Posts: 549

Even if someone shouts here that talking about "touch", which is a big help, if not essential in Android, is derailing, I nevertheless would like to suggest

USE Android tablet or smartphone as a client ? (Yes you must have a server as well).

Total noob, so pardon me.

L18L · Posted: Wed 30 Oct 2013, 15:50 Post subject:

touch is not essential
mouse is not essential
voice is...

I think you cqn use real keyboards, real mice and real large wide screen together with tablets
...and I am using (or trying to use) android-x86 on my x86 computer

thus android-x86 is just another Linux operating system.

gcmartin · Joined: 14 Oct 2005 Posts: 6730 Location: Earth

@L18L, please accept this as help.

MIT has a free Android development tool which make it easy for anyone to take a step to create an Android app. Its very easy to use.

Take a look at it and you'll see something (or a lot) of what Android is. Yes, a Linux foundation, but, its been specialized for the experiences we see. Most of it is aimed at touch (via some means).

On a different note and on a different thread, the Canonical (Ubuntu) direction is toward a desktop touch experience using a more traditional version of LInux. (We'll have to wait until early 2014 to see what they provide for us.)

And, even Google ChromeOS "Touch" is a little different even though all of these use a LInux base.

Android-x86 intends to allow us to use a desktop to get "acquainted" with Android. Its desktop tries to make that experience obvious even though some functionality is not present.

Hope this helps

L18L · Posted: Thu 31 Oct 2013, 13:28 Post subject:

accepted

gcmartin · Joined: 14 Oct 2005 Posts: 6730 Location: Earth

@Jpeps comments on Android development technique in another thread.

Webviews Yes! Fragments Yes! All contained within each single Activity Yes!

Few developers see what you see. And, as Android grows, and task management evolves, we are on the doorstep of a whole new class of applications running across platforms. And as each Activity is self contained, security management will change as this minimizes local exposure(s).

This is a rather provocative feature. I wonder how long before and more important, "will" everyone catch on in development?

Thanks for that observation of a revolutionary aspect of Android development.

Additionally, reading between the lines you can see some of what Android 4.4 positions for any developers to bring to the table Respectively, ALL development tools must be upgraded to account for the change in development direction that is offered. Although, I know the powers are well intentioned in tool development, I'm guessing it could be as much as a year before some actually get it right.

jpeps · Joined: 31 May 2008 Posts: 3217

Strange that printing and sharing files to the cloud is being listed as "new". The WSJ app shares articles to 20 places, including both installed apps and the cloud. The app also knows my printer apps, so lists both Cloud Print and Easy Print. This already is standard procedure.

gcmartin · Joined: 14 Oct 2005 Posts: 6730 Location: Earth

Money, I agree. But, if they dont see the path for generating an Activity in the new pathing provided by Google; namely fragments and Webview, then, they will go on building incorrectly. And, only those who see it will take advantage of the pathing as it does impact both system demand reductions while increasing functionality to the Activity servicing the user; not to mention the portability that comes with this.

An application in Android development language is an Activity. Within the Activity is resources which are structured to accomplish things in the Activity. Fragments are the action pieces of the Activity and Webviews are features that fragments can use in service provisioning.

All of this is occurring as Google itself is "evolving" the development tools, approaches, and its own architectural changes in Android as it tweaks and moves to refinement toward some semblance of a singularity.

Its like watching a kaleidoscope as hardware casing changes with buttons missing-moved, along with all of this stuff. etc.

But, I have to admit one important thing which is NOT being addressed in the press so much; look what they did to the price of things. This is a "major" change as everyone else was getting upwards of $700 for a high-end device. I wonder if they did it for the public or if they did it for developers. Either way, this is a quiet, significant, shot over the bow.

Edited: Paragraph on an Activity in Android world.

jpeps · Joined: 31 May 2008 Posts: 3217

gcmartin · Joined: 14 Oct 2005 Posts: 6730 Location: Earth

Android 4.4 is has some sharp differences in both architecture and Activity (applications) operations. There are several way to look at the Nexus 5 in what they are doing (or trying to do).

Here one
The speed overall base systems operation thru under the cover changes in the OS, They throw in a superior processor but, they do not provide more RAM. On the Nexus, they do NOT give you SIM expansion ability, either.

This appears to be an artificial and subtle steering to developers as they progress Andoid along. I read this is as approach by them to intentionally "slow" development progress as they continue to try to morph Android into its next level. This could mean that this release is a stepping stone as they attempt to architecturally structure things into the corral as they see it.

At CES, next year, we may see their vision and a new platform with a new Android architecture and a new platform with increased RAM (Samsung may have re-announce this with a 3GB Note 3 while Google has "locked" developers in, currently, at 2GB).

The "shot over the bow" reference in an earlier post is showing up in current commercials and they are touting the "speech" component of the new system. ... subtlely.

gcmartin · Joined: 14 Oct 2005 Posts: 6730 Location: Earth

On Android x86, I wonder if there will be an Intel/AMD board for vendors that will have a Bluetooth, Accelerometer and a GPS in an All-in-One Touch unit(s) before Christmas.

And, not having a Surface-Pro (you know, the x86 models), is that hardware available to snake in an Android-x86?

This would make for some interesting opportunity in the Android-x86 project and the apps which would be created.

jpeps · Joined: 31 May 2008 Posts: 3217

gcmartin · Joined: 14 Oct 2005 Posts: 6730 Location: Earth