Just in case anyone of you is interested in Android Mobile Development in Basic...
Basic4Android is available with a special rebate of 50% on the Enterprise version, that means you get it for less than 50,00 $. It is a very advanced system and extremely easy to use. I found the ad on the AppInventor page. I got it and I think it is fantastic. You get very quick results. The generated apk files are ready for the Android Market.
If you are interested here is the text of the ad for you to check out:
QuoteHead over to - http://www.basic4ppc.com/android/purchase.html (http://www.basic4ppc.com/android/purchase.html)
In the *Basic4android Enterprise Version* section click the *Plimus* payment
option
Enter *acnggr* in the coupon field
Main site - http://www.basic4ppc.com (http://www.basic4ppc.com)
Pretty cool. I didn't read the details but I wonder if it allows access to all the I/O such as usb, IR ect.... I don't really know anything about the android OS. I have written some Windows CE (VB6) and Phone(.Net). I've also used NSbasic but the lack of I/O functions made it pretty useless and it was very buggy.
Doug
There are several IO libraries included for Bluetooth, TCP, etc. Also USB can be handled if the Android Hardware supports USB Host access, which just like in WindowsMobile devices is in most cases not available.
Support for USB Host access is availabe with Android 3.1 and 2.3.4.
http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/usb/adk.html
I did some applications in EmbeddedVB and NSBasic. The later versions of NSB (7 and 8) ran pretty stable.
Thanks for the link Rolf.
I went ahead an purchased it.
Certainly, worth the money, Robert.
I had done a few small things in AppInventor, but since it has no decent communication like TCP I stopped. Basic4android is much more flexible.
How long is this deal going on?
No idea - it was put on the AppInventer Forum yesterday.
Thanks for the link Rolf! Perfect timing - I've been playing with the demo, and was ready to purchase it when I saw your link.
Glad it saved you a few bucks, Pete.
Rolf,
Thanks for the coupon. I ordered it and will be taking a look.
Brian
B4A is a great tool to write apps for Android, the learning curve is not that bad.
In not time you might create apps like this: Bandcaster (https://market.android.com/details?id=com.bandcaster).
Written by yours truly using B4A. ;)
Late come to get the discount coupon :( But it's lucky Erel gave me a little bit discount :P
The following is another 50% discount coupon on "Basic4Android - Enterprise Version" after I purchased:-
Your coupon code is: bhnrfk
The purchase page link is: http://www.basic4ppc.com/android/purchase.html
How does it work & terms:
- User goes to the purchase page and clicks on the Plimus button.
- User enters your coupon code in the coupon field in order to receive the 50% discount.
- After purchase you will receive a notification mail.
- This offer can be terminated at any time.
- You can receive up to 4 additional years of free upgrades. (this is for me only hehe)
- Only new customers can use the coupon.
- A coupon code can be used for up to 20 times.
I share it for those people looking for this software, you're better discount than me ;D
Have good programming..
cheer,
Vincent
Everyone gets their own code when ordering- Mine is bdjbbz
I had originally chose not to put it to not cause problems since Rolf originally posted it...whether it is his he got after purchasing or the original he saw at AppInventer is unknown, but either way it is there. I posted mine on social media sites, but haven't received any emails about it. I did just notice though that it is only good for 20 times, so if you were unable to get it then it must have been pretty popular and used up all the uses on his. Mine appears to have not been used at all if anyone finds yours inactive in the future as well.
After reading this thread, I have been wanting to purchase Basic4andriod but never get to downloading the trial. I went to the website again today, look through the forum and came across this thread:
http://www.basic4ppc.com/forum/basic4android-updates-questions/11146-whats-future-b4a.html
I read Rolf's input and was sold immediately. If Rolf says its good then it is good. I bought it using Vincent's coupon code. Rolf's code had been used 20 times already.
Here is my coupon code given by Anywhere Software (creator of Basic4android) to share: bdgcab. Edited: Please use someone else's code. I already have the maximum 4 more years of updates.
My benefit when you use the coupon code is same as what Vincent posted.
Thanks for your trust, Cho!
And, yes, I am really content with it. The product is good. And what is even better, the atmosphere in the forum is quite similar to the FireFly Forum - very friendly and very helpful.
bbbqhx is a good coupon code.
Dont forget to us the plimus payment method.
Thanks Rolf... finally got around to ordering this today! : )
Great Jim, you will like it!
I never developed mobile apps with such a speed. Simply great!
Rolf
I received email from Erel that there are several new orders using my coupon code and I now have the maximum of additional 4 years of updates. I posted my coupon code here an in PureBasic forum.
You guys should post your coupon codes here too.
Wow, how did you get that done, Cho. I was not that lucky.
I only got one so far...no clue if it is from here of Facebook.
You can stop wondering Roger, I used your code. Just forgot to thank you for sharing it.
Thanks!
David
I just got a Samsung Galaxy S II with Android installed. Wish I had some ideas for developing apps on this thing.... maybe then I would buy this BASIC language. :)
I think that I need a nice new application to work on. FireFly can only be so exciting and after 4 years of working on it, it can become a little "unexciting".
Quote from: TechSupport on September 25, 2011, 07:27:13 PM
I just got a Samsung Galaxy S II with Android installed. Wish I had some ideas for developing apps on this thing.... maybe then I would buy this BASIC language. :)
I think that I need a nice new application to work on. FireFly can only be so exciting and after 4 years of working on it, it can become a little "unexciting".
I understand that feeling, I used to write code using PB + FF but ran out of ideas and some motivation, now I'm hooked on Android I guess this "mobile" + "cloud" stuff seems more interesting, at least for now ;D
Quote from: TechSupport on September 25, 2011, 07:27:13 PM
I just got a Samsung Galaxy S II with Android installed. Wish I had some ideas for developing apps on this thing.... maybe then I would buy this BASIC language. :)
How do you like the S II? Did you have any other Androids as a point of reference? I'm thinking of getting one. They come out on Oct 2 here...finally. I heard AT&T dumbed down the Touchwiz though and it is so thin the battery still lasts like 8-10 hours tops with normal usage, so I'm still going to be charging it 1-3 times a day. I thought the AMOLED stuff was supposed to be more efficient on battery (Especially with dark colors/black), but it seems about the same. There is another one you Canadians just got too with almost the same specs but just Super AMOLED (No +) and a slider keyboard I'm hoping we get too. I can't decide between those, the new Atrix 2, or HTC's Holiday that is looking like it may get LTE.
Quote from: TechSupport on September 25, 2011, 07:27:13 PM
I think that I need a nice new application to work on. FireFly can only be so exciting and after 4 years of working on it, it can become a little "unexciting".
Does this mean we still have to wait for FF 3.5 for a long time?
I look forward to use FF with PB 10 and SQLTools.
I tried to change things, but it does not work.
Klaas
Hi Klaas,
FF 3.5 is definitely in progress, but don't wait.
I have converted all my programs, they now use PB 10 and SQLTools with the SSL version and had no problems.
Best Regards,
Marc
On an other note, I hope Paul is not giving up on FF.
It is a great designer and it has potential to be much, much, much greater.
Marc
Quote from: Marc van Cauwenberghe on September 29, 2011, 03:44:33 PM
On an other note, I hope Paul is not giving up on FF.
It is a great designer and it has potential to be much, much, much greater.
I agree.
Klaas
Quote from: Roger Garstang on September 27, 2011, 05:02:39 PM
Quote from: TechSupport on September 25, 2011, 07:27:13 PM
I just got a Samsung Galaxy S II with Android installed. Wish I had some ideas for developing apps on this thing.... maybe then I would buy this BASIC language. :)
How do you like the S II? Did you have any other Androids as a point of reference? I'm thinking of getting one. They come out on Oct 2 here...finally. I heard AT&T dumbed down the Touchwiz though and it is so thin the battery still lasts like 8-10 hours tops with normal usage, so I'm still going to be charging it 1-3 times a day. I thought the AMOLED stuff was supposed to be more efficient on battery (Especially with dark colors/black), but it seems about the same. There is another one you Canadians just got too with almost the same specs but just Super AMOLED (No +) and a slider keyboard I'm hoping we get too. I can't decide between those, the new Atrix 2, or HTC's Holiday that is looking like it may get LTE.
Hi Roger,
I don't have much of a reference point because the only other smart phone I had used were the BlackBerry Bold and now the Torch. So far, I love the new phone. Yes, you can drain the battery relatively fast with heavy use... I cancelled my home (landline) phone and now the only phone I use is the Samsung (and the BlackBerry for work).
:)
Hi Guys,
I have certainly not given up on FF. :)
FF3.5 will be out soon. Don't worry about that.
Did you hear that rumbling noise? That was the stone that just dropped from my heart.
Rolf
I've never used Android. Not on a cellphone or anything else. But there is a project that I'm looking for a tablet to be able to do.
We keep all our manuals (.PDF's) on a server. Now each time a Technician needs a manual they have to print it. We want to use a tablet with Android at each workstation to display the manual directly from the server via WIFI and save a LOT of trees. Could this be done using Basic4Android? Can it connect to a domain server? Even better would being able to connect to a FoxPro Database on the server from an app on the tablet. Being able to connect a USB barcode scanner would be cool too.
The prices are coming way down to the point that just in paper savings it would pay for its self over time. We'd put a cheap desktop at each workstation but there is really not enough room.
Thoughts?
Hi Douglas,
Take a look at the Cellica database (www.cellica.com). It will synch wirelessly to any ODBC compliant database. I have had little experience with it but the basic functions seem to work as advertised. The support forum is moderately active and the developers seem pretty responsive.
Dennis
Quote from: Douglas McDonald on November 05, 2011, 07:06:44 PM
I've never used Android. Not on a cellphone or anything else. But there is a project that I'm looking for a tablet to be able to do.
We keep all our manuals (.PDF's) on a server. Now each time a Technician needs a manual they have to print it. We want to use a tablet with Android at each workstation to display the manual directly from the server via WIFI and save a LOT of trees. Could this be done using Basic4Android? Can it connect to a domain server? Even better would being able to connect to a FoxPro Database on the server from an app on the tablet. Being able to connect a USB barcode scanner would be cool too.
The prices are coming way down to the point that just in paper savings it would pay for its self over time. We'd put a cheap desktop at each workstation but there is really not enough room.
Thoughts?
That can be done with B4A, and no need to hook up a barcode scanner, you can use the camera on the tablet/phone to read barcodes.
Adding a little JavaScript to the toolbox alongside a fair understanding of HTML and CSS and one will be at a good starting point for addressing several mobile platforms. Shouldn't be such daunting task for Basic'ers really!
Then there are tool like PhoneGap for cross platform "compilation". Heck, even Dreamweaver 5.5. can be used ...
Quote from: Douglas McDonald on November 05, 2011, 07:06:44 PM
I've never used Android. Not on a cellphone or anything else. But there is a project that I'm looking for a tablet to be able to do.
We keep all our manuals (.PDF's) on a server. Now each time a Technician needs a manual they have to print it. We want to use a tablet with Android at each workstation to display the manual directly from the server via WIFI and save a LOT of trees. Could this be done using Basic4Android? Can it connect to a domain server? Even better would being able to connect to a FoxPro Database on the server from an app on the tablet. Being able to connect a USB barcode scanner would be cool too.
The prices are coming way down to the point that just in paper savings it would pay for its self over time. We'd put a cheap desktop at each workstation but there is really not enough room.
Thoughts?
Hi Douglas,
For the PDF manuals, there is no need to develop an app for it. If you have a webpage on your LAN and on this webpage are links to the PDF manuals, then they can be downloaded via the browsers on the Android tablets.
I am able to access my router setup page 192.168.xxx.xxx but I do not have LAN webpage/PDF to test so I tested downloading PDF from the Internet on the following devices. I have Adobe Reader app installed on them:
Android - Motorola Xoom
webOS - HP Touchpad
iOS - iPad 2
On the Motorola Xoom, after downloaded, a downloaded icon (down-pointing-arrow) appear on the bottom taskbar next to the clock. Touch it and choose your reader to open the PDF.
On the HP Touchpad, a list on the right side of screen will open to show the file downloaded. Touch the file to open the PDF.
On the iPad 2, it opens automatically.
Hope this info helps.
QuoteOn the HP Touchpad, a list on the right side of screen will open to show the file downloaded. Touch the file to open the PDF.
It can then also be reopened from the Adobe Reader application â€" at will.
QuoteOn the iPad 2, it opens automatically.
But if the browser crashes or is closed the file has to be re-downloaded since it's embedded in the browser window â€" ain't it so?!
Quote from: Haakon Birkeland on November 07, 2011, 08:52:07 AM
QuoteOn the iPad 2, it opens automatically.
But if the browser crashes or is closed the file has to be re-downloaded since it's embedded in the browser window â€" ain't it so?!
If the browser crashed while downloading, the problem will be common accross all tablet types and will obviously require a re-download. Same problem when a dedicated app crashes.
You can chose to open it with Adobe Reader too. The file will be saved and can be re-opened anytime. Have you try it?
Thanks a lot to everyone. Now I just need my boss to get me one to play with.
Doug
My point was to highlight a (...nother) stupidity on the iOS platform. I once "downloaded" a magazine to read off-line on an iPad, but the browser crashed after a few pages and then I had nothing to read.
On a TouchPad one would not be required to keep the browser alive to keep the magazine available.
Quote from: Haakon Birkeland on November 07, 2011, 03:59:08 PM
My point was to highlight a (...nother) stupidity on the iOS platform. I once "downloaded" a magazine to read off-line on an iPad, but the browser crashed after a few pages and then I had nothing to read.
On a TouchPad one would not be required to keep the browser alive to keep the magazine available.
On all the 3 platforms, I never have a need to keep the browser alive since the Adobe Reader is the Reader and the PDF doc cannot usually be read completed in one instance. On the iPad 2, there is also the iBook app that support other formats. Even in other formats, there is no need to keep the browser alive.
All tablets of all OSes are never designed to read books, magazines or manuals with the browsers. At least with those I am using and that covers 3 OSes. The only one I have not tested is the Playbook.
Anywhere Software has a sale (30% down) on all versions of Basic for Android right now. Sale will end on the 25th of Nov. 2011.
http://www.basic4ppc.com/android/purchase.html
Rolf
Well I just ordered Basic4Android while it was on sale for $69. Now I just have to wait for my Asus 10.1 EeePad Prime. I decided to get the Asus since it has the Nvida Targa 3, 4 core cpu, Full 1080 HD, will run Android 4.0 and cost the same as the Samsung with a 2 core and half the memory. Sounds like an iPad killer for sure.
If I add the docking station it has full USB and some other stuff that will make it great for development, I hope. For now I can get used to Basic4Android in emulation mode.
Thanks
Transformer Prime seems indeed tempting, although my little experience with Android have turned me off a bit. I assume and hope they inspire more products in that direction, with synergy between ARM and traditional x86 architecture.
There is a company working on a CPU with both architectures, and I welcome a combination of traditional Windows for doing "actual work", and some mobile environment that can lightly talk to the Windows part â€" sharing files at least.
The cute part about the "four'n a half" core Tegra 3 CPU is actually the fifth companion core, running with extremely low power consumption at 500Mhz for tasks that don't require lots of guts â€" saving battery juice.
As for Full HD, the screen on the device itself is only 1280x800, while offering a mini HDMI connector as alternative output. And the option of using a mouse for input through USB as well.
Well with just a few days working with B4A it seems like a powerful compiler. The IDE is great. I only have a problem with the documentation, it drastically lacks in detail and the forum members do not really want to bother with a newbie or so it seems. They need to look at the powerbasic manual so they'll know what good documentation is. That said I think b4a is very good and well worth the price
Yes, the product is good but documentation and sometimes support is a little...well...lacking.
By my own experience, after a little while you'll figure out most of the stuff, but then again. I wish the documentation/manual was more like PB, I agree with you 100%.
The problem is that documentation of a software is extremely time consuming. I don't know if you feel the same like me - but I consider documentation the horror of every developer.
I think the help in the B4A forum is not that bad, but we are spoiled by Paul in the FireFly forum. This forum is unique. I haven't seen anything like it (except in the SQLitening Forum).
Rolf
Yes, the forum is not that bad, my only complaint sometimes is when I have a question, someone answers "see this post" and I'm supposed to "know" what to read.
One line of code or two can answer many questions, sometimes is all I need, in my case, when I answer a post I include a piece of code or if I redirect to another post I highlight the relevant code.
I agree that documentation for a developer might be horror, long and tedious process, but it's very important because that will help you retain or lose customers.
There is a means to an end using B4A's documentation but it takes a long time to find it. It may be in the users guide or the forum or some other webpage on their site. I'm not saying the info is not there, its just very hard to find or follow at times.
For someone like me who has never even used an Android device and is starting from scratch learning how the OS works it would be nice to have a manual like PowerBasic has. I think it is one of the best manuals I've used.
Many a good compiler has failed due to bad documentation. As a developer I fully understand how hard it is to write documentation and how long it takes. A forum can only get you so far! Yes its better than nothing.
In time I'll get used to how B4A works and I think it can be a great compiler. I'm just saying that learning it could be much faster with good doc's
Doug
FYI:
In case anyone wants a 50% discount when purchasing Basic4android Enterprise:
COUPON CODE: byhbtj
The purchase page link is: http://www.basic4ppc.com/android/purchase.html
(Only new customers can use the coupon)
Here's another coupon code for a 50% discount: bkbjkv
Offer still on 5 days ago
Like Rolf says you have to purchase using the Plimus payment method to get the discount
I used to use Basic4PPC. That was the precursor to Basic4Android. Forums were very helpful. My only complaint was that when they brought in a class from .Net and put a wrapper around it so it could be used with B4P, whoever made the wrapper, didn't always give you access to all the members of the class. In the end I went to VS2008 for WinMobile 6 development on a PPC so I could get access to the class members i needed. I know it's a dead end, but the only ruggedized data collectors are running WM6. Android devices are just not suitable for field work, yet....
Yes, it is a shame that MS does not continue WM anymore. But I converted my main application to Android now and it works great. And I enjoy some of the extra features too.
The only thing I am missing in Android is a real Kiosk mode.
Rolf
I just did a quick check and I see that a company called Rhiza is advertising a Trimble Nomad 900 data collector with the Android OS ratner than WM6.1. A year ago when I finally upgraded my PPC2003 Recons, that option did not exist. It's interesting because development in WM6 is almost dead, so good luck getting any help on user forums. Android on the other hand is very much alive and there's not much difference between developing an app on a phone or a Nomad. I use a Trimble Recon because it is smaller and has a CF card slot where I can add an extra CF serial port (DB9). It has Bluetooth as well, but for my data I prefer wired connections to wireless. Nomad also has a CF card slot as well as an RS232 serial port. The keypad makes it bigger.