I have gone through the existing AdSense account which is tied to the blog as well as all pyamsoft related Android applications and blocked or disabled Advertisements from every network that I possibly could. All possibly controversial categories were also blocked (sex, gambling, etc), and hopefully all invasive styles of advertisement like video or animation and sound have also been restricted.
In effect, not only should you no longer see Ads in new pyamsoft applications, but any users still on older versions will also no longer see advertisements.
========================
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=========================
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Handling SQLite
I am in the process of moving over the SQLite Database backends that were hand written to use the StorIO API written by the fine folks over here: https://github.com/pushtorefresh/storio
The change has already taken effect in PadLock (alpha) and should roll into Power Manager in the next update.
StorIO should prevent me from overlooking SQLite issues and other database things that I do not fully understand.
It should also make life a bit easier, but we'll see.
In other news, drawables are being ported to the SVG format so they will be easier to apply to various screen sizes at high quality. I do not plan to support DayNight at this time, though I may do so in the future.
========================
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=========================
The change has already taken effect in PadLock (alpha) and should roll into Power Manager in the next update.
StorIO should prevent me from overlooking SQLite issues and other database things that I do not fully understand.
It should also make life a bit easier, but we'll see.
In other news, drawables are being ported to the SVG format so they will be easier to apply to various screen sizes at high quality. I do not plan to support DayNight at this time, though I may do so in the future.
========================
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Like what I do?
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=========================
Monday, February 22, 2016
No more Ads
No more Ads in pyamsoft applications.
This means that all existing applications will not need, and will not ask for, the Internet permission.
I don't like Ads. You don't like Ads. We have an agreement here, then.
Instead of Ads, there will be a small, unobtrusive donation button added into the top bar of each application. Clicking the donation button will allow you donate a small amount as an Internet "thanks" for my work. This change will be slow to come, as it will take some time to update all of the current applications, but it will be rolling out "As soon as possible." We'll see how soon.
Donations will be handled safely and securely through Google's In-App Billing API, and will be routed through your Google account on your Android device if you have one. If you don't, instead of closing the application in error like a failure in Ad loading would have, the application will just simply inform you that you will be unable to make donations and then let you continue on your way.
Simpler. Easier.
Better.
We'll see.
========================
Follow pyamsoft around the Web for updates and announcements about the newest applications!
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=========================
This means that all existing applications will not need, and will not ask for, the Internet permission.
I don't like Ads. You don't like Ads. We have an agreement here, then.
Instead of Ads, there will be a small, unobtrusive donation button added into the top bar of each application. Clicking the donation button will allow you donate a small amount as an Internet "thanks" for my work. This change will be slow to come, as it will take some time to update all of the current applications, but it will be rolling out "As soon as possible." We'll see how soon.
Donations will be handled safely and securely through Google's In-App Billing API, and will be routed through your Google account on your Android device if you have one. If you don't, instead of closing the application in error like a failure in Ad loading would have, the application will just simply inform you that you will be unable to make donations and then let you continue on your way.
Simpler. Easier.
Better.
We'll see.
========================
Follow pyamsoft around the Web for updates and announcements about the newest applications!
Like what I do?
Send me an email at: pyam.soft@gmail.com
Or find me online at: https://pyamsoft-official.blogspot.com/
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=========================
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Its Happening
After literal months of work, Power Manager 5.0.0 is finally being released.
This release drops support for all Android versions less than 16 (Jelly Bean), but brings with it much improved memory management, improved image management by using Square's Picasso library, a (hopefully) better implementation of Material Design, and lots of nice new bells and whistles.
The application should perform faster in general, consume less memory to run the background service, respond quicker to screen events, and be better incorporated with Android's Doze function on API 23 (Marshmallow). Much of the old code is removed, and Ads are now entirely optional. In fact there is only One Ad available for viewing in the application, and is view able if the user so wishes by selecting the white Redeem icon from the action bar.
With this release, Power Manager is redefining its goals as a project. Started originally as a learning experience for the author, Power Manager now seeks to be the cleanest and safest option for users looking to control the battery consumption of their Android devices. Bearing this in mind, the release of Power Manager 5.0.0 comes with complete commitment to the bettering of software through the open source community.
Power Manager is now hosted completely in the Open on GitHub, at:
https://github.com/pyamsoft/power-manager
The project is released under the Apache 2 license, similarly to much of the Android code base.
As always, users are encouraged to update to the latest and greatest. The application will be live in about an hour following this post.
========================
Follow pyamsoft around the Web for updates and announcements about the newest applications!
Like what I do?
Send me an email at: pyam.soft@gmail.com
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=========================
This release drops support for all Android versions less than 16 (Jelly Bean), but brings with it much improved memory management, improved image management by using Square's Picasso library, a (hopefully) better implementation of Material Design, and lots of nice new bells and whistles.
The application should perform faster in general, consume less memory to run the background service, respond quicker to screen events, and be better incorporated with Android's Doze function on API 23 (Marshmallow). Much of the old code is removed, and Ads are now entirely optional. In fact there is only One Ad available for viewing in the application, and is view able if the user so wishes by selecting the white Redeem icon from the action bar.
With this release, Power Manager is redefining its goals as a project. Started originally as a learning experience for the author, Power Manager now seeks to be the cleanest and safest option for users looking to control the battery consumption of their Android devices. Bearing this in mind, the release of Power Manager 5.0.0 comes with complete commitment to the bettering of software through the open source community.
Power Manager is now hosted completely in the Open on GitHub, at:
https://github.com/pyamsoft/power-manager
The project is released under the Apache 2 license, similarly to much of the Android code base.
As always, users are encouraged to update to the latest and greatest. The application will be live in about an hour following this post.
========================
Follow pyamsoft around the Web for updates and announcements about the newest applications!
Like what I do?
Send me an email at: pyam.soft@gmail.com
Or find me online at: https://pyamsoft-official.blogspot.com/
Follow my FaceBook Page
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=========================
Friday, January 1, 2016
Of Course
So some personal commitments got in the way of my hoped for Power Manager release. Following the resolution of those commitments, personal projects got in the way of Power Manager. And with the start of more work and other commitments, Power Manager will unfortunately be pushed back to the close date of *soon*.
In other news, pstate-frequency 2.0.3 is released. It's a small bugfix release which changes how certain input is handled and generally seeks to make the program even more secure. Here's to hoping for its success in the new year.
Happy New Year to all.
========================
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=========================
In other news, pstate-frequency 2.0.3 is released. It's a small bugfix release which changes how certain input is handled and generally seeks to make the program even more secure. Here's to hoping for its success in the new year.
Happy New Year to all.
========================
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=========================
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Open House
Home Button has been the first application to be open sourced.
You can find it here
Party in the streets.
========================
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=========================
You can find it here
Party in the streets.
========================
Follow pyamsoft around the Web for updates and announcements about the newest applications!
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=========================
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Ok let's talk
So here's the deal okay. I'm hoping to push out a Power Manager update before/around Christmas, and an update to QuickSwitch later in January. When these updates drop, they will come with a couple of major changes.
For Power Manager, this will bump the application to version 5, which comes with massive performance improvements and a UI refresh.
For QuickSwitch, the overlay has been replaced with a general notification, providing quicker access to toggles without requiring the system overdraw permission.
For both applications, major changes that are also taking place is that when the version updates drop for the respective applications, I will also update almost the entirety of the source code to my GitHub page (found through the link down below). The only file I will exclude from each of the projects is the file which defines their AD_ID used by AdMob. The application will be entirely open source otherwise.
And speaking of AdMob ads, the update to the new versions for both applications will come with a new setting: to optionally enable or disable to permanent banner ad. For those of you who use the application but don't wish to see ads, you will be able to visit the settings page and turn the ads off.
SoftGlow and Home Button will receive updates in the far future as well. SoftGlow's will be on a more major scale but adhere to the paragraphs above, and Home Button will be a minor bugfix but follow a similar pattern.
Following the changes that will take place, pyamsoft will be fully open source.
========================
Follow pyamsoft around the Web for updates and announcements about the newest applications!
Like what I do?
Send me an email at: pyam.soft@gmail.com
Or find me online at: https://pyamsoft-official.blogspot.com/
Check out my Android Applications
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Check out my AUR packages
Follow my FaceBook Page
Follow my Google+ Page
=========================
For Power Manager, this will bump the application to version 5, which comes with massive performance improvements and a UI refresh.
For QuickSwitch, the overlay has been replaced with a general notification, providing quicker access to toggles without requiring the system overdraw permission.
For both applications, major changes that are also taking place is that when the version updates drop for the respective applications, I will also update almost the entirety of the source code to my GitHub page (found through the link down below). The only file I will exclude from each of the projects is the file which defines their AD_ID used by AdMob. The application will be entirely open source otherwise.
And speaking of AdMob ads, the update to the new versions for both applications will come with a new setting: to optionally enable or disable to permanent banner ad. For those of you who use the application but don't wish to see ads, you will be able to visit the settings page and turn the ads off.
SoftGlow and Home Button will receive updates in the far future as well. SoftGlow's will be on a more major scale but adhere to the paragraphs above, and Home Button will be a minor bugfix but follow a similar pattern.
Following the changes that will take place, pyamsoft will be fully open source.
========================
Follow pyamsoft around the Web for updates and announcements about the newest applications!
Like what I do?
Send me an email at: pyam.soft@gmail.com
Or find me online at: https://pyamsoft-official.blogspot.com/
Check out my Android Applications
Check out my Github Repositories
Check out my AUR packages
Follow my FaceBook Page
Follow my Google+ Page
=========================
Friday, November 20, 2015
Viewing Ads when you close an application
So when you close out of my applications, they will attempt to launch a full screen Ad.
Woops.
Apperantly this is against the practice that should be taken. Sorry about that.
I will work to patch the applications that do this to launch ads in a more non-intrusive and respectful way.
Sorry for any incovenience this may cause any of you.
pyamsoft
========================
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=========================
Woops.
Apperantly this is against the practice that should be taken. Sorry about that.
I will work to patch the applications that do this to launch ads in a more non-intrusive and respectful way.
Sorry for any incovenience this may cause any of you.
pyamsoft
========================
Follow pyamsoft around the Web for updates and announcements about the newest applications!
Like what I do?
Send me an email at: pyam.soft@gmail.com
Or find me online at: https://pyamsoft-official.blogspot.com/
Check out my Android Applications
Check out my Github Repositories
Check out my AUR packages
Follow my FaceBook Page
Follow my Google+ Page
=========================
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Not quite Power Manager 5
Its not done yet, but its getting close.
There has been a lot of re-writing and re-working a huge part of the code.
As a result, APK size has decreased from around 4 MB to just under 3 MB (sitting at about 2.84 MB). Perhaps more important than that however, is the fact that the RAM consumption when running the MainActivity has decreased from 60 MB to 40 MB (for comparison, an empty activity consumed around 25MB on test devices, 18MB without Ads), and the memory consumption over time lowered from reported 108 MB to only 30MB, which is a significant improvement. The application is also generally faster, fixes a lot of issue with the UI including redraws and shadowing, and applies a nice coat of Material paint to the app.
Very little of the application is still a "work in progress", the layout is almost set in stone.
Pictures and images still need to be worked in, as those can take some time to optimize, but the structure and backend of the application is sound.
Context leaks were fixed that are present in the older version 4, and some nice improvements to the interaction with the notification and quick toggles make for an all around fresher user experience.
Power Triggers have been made much more robust in version 5, and a new plethora of power plans can help you manage your device power on a even more fine grained level.
The bad new unfortunately, is that the release of version 5 will drop support for Android versions below Jelly Bean, and unfortunately any Android version above KitKat is unable to allow third party applications to manage mobile data. But I digress.
Stay tuned for more updates, and a release date in the future!
========================
Follow pyamsoft around the Web for updates and announcements about the newest applications!
Like what I do?
Send me an email at: pyam.soft@gmail.com
Or find me online at: https://pyamsoft-official.blogspot.com/
Check out my Android Applications
Check out my Github Repositories
Check out my AUR packages
Follow my FaceBook Page
Follow my Google+ Page
=========================
There has been a lot of re-writing and re-working a huge part of the code.
As a result, APK size has decreased from around 4 MB to just under 3 MB (sitting at about 2.84 MB). Perhaps more important than that however, is the fact that the RAM consumption when running the MainActivity has decreased from 60 MB to 40 MB (for comparison, an empty activity consumed around 25MB on test devices, 18MB without Ads), and the memory consumption over time lowered from reported 108 MB to only 30MB, which is a significant improvement. The application is also generally faster, fixes a lot of issue with the UI including redraws and shadowing, and applies a nice coat of Material paint to the app.
Very little of the application is still a "work in progress", the layout is almost set in stone.
Pictures and images still need to be worked in, as those can take some time to optimize, but the structure and backend of the application is sound.
Context leaks were fixed that are present in the older version 4, and some nice improvements to the interaction with the notification and quick toggles make for an all around fresher user experience.
Power Triggers have been made much more robust in version 5, and a new plethora of power plans can help you manage your device power on a even more fine grained level.
The bad new unfortunately, is that the release of version 5 will drop support for Android versions below Jelly Bean, and unfortunately any Android version above KitKat is unable to allow third party applications to manage mobile data. But I digress.
Stay tuned for more updates, and a release date in the future!
========================
Follow pyamsoft around the Web for updates and announcements about the newest applications!
Like what I do?
Send me an email at: pyam.soft@gmail.com
Or find me online at: https://pyamsoft-official.blogspot.com/
Check out my Android Applications
Check out my Github Repositories
Check out my AUR packages
Follow my FaceBook Page
Follow my Google+ Page
=========================
Friday, November 6, 2015
Home Button 3.0.0
Home Button 3.0.0 has been released, which brings with it support for Android 6.0 Marshmallow and drops support for Android version older than Jelly Bean (API 16 minimum). For those that currently have the application, you will unfortunately not be able to upgrade to the new release if you have a phone model running less than Jelly Bean, but don't worry, the overall functionality of the application has not changed.
Home Button is now officially in maintanence mode. This means that no new features will be added to the application. The only updates will be compatability or bugfix related. As far as features go, it is being officially deprecated in favor of QuickSwitch. You can check out QuickSwitch on the Google Play Store here.
The new update brings a refreshed visual theme based on the Material Design principles and a more smooth user experience regarding how the application is laid out.
Additional progress reports are soon to follow regarding Power Manager's 5.0.0 release, but things are coming along very nicely and a large portion of the application will be made simpler and easier to use.
More on that later.
========================
Follow pyamsoft around the Web for updates and announcements about the newest applications!
Like what I do?
Send me an email at: pyam.soft@gmail.com
Or find me online at: https://pyamsoft-official.blogspot.com/
Check out my Android Applications
Check out my Github Repositories
Check out my AUR packages
Follow my FaceBook Page
Follow my Google+ Page
=========================
Home Button is now officially in maintanence mode. This means that no new features will be added to the application. The only updates will be compatability or bugfix related. As far as features go, it is being officially deprecated in favor of QuickSwitch. You can check out QuickSwitch on the Google Play Store here.
The new update brings a refreshed visual theme based on the Material Design principles and a more smooth user experience regarding how the application is laid out.
Additional progress reports are soon to follow regarding Power Manager's 5.0.0 release, but things are coming along very nicely and a large portion of the application will be made simpler and easier to use.
More on that later.
========================
Follow pyamsoft around the Web for updates and announcements about the newest applications!
Like what I do?
Send me an email at: pyam.soft@gmail.com
Or find me online at: https://pyamsoft-official.blogspot.com/
Check out my Android Applications
Check out my Github Repositories
Check out my AUR packages
Follow my FaceBook Page
Follow my Google+ Page
=========================
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