Mobilesketch for Android

[Randall Garrett]

Just a short mention of a new device coming this fall, which I was able to spend a little time with (pre-production unit.) Of all the Android (touch only) devices, I've had/seen/used/tested, to date the best has been the Samsung Galaxy Tab S series - available in 8.4" and 10.5" sizes, ranging from about $350 - $500. These are obviously premium Android Tablets, meant for those who appreciate this level of hardware refinement. They are still the best of available Android devices IMHO, but while away last week I was able to fondle a pre-production Dell Venue 8 7000 and I came away with the notion that this tablet will blow away the Sammy 8.4" device when it is (reportedly) released this November. The screen was equal to the Samsung but the device itself is super-slim and light - Dell bills it as the world's thinnest tablet, and it was certainly the thinnest I've ever held - something akin to an e-Reader. I was also very impressed with the "Realsense" cameras and what can be done with them based on the pre-production "demo" software. I usually can't say much about preproduction devices as I am bound by NDAs and this time I am further bound by the fact that the presentation wasn’t even for ME – I was just visiting the software company that my son works for in CA and they had a pre-production device for R&D purposes. They a huge company with offices in several countries around the world and 10’s of millions of customers, so they are looking into some of the device’s unique characteristics to see how they might exploit them in their products. Of course, that got my rusty old mental gears turning… ;-) Anyway, there are several blogs where the device has been “previewed”, but they are all just superficial and the text is laced with a lot of speculation. Once I know more solid details for sure, I’ll report what I learn as soon as I can.


Hope this helps!

-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

That Samsung looks really good. A little higher spec than the Tab 8.0 I bought, but no phone capability. Very happy with the one I bought.

 

[RNMOVR]

Update

Randall,
Any update on this for the Note series?

 

[Randall Garrett]

My fault for not getting back with you on this! I did get another build and tested it on some newer high DPI devices I had to testing and things looked good. I did not, however, test it specifically on a Galaxy Note (mine seems to have disappeared :icon_sad

Were you speaking with Brian at our office? If so, can I have him contact you? PM me with your contact info and I'll get him to get back to you. I am not in San Antonio tomorrow...

Regards,


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

 

[RNMOVR]

My fault for not getting back with you on this! I did get another build and tested it on some newer high DPI devices I had to testing and things looked good. I did not, however, test it specifically on a Galaxy Note (mine seems to have disappeared :icon_sad

Were you speaking with Brian at our office? If so, can I have him contact you? PM me with your contact info and I'll get him to get back to you. I am not in San Antonio tomorrow...

Regards,


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

Randall,
Talked with Brian back in November and he had received a APK but the UI did not fit and he was having it tweaked. Have you heard anything as of late?

 

[Randall Garrett]

Randall,
Talked with Brian back in November and he had received a APK but the UI did not fit and he was having it tweaked. Have you heard anything as of late?

RNMOVR,

Sorry for the delay in replying - this thread just disappeared off my watch list during the forum upgrade.
Sadly, neither Brian nor I were well satisfied with how the GUI was rendering on a phone.
With the release of Android 5, though, we'll be taking a look at the rendering and GUI code when we do the next update, so maybe there is hope...
We've got a full plate with regard to MS 8 (MobileSketch for Windows 8) but Wayne tells me he is close to being done enough for folks to test, so during that time he will take a break from MS 8 stuff and look over MSA. I'd imagine that this will be in February. I'm asking Brian to keep you in the loop. I've got a couple of other items I want him to add anyway - mostly special stuff for a new device, but I see no reason that some of the new items would not be available to all other supported devices in one fashion or another.

Regards,


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

 

[RNMOVR]

RNMOVR,

Sorry for the delay in replying - this thread just disappeared off my watch list during the forum upgrade.
Sadly, neither Brian nor I were well satisfied with how the GUI was rendering on a phone.
With the release of Android 5, though, we'll be taking a look at the rendering and GUI code when we do the next update, so maybe there is hope...
We've got a full plate with regard to MS 8 (MobileSketch for Windows 8) but Wayne tells me he is close to being done enough for folks to test, so during that time he will take a break from MS 8 stuff and look over MSA. I'd imagine that this will be in February. I'm asking Brian to keep you in the loop. I've got a couple of other items I want him to add anyway - mostly special stuff for a new device, but I see no reason that some of the new items would not be available to all other supported devices in one fashion or another.

Regards,


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

Randall,
Any update on MSA for something smaller than a 7" screen?

 

[Randall Garrett]

Not at this time. I will, however, be speaking with Wayne (the original lead developer) later today and I'll ask him about an update. We had discussed this a few weeks ago and he was going to get back with me on it. I'll be talking with him in two separate meetings today (two different products, two different groups) so I don't imagine I can get back with you before tomorrow. Remind me again exactly which device you are using. Will you be upgrading anytime soon?


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

 

[RNMOVR]

Currently I'm using a HTC Tilt2 and running mobilesketch (version 2.8.180.0) on it. I have a note 2 that I'm not using that would be the perfect size for the field (IMO). Last update from Brian was the UI needed some work. It seems like y'all were pretty close to getting it to work. Anyway, I think there is definitely a market out there for an all-in-one device (i.e. use as a phone, field tablet, open supra keys, check email, etc.). Anyway, my current tech is creeping up on the end of its useful life and I would really like something that is less cumbersome in the field then a 7" tablet. So let me know if there is still a "chance" or if I need to just suck it up and use the current tech available. As always you are a plethora of help...