new forums app for mobiles

[lharris92]

just a fyi, tried to download it earlier, and it was saying it wasn't compatible with my version of android? even though mine is up to date

will see if i can update somehow but oh well

[eFestivals]

just a fyi, tried to download it earlier, and it was saying it wasn't compatible with my version of android? even though mine is up to date

will see if i can update somehow but oh well

hmmm ... this sounds like another Neil-doesn't-know-what-he's-doing error.

I'll do my utmost to get this fixed today (I think I know what the problem is), but in the meantime can you please tell me what version of Android you're running?

[AcademicPistol]

I don't mind that certain things aren't working, It's good that your fixing it without any help. You've done a good job considering all these different platforms your catering for

[lharris92]

hmmm ... this sounds like another Neil-doesn't-know-what-he's-doing error.

I'll do my utmost to get this fixed today (I think I know what the problem is), but in the meantime can you please tell me what version of Android you're running?

[eFestivals]

got version 2.3.5

that's why then. Your android is very out-of-date and not up-to-date. The current Android version is v4.2.1.

Google Play currently says the eFestivals app is for Android versions 3.0 and upwards - so it would have always been incompatible with your phone.

However, after much testing today, it appears to be the case that it actually requires android v4.0.3 or greater to run, so I've just sent Google Play a new version of the app (v0.65) which states that it needs v4.0.3 or greater - this new version should be publicly available within the next 2 hours or so.

You might be able to update your android version (at your own risk, it might screw your phone!). See

http://www.cyanogenmod.org/devices

and it's worth starting here:-

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/013012-android-phone-255297.html

for tips and tricks on doing it.

[LondonTom]

However, after much testing today, it appears to be the case that it actually requires android v4.0.3 or greater to run, so I've just sent Google Play a new version of the app (v0.65) which states that it needs v4.0.3 or greater - this new version should be publicly available within the next 2 hours or so.

[eFestivals]

Is there not anyone you can be compatible with something lower? I bet most people in general won't even have bothered with the ICS upgrade on the SII..let alone all the manufacturers who couldn't be bothered to update their phones. (Was thinking the install base would be bigger.)

Latest stats I could find on it http://androidandme.com/2012/11/news/android-4-x-close-to-30-install-base/attachment/screen-shot-2012-11-02-at-4-05-30-pm/ put Android 2.3.3 - 2.3.7 Gingerbread at 53% still!

while I'd like it to run on earlier versions - and i'm surprised that it doesn't want to, because it's not doing anything clever - i've tried everything I know of (which isn't much) to test for whether it will run on earlier versions, and it seems that it won't.

If you're an android app building expert and might be able to give me some help in sorting it, feel free to drop me an email at webmaster@efestivals.co.uk, and i'll be grateful to have your help.

[lharris92]

see that's the piss take in itself, the fact i can't update my phone. i blame htc for all this shit.

good phone and all, but just doesn't update the versions it seems.

even though my phone is 20 months old and near the end of its contract.

looking into it to try and get it sorted

[eFestivals]

see that's the piss take in itself, the fact i can't update my phone. i blame htc for all this shit.

good phone and all, but just doesn't update the versions it seems.

even though my phone is 20 months old and near the end of its contract.

looking into it to try and get it sorted

it might well be the case that your phone hardware isn't suitable for upgrading to a newer version of the operating system.

If you think back to various PC requirements for the various versions of Windows over the years, it basically came down to new hardware being needed to run the new software. If that wasn't strictly true and it would run on old hardware, that old hardware ran like a dog with the new software.

So it's probably a deliberate choice by phone makers to not upgrade old hardware, particularly when Android is changing so fast because it's still comparatively new.

My own android phone is about the same age as yours, but has v2.2 on it, and won't upgrade.

[lharris92]

contacted htc about it and this was their response:

bob: I am sorry to say but the 4.0.3 is not available for your HTC Desire S.

bob: We get all update information the same time as the public. The 2.3.5 is the latest over the air update for your phone.

so yeah i assume they aren't putting out the upgrades because they aren't suitable for the phone.

ah well

[eFestivals]

contacted htc about it and this was their response:

bob: I am sorry to say but the 4.0.3 is not available for your HTC Desire S.

bob: We get all update information the same time as the public. The 2.3.5 is the latest over the air update for your phone.

so yeah i assume they aren't putting out the upgrades because they aren't suitable for the phone.

ah well

there is an eFestivals news app you could install - for the details, see here:-

http://www.efestivals.co.uk/about/mobile.shtml

[lharris92]

yeah have got that already, would have just made it easier to access the forums when i'm out and about. nevermind

[LondonTom]

while I'd like it to run on earlier versions - and i'm surprised that it doesn't want to, because it's not doing anything clever - i've tried everything I know of (which isn't much) to test for whether it will run on earlier versions, and it seems that it won't.

If you're an android app building expert and might be able to give me some help in sorting it, feel free to drop me an email at webmaster@efestivals.co.uk, and i'll be grateful to have your help.

[lharris92]

been looking around and maybe these could help in making it available to older android versions?

http://developer.android.com/training/basics/supporting-devices/platforms.html

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7841473/can-android-4-0-apps-work-with-android-2-0-and-android-3-0-devices

obviously though its time and effort so maybe not

[eFestivals]

I've had a hunt around and found things like that, but what I've not found is what features are supported in which api so that I can look at working round any issues.

My current conclusion that it needs 4.0.3 or greater is based only in what emulators it'll run on, and that might be caused by something other than the app code itself.

[eFestivals]

PS ... One thing I will be doing at the earliest opportunity is improving the menus, so that ease of use is improved.

[lharris92]

ah ok, personally i'm clueless when it comes to coding and whatnot.

will leave it until either there's a solution found or until i get a new phone which it works with

[windy_miller]

I'm no Android expert, but have dabbled with creating an app in the past (didn't get very far though). To get it to work on older versions of android, you have to specify the android:minSdkVersion attribute in your app. If you set this to 8 the app will work with andoid 2.2 and upwards. Of course if you are using functions from later versions of the API, then this will not work.

http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/manifest/uses-sdk-element.html#ApiLevels

[eFestivals]

I'm no Android expert, but have dabbled with creating an app in the past (didn't get very far though). To get it to work on older versions of android, you have to specify the android:minSdkVersion attribute in your app. If you set this to 8 the app will work with andoid 2.2 and upwards. Of course if you are using functions from later versions of the API, then this will not work.

http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/manifest/uses-sdk-element.html#ApiLevels

it's not quite as simple as putting in a low minSDKversion number. The app has to only include features that are in that version of the OS.

I'm having a play around with it at the moment, and the issue with the efests app is the inclusion of things which are only available to the more recent OS versions.

With a bit of luck I'll find a way to work around that, so that people with earlier versions of Android are able to use the app - hopefully v2.2 (as that's what my own phone has).

/me tootles off to try and get it sorted....

[thetime]

A forum button would be nice at the top of the app home screen, would save scrolling down to click on the forum link button.

This is a very minor annoyance though and on android.

[eFestivals]

A forum button would be nice at the top of the app home screen, would save scrolling down to click on the forum link button.

This is a very minor annoyance though and on android.

one of the tasks on my to-do list (and hopefully getting done sooner rather than later) is to rework the menus completely - so what you want is in hand.

[windy_miller]

it's not quite as simple as putting in a low minSDKversion number. The app has to only include features that are in that version of the OS.

I'm having a play around with it at the moment, and the issue with the efests app is the inclusion of things which are only available to the more recent OS versions.

With a bit of luck I'll find a way to work around that, so that people with earlier versions of Android are able to use the app - hopefully v2.2 (as that's what my own phone has).

/me tootles off to try and get it sorted....

[eFestivals]

A forum button would be nice at the top of the app home screen, would save scrolling down to click on the forum link button.

This is a very minor annoyance though and on android.

rather than adding a button just for the app, I've now implemented a better menu system on the mobile website (which is what the app displays), as well as improving it for the mobile skin.

Hopefully you'll find that new menu does what you were wanting. I'd be grateful for your comments.

BTW, that new menu isn't yet finished (those it's perfectly usable) - I've some additions and tidying up to do for it, which I hope I'll get done today.