Originally Posted by Chad

Looking great! I'm more a designer than a dev, but any way I can help with visuals or otherwise let me know. How can I try the app out on my android phone?

Thanks Chad.

You can download the APK from here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/25lcivh89fyab30/MI-Chat.apk

We could use some design input/mock ups here if you want:
https://github.com/AfzalivE/MI-Chat/issues/4

but that issue is for much later, like June later.

Sorry I'm not familiar with android development, you'll have to walk me through it or link me to a tutorial. How do I install the APK on my android phone to try it out?

Originally Posted by Chad

Sorry I'm not familiar with android development, you'll have to walk me through it or link me to a tutorial. How do I install the APK on my android phone to try it out?

Go to settings > security > Check unknown sources.

download the apk on your phone and run it. It will launch the installer and you can install the app that way.

Hey everyone!

I added a whole bunch of new features since I last posted here including colour parsing. No support for inputting formatted text yet.

Now, the testing process is kinda more professional now since we're moving to better stages. For me to analyze the bugs better and for you to update easier, this is what we're gonna do.

We're gonna use the newly introduced Testers feature on the Google Play Store.

Join the Macinsiders Chat Testers community here (can only be accessed using this link):
https://plus.google.com/communities/...53234641996811

Once you've joined it, go to this link and click "Become a tester"
https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.afzaln.mi_chat

Once you've done that, go here and install the app!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...zaln .mi_chat

(The app isn't up yet as it takes some time before the app is published on the store, so that last step might get to you a "not found" message until later, I'll post here when it's published)

It shows as "Not found" for people who haven't clicked "Become a Tester" but will show the app listing for the ones who have.

The Google Group doesn't let me join. It says: "Want to participate in this private community?
You must have an invitation to join this private community."

The Become A Tester also doesn't work.

Oh lol, nobody told me that throughout the day >_<

Update the communities link: https://plus.google.com/communities/...53234641996811

You should be able to join this one.

New beta version 0.9 with the following changes:

- Compatibility extended to Android 2.3 Gingerbread (need testers)
- Fixed #15 Links are now clickable!
- Fixed #10 No more duplicate messages after posting
- Fixed #17 Mod colors are blue, don't know admin userRole
- Fixed #18 Keyboard hides when scrolling or menu opened (requested by Tailsnake)
- Better text editor, better send button
- Better compatibility with different resolutions (reported by Vida, can't remember the username >_<)
- Some optimization and cleanup

It will roll out in a few hours.

If you're not a tester already, join: https://plus.google.com/communities/...53234641996811

Just released the latest (0.97) version of Macinsiders Chat app.

Changes:
- Customized (overhauled?) app design
- Auto-refresh (only when you're viewing the app, not in background to save battery)
- Tablet support!! (Feedback welcome)
- Copy text from messages
- Multi-line editing support (I think)
- Better time representation
- Removed support for Android 2.3

If you're not already a tester, join: https://plus.google.com/communities/...53234641996811
And follow the instructions on the right-hand side

Screenshots?

It really looks amazing; you should be very proud, Afzal.

If you're still open to suggestions, have you considered an "after dark" or night layout?

Originally Posted by goodnews.inc

It really looks amazing; you should be very proud, Afzal.

If you're still open to suggestions, have you considered an "after dark" or night layout?

Thanks. Of course I'm open to suggestions, just not "make my username golden, I'll pay you for it" ones.

I agree, a night layout would be nice but how would it work while still accommodating custom text colour? Or would it ignore custom text colour in lieu of being easier on the eyes?

And hopefully the next version will show chatbot messages in a better way.

I'm thinking you could still use custom colours just ones that aren't fluorescent. So the night version would have a parallel colour palette, with softer shades.

I.e. Instead of HTML colour code: #0000FF for blue, you could go with...HTML #A9BCF5. I don't know how one would tailor it so that a #0000FF on the "day layout" corresponds to a #A9BCF5 on night, but that's one suggestion

For the time being though, custom colours could be overridden on the night layout, especially if the overall goal with NL is to make it easier on the eyes.

Originally Posted by goodnews.inc

I'm thinking you could still use custom colours just ones that aren't fluorescent. So the night version would have a parallel colour palette, with softer shades.

I.e. Instead of HTML colour code: #0000FF for blue, you could go with...HTML #A9BCF5. I don't know how one would tailor it so that a #0000FF on the "day layout" corresponds to a #A9BCF5 on night, but that's one suggestion

For the time being though, custom colours could be overridden on the night layout, especially if the overall goal with NL is to make it easier on the eyes.

Good idea, I'll explore this once 1.0 is out.

*bows down* Afzal, this is amazing work!! Fantastic job. So proud to have such dedicated members of MacInsiders like you

Originally Posted by Chad

*bows down* Afzal, this is amazing work!! Fantastic job. So proud to have such dedicated members of MacInsiders like you

Thanks Chad ^_^

This is a pretty good project to explore and learn a lot within Android withoutworrying about server-side API.

I have many more enhancements to make (and bugs to fix) during this month so stay tuned. Maybe even moderator support once the UI is polished, might need mod rights to test that one though.

The best part is that once this app is ready, I think I'll be contacting the developer of AJAX-Chat and telling him about it. I'm pretty sure it's going to be very easy to customize the app to any website that uses the same script so it's not just Macinsiders that will benefit from this.

Edit: Also let me know if the server is bombarded with lots of update requests from Chat, I don't think it will but just in case. The backoff algorithm will be more intelligent later on depending on how active the chat is and then it would be possible to have background updates based on that AND also the user activity. It will come later.