Author Topic: Other app ideas based on WhenLast code (Read 35273 times)

mouser · « **on:** February 11, 2015, 04:34 PM »

My WhenLast app was written so that the code could be re-used for other apps that have similar infrastructure/User-interface/workflow. Underneath is a pretty flexible library.

So I'm open if people have other ideas that might make use of the code.. With the new sync features, anything that could benefit from multi-device sync would be a good candidate.

One idea i had recently was for a simple checklist/chore app, where you could toggle quickly between an ALL-ITEM view and a TODO view. So you would switch to the ALL-ITEM view, select a set of chores or todo items to activate, and then switch to the TODO view, where you would see only the items you have selected. As you (or any sync'd devices) complete each one, you would click it and it would disappear from the TODO view, until you get down to an empty list. In the ALL-ITEM view you would see when each item was last accomplished (and possibly by which device/user).

rjbull · « **Reply #1 on:** March 02, 2015, 02:36 PM »

I still use a Palm T3... and what you're saying sounds a lot like Handy Shopper for the Palm, one of the applications I'd be lost without. However, if you search for "Handy Shopper" in the Google Android store, you'll find several apps that claim to emulate it already.

Mattes57 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 04, 2015, 01:46 AM »

I have one wish, though it is probably not based on your WhenLast architecture:
I'm one of the rare species of users who switch off their smartphones during night, and sometimes also on daytime.
Additionally, some apps require a reboot to free up memory or really cut their network connection.

Therefore, the power-off-button of my old HTC smartphone was somewhat worn out, i.e. I sometimes needed several approaches to really get the phone off.
So, I searched for an app to shutdown/reboot the phone, but I didn't find any (at least, not for an un-rooted device).

Maybe, this is a challenge for you: providing a shutdown/reboot app which works on normal devices (not rooted).
I don't know, whether this is possible at all. It's just a wish.

cyberdiva · « **Reply #3 on:** March 04, 2015, 01:04 PM »

In the Play Store, there's an app called Real Reboot that claims not to need your phone to be rooted. I haven't tried it, and apparently it doesn't work on all phones, but it gets moderately good reviews.

Mattes57 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 05, 2015, 01:58 PM »

@cyberdiva: thanks for that hint

However, it says "All Android Versions from 4.2.2 or higher need root!!!"
The old HTC only had 4.03, so it might have worked. But I have a new Phone now, and the HTC was sold.

cyberdiva · « **Reply #5 on:** March 06, 2015, 06:34 PM »

@Mattes57
How strange! I would almost swear that that line in the description wasn't there when I looked. I remember the first line, about root not being needed, and I remember the lines about which versions the app was tested with. I recall wondering why there had been no testing on more recent versions. Also, at least on my computer, the line about needing root for Android 4.2.2 and above looks as if it's in bold, while the rest is not. So either I didn't notice the one line that appears in bold (

) or it was very recently added, perhaps after some complaints. Oh well....sorry it won't work.

rjbull · « **Reply #6 on:** March 08, 2015, 04:46 PM »

Another wish probably not covered by WhenLast code: a decent cooking timer that allows you to save and recall named "scenarios," i.e. various times/titles for "put this veg on," "turn sausages," "put that veg on", "check pans," "Cooked!" etc., with a wide range of alarm sounds built in. I use Big Clock, PocketDoan and Ramen on the Palm - sometimes all together... I've seen plenty of Android timer apps, but none able to save a set of timers in a named group.

mouser · « **Reply #7 on:** March 08, 2015, 04:50 PM »

rj, this sounds very close to an idea that dc member ewemoa and i have been talking about.. groups of sequenced timers..

erikts · « **Reply #8 on:** March 09, 2015, 04:16 AM »

I'd love to have timer app that has "groups of sequenced timers" feature.

anandcoral · « **Reply #9 on:** March 10, 2015, 02:56 AM »

I got an Android phone, finally. More on it and help required in another thread.

I was planning an Android app for the next NANY. It is similar to WhenLast, so Mouser may make it faster from his existing libraries.

When I do some job, say X, I save the date-time for the job, even gps if possible. After wards I should be able to get answers to following,
1. When I did job X ?
2. Did I do job X in this month/year ?
3. What jobs I did this month ?
4. What jobs I did at this location (gps) ?

I hope you got the point. One example I give is that in India ATM withdrawal from same bank is limited to 5 in a month and also from other bank ATM limited to 3. So this will help me to use separate bank ATM cards if I need more withdrawal in a month without paying fees.

Regards,

Anand

rjbull · « **Reply #10 on:** March 10, 2015, 05:16 PM »

When I do some job, say X, I save the date-time for the job, even gps if possible. After wards I should be able to get answers to following,
1. When I did job X ?
2. Did I do job X in this month/year ?
3. What jobs I did this month ?
4. What jobs I did at this location (gps) ?
-anandcoral (March 10, 2015, 02:56 AM)

You might investigate the abandoned program Inserty, which automates some aspects of text entry. I'm relatively new to Android myself - I only know about this one from one of the other DC threads on Android, which would be worth reviewing, notably What Android Apps Do You Use?, itself a response to Android apps micro reviews.

oblivion · « **Reply #11 on:** September 20, 2016, 05:35 AM »

Looking at this thread for the first time as a result of following a link in the newsletter.

So When Last looks good, but I'm not necessarily always very good at inferring the underlying architecture of a program from my experience of it. So I'm going to say the first thing that came into my mind for a database-type Android app: something like CHS.

Having said which, I have no need of the "S".

But I properly dislike the Android clipboard and I miss the history that CHS gives me on every PC I use. A configurable and searchable database of textual clipboard history would be good, particularly if it allowed editing of entries and similar scripted transformations to those offered by CHS.

I've looked at clipboard managers for Android before and generally found nothing better than disillusionment.

mouser · « **Reply #12 on:** October 07, 2016, 08:55 PM »

So one idea that could be incorporated into my framework is the idea of a central website file that was automatically downloaded by the app.
So that for example someone who had a website could update a database and it would be promulgated to all people who had the app installed..

tomos · « **Reply #13 on:** October 23, 2018, 04:38 AM »

hi mouser
idea for (hopefully an android) app -- may or may not be able to use the work you've already done:

There's an idea in Tai Chi / Chi Gung that you do an exercise for 100 days -- really the idea is to get it ingrained as a habit.

Based on this:
an app that shows how many consecutive days I have done exercise 'x' (or task x).
A variation would be exercises (or tasks) that I want to do e.g. three days a week -- so long as that is fulfilled you could report how many consecutive weeks it has successfully been done.

mouser · « **Reply #14 on:** October 23, 2018, 10:58 AM »

A "streak" tracker! That's a very good idea!
I think I could adapt my code to do that pretty easily..

So for each item you could specify how often it has to be done to keep the streak going (daily, weekly, or monthly).
The items would have a NOW button just like WhenLast, and would show you the last time you did an item, but would also tell you how long you have kept the streak going.

wraith808 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 23, 2018, 12:58 PM »

You could also gamify it, either in general, or at the users configuration.

An example of what I mean: You put in exercise and also put in after 7 consecutive days, you get to go get a small ice cream (or something). After you get to 7 days, it shows you a screen with your goal on it and a medal or something. By default, you just get a medal maybe. And on the main screen, it shows the number of medals that you've accumulated.

tomos · « **Reply #16 on:** October 24, 2018, 02:50 AM »

A "streak" tracker! That's a very good idea!
I think I could adapt my code to do that pretty easily..

So for each item you could specify how often it has to be done to keep the streak going (daily, weekly, or monthly).
The items would have a NOW button just like WhenLast, and would show you the last time you did an item, but would also tell you how long you have kept the streak going.
-mouser (October 23, 2018, 10:58 AM)

Glad you like the idea :-)
For me it would also be a mini to-do list for repeating tasks that I wouldn't want in my calendar.

mouser · « **Reply #17 on:** October 24, 2018, 11:38 PM »

I have a beta version I will publish soon.

mouser · « **Reply #18 on:** October 24, 2018, 11:58 PM »

You could also gamify it, either in general, or at the users configuration.

~~I may make~~Now working a separate android app version of my old Point Motivator application for Windows, where users can create entries for activities that are worth different amounts of points, and then keep track of their "score" as they engage in activities.

mouser · « **Reply #19 on:** October 26, 2018, 04:18 PM »

Now working a separate android app version of my old Point Motivator application for Windows, where users can create entries for activities that are worth different amounts of points, and then keep track of their "score" as they engage in activities.

Beta version complete, will publish soon.

tomos · « **Reply #20 on:** October 27, 2018, 02:55 AM »

mouser · « **Reply #21 on:** October 27, 2018, 09:11 PM »

On google play store:

mouser · « **Reply #22 on:** October 27, 2018, 09:12 PM »

I'd say Point Motivator seems slightly more likely to be useful.

rgdot · « **Reply #23 on:** October 27, 2018, 11:23 PM »

Drinking soda -10

tomos · « **Reply #24 on:** October 28, 2018, 01:36 AM »

I'd say Point Motivator seems slightly more likely to be useful.
-mouser (October 27, 2018, 09:12 PM)

have now installed both and wondering why you think this?

Edit// have tried both.
For my needs PM has the disadvantage that I can do something ten times in one day, not at all for the next nine days, and still have the same score as if I did it each day.