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What version of Android are your devices? I picked up an Android Tablet this evening - Samsung Galaxy 2. I started working on the Android library for the EZ-B. Most of the framework is complete. I don't have an ETA, but this is sure to get some of you excited!
It will never be as powerful as EZ-Builder. I still don't quite understand the purpose of an Android Tablet. I have Android, iPad and Windows (W500) tablets. The only one I ever use is the Windows 8 (Acer W500, and it is cheaper) - it actually does "stuff"
So the Android version may be lite, but it will indeed be functional!
DJ is the question, works on all versions of Android?
I liked the idea a great Christmas and congratulations to you:)!
You can' just port over software to IOS and post for approval on the apps store?
Whith Apple as heavy into education as they are, it should be a slam dunk.
Unless of course your code doesn't port over so easy, which would be understandable.
Hey, you have a wonderful Christmas!
If you need someone to test please let me know.
I hove you and yours have a Merry Christmas and a Safe New Years.
BC
People ask when I will release my code, constantly. We receive 1,000 - 1,500 emails per day (at times). Most popular question question is "Can I have the code?". Strangest question, because all anyone wants the code for is to look at it, copy it, make something of it, and put their name on it. If someone could actually code, they wouldn't ask for mine - much like how I don't ask for anyone elses.
You can literally create an ARC with the EZ-SDK, if you can program. If you look in the ARC application folder, you will see EZ-SDK sitting there. That is because EZ-SDK and ARC are essentially the same thing. All of the ARC functioonality is in the EZ-SDK. Should I release the code fo EZ-SDK? No, because we don't lock down any features. It is all open for everyone - meaning you can extend the camera detection, or create extensions to support more devices.
I agree with Apple's decision for a closed environment. Most of my reasoning isn't entirely about losing the company to stolen code. My reasons for a closed environment is usability and QA control. I have a vision for EZ-Robot, and the speed of its growth is 1 year faster than I originally planned. We could never have achieved this growth and reputation if our software and hardware wasn't solid.
Quality Control is important to me. I hold a responsibility to our paying customers to ensure reliability of our products. I dislike the word customer, and hope you all consider yourself a community. The money from your purchase goes into our R&D, which results in new features for you. It's a complete win-win business model for us all. With every purchase of an EZ-Robot product, I feel confident that your decision was made out of trust. Trust that I will fullfill your requirements to continue providing new features and make your robot dreams a reality
I'm able to accelerate new product R&D by 12 months, due to people recognizing the potential of our product. EZ-Bits comes next... But what comes after will blow your mind - is already in the works. It is the ultimate accessory for the EZ-B... I just hope the world is ready for it!
@jstarne1 I noticed a few things about tablets. I get 8 hours out of my W500 with Windows 8, it goes with me everywhere also. My iPad has yet to be actually used - it's an angry birds console. And the Samsung Galaxy 2 is for Android development. I know the W500 is a bit bigger and not as cosmetically refined - but it is a lot easier for me to manage data in one operating system. I have dozens of meetings a day and keeping data in Windows helps smooth out my day - not having to transfer and upload and convert and sync and all that jazz
Hopefully Apple will realize the potential of EZ-Robot and jump on board
Funny thing about the Android development. Amy assembled a list of 38 people (out of hundreds) that had contacted EZ-Robot and asked if they could develope an Android app for us. I emailed everyone, and even chose a few others who weren't on the list but figured they would like the opprotunity. I received replies, but none were helpful and did not meet the aggressive development rate of EZ-Robot.
So, I picked up the ball, spent 6 hours, and got a working framework for EZ-B in Android. I think Android will grow on me - as well as iOS
I think the really appealing thing about being able to use Android with EZ-B (or Robots in general) is that the devices have so much of the sensor capability built in. They all have accelerometer/tilt sensors (the Xoom has a gyroscope as well as an accelerometer), Compass, GPS, 1 or 2 cameras, Proximity (although only for very close proximity), light meter, microphone, speaker, and of course communication.
I was very intrigued by what they were doing over at http://www.cellbots.com/ but they seem to have abandoned the project before ever getting it to the point you could use any phone but a Nexus 1 or a Xoom Tablet (so far the only ones with USB Host capability). I was never sure why they didn't start out with Bluetooth. Makes so much more sense to me.
Looking forward to see what you will be doing.
I didn't get an EZ-B for Hanukkah, so I am putting in my pre-order today.
Alan
cellbots code is open source, so that is something you could include without needing to figure it out from scratch.
Alan
(ps pre-order is in. Can't wait to get the package and start actually implementing all the ideas I have been talking about and planning for the past several months).
Alan
TOTALLY cool with all you said
Although Apple sometimes shoots them-self in the foot, they do have a fairly secure system.
Not looking to steal code either. It just happens to be the platform that I'd like to use to implement an EZ on seeing I have an iPad and some other IOS devices.
Hopefully they'll come around. I think kids would get a real kick out of this in school and, Apple has always been a front runner in education.
Imagine, some kid building an EZ, and having an astronaut remote in and run it.
That would be cool!
@thetechguru I saw the cellbots thing a while ago and wasn't impressed. These tablets are neat and have some great graphical capability, but when it comes to UI and data processing, there are huge restrictions. The biggest issue I am having is creating the UI for a dynamic configuration.
Literally, I'm at the point where I feel the best solution is to configure your UI in Windows, and copy it to the tablet. Silly? Maybe - but that's the issue with the tablet development environment.
I doubt I'll spend very much time with the Android version. I see it as a simple control interface for the EZ-B - not an ARC replacement. It will be an application that you can use to remote control your robot.
With the tens of thousands of lines of code in ARC and EZ-SDK, I'd be a year away from re-creating it in another OS.
We'll see what I come up with for the android version over time. It can't take away from the Windows development - that's where our majority users are. That is also where the most power is.
Alan
However, I have learned much more then I expected since being involved with the EZ system! DJ. You are just amazing. The progress withthe EZ just since I've bought one has been unbelievable!!!!!! I have an Android Galaxy and thus far I have enjoyed it. I think it has great potential. The wife has an Ipad which I have used. I find the Android much easier to use. The speech recog function works great for me. Looking forward to seeing your android app DJ.
Any suggestions from all you techie people out there for learning resources would be greatly appreciated. I'm thinking that at this point a tutor would benefit me greatly!!!!! I live in a fairly small town so there are no local classes offered that would be available to me. I now look forward to each day and what I might learn with the new day. I'm looking forward to the days I can build an actual useful bot that will be available to me in the coming years. Thank you once again DJ, and everyone else that has contributed. My you all have a very happy New Year.
Lloyd