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Topic: Android support

Author	Message
milton Joined: Jan 1, 2013 Posts: 7	Posted: Jan 31, 2013 8:36 PM    Post subject: Android support I'm excited to see the photo on the website and the news that Android support is coming. I'm wondering what this means - are you porting the entire BioEra development platform over to Android? Perhaps a subset of instructions? The ability to run imported bpd files (created in Windows)? How would devices be connected? Through USB? Are you aiming for Jelly Bean or an earlier API? This seems like a really big job given how complex the Android framework is.
jarek Joined: Oct 22, 2007 Posts: 1073	Posted: Feb 1, 2013 1:05 AM    Post subject: Yes, this has been a very challenging project but it turns out pretty nice, better then I expected. At this moment it works quite well (although requires a lot more testing), the alpha version is fully operational. Most of BioEra functions work on Android, although more testing is needed to find out about limitations. Some functions are not possible but not too many: Flash (Adobe doesn't support flash on Android any more), 3D charts (might be possible in a long term), toolbars are different (simpler), dialogs are simpler. I estimate more then 90% functions working the same as on Windows. The main challenge is about graphics, so any functions which requires only data processing works. When it comes to performance, it is better then expected so far. There may be problems with memory (because Android system imposes limitations), so larger designs might be a problem on phones (tablets should be fine). No .bpd files, android has its own extension: .abd. But it is possible to import/export between those 2. And it is possible to create and execute android designs on PC exactly the same way as with .bpd. Ice Cream Sandwich is the minimum version, which means Android 4.0 or higher. Devices connect via bluetooth. That brings the main problem and the reason why Android version is not released yet: very few devices available for BioEra. Without devices it makes little sense.
milton Joined: Jan 1, 2013 Posts: 7	Posted: Feb 8, 2013 7:52 AM    Post subject: Well, I have a Neurosky Mindset and downloaded their ThinkGear.jar which provides an API for the Android. I use Eclipse with the Android SDK and might be able to put something together if you tell me what you need. Do you need Android compatible java code or can you use the Neurosky library? I also have a CMS50E pulseOx that has bluetooth. I never used it with the BT, but I know there is an open source project out there that sniffed the data stream and put some code out. I could try to explore that as well.
jarek Joined: Oct 22, 2007 Posts: 1073	Posted: Feb 8, 2013 7:22 PM    Post subject: Neither of those devices are supported currently with BioEra, so they also wouldn't work with Android version as now. But you are right, it should be possible to add support (and use them on Windows for now). I am always happy to add a support for a new device as described here: http://www.bioera.net/adddevice.html
jarek Joined: Oct 22, 2007 Posts: 1073	Posted: Apr 25, 2014 6:35 PM    Post subject: Both Neurosky Mobile and CMS50EW oximeter are now supported devices and work great with BioEra.