App Request: Predator (Yautja) Clock / Countdown

[XadinUK]

Hello,

I sure it is bad form to request something on a first post but may I ask if someone could make an app/widget which would display the time in the "digital" predator font? - I have scoured the forum and the net and the closest I could find is the "Predator's Toolbox"

Font Here: Predator font by Giedi Prime - FontSpace

This may seem kind of stupid but I thought It may be at least a little interesting. I would not want anything too elaborate either a simple digital led style clock with the different font charactors or a "binary" clock like the Predator's Toolbox

Another possible feature is maybe to set a "Self destruct" countdown, could even source some sound FX etc?

Anyway was just an idea, hope I dont get laughed at too much!

Cheers

Nathan

 

[XadinUK]

Oh and I would be willing to put some cash to whoever picks this up!

 

[JasonC]

Also my first post but +1 to this request!

 

[Deleted User]

Do you guys want this to just be a 1x4 (one icon tall, four wide) widget?

 

[XadinUK]

I would be grateful for whatever but sounds like a good start!

 

[JasonC]

Sounds like a good size to me

 

[Deleted User]

Sorry for the lack of updates. I have been pulled into a few other projects as well, but I had a few hours tonight to work on this. It's functional (numbers displayed change as time changes - screenshot shows 6:16), but obviously I have quite a bit of work to do graphically. I'm going to create some higher res versions of the numbers that also have the faint marks for where lines can appear, and I'll fix the ugly margins. I was also thinking it might be cool if tapping on the widget toggles the numbers between Arabic and Predator numerals. I'll be creating some nice graphical background for this widget, so it's not just a big black blob too, haha.

I was also thinking maybe it could have a simple dash on the side to indicate AM vs. PM.

Are there any features that any of you want/need? Should I make the numbers just red or should the color be configurable?

 

[JasonC]

Looks good so far! I guess you could make the colour configurable, it would appeal to more people that way so they can match it into their scenes better.
am and pm also sounds a good idea.

Keep up the good work!

 

[XadinUK]

Thank you very much for your time on this!

Just an observation - in full knowlage that this is just a beta - but those numbers seem to be missing the bottom half?

Also could this have an optional 12/24 hr clock?

 

[Deleted User]

Okay, color will be configurable.

Just an observation - in full knowlage that this is just a beta - but those numbers seem to be missing the bottom half?

I've noticed that there appear to be two different predator fonts out there. Here is an example of 0-9 for both of them:

Is that bottom one what you mean by it missing the bottom half? I started with the top one, since that was the one linked at the beginning of this post, but I could do either one to start with. I think the top one was the one originally shown in the self-destruct wrist band thing, but the bottom one looks cooler. Any thoughts? Later on, I could make it so you could toggle between them.

I'll add 12 vs. 24 hour clock to my todo list

 

[JasonC]

Okay, color will be configurable.

I've noticed that there appear to be two different predator fonts out there. Here is an example of 0-9 for both of them:

Is that bottom one what you mean by it missing the bottom half? I started with the top one, since that was the one linked at the beginning of this post, but I could do either one to start with. I think the top one was the one originally shown in the self-destruct wrist band thing, but the bottom one looks cooler. Any thoughts? Later on, I could make it so you could toggle between them.

I'll add 12 vs. 24 hour clock to my todo list

I prefer the bottom one too, it looks a little clearer as well as cooler

 

[XadinUK]

You are quite right... my bad! a toggle would be cool (but not essential at the moment) As to the current font if it is a bother to change then continue as is

Cheers

 

[Deleted User]

I'll make the default the second (better-looking) option then. My cheap tablet is not responsive, so I've ordered a new Intuos4 that should get here Wednesday to replace it. Once that arrives, I should be able to do the main part of the design. I've created a large-scale version of the number layout with layers so I can easily create each different number from it. I'll wait until I can do the main design to decide the exact size I should export it as, but here's a sample #7:

I'll probably export the 10 numbers for each of the three display densities and then do some quick touch-up on each one, but that should turn out pretty well.

 

[Deleted User]

I was too impatient to wait for the tablet, so I did some basic design work. This screenshot shows the customizable colors (they're hard-coded as hex values in the code right now, but I'll add the ability to customize them to any colors soon). The simple line in the bottom right is the AM/PM indicator. I'll add a button or two to the right size to activate the configuration screen.

 

[hood420]

Is this in the Market yet?

 

[XadinUK]

Ian that is looking GREAT!

hood420 not yet but watch this space

 

[JasonC]

Great work, looking forward to this!
Do you do be-spoke development of any kind Ian? or is it just little bits and bobs like this clock?

 

[Deleted User]

@hood420: Not yet, I've got a few more features I want to finish up before adding it to the market.

@XadinUK: Thanks!

@JasonC: I've been a web developer for a few years and the company I currently work for makes mobile applications. I usually do server-side code, but I've become extremely interested in Android, so I've been learning it in my spare time in the hope to move more into the on-device code. One of the companies we've made an app for expressed interest in a widget (a feature of Android that I love), so I was already looking at widget development when I came across this app request. I thought this would be a great opportunity to make something you guys would like and simultaneously learn some useful skills. Anyway, long answer to just say it's the first "real" app that I've completely made myself. I'd consider making a custom app for someone, but it just depends on scope, time constraints, etc. as I always have multiple projects going on at once

 

[XadinUK]

Have to say I feel really lucky that you happened to find this request then, I honestly thought that this would go unanswered, glad you felt you could throw your hat into the ring as such!

 

[Deleted User]

Hey everyone, an early beta is now available in the market. It's under apps -> lifestyle or you can just search for "Predator Clock Widget." If you happen to be on your Android device right now, just go to http://bit.ly/9UVqkY and it should direct you to the market.

The beta version is functional but has no settings yet. The settings button pretty much just goes to a todo list, haha, but I wanted to get something out there early.

 

[Deleted User]

Thought I would post a quick screenshot of it running on my N1. Don't mind my snacks in the corner

 

[XadinUK]

Brilliant have downloaded and have it running now. Feedback on the market seems mostly positive, except the odd idiot but we will ignore them. Will let you know if I notice anything worth mentioning to make it better, but so far working as expected!

 

[JasonC]

For some reason I stopped getting updates from all my subscribed threads on here so only just seen this!
Great work Ian, I've installed it and it works great!

Thanks for you background info, I only ask because I'm looking into getting a couple of apps done at some point. I looked at doing them myself but I just don't have the time.

 

[Deleted User]

Hey Everyone,

Thanks for all the positive feedback I've been really surprised that it was so well received. So far it has 730 installs (448 active) and a 4.5 star rating! I was expecting maybe a dozen downloads, haha.

I made a simple page to show the status of the app. It has a few issues right now (the biggest being related to rotation... I had forgotten that you can rotate the home screen on some phones, oops!). I'm hoping to address a couple of them very soon, maybe tonight. I have quite a bit of work done on the ability to tap to toggle between Predator digits and Arabic ones, but there's still some more to do there, so I'll probably send out a minor bug fix release first and then get to the bigger stuff this weekend.

@XadinUK: Haha, yeah, the first guy to comment called it a "pos" but it looks like that comment is removed now. Definitely let me hear any feedback you have.

@Covert_Death: Just start playing with it and you'll be really hooked! The biggest thing that I've encountered is that the way a widget is done is a bit different from a standard activity, so that's caused a little more work along the way. Oh well, it's a great learning experience.

@JasonC: Glad to hear it's working for you too. Yeah, I'd say for starting out flesh out your ideas as much as you can, especially with mockups (even if they don't look great), to give yourself a better idea of what all you want and how much work it would be.

 

[hood420]

How about making a countdown timer out of this? That would be pretty sweet.