scary alien's apps

[scary alien]

• AFV File Verifier for Android
• BattMonX
• Root Toolkit for Android
• OTA Verfier
• Storage Truth [with EarlyMon]
• RAM Truth [with EarlyMon]

 

[scary alien]

Introducing the
AFV File Verifier for Android

 

[scary alien]

BattMonX is a battery monitoring utility that can indicate the current state of your phone's battery via a status bar icon (all phones) and/or the LED indicator (many phones).

You can select/assign a different color to the status bar icon and/or LED indicator (if enabled and supported) for each of BattMonX's two main monitoring modes:

- by charging state

* full / charged
* charging
* discharging

- by each 10% range in battery percent-charged

Additionally, you can monitor, for each of the above modes:

* high battery temperature

* low battery percent charged

Note: when enabled, the above two modes:

- take precedence over all others

- have selectable thresholds

- optional vibrate or sound alerting

OTHER APP HIGHLIGHTS & FEATURES

- selectable LED on, off, or blink action

- LED color tester

- auto-restart after boot option

- battery temperature and voltage reported in notification shade pulldown

- option for rooted phones to have LED turn on even when screen is on

- now shows 1% change in percent-charged for Droid X

- v2.6 supports four timed-range suspend schedules

LED STATUS COMPATIBILITY

The LED function of this app will not work on all phones. For example, the Samsung Vibrant and Captivate do not have LED indicators. Some phones only have a two-color LED (the HTC Eris and Evo 4G both have a green/amber LED; the Epic 4G supports a red/blue LED) which might allow for partial functionality from this app (especially if rooted).

LED functionality works wonderfully for the Motorola Droid-class phones (original Droid, Droid X, Droid 2, Droid 2 Global, Milestone). If your phone has a multi-color LED indicator and you have problems get the app to work, please contact me for debugging options.

For screen shots and additional information, please visit https://sites.google.com/site/scaryalienware

Please contact me at scary.alien@gmail.com if you have any issues, questions, comments, or suggestions. Cheers!

Screen Shots




QR code

 

[scary alien]

BattMonX

Guys, just a quick thread bump to let everyone know that v1.3 is out with a set-on-boot menu option.

I've also updated the screenshots in the first post.

Currently working on some new features and fixes (just noticed a new issue--not sure if its a bug or not: when you clear your notifications from the notification pull-down, the app seems to be disabled; edit: turns out, this is only temporary--the app will resume setting the LED at the next polling-interval. I'm sure this is because the app works using the LED notification API, so its not entirely unexpected or undesirable. I'm going to try to code and test something that will allow the app to handle either case (i.e., keep running (or re-run) when notifications are cleared).

Cheers and thanks to everyone's support, feedback, and suggestions.

 

[scary alien]

BattMonX

All,

Just wanted to let everyone know that v1.4 is out and includes the ability to monitor for a low-battery condition. You can set a percentage threshold at which the LED will be turned on (or not) to a selected color and optionally have it blink.

I've also added five new colors to select from for setting the LED to the various battery states.

Here's the change log:

version 1.4:

* supported optional low-battery status indicator:

- action: none, LED on, LED blink
- threshold: 10%, 20%, 30%, or 40%
- LED color

* supported new LED colors in addition to the original red, green, blue, yellow, and OFF:

- dark orange
- orange
- dark violet
- dark green
- deep sky blue

Thanks and enjoy!

 

[Hrethgir]

I don't really care if the LED is on or not when it's charging, but I'll install thuis anyways because, well, I can!

 

[scary alien]

BattMonX

All,

Just a quick thread-bump to let everyone know about the latest release of the app: version 1.6 now works with SMS text notifications!

So now, you should be able to run the app all of the time and still get notified when a text message comes in.

The timeliness of the seeing the SMS notification is still dependent on the polling interval you are using, but app steps aside when the SMS notification comes in and then resumes when its been acknowledged (by reading the text) or cleared (by the notification pull-down's Clear button).

Please note that the app doesn't actually control the color or blinking status of the SMS text notification, my app just allows it to come in and been seen--so I cannot change its color or behavior (sorry).

I also added the option / ability to make the LEDs blink (or stay on like before) for the charging / discharging / charged state like the functionality I added for the low-battery condition in v1.4.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!

Enjoy the app and its recent changes--I very much appreciate everyone's feedback and support!

By the way, I am going to try to move all of the configuration stuff currently in the menus to the "shared preferences" settings (that will look like the Settings configuration menu we all know and love).

 

[scary alien]

BattMonX

version 1.7 changes include:

- added strategy to auto-recover from Android auto-killing the app's service; should make the app much more stable and without unwanted shutdowns

- replaced multiple menu settings w/standard Settings/Preferences menu item

- dynamically determine battery status directory (I did this to see if the app would work on more phones (with mixed success); should allow for users that don't see that the app was written for the Droid X to at least see if it will work on their phone (does not appear to work on a stock HTC Evo 4G, HTC Droid Eris))

- re-instituted screen lock to portrait mode to prevent orientation change from causing FCs

- fixed integer parsing issue causing some reported crashes (probably just experienced by non-Droid X phones)

- added option for 3 minute polling-interval

- added larger range for low-battery percentage threshold

- fixed issue where LED would not blink when charging

Anyway, if you have any issues, comments, questions, etc., please contact me at scary.alien@gmail.com.

Cheers and have a great New Year!

 

[scary alien]

BattMonX

All,

I've just published version 1.8 to the Market...I've updated the first post with the new information and updated screenshots.

This version has some nice new features and improvements. Change log for 1.8 includes:

- supported new experimental features:

* ability to keep LED on while the screen is on (root only)

* support white LED color [only works in conjunction with the root-only "LED is Always ON" experimental feature]

- updated w/better strategy for dynamically locating battery state and LED notification files to TRY to support non-Motorola Droid phones

- added 'Suspend' feature to screen to turn off LED and pause battery status monitoring until resumed (un-checked)

- added strategy to make app more timely/responsive to SMS text notifications and preference/setting changes

- fixed set-on-boot and charging-color preference mis-match and other minor preference/settings issues (this was causing a few folks issues...if you still have an issue, try an un-install and fresh re-install--this will clear-out the saved preferences)

- supported amber LED color in addition to the original red/green/blue LED colors (provided your LED firmware supports it)

Anyway, this version should be much more stable and responsive than the prior versions (although v1.7 was pretty solid ).

Enjoy, and please visit https://sites.google.com/site/scaryalienware/battmonx for full details and screen shots. Shoot me an email at scary.alien@gmail.com for any issues, comments, questions, etc.

Cheers!

 

[KHeeney5]

This will be a huge hit if you figure out a way to encorperate SMS, MMS, e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, Missed call, google voice, etc... notifications all in one. Good luck!

Also, post a QR code for the link in the market in the first post.

 

[scary alien]

This will be a huge hit if you figure out a way to encorperate SMS, MMS, e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, Missed call, google voice, etc... notifications all in one. Good luck!

Also, post a QR code for the link in the market in the first post.

Thank you for the feedback.

lol, until just yesterday I hadn't really considered handling other types of notifications other than the battery state . How would you want to see such notifications (i.e., all via the LED indicator?..differentiated by color or blinking action?).

Also, I had the QR code in the first post (it was hidden under a show/hide button--but I've now made it display all the time and thank you for pointing out that it needed to be shown).

Cheers!

 

[scary alien]

AFV Android File Verifier

All,

Been awhile since I've updated this app and it was long overdue. Mostly minor fixes and updates. No real core functions changed other than upgrade the early (noobie-coded

) menu settings to the more professional and standard preferences and settings menu.

I've also made some changes that should eliminate any FCs you were getting (most related to orientation changes, I believe). I'll get the orientation handling properly done in a future version.

If you get any FCs, please email me at scary.alien@gmail.com and let me know the circumstances so I can make a fix (the crash reports don't often tell the whole story).

Here's the change log for v1.2:

version 1.2 - 23-Jan-2011:

- supported standard preferences / settings menu instead of individual menu items

- added SD card mounted check before allowing file selection

- added two methods for comparing MD5 or SHA1 checksums:

* auto-comparison of calculated checksums w/menu option to display comparison results

* manual input of checksum (or paste from clipboard) value to be compared w/next calculated checksum

- changed default sort order of file / directory names to ignore case

- added option to toggle ignoring of case when sorting file / directory names

- force all screens to portrait orientation to fix/prevent FCs (future version will handle orientation changes correctly)

Thanks again for using my app and for your support. As always, email me or post-up here for any comments, questions, issues, or suggestions.

Cheers!

 

[scary alien]

AFV Android File Verifier

All,

Just released version 1.3 to the Market. Nothing major--just some more things on the to-do list that I finally figured-out how to do.

version 1.3 - 2-Feb-2011:

- now supports SHA-224, SHA-256, SHA-384, and SHA-512 digest/checksum algorithms (along with the MD5 and SHA1 algorithms, these appear to be all functions that the MessageDigest API supports)

- will now also display checksum results in a pop-up to ensure viewing checksum results on all phones

- keep screen on while progress-bar is displayed in long-running calculations

- directory name is now remembered from last file selection

- added help menu function for file selection screen

Thanks and hope these changes are useful.

Cheers!

 

[JediZombie]

I would say the blinking action. maybe a double or triple blink for sms. just a thought.

 

[scary alien]

I would say the blinking action. maybe a double or triple blink for sms. just a thought.

Thanks for the feedback--I do appreciate it!

You mean a blinking action for non-battery state related notifications? ('cause the app will do blinking in non-'LED is always on' mode for the various battery states).

I haven't expanded / extended the app to really handle other notifications as of yet...right now, it steps-aside when an SMS text notification comes in and allows that notification control of the LED until its cleared or acknowledged (then, the battery state monitoring resumes).

Cheers!

 

[g34rh34d]

Thanks for the feedback--I do appreciate it!

I'm not very up on the programming side of things, but I downloaded the app in HOPES that this app might be a good solution to using non motorola (aftermarket) batteries in the DX since the wonderful folks (at motorola??) were so KIND to eliminate that feature in the newer versions of android os.

The pre-2.0 android OS worked fine with aftermarket batteries on the DX, but now since the update, aftermarket batteries are not supported..

Is there any way you can make your app support non motorola batteries for the DX?

It would be VERY helpful if you could!

 

[scary alien]

I'm not very up on the programming side of things, but I downloaded the app in HOPES that this app might be a good solution to using non motorola (aftermarket) batteries in the DX since the wonderful folks (at motorola??) were so KIND to eliminate that feature in the newer versions of android os.

The pre-2.0 android OS worked fine with aftermarket batteries on the DX, but now since the update, aftermarket batteries are not supported..

Is there any way you can make your app support non motorola batteries for the DX?

It would be VERY helpful if you could!

g34rh34d (nice, by the way ),

First off, welcome to Android Forums!

I looked in to this back in late November with member bankswood who had the same concerns about aftermarket batteries:

http://androidforums.com/droid-x-all-things-root/225812-battery-recognition-hack.html

I think the consensus was that Motorola added something to the 2.2 OTA update that kept the Droid X from "accepting" (i.e., charging) an aftermarket battery--or possibly just ones that don't have temperature and voltage sensors that the Moto / Android software can detect and work with.

If the phone's software/firmware cannot detect the circuitry in the battery, then it won't be happy. We think this is how some vendors are producing the batteries for a lot less money--no circuitry inside them that will monitor and report the voltage and temperature.

That's our theory anyway...I wish I could help (and I'll be that the aftermarket battery manufacturers do too -- I'll bet that if there was a software hack, that they would have already tried to provide this so that they could sell more batteries).

Hope that helps a little. Cheers!

 

[scary alien]

BattMonX

Uploaded version 2.2 of the app to the Market last night. Here's the highlights:

- added more strategies for making the app more responsive when screen off & unplugged (I implemented a partial wakelock for one minute after the screen is turned off)

- added 'Set LED Colors by Percent Charged' feature (i.e., you can assign a different color to each 10% range of battery percent-charged)

- added 'Rainbow Mode' (under Fun Stuff) to cycle through the various LED colors

- added 'Keep CPU On' feature to allow you keep the CPU awake/on when the screen is turned off (this is only true when monitoring is active); *** Warning *** this will consume more battery!

- added preset-color buttons to LED color tester (easier to test main colors)

Hope you enjoy this new version.

Cheers!

 

[JediZombie]

LED colors by percent seems not to work. Other than that, keep up the good work!

 

[scary alien]

LED colors by percent seems not to work. Other than that, keep up the good work!

Hmmm...are you sure that you have the Monitor by Pct Charged checkbox is checked in the Percent Charged Settings screen? (you can also double-check to see what everything says in the Current Settings screen where I try to list all of the settings in one handy place).

If this wasn't the problem, we could always try to capture a logcat of the app's messages to see what might be going on. Also, I have a new (v2.3) version of the app that allows you have the ability to set a blinking action for the monitor-by-pct-charged mode (won't work with the screen on, though) that I can send you to have you test if you are willing.

Let me know.

P.S. thank you for the kind words and encouragement!

 

[JediZombie]

I think the error may be on my end. it seems to not want to do what I ask it to, insted it seems to be using defaults. I'll keep you updated.



Edit: my bad, it just takes a wile to kick in. I'm the kind of guy that thinks the microwave takes too long.

 

[scary alien]

P.S. Thanks to Scary Alien for pointing me in the direction of the charge counter file on the DROID X. Cheers !

Andy,

No problem, mate!

Big props to Andy too...he's already given me several tips and helpful information re. app development and things to help with my apps too. He's a great asset to the Android community and we should be happy he's joined us here on AndroidForums.

All, give Andy's app a try...he's a talented and dedicated developer who has created a very nice app.

Cheers!

 

[scary alien]

BattMonX

New version just published.

Here's the change log:

Version 2.3 - 14-Mar-2011:

- support option to display status bar notification icon with battery percent charged

- support option to turn off use of LED battery state indication

- more accurate app behavior for Moto Droid-class phones via 1% charge delta vs. original 10% delta

- support blink action for monitor-by-percent charged mode (screen off only)

- additional logic to try to support other phones like Sony Ericsson Xperia x10 family

- lots of app cleanup; re-organized preferences / settings menus

Check it out and let me know what you think!

Cheers!

 

[scary alien]

BattMonX

Just wanted to let everyone know that my newest version is now up on the Market.

Enjoy!


RECENT CHANGES (version 2.4 - 26-Mar-2011):

- app should now work on all Android devices by using system intents (now the default setting) vs. reading battery status files (still supported)

- supported low-battery condition sound or vibrate alert

- supported high battery temperature monitoring similar to low-battery monitoring (especially useful for those who overclock or tether)

- notification changes: make app launch when pull-down notification selected; option to allow notification to be cleared; add battery temperature & voltage to notification shade details

- make low-battery & high-temp monitoring independent from the two main monitoring modes

- show change log at first/fresh install

- revised menus to reference 'status' instead of 'LED' to indicate support of both status bar icon and LED

- fixed issue w/LED color none/off not showing status bar notification

- supported logging of trace messages to SD card file for debugging if needed

- added donate button

- lots of minor fixes and improvements

 

[scary alien]

AFV Android File Verifier

All,

I just uploaded my newest version of AFV to the Android Market.

Hope you enjoy it!

Here's the change log:

version 1.4 - 7-Apr-2011:

- display elapsed time for long-running operations

- allow app to be invoked from other applications (tested with Astro File Manager, Estrongs File Explorer, OI File Manager); use the "Send" function

- added donate button (donate version of app will be published soon)

- added 'md5sum -c Type Check' function for .md5 files (equivalent to 'Verify Nandroid Backup') to make it clear that functionality exists for non-Nandroid .md5 files too