Post by Gordon on Feb 7, 2015 0:48:35 GMT
Hi guys great suggestions keep them coming
Just some updates and feedbacks:
1) Widget functionality is already fully baked into Andromium OS, however we encountered frequent low memory issues (RAM) when running widgets on the Desktop. Widgets wasn't meant to be using in a simultaneously multitask environments, so Android hasn't been very nice about releasing and cleaning widget memories until it goes to sleep/pause. For the beta we disable the ability to add and remove widget for now, so many users with lower spec devices (1GB ram...) can still try out Andromium. We plan to reintroduce it in the later phase of the Beta test, possibility only limited to devices with 3GB of Ram or higher, to lessen the memory issue.
2) File explore search function is planned, but low priority for now, primary focus of Beta is bug fixes and device compatibility testings.
3) DPI changes currently require ROOT permission access. To allow Andromium to reach as wide audience as possible we currently are staying away from all ROOT level permission API(s). we still searching for a way to do custom DPI change on the fly without ROOT permission. (What we have done so far is ignoring Android DPI setting and implemented custom DPI scaling in Andromium OS, but it is work in progress, and only works for Andromium Apps)
4) Changing wallpaper is actually not difficult, we originally had that functionality enable as well. Will probably reintroduce it during the later phase of the Beta. No particular reason that we took it out, except that our UI designer wanted a consistent look and feel for the initial release
5) Ability to add apps to desktop and the taskbar shortcut area will be supported once we have the Andromium App Store and developer SDK publicly available. We plans to only allow Andromium App shortcuts on the desktop and the shortcut bar, as a way to promote development of Andromium Apps
6) Right click is currently partially supported, but it is manufacturer dependent. Unfortunately mouse behaves differently for different Android OEMs (driver issue). For our Samsung device users, their right click mouse button should work (currently minesweeper and file explorer app both have right click support). We're still working on creating universal device right click support, but it is work in progress. Until that problem is solved, we not planning to add additional right click functionalities in any of the existing apps.
7) Theme support is currently low priority, but will be something we look into after this summer (SDK, App store come first). But in theory Andromium OS should be able to support themes for most, if not all UI elements.
8) Sleep support is something we been discussion, for when user undocks and as a command item on the start menu. Unfortunately it is a major undertaking on our side, in order to do it correctly and not keep a large chuck of RAM in use, when Andromium OS is not actively running. It most likely will be a future enhancements after SDK and App Store.
9) The ability to disable phone backlight when Andromium OS is running requires root permission. Lowering screen brightness might be an alternative, but most phone's lowest brightness setting still eats up a lot of battery. For users who have devices with ROOT, Screen Standby IMO is still the best solution. This is something we will continue to explore a the Beta progresses.
I hope everyone is excited after having a chance to try out Andromium in the last week. Many of our users seem to be app developers, so we hope that we can count on you as our first group of developers once our SDK is available.
Best Regards
-Gordon
Just some updates and feedbacks:
1) Widget functionality is already fully baked into Andromium OS, however we encountered frequent low memory issues (RAM) when running widgets on the Desktop. Widgets wasn't meant to be using in a simultaneously multitask environments, so Android hasn't been very nice about releasing and cleaning widget memories until it goes to sleep/pause. For the beta we disable the ability to add and remove widget for now, so many users with lower spec devices (1GB ram...) can still try out Andromium. We plan to reintroduce it in the later phase of the Beta test, possibility only limited to devices with 3GB of Ram or higher, to lessen the memory issue.
2) File explore search function is planned, but low priority for now, primary focus of Beta is bug fixes and device compatibility testings.
3) DPI changes currently require ROOT permission access. To allow Andromium to reach as wide audience as possible we currently are staying away from all ROOT level permission API(s). we still searching for a way to do custom DPI change on the fly without ROOT permission. (What we have done so far is ignoring Android DPI setting and implemented custom DPI scaling in Andromium OS, but it is work in progress, and only works for Andromium Apps)
4) Changing wallpaper is actually not difficult, we originally had that functionality enable as well. Will probably reintroduce it during the later phase of the Beta. No particular reason that we took it out, except that our UI designer wanted a consistent look and feel for the initial release
5) Ability to add apps to desktop and the taskbar shortcut area will be supported once we have the Andromium App Store and developer SDK publicly available. We plans to only allow Andromium App shortcuts on the desktop and the shortcut bar, as a way to promote development of Andromium Apps
6) Right click is currently partially supported, but it is manufacturer dependent. Unfortunately mouse behaves differently for different Android OEMs (driver issue). For our Samsung device users, their right click mouse button should work (currently minesweeper and file explorer app both have right click support). We're still working on creating universal device right click support, but it is work in progress. Until that problem is solved, we not planning to add additional right click functionalities in any of the existing apps.
7) Theme support is currently low priority, but will be something we look into after this summer (SDK, App store come first). But in theory Andromium OS should be able to support themes for most, if not all UI elements.
8) Sleep support is something we been discussion, for when user undocks and as a command item on the start menu. Unfortunately it is a major undertaking on our side, in order to do it correctly and not keep a large chuck of RAM in use, when Andromium OS is not actively running. It most likely will be a future enhancements after SDK and App Store.
9) The ability to disable phone backlight when Andromium OS is running requires root permission. Lowering screen brightness might be an alternative, but most phone's lowest brightness setting still eats up a lot of battery. For users who have devices with ROOT, Screen Standby IMO is still the best solution. This is something we will continue to explore a the Beta progresses.
I hope everyone is excited after having a chance to try out Andromium in the last week. Many of our users seem to be app developers, so we hope that we can count on you as our first group of developers once our SDK is available.
Best Regards
-Gordon