So what are the best android apps?

[mxnerd]

Haven't done programming for over 20 years.

I do still have some programming sense.

Android as I understand it rely on Java heavily.

See if you can get anything with B4X programming tools

[DBF] Read/Write DBF file using jDBF

https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/aceesing-dbf-files.47068/ The example above works but the characters are not displaying correctly. With some trial-and-error, I finally get it works like the Test.java 'Non-UI application (console / server application) #Region Project Attributes...

www.b4x.com

I don't have NAS and also don't use my Android phone siginifantly to really know how Android can interact with NAS via network.

or some Python library

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/37535/whats-the-easiest-way-to-read-a-foxpro-dbf-file-from-python

couple with new Pyscript that let you run Python in browser. Maybe you can figure out a way to let Android phone read / write dbf file over network through web interface

Pyscript.net

Run Python code in your HTML.

pyscript.net

 

[ringtail]

1) Here are several excellent free Android apps on arachnoid.com by Paul Lutus
(offline topographical maps, Linux on Android, alarm/timer/ satellite finder, etc. The one I use is TidePredictor)

2) QUESTION: Does anyone recommend a free Android CONTACTS app that's better than the default? There are so many in Google Play Store...trying to narrow it down.

 

[pocahontas61]

ANY rated 4.7 & up provided the reviews don't read as fake. 😊

 

[pocahontas61]

App Quarantine. Drag drop the widget to use for Facebook, Drive, Dropbox, Google+, and any other apps that insist on running in the background data mining and syncing data.

So by by putting the icons over in the quarantine app. It will stop them from running in the background? Does the widget also need to go there? (Sorry not to computer savy)

 

[pocahontas61]

I used this app once on a trip from LI to Boston with an old Samsung Galaxy Player (thus, no way to have maps on the go with Google maps). Works pretty well. Google Maps is good too, but if you got stuck in an area without cell coverage and didn't have the map pre-downloaded, you might be wandering around for a bit.

I've downloaded an app called OnX Hunt you can see how far a place is as the crow Flys. See property borders, names of owners, state land, fed land, rivers, how many acres the property is. & you can track yourself if out hiking (so uou can find your way back) & tells you how far & fast you went.there USA free basic plan or pd premium. They also have OnX off road, & Onx

I used this app once on a trip from LI to Boston with an old Samsung Galaxy Player (thus, no way to have maps on the go with Google maps). Works pretty well. Google Maps is good too, but if you got stuck in an area without cell coverage and didn't have the map pre-downloaded, you might be wandering around for a bit.

Anyone use the "waze "map yet I like it. It tells ypu if someone reported a cop, accident, obstruction ect ahead

 

[pocahontas61]

Idkwhat or how but I stepped away fro. My phone for a sec & came back & couldn't finish y reply so the ending from above is OnX back country.

 

[Muse]

Been getting into hiking trails. There are a bunch of elevation apps. Searching, I see that you can also get your elevation using Google Maps. I have none of this installed right now, have a Samsung Galaxy S9 with Android 10, a couple of unactivated LG Tracfones with Android 8.

What elevation app(s) to install? Thanks for tips!

 

[WelshBloke]

If you want something simple GPS test does altitude, heading and location plus a bunch of interesting GPS data.

GPS Test - Apps on Google Play

Get GPS and sensor information all in one place with an accessible format

play.google.com

There's some great hiking map apps but mine are all UK/EU centric so I'll have to leave that advice for someone else!

 

[Muse]

If you want something simple GPS test does altitude, heading and location plus a bunch of interesting GPS data.

GPS Test - Apps on Google Play

Get GPS and sensor information all in one place with an accessible format

play.google.com

There's some great hiking map apps but mine are all UK/EU centric so I'll have to leave that advice for someone else!

Thanks. Just installed it, changed to Imperial units (miles, feet) in several categories. Kinda lost ATM, don't know what the screen's about for the most part to say the least. I wonder if its altitude is very accurate (I think that's displayed in the bigger box at the upper right). I think I'm at 80 feet above sea level. It doesn't appear to agree. Varies between 35 and 10 feet.

Gaia gets love, but I don't know squat about it. Watched a longish technical video on it yesterday, lots of bells and whistles! Excellent for hikers and bikers, I guess. Haven't looked into installing any version of it or anything.

Right now, reasonable simplicity and accuracy in terms of altitude are all I require.

 

[WelshBloke]

Thanks. Just installed it, changed to Imperial units (miles, feet) in several categories. Kinda lost ATM. I wonder if its altitude is very accurate. I think I'm at 80 feet above sea level. It doesn't appear to agree.

It always seems fairly accurate to me. You have to remember that it's working out your altitude by "looking" at a bunch of satellites so it needs a good view of them and it's reference to altitude might be different to what you are expecting!
I've had fun using it in aircraft to see altitude and speed. It's fun freaking the kids out and showing them how fast the aeroplane is going!

 

[Muse]

It always seems fairly accurate to me. You have to remember that it's working out your altitude by "looking" at a bunch of satellites so it needs a good view of them and it's reference to altitude might be different to what you are expecting!
I've had fun using it in aircraft to see altitude and speed. It's fun freaking the kids out and showing them how fast the aeroplane is going!

Cool. I might be flying across the USA in a matter of weeks.

 

[WelshBloke]

Cool. I might be flying across the USA in a matter of weeks.

Nice! Holiday or business?

 

[Muse]

Nice! Holiday or business?

Visit and stay with cousin in Manhattan for maybe a week. I was born there but only been there once (briefly in 2016) in last 60 years! Several cousins live in NYC, so see some and take in as much as possible.

 

[Muse]

GPS Test is looking pretty complicated and can't find simple instructions. My Elevation, OTOH, has ads but straight up simple as can be to install and use, evidently. Asks to "Agree" then asks Metric/Imperial, opens up and finds where I am, shows that on map and displays my altitude at the top, nothing to do. And get this, says I'm at 100 feet, and to my knowledge, my house is at 80 feet and I'm on 2nd floor, so 100 feet seems to be nailing it!

 

[WelshBloke]

Visit and stay with cousin in Manhattan for maybe a week. I was born there but only been there once (briefly in 2016) in last 60 years! Several cousins live in NYC, so see some and take in as much as possible.

That sounds lovely! Hope you have a great time!

 

[WelshBloke]

GPS Test is looking pretty complicated and can't find simple instructions.

So at the bottom of the screen are 5 boxes and they are basically tabs that take you to separate sections of the app.
The one with the circle with little squares and triangles and things shows the location of the satellites that your device can see. The different shapes are the different satellite positioning systems, if you tap the big box you can toggle visibility of the different systems on and off in the app.
The box with the cardinal points on bings up a compass.
The worldap brings up your lat and long plus shows which bits of the globe have daytime.
The one you want is the one with the big number in (probably a big zero I'd you are sitting at home, the default is your speed). That's show your speed, bearing and elevation.

My Elevation, OTOH, has ads but straight up simple as can be to install and use, evidently. Asks to "Agree" then asks Metric/Imperial, opens up and finds where I am, shows that on map and displays my altitude at the top, nothing to do. And get this, says I'm at 100 feet, and to my knowledge, my house is at 80 feet and I'm on 2nd floor, so 100 feet seems to be nailing it!

I'm guessing that they are all using the same GPS data that your phone is supplying them so they should all give fairly close results!

 

[Muse]

Well, My Elevation doesn't seem to care if I'm upstairs or downstairs so I surmise that it gets its elevation data by virtue of my coordinates.

GPS Test, OTOH is showing me at below sea level, which is absurd. When I hike tomorrow I'll bring the phone.

 

[Muse]

So at the bottom of the screen are 5 boxes and they are basically tabs that take you to separate sections of the app.
The one with the circle with little squares and triangles and things shows the location of the satellites that your device can see. The different shapes are the different satellite positioning systems, if you tap the big box you can toggle visibility of the different systems on and off in the app.
The box with the cardinal points on bings up a compass.
The worldap brings up your lat and long plus shows which bits of the globe have daytime.
The one you want is the one with the big number in (probably a big zero I'd you are sitting at home, the default is your speed). That's show your speed, bearing and elevation.




I'm guessing that they are all using the same GPS data that your phone is supplying them so they should all give fairly close results!

Elevation is varying. Right now it shows 8 feet. It should be about 80 feet, I think.

I will compare elevation between the 2 apps tomorrow on my hike.

 

[WelshBloke]

Yeah trying them outside with a good uninterupted view of the satellites will give you a better idea.

 

[Muse]

Yeah trying them outside with a good uninterupted view of the satellites will give you a better idea.

Got too late to hit the gym yesterday so I hiked instead. My Elevation was more consistent. GPS Test was fluctuating and usually lower, sometimes by ~100 feet! Which was closer to correct I do not know. Brings to mind the saying "the man with one clock knows what time it is, the man with two clocks is never sure." I figure either find an app that's accurate or encounter someone on the trail who has something that's accurate, ask them and calibrate.

 

[WelshBloke]

If it's hiking then get a good map app. In the UK I use the ordnance survey map app. Ordnance Survey maps are the gold standard of maps in the UK and have the elevation on them. I'm really sorry but I don't know about accurate maps in the US!

 

[WelshBloke]

So I looked it up and OS maps does cover topographic maps in the US, I don't know what maps it uses though. And it's not cheap (kinda worth it if you use topo maps a lot and they are good quality though).

OS Maps: Walking & Bike Trails - Apps on Google Play

Explore outdoors with maps, routes & navigation tools to hike, bike, run & more.

play.google.com

 

[Muse]

So I looked it up and OS maps does cover topographic maps in the US, I don't know what maps it uses though. And it's not cheap (kinda worth it if you use topo maps a lot and they are good quality though).

OS Maps: Walking & Bike Trails - Apps on Google Play

Explore outdoors with maps, routes & navigation tools to hike, bike, run & more.

play.google.com

Thank you. I hit the link and it offered to install on severyal of my various devices. I click install and it offers to install on my activated android phone (Samsung S9 Galaxy), I go ahead and it says it will soon install. So, free, I guess...

 

[Muse]

Thank you. I hit the link and it offered to install on severyal of my various devices. I click install and it offers to install on my activated android phone (Samsung S9 Galaxy), I go ahead and it says it will soon install. So, free, I guess...

It offers to install on other devices, I bite, and it offers to install on LG android phone. I have two of those, don't know which it has in mind. I turn both on, go ahead and it says:

OS Maps: Explore hiking trails

OS Maps: Explore hiking trails will be installed on your device soon.

I then do it again and it does the same thing, so I imagine it installed on both. I suppose activation isn't necessary just the ability to use GPS satellite connectivity.

 

[Muse]

After registering OS Maps pops up 14 day free trial, $28.99/year