Android Developer Spotlight: Chris Lacy

Here is another "episode" of Developer Spotlight. If you didn't catch the last one, it can be found here. When it comes to quality, there is seriously almost no better than Chris Lacy's apps. He might not have many in his portfolio but what he does have, are well worth the amount he charges for the pro versions of his apps ($5). 

• Action Launcher

   Action Launcher is a home replacement launcher that well, lets you take action. Following the Holo Android design but with a twist. Instead of an application drawer, you have what is called a Quickdrawer, which holds all of your applications in a list view that is accessed by swiping out from the left side of the screen. Swiping once more with the Quickdrawer open, you access a list view of all your widgets. Swiping out from the right side of the screen you get a Quickpage which is a home screen that accessible from anywhere. You can add apps, widgets and folders that are always from a swipe away.

   Chris lacy also takes a different approach to widgets and folders. If you want a clean and minimal home screen, he's got you "covered".  Create a folder like you normally would, open the folder and tap the 3 dot menu and select "make cover". This makes the first app in the folder the cover of the folder and can be accessed just by tapping it. If you swipe up on the folder it will reveal the contents of it. Any app that has a widget associated with it will have 3 little lines on the bottom right corner of the icon and by swiping up, you have direct access to the widget.  Google Play - Action Launcher 

• Tweet Lanes For Twitter 

   A Twitter client that Twitter themselves actually took some notes on. Tweet Lanes aslo lets you connect to APP.NET, a social network for developers. Now the idea Twitter "stole" would be that nifty new tweet bar at the bottom of the app. Tweet Lanes gets its name from the way it handles all the sections of Twitter. I don't really wanna go into detail on every lane but lets just say the only thing you can't access from a lane is the settings of the application. Another nice feature is Volcroll. This allows you to use your volume buttons to scroll through your timeline instead using your fingers on the screen, and did I mention Chris Lacy open sourced it? Google Play - Tweet Lanes

• Link Bubble

   Probably the most useful application that I have ever used, and it is only available on Android. What Link Bubble does it, it takes your links and opens them in a bubble off to the side while you continue to use the current application that you're in. If you don't want to read it at that moment, you can slide the bubble to the left and save it to the Pocket app (Pocket app not included). If it's something you want to share right away you can also set the left bubble Facebook, Twitter, Google+ etc. Swiping it to the right bubble brings up a list of applications that you can share it too. The free version is restricted to only one bubble and one app to share to. Buy the pro version opens up unlimited tabs/bubbles and share to any available app on your phone. I really didn't think this app was going to be as useful as it is. Google Play - Link Bubble

• TapPath

   This in my opinion is something that could have been included in Link Bubble with the pro version but, the basic functions of this app include single, double, and triple tapping on a link. I have mine set up to open Link Bubble with a single tap, Chrome Beta with a double tap and share with a triple tap. It's $1 and for the sake of supporting such a great developer I bought it. I however do not think it should be a separate application for the sake of adding to your portfolio. Google Play - TapPath

I suggest supporting this amazing developer because his apps are of great quality and Chris is always asking his users for suggestions and feedback. 

Android Browser Comparison Part 2

Uuhh..welcome back to the comparison? It's been a little while since I posted part one of this but, the time has given me the time to use some more browsers and compare them. Now remember, this is NOT a review of these application. Shall we get started?

•   Javelin Browser 

  Javelin offers up some nice features. A built in ad-block, reading mode, two finger swipe gestures. Ad-block only seems to work on sites with ad banners but not the full screen pop ups that appear on many sites. Javelin offers a Material like design, translucent system bars, and stack.

Stack takes this idea from another application called Link Bubble (expect a post about that app very soon), and loads links in the background while you continue browsing your current app, (man that sounds familiar). Now the main attraction for me with this browser is the ad-block capabilities it has. Yes its kind of half baked but it works and the translucent system bars give that nice full screen feel without actually getting rid of them. Google Play - Javelin Browser

• Dolphin Browser

   Now what kind of comparison would this be if Dolphin wasn't included? Now this is probably the most well known Android browser. It's been around since the beginning of Android itself just about, and has evolved tremendously, offering up more ad-ons than you can count. Giving you themes (who don't love themes?). You can draw a gesture to go to certain websites, like a "G" to go to Google, with a floating dolphin always present at the bottom left hand corner, you always have access to setting, gestures, and tabs. There is also a beta, mini version available for you download if you want to try out the new features before official release or an even faster experience with the mini version that strips most of the features away. Google Play - Dolphin Browser

• Chrome Beta

   I know I mentioned Chrome in part one but, I think the beta needs its own mention. Google will update the beta to test out new features and designs before pushing it to the official app in the Play Store. The most recent update to Chrome Beta brings a Material design and subtle animations. You can expect some small bugs but, that's what a beta is for, to test and find bugs, and when the app crashes, go on and send that report to Google because it helps them out a lot. Google Play - Chrome Beta


Now there are MANY different browsers on the Play Store but, I only wanted to mention the ones worth using. Now I'm sure the others will mature and grow but as it stands now, these are best in my experience. If there are any that you would like me to try out or missed let me know!

Android Developer Spotlight: Klinker Apps

   In this post I am going to be spotlighting certain developers and their applications found on the Google Play Store. These are developers that interact with their customers/users and care about the feedback that you give them. After all, if it weren't for people like us, they wouldn't have a job/extra pocket money hobby.

I'm going to start this off with developer Klinker Apps. This is not a review of these apps and are purely to make people aware of their existence.  

• Sliding Messaging 

     This is obviously an SMS app that replaces your default SMS on your phone. What made this a great application was the way it works. It was slightly customizable with themes and layouts, giving you the look and feel of Hangouts but for SMS (before Google added it to the actual Hangouts app). What this app also did, no other SMS app on the Play Store did; it kept all of your messages side by side. By simply swiping left or right from in the middle of the app, you could easily get to another message and, if you needed to get to a message that was all the way at the end of the conversations, just swipe out the left hand drawer to reveal all your conversations in a list format. To create a conversation, just swipe from the right edge of the screen start texting someone new. Sliding Messaging also gave you a quick reply, mark read, and delete right from the notification shade. Google Play - Sliding Messaging

• Talon For Twitter

     This Twitter client is probably the most popular of them all at the moment, and is the Klinker bothers bread and butter, with a beta program through the Play Store, constant updates, and amazing theme support. You'd think it was made by CyanogenMod this app has so many themes for it. Talon is fast, responsive, and feature packed. I'm not diving into the full list but know that you won't be disappointed with it. Talon includes 3 different layouts, 3 themes built in, and supports Android translucent system bars and is pretty reliant on the card based look and feel when replying to a tweet or posting a new tweet. Google Play - Talon For Twitter

• Blur - A Launcher Replacement 

     Based off of Google's own home launcher, Google Now Launcher, Blur adds something new and "Klinker". As most in the Android community know, Google did not release APIs for third party developers to incorporate Google Now into their launchers. Instead the Klinker brothers have put together something of their own. It's not quite as intuitive of Google Now but it will give the look and feel you want. The real beauty behind this home replacement launcher is; they left it open other third party developers to make ad-ons for it. Blur incorporates Talon, EvolveSMS (which I will get to momentarily), and other apps that have been developed to work with it. These ad-ons are called "pages" and "info cards", which is Klinkers take on Google Now. Pages are basically full apps built into the launcher for easy access, and info cards are things like weather, next alarm, and calender. I'm sure more are on the horizon. Google Play - Blur

• EvolveSMS

     Being a more refined SMS app than Sliding Massaging, you get a very beautiful application for your texting needs. Smooth animations, again, theme support, desktop support (Pushbullet) and as stated above, Blur page intergration. Some things return from Sliding Messaging like the quick reply from notification shade and a unified messaging center like in Sliding. There are in app purchases for the customizing support however. So far I have been very pleased with this app and I would recommend it to anyone looking to replace their stock messaging app on their Android phone. Google Play - EvolveSMS

Hope you enjoy these as much as I have! Thanks for reading!