The Old Man and The Droid

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Pretty Camera version 1.0 released

Pretty Camera app is now available on Google Play !!

Download here ->
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ataya.p.gadget.prettycamera

Thursday, June 12, 2014

FAY #FTPCLIENT version 4.0 released

I just released FAY FTP Client app version 4.0

-- What's New for version 4.0 --

1.Added Filter Button.

2.Fix bugs

Download and install here ->
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ataya.p.utilities.fayftp

Friday, March 21, 2014

#AndroidWear Preview : Connect to Emulator

Yesterday, I couldn't install Android Wear Preview app from Google Play on my tablet Nexus 10 (even it is KitKat). So, I asked on the developer forum. People told me that the app just doesn't support tablet yet (phone only) and somebody suggested me to find apk file (try searching on XDA website)and install it directly. Today, I just did it.

1. I ran the Emulator up. Read this page for the setup.

2. I connected my Nexus 10 to my computer via USB cable and open the Android Wear Preview app then set it's notification access as they say on the Get Start page

3. Then I connect the emulator and Nexus 10 by running below command on the terminal.

adb -d forward tcp:5601 tcp:5601

4.Finally, the Emulator displayed my Nexus 10's notification. Wow !!

That is for today. See you next time :)

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

#AndroidWear Preview

Google just released "Android Wear Developer Preview " tools and APIs. So, I so exciting tried to use it. So, this is it ...

1. I updated Android SDK Manager and install "Android Wear ARM EABI v7a System Image"

2. I created new Android virtual device and setting as below

3. Then I launched the emulator. After waiting for a while, I got this ...

That is for today. I will try more next time :)

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Fay Black Board version 2.0 released

Just updated for Fay Black Board version 2.0

What's new :

1. Full screen when drawing.

2. Add more 3 colors: white,blue,pink

3. Support big screen devices.

4. Fixed bug & improved performance.

Download & Install here ->

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ataya.p.utilities.fayblackboard

Friday, December 6, 2013

Speed Up "Android JNI" Tricks and Tips

Recently, I got a job to speed up application that using JNI. Many people thought by using native code, it should run faster than Java but I found out that is not always true.

First, the passing parameters from Java level to native code are using time to convert and if you use JNI so often then that gonna be heavy load.

Second, you need to allocate/deallocate resources by yourself in native level(there is no garbage collector in C/C++ ) and that takes time to do anyway.

Ok. Here are tricks and tips for speed up your Android JNI app. Hope it works for you too ...

1. allocate/deallocate just one
The bigger memory you need, the slower you are. So, if it's possible. Try to do allocate and release the resources just one time.

2.don't allocate too big block memory
    Check you code that you really need that much resource? Just use that it needs to be run properly.
for example, data = (unsigned char *)malloc( BLOCKSIZE + 100 );
May be +100 is not necessary.

3. don't use double
   I don't know why but in native code, double makes slow. I changed it type to normal "int" and it running a lot faster.(make sure it doesn't make wrong result)

4. set MAX priority to the thread
   I found that when garbage collector thread is running, some delay may occur(not much but it does go slower) So, try to set your JNI caller thread's priority to MAX that will (somehow) prevent garbage collector thread to run during JNI call.

5. try "ARM" mode
   In your Android.Mk file, add LOCAL_ARM_MODE := arm line and rebuild the code. I found out that the default Thumb mode is slower than Arm mode. However, I'm not sure that it gonna be true for all device.

That is for today !! and may the Force be with you all :D