nDroid v1.0 support thread

[agerdin]

bgowland, I cannot start the program at all on my HTC Hero, Android 2.1. Am getting the message "The Process uk.co.beetec.android.nDroid for the program nDroid stopped unexpectedly. Try again"

Any thoughts?

\\Agerdin

[bgowland]

@Nistrod - I've uploaded a new version of the nDroidService code which should now find the version of System.Data.SQLite.dll installed with N-PVR. Let me know if there are still problems.

@agerdin: I'm not sure, perhaps an Android version issue. I've uploaded a new version of the nDroid.apk. It only has a minor change to explicitly state that the app 'should' be compatible with all versions back to Android v1.6 - if it still crashes then I'll need to see the logcat (see my next post).

[bgowland]

Capturing Android logcat data

The nDroid app makes use of Android's system logging facility which uses a circular in-memory data log ('circular' meaning it is over-written after time). It's possible to view, capture and send data from the log using apps which provide 'logcat' capability.

Searching the Android App Market for the word logcat will bring up a number of free apps that can be used. I've tried two - 'aLogcat' and 'CatLog' which seem to do the job. Both show real-time system log messages and have options (using the MENU button) to save to SD and/or send via email.

The easiest way for uploading logcat data is probably to email it to yourself so you can then attach to a post here. Alternatively, my email address should be accessible through my profile if you want to send logcat output directly to me.

[mvallevand]

I hope to try tonight. Can I get logs with adb?

Martin

[bgowland]

Can I get logs with adb?

Yes, as far as I know 'adb logcat' should do it although I haven't used it myself - I tend to use ddms.

I'll be interested in your experience/comments etc.

[Nistrod]

OK, works fine now with new version of nDroidService.

Problems:

• There is a timezone issue. I am at UTC+10. The first program in the list is shown as starting at 23:32. It actually starts at 09:32 local time.
  
• Recorded shows have no pre- or -post-padding, despite non-zero default values being set.
  
• There is an error in the logs - see below.
  

From the logs:
[INDENT]24/02/2011 11:59:00.643 ResolveAssemblyEventHandler() called.
24/02/2011 11:59:00.797 Attempting to find assembly: nDroidLib.XmlSerializers.dll
24/02/2011 11:59:00.900 ResolveAssemblyEventHandler() called.
24/02/2011 11:59:01.236 ResolveAssemblyEventHandler() threw exception: Length cannot be less than zero.
Parameter name: length at System.String.InternalSubStringWithChecks(Int32 startIndex, Int32 length, Boolean fAlwaysCopy)
at uk.co.beetec.csharp.nDroid.nDroidService.ResolveAssemblyEventHandler(Object sender, ResolveEventArgs args) in C:\Documents and Settings\gbpvr\My Documents\Visual Studio 2008\Projects\nDroidService\nDroidService\nDroidService.cs:line 267
[/INDENT]
Suggestions (wishlist - ignore if you want to):

• Program names and times do not align.
  
• Maybe a horizontal scrolled list of channels - flick until you find the one you want. There is empty real estate at the top.
  
• Start at the current time, not the beginning of the day.
  
• Display the current show in another colour.
  
• A transposed display of whats on now on all the channels.
  
• Colour.
  
• A more condensed list of channels - I have to scroll.
  
• Centre "Today", "Fri"...
  
• Date on "Today", "Fri"...
  

I will be a keen user of this! I record on a PC in another room, then transcode and ship to a WD TV Live attached to the TV. Being able to set a recording while watching will be great.

[bgowland]

OK, works fine now with new version of nDroidService.

Phew...good to hear.

• There is a timezone issue. I am at UTC+10. The first program in the list is shown as starting at 23:32. It actually starts at 09:32 local time.
  
• Recorded shows have no pre- or -post-padding, despite non-zero default values being set.
  

Hmm, the time-zone should be handled automatically based on your device settings but I know I had a couple of problems with it. As for the padding, I'm using the NEWA schedule web service and I remember now that it doesn't automatically apply padding. I'll get both fixed ASAP.

• There is an error in the logs - see below.
  

24/02/2011 11:59:00.797 Attempting to find assembly: nDroidLib.XmlSerializers.dll

Yes, ignore that one. I thought I'd suppressed it being logged but fixing the SQLite issue probably brought it back. I had to Google it and it seems to be some sort of generic problem which MS have never fixed (but can be ignored...I think).

Suggestions (wishlist - ignore if you want to):

• Program names and times do not align.
  
• Start at the current time, not the beginning of the day.
  
• Display the current show in another colour.
  
• Colour.
  
• Centre "Today", "Fri"...
  
• Date on "Today", "Fri"...
  

The first is deliberate as there is actually another line of text below the name of the show which is meant to hold a subtitle, e.g., 'Episode 1' or potentially a description, e.g., 'Dave and All get into a fight in the bar...'. I intend to add an option to how the user views the data (title only, title + subtitle...etc) and adjust the view accordingly. The others are already on my ToDo list.

• Maybe a horizontal scrolled list of channels - flick until you find the one you want. There is empty real estate at the top.
  

Do you mean where the channel logo/name currently are? Tricky but it might be doable.

• A more condensed list of channels - I have to scroll.
  

I can condense so far but it depends on the number of channels somebody has and how small their fingers are to select them.

• A transposed display of whats on now on all the channels.

I REALLY like this idea and hadn't thought of it. Not sure when I can put it into place but definitely worth doing.

I will be a keen user of this! I record on a PC in another room, then transcode and ship to a WD TV Live attached to the TV. Being able to set a recording while watching will be great.

Well I've started it and want to take it as far as I can go so hopefully I can get it to a point where its stable and useful.

Thanks for the feedback.

Cheers,
Brian

[mvallevand]

I see the same immediate error that agerdin has. There is nothing about ndroid in the log, and there is a development login on my tablet and I don't see any stack trace for ndroid.

Martin

[Nistrod]

I'll get both fixed ASAP.

Thanks.

Yes, ignore that one.

OK.

The first is deliberate as there is actually another line of text below the name of the show.

OK, but if this is blank, can we line them up?

Do you mean where the channel logo/name currently are?

Yes.

I can condense so far but it depends on the number of channels somebody has and how small their fingers are to select them.

Yes. I suppose that irrespective of how many you fit on a page, someone, somewhere will have just one too many channels. It looks like its me at the moment.

Cheers

[agerdin]

bgowland,

the latest version of nDroid now starts and allows me to put in the configurations (ip, port, user, pass). However, moving to the next step the app craches as before. Android log is attached.

\\Agerdin